Isaiah 2:2-3 ISA 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. ISA 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Zechariah 1:16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
MAT 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 16:13-18 MAT 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? MAT 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. MAT 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? MAT 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. MAT 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. MAT 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Luke 9:27 at hand Luke 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Luke 11:2 not immediately Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luke 21:31-32 all will be fullfilled Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luke 24:44-49 all must be fullfilled Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
The Church Established
Acts 2 (9:00 A.D. 33) Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
ACT 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
The Church is the body and Christ the head
Eph 1:20-23 Eph. 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Eph. 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: Eph. 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Eph. 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Col 1:18-19 Col. 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Col. 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Eph 4:3-6 Eph. 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph. 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; Eph. 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, Eph. 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
I Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
The Church is the bride of Christ. Eph 5:23-32 Eph. 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Eph. 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Eph. 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Eph. 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph. 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. Eph. 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: Eph. 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. Eph. 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Eph. 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
What is in a name?
Gen 17:3-15 Gen. 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Gen. 17:15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
Gen 32:27-28 GEN 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. GEN 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Rom 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
ACT 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
I Cor 1:9-13 I Cor. 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. I Cor. 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. I Cor. 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. I Cor. 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. I Cor. 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Church of God
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
1Co 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1Co 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
1Co 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
1Co 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
2Co 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
1Th 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches ofGod which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches ofGod for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Church of the living God
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Church of the firstborn
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Church of the Saints
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Earthly Organizations
I Tim 4:1-3 I Tim. 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; I Tim. 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; I Tim. 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
II Thes 2:1-7 II Thes. 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, II Thes. 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. II Thes. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; II Thes. 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. II Thes. 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? II Thes. 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. II Thes. 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Episcopalian: Founded by King Henry VIII in 1533 as the Church of England. The Protestant Episcopal Church was its successor in America in 1607.
Luthern Church: Began on Oct. 31, 1517 when Martin Luther tacked his 95 theses on the Castle Church in Wittenberg in protest of the sale of indulgences by the Roman Church.
Presbyterian: Started in Scotland in 1560 when the Scots confession was drawn up and accepted by Parliament. The First Book of Discipline a book of common order, and the metrial psalter drawn up in 1561 were not ratified by Parliament but were generally accepted.
Baptist: Originated in the early 1600's within English Puritanism (religion of those who wanted to purify the Church of England) General Baptist (separatist) John Smyth started the First Baptist Church in Holland in 1609. Particular Baptist (non separatist) started in 1638 by John Spilsbury.
Methodist: Began in May 1738 at Oxford as result of three men (John and Charles Wesley and George Whitfield) who sought to live Christian lives through methodical study and devotion. They did not intend to found a new Church. Both Wesley's never left membership or the ministry of the Church of England.
Seventh-Day Adventist: Started by William Miller a Baptist in 1831 but had little interest until 1839. They were called Millerites until 1843 when they took the name Adventists from a Latin word menind coming.
Jehovah's Witnesses: Bible Study Association was founded in 1872 by Charles Russell (of Presbyterian background). Jehovah's Witnesses was adopted in 1931 by his successor Joseph Franklin Rutherford.
Pentecostal- Assembly of God- Holiness- Church of God Began in 1886 by R.G. Spurling and son (Baptists) and W.F. Bryant (Methodist). Taken over by A.J. Tomlinson who convened as assembly in 1906 at Camp Creek in North Carolina.
Mormon Church: Joseph Smyth at 14 had a vision Sept. 21, 1823. Found the plates he saw in his vision Sept. 22, 1827. Published The Book of Mormon in 1830. April 6, 1830 in Fayette, N.Y. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was organized by Joseph Smith and 5 other men. (Seer, a Translator, a Prophet, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, an Elder of the church through the will of God the Father and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ.)
Conclusion Gal 1:6-12 Gal. 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Gal. 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Gal. 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal. 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal. 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Gal. 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. Gal. 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.