Why didn't the Old Testament writers see the church age?
The Old Testament writers did not see the church age because it was kept secret in the mind of God. They understood prophecy as a continuous flow from the 483 years to Christ's return and kingdom, not a 1,900-year gap. Had they seen it, it would not have been a secret.
Les explains that the Old Testament writers did not see the church age because it had not yet been revealed; they expected the prophetic flow to continue without interruption. They did not understand there would be a 1,900-year gap between the 483 years and the fulfilling of the last seven. Instead, all the Old Testament writers speak of it as a continuous flow of events until Christ would return and set up His kingdom, with Israel then the vehicle to evangelize the nations. Les further notes that when Paul comes on the scene with the gospel of grace, the Holy Spirit has him reveal that these things were kept secret, hid in the mind of God. Thus, as the Old Testament writers wrote concerning history, they did not see the church age; otherwise it would not have been a secret kept in the mind of God.