When Christ build His exclusive kingdom of God, He built it at one particular geographical location in this world. That was the scriptural location of Jerusalem.
If you were to go to any of the states in the US and find a welcome center, you would find a little placard explaining the origins of that state. Included in that would be the specific geographical location where the state was founded as well as the date of establishment.
You can find the same information in many local shops or restaurants. Many businesses are proud of where they started and about how long they have been in business.
If you were to then go to the state of Georgia and start arguing with people and suggesting that the state of Georgia is actually the state of Alabama and that it was founded in the year 1900, you would have some problems. You would have problems because this is simply not true.
When Christ built the church, it was established at a specific place. We can know from studying the Scriptures that this place would be Jerusalem.
This also means that any church not founded at the scriptural location of Jerusalem cannot be the church that Christ Himself built. It is simply an imitation, but not the real thing.
Let’s look at a critical old testament prophecy predicting the establishment of Christ’s church in Jerusalem.
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. 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.
Isaiah 2:2-3
The Bible clearly teaches several important things in this passage of predictive prophecy.
First, it teaches that this shall come to pass in latter days, not in that moment. What this does is exclude any religious institution already in existence from being the exclusive kingdom that Christ built. The biggest example of this is the religion of Judaism. If the Jewish religion existed at the time of this prophecy, it simply could not be the church that would be established in the “latter days”.
Nevertheless, there are still thousands of individuals practicing the Jewish religion today.
But the reality is that it is difficult to have a religion when your religion depends entirely on the instant genealogical records of your people. The only individuals who could conduct religious services in Judaism were the Levites. But when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70, all the records and genealogies of the people are destroyed. No one knows who they are anymore, as far as what tribe they belong to.
It is difficult to have a religion dependent on knowing who the Levites are when no one knows who the Levites are.
The second thing this passage in Isaiah teaches us is that “All nations shall come to this place“. This will not be a religion only for Jews. It will be a religion for all people, open to anyone willing to accept to total rule and authority of God by becoming an obedient member of His church.
And the last line in this prophecy is vital, it tells us that this church will begin in Jerusalem.
So again, if God was going to build His church in Jerusalem, then any religious institution not built at Jerusalem cannot be the exclusive kingdom of God that Christ Himself built on the correct scriptural foundation.
But we know that the church is established in Jerusalem in Acts 2.
Before this Chiuch is built, Jesus gives His apostles a few instructions for what to do before the church would be exablished. And these instructions are found in this passage.
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, [l]and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city [m]of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Luke 24:44-49
Jesus teaches that a few important things must happen:
- Christ had to suffer and die before the church would be established (again, exclusing Judaism from being the religious Jesus was talking about.
- Repentance and remission of sins must be taught in the name of Christ.
- This message must be preached to all nations.
- This message must be preached first at Jerusalem
- They must wait in Jeusalem for power before any of the preious points could happen .
This is a critical list of things that must happen before the church can be established. So let’s look again in the Bible to determine if these things happened how Christ said they would.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own [c]language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and [d]Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
Acts 2
13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only [e]the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you [f]have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having [g]loosed the [h]pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him:
‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
Moreover, my flesh also will rest in hope.
27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, [i]according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted [j]to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [k]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this [l]perverse generation.” 41 Then those who [m]gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ [n]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and [o]sold their possessions and goods, and divided[p] them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added [q]to the church daily those who were being saved.
We can see here that the list of requirements was met.
I – The Apostles first waited in Jerusalem until they received power from on high (Acts 2:1-4).
II – They taught repentance and remission of sins (Acts 2:38)
III – This lesson was taught in the name of Christ (acts 2:38).
IV – This lesson was preached to all nations in (Colossians 1:23)
V – And this lesson itself was preached in Jeruslem.
Without each of these individual requirements being met, no church can claim that it is the exlucise kingdom of God that Christ Himself built.
Other Reading: Not Every Culture Deserves Celebration.
