Today I would like to revisit the book of Hebrews and its relationship to the Church which is the Body of Christ. I want to do this because I have had to reconsider some of my thoughts of a few weeks ago. To begin with, let’s review some of the facts regarding the 70th week of Daniel.

The 70th week of Daniel is a 7 year period of time occurring after the death of Christ but before Christ’s return to set up the kingdom. The 70th week of Daniel is known as the tribulation period because it is a time in which the antichrist will rule the world and persecute the Jews. Daniel did speak of the 70th week separately from the other 69 weeks, but he never gave any indication that the 70th week would be separated from the death of the Messiah by 2000 years.

In Paul’s early writings he warned believers of the coming of the antichrist and the tribulation period. However, this subject was not included in Paul’s revelation of the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ. In Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, Paul wrote that the believers under this dispensation would be caught up into glory to be with the Lord but never mentioned the tribulation period or the antichrist. Paul spoke of the perilous last days of this dispensation but, again, never mentioned the antichrist or the tribulation period. This indicates that the period of time dedicated to the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ will end with a rapture of believers before the tribulation period begins. Accordingly, the believers who live under this dispensation have no expectation of the tribulation period or the earthly kingdom.

But one must ask why Paul would write the book of Hebrews to confirm the New Covenant Kingdom to the Jews even after he revealed the mystery of the Church which is the Body of Christ. If Paul was writing to the Jews of his day, then he must have seen two groups of people on the earth at that time. One group would have been the Church which was to be raptured before the tribulation period, while the other group would have included the kingdom saints who would be left on the earth after the rapture of the Church to endure the tribulation period and inherit the New Covenant Kingdom.

However, the scriptures indicate that Paul did not write the book of Hebrews to the Jews of his day. First, Paul’s reference to the perilous last days of the Church (II Timothy 3:1) seem to be pointing to a time in the distant future. Second, Paul said in Ephesians that his mission was to teach all men about the fellowship of the mystery concerning the Church. Therefore, Paul’s goal was to teach the truths of the Church to the Jews of his day while, at the same time, writing the book of Hebrews to confirm the New Covenant promises to the Jews of the future who would inherit the kingdom after enduring the tribulation period.

Some people believe that there are two groups of believers on the earth today. They teach that only those who understand the truth of the Church which is the Body of Christ have received the high calling of Church membership. This would mean that the average believer who just believes that Christ died for his/her sins would not be part of the Church and would not be caught up with the Church at the rapture. This is false doctrine.

Paul was called to teach all people about the mystery of the Church because the Church is the only program for our present age. As Paul revealed the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ, he said there is only one body and only one faith.

Eph 4:4-6
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (NKJ)

Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com

Church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
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http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/