Given the “peak to peak” view of End Times prophecies, why is it that the Church Age is always omitted from the clear statement of prophecy? Also, given the importance of the Church in God’s scheme, why did He fail to tell mankind about it?
Remember when God told Abraham He was giving him the Promised Land but Abraham couldn’t have it for 400 years because the sin of the Amorites was not yet complete? (Genesis 15:12-21) . God had given the Amorites some unknown amount time to repent and return to Him, and there were 400 years remaining. He knew they weren’t going to do it, but He kept His promise to them anyway.
It’s the same with Israel and the Church. God promised Israel a Kingdom, and sent His Son to be their King. He knew they would reject Him, but He kept the offer open anyway because He had made a promise. Even after they had put Him to death, Jesus gave them 40 more days to accept him before returning to Heaven. When they didn’t, the Church was born, and the Kingdom came to us in fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy of Matt. 21: 43-44.
“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
He spoke this a few days before the crucifixion, at the end of the Parable of the Tenants, where He prophesied His death at their hands.
But they’re not the only ones who didn’t know what the Lord would accomplish through the Church. In 1 Cor. 2:7-8 Paul said that if the rulers of this age (Satan & Co.) had known what was coming they would never have crucified the Lord.