The Promised Restoration

Let us share a brief background study before entering into the "Meat of the Word" on this particular subject...

We are now living in the "Christian Dispensation." This time is commonly referred to in the scriptures as, "The Gospel Day." This dispensation began in the first Century through the birth of Christianity and will continue until the Lord's return.

Let us view the true picture of first Century Christianity through the scriptures...

You will never find the Roman Catholic Church or Denominational churches listed in the entire New Testament. The ONLY church spoken of in the scriptures is that ONE that Jesus Christ began. His Church has been built through the lives of redeemed people; those who have truly believed in Him as the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. We have related this truth in our previous pages.

Another interesting note: You will never find, "Church membership" mentioned in any of the Epistles. It is only written that, "The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

Also, there is no record of committees or boards being formed to do all the supervisory services. In fact, there is no mention of any ecclesiastical structures to govern "THE" Church of God. How do you suppose that could have been?

It is written: "God honors His Word even above His name." What does that actually mean? That means as long as the Word is preached and kept, He will honor it! All that He has promised, He will bring to pass! Miracles of healing in the name of Jesus Christ were common place in the first Century church! There were thousands of people saved at one time because the pure unadulterated gospel was preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The first century Christians had only the Epistles that were written by the Apostles. There were No traditional beliefs of men mingled with the Word.

Every Christian kept in touch with God personally. There were no "middle men" to go through in that first century church. They had no Popes, Priests, Patron saints, Virgin Mary, Cardinals, Bishops or clergy to do their intercession! They did not go through any ecclesiastical form to find the will of God for that which He was calling them to do. They did not have to consult with boards or committees to get approval or verification for their activities within the Body of Christ. They believed and acted upon what was written: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Tim.2:5) Christ was their ONLY mediator. They went directly to Him! The Holy Spirit was their personal guide. He told them what to do and where to go.

It is written in the scriptures, that "The Lord confirmed HIS WORD with signs and wonders and miracles of healing." Why did He do that? It was because the church kept His Word. According to historical accounts, those miracles began to diminish at the later part of the second century. Why was that? It was because there was a "falling away" from the truth. Paul writes of this falling away in 2 Thess. 2:1-3. God ceased to manifest these miracles, because men began to forsake His Word. They adulterated the Word with Idol worshipping practices. History verifies this fact in agreement with that which is written in the scriptures. This is why there are many warnings in the scriptures about searching the Word to see if the things we hear are true.

God expects every believer to, "Prove all things whether they be of God or man, To study to shew yourself approved unto God." That is why there is a Bible! This is why the Holy Spirit has been given to all believers. If we search the Word, He has promised to lead us into ALL truth. The end time warning has been given..."Even the very elect may be deceived, IF POSSIBLE." We must study God's Word in order to examine our traditional religions. This entire Web Site has been based upon Christ's doctrine. Scripture references have been given throughout. The following guide is presented as a "mirror" from God's Word to examine our beliefs. Our beliefs must be founded upon "Biblical Christianity"

* The Founder is Christ - Matt. 16:18
* The Foundation is Christ - 1 Cor. 3:11
* The Head is Christ - 5: 23
* The Name of the Church - Acts 20:29
* Membership offered to all - Rev. 22:17
* God admits the members - 1 Cor. 12: 13-18
* Only the "Saved" are members - John 15:1-6
* A Holy life is required - Titus 2 : 11-12
* Christ is the Door - John 19: 9
*Personal Salvation - Acts 3:19
* The New Birth - John 3:3-5*
* Repentance is a command - Acts 17:30

Perhaps we could use a little help from Webster's dictionary to understand this word "Hierarchy." Webster defines it as, "A system of church government by Priests or other clergy in graded ranks."

In the beginning...GOD! He did not ordain "man" to govern His church! Amen. That means, "So be it." It was foreordained that, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit would GOVERN THE CHURCH. God planned a "Divine Hierarchy" and none other! All the Trinity is equal! None is graded over the other. There is no jealousy in the Godhead. Each has been ordained His particular office work.

Paul writes..."And he (Christ) is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might have preeminence." (Col.1:17-18)

To have "Preeminence" means to be eminent above all others; surpassing all others; having total control. Throughout the letters, we are shown that God deals PERSONALLY with each believer. The Holy Spirit spoke individually and personally to give instruction.

It is written: "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him....And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1Cor. 12:18 and 28) We are also admonished to, Covet or be desirous of the best gifts and to seek them from God.

As we have related in our previous outline studies on the "Apostasy" we came to learn that the "Preeminence" of Christ was usurped by the first ecclesiastical structure called Roman Catholicism about the middle of the fourth Century

* The Pope - Rule of one man - Catholicism
* Superior Clergy - Episcopalianism
* Rule of Elders - Prysbyterianism
* Democratic Rule - Congregationalism,
Fellowships or conferences

Every Denomination has it's own designated ecclesiastical system. These have all originated from the Roman Catholic Apostasy. God's design is through the governing rule of the Word and the Spirit. Each local fellowship of the New Testament Church was ordained to be "Autonomous." That means functioning independently and completely under the Lordship of Christ. The "BOND" of fellowship comes through the Holy Spirit with other Christians by keeping His Word. There were no "strings" connecting those fellowships of churches in the first Century. No MAN-RULE was needed! It was the Word of God and the Spirit of God who kept the Unity of the faith.

This was their "criteria"..."This is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:5-7)

The Lord gave the Prophet of ancient days a glimpse of this "Restoration" for these final days...Zechariah wrote: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light." (Zech. 14:6-7)

As we have related, we have been living in that "Gospel Day" since the birth of Christianity. We are now in that "Evening Time" of the Gospel Day. The "Morning Time" church shown brilliantly with the unadulterated pure Light of the glorious gospel! Then came the LONG DAY of the darkness of the Apostasy. A false church developed called Roman Catholicism which claimed to be the visible representation of Christianity.

As Zechariah prophesied, so it has come to pass now..."In the evening time it shall be light." We are now living in the EVENING TIME of the gospel age. The 7 Sealed Scrolls of Revelation have been opened! This verifies that the coming of the Lord is near! We are seeing those final events being fulfilled that have been spoken of in prophecy. The first ray of light came forth from the breakthrough of the 16th. Century Reformation. Since that time, the light has been shinning brighter and brighter until the Daystar arises. The fullness of the LIGHT of the glorious gospel is again coming forth through many stalwart Christians.

Thousands of truly born again children of God are re-examining their "traditional" beliefs. They are finding out that they are not Biblical rooted! They are comparing their "traditional stances" with the Word of God and finding them in error. Many Christians in leadership positions are declaring their allegiance to Christ, rather than to the persuasions of men. They are seeing the scriptural truth of the church more clearly. They are "Coming Out" of the institutionalized churches, and permitting God to govern their lives in a personal way. God is calling His true Shepherds to feed the flock. He is again raising up "Autonomous" churches governed by His Word and Spirit.

* Firm faith enjoined - 2 Tim 1:12
* Confession and cleansing - 1 John 1:9
* Confessing the Lord Jesus - Rom. 10:9
* God brings salvation - Titus 2:11
* Denying worldly lusts - Titus 2:12
* Repentance and acceptance - Luke 13:3
* Repentance and Babtism - Acts 2:38
* Believing is a necessity - Acts 16: 30-31
* Believing unto Righteousness - Rom. 10:10