SUBJECT:    The Body of Christ in the End Time

QUESTION:  What scriptures speak to the Body of Christ in the End Time and how not all will make it to the Kingdom of God?  What scriptures speak to the turmoil that will be present in the Body of Christ in the End Time?  If there are problems for the righteous in the End Time, are we supposed to suffer those problems or flee?

ANSWER:

Following is a collection of scriptures that speak to these questions

ONE:    THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET

Matthew 22:1-14

22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

What is the difference between the “called” and the “chosen”?

CALLED AND CHOSEN

Called and Chosen:  Matthew 22:14 (Read verses 1-14) and Matthew 20:16

Called:  People who have their minds open to the truth and who He leads to repentance, baptism, and to the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

Chosen:  Called ones who remain steadfast to the end.  Just because you are called does not mean you will respond to the call or stay with the call.

Matthew 20:16

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Notice verse 6:  6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

Again, we see a description of brother against brother.  Verse 8 says that they are not worthy of the Kingdom and verse 7 says that they will be destroyed.  We know what happens to those called who turn away from that calling.  Verse 13 is absolutely clear.

TWO:  THE PARABLE OF THE 10 VIRGINS

Matthew 25:1-13

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Note:  These verses are clearly about the Body of Christ.  Remember that this parable was, in part, the answer to the disciple’s question:

Matthew 24:3

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Notice that the wise and the unwise virgins (representing called firstfruits) are TOGETHER right up until the bridegroom (Jesus Christ) comes.

Some may attempt to argue that Matthew 25 has nothing to do with prophecy. They may attempt to argue that Matthew 25 has nothing to do with anyone making it into the Kingdom or not, however, no one would deny that Matthew 24 is prophecy.  Prior to giving the parable of the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins, as part of the answer about the end time, Jesus states it in plain talk in Matthew 24:45-51.  My Hebrew-Greek Study Bible has sub-headings over portions of the scripture.  Above verse 45, it has the sub-heading:

“The Faithful And The Unfaithful Servants”

Matthew 24:45-51

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

How can anyone read the parable of the 10 virgins and then read the above scriptures and not see they are talking about the same thing?  Now notice something very key to this description of the Body of Christ in the end time.  Verse 49 clearly states that members of the body will begin to smite their fellowservants!!  This will include:

1) people gossiping about the righteous.

2) people spreading discord among the brethren and attempting to separate the righteous from their friends.

3) people seeking to unseat the righteous from their duties or positions in the church.

4) people seeking to put down and continually criticizing the ministry.

5) people, who are jealous, hateful and bitter regarding their brothers and sisters in the church.

6) people, who seek to disfellowship the righteous from the congregation.

7) people, who will depart from the doctrine of the church and the churche’s own constitution, by-laws and guidelines.

These situations will include lay member against lay member and minister against minister.  Lay members will smite their ministers and ministers will smite the lay members.  Both will smite their leaders.

THREE:  MEMBER SHALL BETRAY BROTHER AND SHALL HATE THEM

Notice some key verses in Matthew 24.  After Jesus warned of wars and rumors of wars, pestilences and famines, He states, beginning in verse 10…

Matthew 24:10-14

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

These verses refer to both the world and the Body of Christ.  Many members will be offended and shall betray one another.  They shall hate one another.  False prophets, some of whom will be in the Body of Christ, will deceive many.  Because of all this iniquity, many will see their love wax cold.  They will seek to flee the congregation and even the Body of Christ.  But notice verse 13…

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

There is nothing here admonishing or instructing the member to flee the congregation or to go it alone until Christ returns.  Verse 14 shows that there is a Work to be done and that we must perform it.  We must endure the smiting of our brothers and ourselves.  We must endure those doing the smiting.

FOUR:  LET HIM BE UNJUST STILL

In a recent sermon, Mr. Armstrong, in speaking to the subject of members of the body now and in the end time, made reference to Revelation and chapter 22…

Revelation 22:10-12

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

This verse is speaking to people in the church who are bitter, hateful and in the process of falling away but still attending and causing trouble in the church.  It is clear that this problem will be with the church right up to the end and the return of Christ.

Verse 11 says to the righteous, “Let the righteous be righteous still.”  These righteous MUST endure, within the Body and within the church God called them to clear up to the end.

