1. It was a 'mystery' was first revealed to Paul.
"For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the Despensation or Age of the Grace of God which is given me to you-ward; how that by revelation He made known unto me The Mystery which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit that The Gentiles should be heirs and of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ by the Gospel.
From this we see that the Church was unknown to the OT prophets.
2. Is is a 'called out' body.
The word Church comes from the Greek word 'ecclesia' which means 'assembly' of 'called out ones.'
The purpose of this Church Age then is not the conversion of the world,but the gathering out of the church.
3. It is the 'body of Christ.'
And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him (Jesus), to be the head over all things to the Church which is His body. Eph. 1:22
Neither can the Church, as the body of Christ die for who ever saw a dead body attached to a living head?
4. It is to be the 'Bride of Christ.'
At present the Church is a virgin espoused.
Paul said to the Church of Corinth,
"I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ. 2 Cor 11:2
The Mission of the Church is to carry the Gospel to the whole world. Mark 16:15.
The purpose of the Gospel in this Age is not to save society, but to save the individual members that are to compose the Body of Christ-the Church.
The Destiny of the Church is to be 'caught out.'
The Rapture will be the most startling event of this Age. As it occur in the 'twinkling of an eye' and all over the earth at the same time, that part of the world that is not asleep will witness the event.
In 2nd Thessalonians 2:6-7 Paul explained that the anti-Christ could not be revealed until the power that's restraining him is taken out of the way (literally out of the midst). To most scholars the power Paul wrote about is the HS as resident in the Church. Since this power is sealed within us in Ephe 1:13 it stands to reason that if the HS is taken we have to go too. Here's another hint of the Rapture of the Church, this time preceding the appearance of the anti-Christ.
The Judgment of the Church is after the Church has been taken out of the world it is to be judged. Not for sin, but for works, at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
The 'Marriage of the Church is prophetically referred to by Jesus in the Parable of the 'Marriage of the King's Son in Matt 22:1-14,and is consummated in Rev. 19:7-9
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him; for the Marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of Saints. And he saith unto me, write, Blessed are they which are called unto the Marriage Supper of the Lamb..
