The following was written by John Visser, in response to Dispensationalism:
On Pentecost, when the church age began, the disciples received the Holy Spirit. Peter said that the prophet Joel had foretold this (Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:16-21).
The prophets foretold that Jesus would ascend and sit at the right hand of God during the church age and not live here on earth. Acts 2:33-35 quotes Psalm 110.1 saying "33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Acts 3:21 also says that Jesus must remain in heaven.
The prophets foretold the new covenant. Hebrews 8:6-13 quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 and says that the new covenant is now in effect. Jesus implemented it at the Last Supper (Luke 22:20).
The prophets foretold that the gentiles would believe in God. Acts 26:23 says Christ would proclaim light to the Jews and the gentiles. See Isaiah 42:5-9 and Luke 4:18,19. Romans 15:8-12 quotes II Samuel 22:50, Psalm 18:49, Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalm 117:1 to support saying that the gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. The Jews were a light to the gentiles (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6, Acts 13:46,47; 26:22,23). Galatians 3:8 says "Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.' " Hosea foretold that a people, the gentiles, who were not God's people would become His people (Hosea 1:10, Romans 9:25,26, I Peter 2:10).
These are the last days (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2, James 5:3, I Peter 1:20) spoken of by the prophets (Daniel 10:14, Joel 2:28). At the Council at Jerusalem James quotes Amos 9:11,12 to show that the conversion of the gentiles had been foretold.
Song of Solomon is generally taken to refer in some way to Christ and his bride, the church.
There is an interesting quote in Hebrews 2:12 - "Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." (KJV) This is a quote from Psalm 22:18 a prophecy about Jesus and his death. The word church here is usually translated assembly or congregation but is the Greek word ekklesia which is usually interpreted church. The word in Psalms is also ekklesia in the Septuagint. In it Jesus speaks of his brethren and the congregation. In Hebrews 2:10 and 11 it can be seen that they refer to Jesus' brothers, sons brought to glory and those made holy, i.e., the church. Thus, we have a prophecy in Psalms of Jesus praising God in the church.
So, although the church is not clearly taught in the old testament, Just as Jesus' two comings were not clearly taught, the characteristics of the church are laid out in the old testament.
The Bible says that the church was prophesied. Peter, when speaking to the Jews on Solomon's Portico, told them that "all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days." (Acts 3:24) Which days? The days of Jesus, the Messiah. It is more than just Jesus life since it includes the time he is in heaven waiting for the 2nd coming (vs21) and the days all the people on the earth would be blessed by Abraham’s offspring (vs25). It is not "those" days, but "these" days, the days Peter was living in, the church age.
On Pentecost, when the church age began, the disciples received the Holy Spirit. Peter said that the prophet Joel had foretold this (Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:16-21).
The prophets foretold that Jesus would ascend and sit at the right hand of God during the church age and not live here on earth. Acts 2:33-35 quotes Psalm 110.1 saying "33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Acts 3:21 also says that Jesus must remain in heaven.
The prophets foretold the new covenant. Hebrews 8:6-13 quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 and says that the new covenant is now in effect. Jesus implemented it at the Last Supper (Luke 22:20).
The prophets foretold that the gentiles would believe in God. Acts 26:23 says Christ would proclaim light to the Jews and the gentiles. See Isaiah 42:5-9 and Luke 4:18,19. Romans 15:8-12 quotes II Samuel 22:50, Psalm 18:49, Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalm 117:1 to support saying that the gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. The Jews were a light to the gentiles (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6, Acts 13:46,47; 26:22,23). Galatians 3:8 says "Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.' " Hosea foretold that a people, the gentiles, who were not God's people would become His people (Hosea 1:10, Romans 9:25,26, I Peter 2:10).
These are the last days (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2, James 5:3, I Peter 1:20) spoken of by the prophets (Daniel 10:14, Joel 2:28). At the Council at Jerusalem James quotes Amos 9:11,12 to show that the conversion of the gentiles had been foretold.
Song of Solomon is generally taken to refer in some way to Christ and his bride, the church.
There is an interesting quote in Hebrews 2:12 - "Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." (KJV) This is a quote from Psalm 22:18 a prophecy about Jesus and his death. The word church here is usually translated assembly or congregation but is the Greek word ekklesia which is usually interpreted church. The word in Psalms is also ekklesia in the Septuagint. In it Jesus speaks of his brethren and the congregation. In Hebrews 2:10 and 11 it can be seen that they refer to Jesus' brothers, sons brought to glory and those made holy, i.e., the church. Thus, we have a prophecy in Psalms of Jesus praising God in the church.
So, although the church is not clearly taught in the old testament, Just as Jesus' two comings were not clearly taught, the characteristics of the church are laid out in the old testament.
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