FIVE:  WE SHALL BE BETRAYED BY BRETHREN

Luke 21:16-19

16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

The key is verse 19; we must have patience and stay in the Salvation process.

SIX:  THEY WILL FALSELY ACCUSE YOUR GOOD CONVERSATION

1 Peter 3:15-18

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

The righteous will experience times when evildoers will falsely accuse their good conduct in Christ.  God says that it is better to suffer for well doing, than for doing evil.  If it is God’s will, the righteous will suffer this way.  Remember that Jesus Christ experienced the same.  It was He who said…

Luke 6:22-23

22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

 

SEVEN:  EXAMPLES FROM THE SCRIPTURE

Some in the church, in scripture suffered from this smiting from within.

1) Jesus

Isaiah 53:3

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Matthew 8:34

And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

2) Paul

2 Timothy 1:15

15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

2 Timothy 4:10

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

2 Tim 4:14

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

2 Timothy 4:16

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Both Jesus and Paul endured to the end.

SO, WHAT ARE WE TO DO IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD?

Begin here:

Matthew 5:10-12

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

These verses do not say to run away from the congregation.  We are blessed in place.

Revelation 2:10

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Notice what our church doctrine says about fellowship with the brethren

FELLOWSHIP OF THE BRETHREN

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Fellowship is the religious interaction of church members among themselves and with God, a spiritual association through the Holy Spirit which transcends normal social or business relationships.  Since this fellowship comes through being part of the body of Christ, it requires that one has repented, been baptized and, consequently, has received God's Holy Spirit.  The fellowship of the brethren builds spiritual strength into both the individual and the Church as a whole.  Conversely, the Church may exercise its right to disfellowship one who, by obvious attitude or action, opposes the gospel or causes disruption among the membership.

DOCTRINAL OVERVIEW

It is important that the membership of God's Church meet together for spiritual purposes in order that the fabric of the Church and the spiritual state of the individual may be strengthened.  The Church also encourages social fellowship among the members.  It is a well understood principle that close camaraderie between members of a group enhances both the conviction of the individual and the strength of the entire group.  It is one means of practicing the qualities of love, outgoing concern and Christian harmony among the individual members of the body of Christ.

I Corinthians 12 shows that God deals with His Church as a group in addition to dealing with the individual members separately.  "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:    so also is Christ" (v. 12).  "For the body is not one member, but many" (v. 14).  Likewise, John 15 gives the analogy of Christ being the "true vine," and explains how a branch separated or taken away from the vine cannot bear fruit.  Experience has shown that people who cut themselves off from the Church (which is the body of Christ) tend to lose sight of the goal and purpose of God's Way and wither spiritually.  They stop producing the fruit of God's Spirit, begin to shrivel in spiritual stature and can put themselves in danger of spiritual death.

The scriptures are filled with examples of God's faithful meeting together and fellowshipping.  Jesus' own example was to spend long hours with His disciples whether in formal teaching sessions such as in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5:1) or informally, as when eating a meal (Mt. 9:10-11).  After Jesus' death, one finds constant reference to the disciples meeting together.  Acts 1:13 describes the apostles assembled together "in an upper room."  Acts 2:1 describes the believers as "all with one accord in one place" for the day of Pentecost.  Other verses in Acts show Christians meeting together on the Sabbath day to hear the Word of God (Acts 13:14,42; 16:13).  Likewise, the Church is exhorted not to forsake the "assembling of ourselves together" for religious worship (Heb. 10:25).  Even specific instructions are given to the members to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (Rom. 16:16).  This was a custom of the day and corresponds with the handshake of friendship practiced in our society.

---end quote---

Let me repeat a key sentence from this doctrine:

“Experience has shown that people who cut themselves off from the Church (which is the body of Christ) tend to lose sight of the goal and purpose of God's Way and wither spiritually.  They stop producing the fruit of God's Spirit, begin to shrivel in spiritual stature and can put themselves in danger of spiritual death.”

I would encourage everyone in the Body of Christ to stay connected to the Body.  Even those in isolated areas and who are unable to attend regular services somewhere need to stay connected to both the Work of God and to other members in the Body.

Christ is the Head of the church.  He is not about fleeing.  He is about persistence and perseverance.   We must all remain together to the end.  We must do this even if our brothers hate us and smite us.  Our Salvation depends on our enduring to the end.

Matthew 24:13

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 
back to the top