The church came into existence on the day of Pentecost in 33 A.D.

"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." (Matthew 16:18)

1. After Peter made his famous confession of faith, Jesus said, "I WILL build my church."
2. The word will is in the future tense showing that He had not yet built His church.

"Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47)

1. Here is the first time the church spoken of in the present tense.
2. So, sometime between Peter's confession (prior to Jesus resurrection), and the statement in Acts 2:47, the church came into existence.
3. The day in which it happened is the day of Pentecost, for that was the day that the Lord began adding to them (Acts 2:41).

But, it was always in the plans of God.

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15)

1. Immediately following the fall of man God revealed that He had a plan whereby He would defeat Satan, and save man.
2. When this verse speaks of the seed of the woman bruising the head of the serpent, it is figuratively speaking of Satan (that old serpent) receiving a crushing blow to the head.

"For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14)

1. That plan was fulfilled in Christ.
2. By dying on the cross Christ received a slight affliction, but Satan was given a crushing blow, for his power (death) was taken away from him.

"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis12:1-3)

1. As we proceed through the Bible we see a gold thread running through it: The Salvation Of Mankind.
2. The first glimpse was in Genesis 3:15, the second one is here in the promise to Abraham.
3. As you continue through the Bible you see other glimpses of that thread (i.e. Isaiah 7:14), until you see it fulfilled in Christ, and the church that He purchased with His own blood.

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ." (Galatians 3:16)

1. One of the promises made to Abraham was that through his seed all families of the earth would be blessed.
2. That promise is fulfilled in Christ, for by His dying on the cross all men have the opportunity to be forgiven of their sin.

"Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the prinicipalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:7-11).

1. Paul considered himself blessed by God in that he had the privilege of revealing to mankind the mystery that had been hidden since THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD.
2. That mystery was salvation in Christ Jesus, for those who were added to the church.
3. In these verses Paul states that this was a part of God's eternal purpose.

When we compare O.T. prophecies with N.T. fulfillment we can see that God prophesied about the church many times.

• Isaiah 2:2-4
  1. All nations (people) are able to be a part of the church (Galatians 3:26-29).
  2. The gospel began to be preached in Jerusalem (Zion), and was taken to the entire world (Acts 1:8).
  3. The nature of the church is peaceful: described by Isaiah by the beating the swords into plowshares (Romans 12:18; I Thessalonians 5:12-15.

• Isaiah 9:6-7
  1. The names in verse six could only apply to Jesus, and it is said, concerning Him, that He would sit upon the throne of David ruling over His kingdom.
  2. Jesus sits upon the throne of David (Acts 2:29-36; Hebrews 1:8), over His kingdom (Mark 9:1 cf Acts 2:1-4; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9).

• Daniel 2:44-45
  1. God set up this kingdom in the days of the Roman kings.
  2. And, it is a kingdom that will "never be destroyed," will "not be left to other people," and will "stand for ever."

The church may have begun on the day of Pentecost, but it was always in the plans of God. Even before He created man.