Indeed, this question is more deadly serious than you know. Not only is saying that the Church Age is over a huge claim to make, but it must be made with a great care and only after careful consideration of what the Bible has to say about it. And we must remember, to come to an understanding of any Biblical truth we must compare it with everything that the Bible has to say on that subject. And because the very nature of the Bible is to hide truth, we can never truly examine all that the Bible has to say on a subject, this means that there is still the possibility of misinterpretation. Therefore, we must continue to diligently check ourselves against the Bible to catch our own errors and in doing so, seek to become more faithful to the Word of God.
"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." 1 Corinthians 13:9-10
So we must continue on, preaching that which we "...know in part..." and I must continue on with this article
The New Testament Churches were ordained by God to be the representation of the Kingdom Of God in the world. And if we read through the Bible, we find that there was another group of people who were ordained to be the representation of the Kingdom Of God. The Nation Of Israel.
This parallelism is too obvious to ignore. God made a covenant with Abraham way back in Genesis:
"7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God" Genesis 17:7-8
God repeatedly calls the Nation Of Israel "...my people..." (Exodus 8:21, 1 Chronicles 17:9, Jeremiah 24:7, 31:1, Ezekiel 11:20...) and so we get a picture that Israel is a special nation to God. Later on in history there is the Tabernacle, the Levite Priesthood, the Temple, the Holy City Jerusalem. All these are indicators that the Nation Of Israel is indeed very special to God.
Sadly, there is another parallelism between Old Testament Israel and the New Testament Church, both were constantly falling into sin. We hear about this all the time, how Priest such-and-such or Cardinal such-and-such or Pastor such-and-such was involved in a child-molestation scandal or a church feud involving millions of acres of land and LearJets. Even the fact that there is such a number of different denomination in the world today is a striking evidence of the Church's sad history of falling from truth and into apostasy. As soon as one denomination got too many doctrines wrong, someone would start a new one, then some years later perhaps that denomination would fall away and up comes a new one. And so on until you had all the denominations that exist in the world today.
This is no different from National Israel.
"11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: 12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that [were] round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. 13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. 15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. 16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. 17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; [but] they did not so. 18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. 19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, [that] they returned, and corrupted [themselves] more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. 20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; 21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: 22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep [it], or not. 23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua." Judges 2:11-23
But sadly Israel did not keep the way of the Lord, rather they continued to do evil.
"12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD." Judges 3:12
Because of Israel's apostasy, God repeatedly would bring them under judgement (1 Kings 15:25-34, 2 Kings 15:8-10, 2 Kings 21:19-23, 2 Kings 23:31-34, 2 Kings 23:36-37, 2 Chronicles 36:11-21).
From almost the beginning of the time of the Kings, God split Israel into two nations, the Northern Kingdom Israel and the Southern Kingdom Judah. This was, in essence, a split of denominations, for the Northern Kingdom continued in apostasy until they were destroyed by the Assyrians.
"In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes." 2 Kings 17:6
The Southern Kingdom however, was blessed by a few God-fearing Kings who did not rebel against God (1 Kings 15:5. 2 Kings 14:3, 15:3, 15:34, 16:2, 18:3, 22:2, 2 Chronicles 25:2, 26:4, 27:2, 28:1, 29:2, 34:2). But even in light of the few good Kings Judah had, God still promised that He would destroy Judah.
"24 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, [even] all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: 25 Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched." 2 Chronicles 34:24-25
This horrible prophesy came during the reign of King Josiah, perhaps the most God-fearing king Judah ever had!
And we must not ignore the many prophesies of Jeremiah:
"14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands." Jeremiah 1:14-16
"5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities. 6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction. 7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; [and] thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant. 8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us. 9 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, [that] the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder." Jeremiah 4:5-9
How can I say that? How can I make such an (apparently) outrageous claim? How do I dare to make this assertion? The answer is I don't, the Bible does. Consider the following passage:
"5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 6 [As for] these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign [will there be] when these things shall come to pass? 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. 9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end [is] not by and by. ... 20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. " Luke 21:5-9 & 20-28
Verse 20 is especially important. "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh."
In the historical context, Old Testament Israel (or Judah) was compassed about with armies and was eventually destroyed by Babylon (2 Chronicles 36). And what do we see today? We see " Jerusalem" compassed about by the armies of Satan. False gospels such as Arminianism, Charismaticisim, false doctrines such as idolatry or signs and wonders or speaking in tongues, or even the horrid "slaying of the Spirit." We see numerous church scandals involving scads of earthly possessions or another case of molestation. We see monstrous films such as the despicable "Passion of the Christ." We see sin and grievous doctrinal apostasy in every corner of the New Testament Church, in every denomination and to a lesser extent even in those pitifully few congregations that claim to be "reformed."
