What are the promises for the church according to Paul's epistles?
Paul’s epistles show that the church, the body of Christ, is promised heavenly things, not earthly promises. This called-out group, predominantly Gentile but also including Jews, has a future rule in the heavenlies. Scripture distinguishes Israel from the church so these heavenly promises are understood separately from Israel’s earthly promises.
Les explains that when God moves into the epistles of Paul and the outcalling, He calls out of the mainstream of humanity the body of Christ—a mixture of predominantly Gentile but also Jewish believers. To this group, the promises are not earthly but heavenly. Their future is a rule in the heavenlies. Les emphasizes that Bible students must separate these two entities in God’s dealing: the Jew, the nation of Israel, from the church, which is His body. When those are kept separate, contradictions and major questions disappear, and everything becomes sensible.