"21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league [made] with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. 24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do [that] which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: [yea,] and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time." Daniel 11:21-24
This can only mean that none of the churches are safe. Note the opening verses, "...he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries..." compare this to 2 Corinthians 11:13-15:
"13 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. "
You can see the picture. A man joins the congregation who gives much evidence that he is a child of God, and pretty soon he becomes an elder or deacon and eventually becomes a pastor. But the gospel that he brings is slightly different from that which the church had historically been bringing, perhaps he teaches that baptism is a seal of salvation, or that God does all the work to save you and then you have to accept him to receive that salvation, or any one of a hundred other subtle yet awful doctrinal errors. And soon after that you have a congregation that has fallen away from truth.
This is coming in peaceably and obtaining the kingdom by flatteries. And it happens all the time
"Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto." Luke 21:21
"...let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains..." Matthew 24:16
"But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:" Mark 13:14
"O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction."Jeremiah 6:1
These are commands from God to flee from the Church, as God commanded his elect to flee from Old Testament Israel before they were destroyed by Babylon. Where are we commanded to flee to? the passages in Luke, Matthew and Mark tell us to flee to the mountains, the mountains are sometimes used in the Bible as a picture of God Himself (Psalm 125:2) so the Bible is commanding us to get out of our churches and seek God as individuals.
This is indeed a hard question. After all, one cannot personally examine the doctrine of every single local congregation that exists in the world today.
Fortunately, the Bible gives us clues.
"...he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time." Daniel 11:24
This verse tells us that even those congregations that cling to a reformist doctrine with one hand will not escape. But sadly, this is not the extent to which the churches have fallen.
"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." Revelation 2:5
Pay close attention to "...the candlestick..." because it is going to become very important.
In the historical context, what was the purpose of having a candlestick? To hold candles, of course. And what was the prime function of candles? To give light, obviously. Now tell me, what does the light signify? According to John 8:12 Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. And Jesus Christ is also called the Word of God (John 1:1).
Do you understand? According to what we have just figured out, the candlestick represents the bringing of the Gospel.
So what happens when God removes the candlestick from the church? The Gospel is no longer being brought by the church.
This is absolutely horrible! This means that there are millions of people sitting in their churches and there is no bringing of the Gospel going on in any of those churches!
Tragically, the declaration of God in Revelation 2:5 applies not just to the church at Ephesus or Smyrna or Pergamos, but to ALL the churches!
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Revelation 2:29
Just as He brought judgement on Old Testament Israel as we learned earlier, so God has brought judgement on the New Testament Church.
2 Thessolonians 2:3-12 describes this situation to us:
"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; 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. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
While this whole passage is very important, verses 11 and 12 emphasize the judgement that God is bringing upon those in the Church. His judgement is spoken of as "...strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
Further insight into God's judgement on the churches can be gained from examining the parable of the wheat and the tares.
"24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."
Later in the chapter we read the interpretation of the parable.
"36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
In this interpretation we can get a picture of the duration of the Church Age and up to the end of it.
"...the field is the world..." and during the New Testament Church Age, there were local congregations all over the world. "...the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one..." this can be seen as a picture of the saved and the unsaved within the local congregations. The unsaved having been sown by the Devil into the churches. Then we see the wheat and the tares grow together and the tares are nearly indistinguishable from the wheat. These are the servants of Satan who are transformed into ministers of righteousness. Then comes the harvest, when the tares are bound in bundles to be burned. Or rather, when the unsaved in the churches are cast into eternal Hell forevermore.
The phrase "...and bind them in bundles to burn them..." is especially scary, because this ties in with 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 and tells us that those who remain in the Church will continue to come under greater and greater spiritual delusion and will probably be among the first to be cast into Hell.
Revelation 14 likens God's judgement on the Church (and the subsequent Judgement of the entire world) as a harvest, just like the parable of the wheat and the tares.
"14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs."
I have to get a bit technical here, because in verse 15 the translators made an error. That word "ripe" in verse 15 actually means desiccated or withered. Now at first look that seems to not fit into the picture at all. But lets just substitute that word ripe for withered.
"15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is withered. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped."
Now let's put this whole passage in the context of the Final Judgement. The New Testament Church is dead and under God's wrath. The withered first harvest is God's judgement of the Church and the following harvest is the judgement of the rest of the unsaved world.
In Jeremiah 7:16, 11:14, and 14:11 God gives the command "...pray not for this people... " this is the final blow, the last evidence pronouncing the doom of the Church. Jeremiah 14:10-16:
"10 Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. 11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for [their] good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. 13 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. 14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. 15 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them."
Whatever you do, don't stop studying the Bible. For faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). And studying the Bible is among the most important things to do especially in this day and age. Hopefully, you will be able to use the following resources to increase your knowledge of this critical subject.