The Body of Christ is not associated with Old Testament prophecy because all prophecy was directed to Israel, and the Church is a separate mystery revealed through Paul.
Les Feldick teaches that no Old Testament prophecy ever mentions the Church Age or the Body of Christ. Instead, the Body of Christ is a distinct work of God's grace, called out primarily from among the Gentiles after Israel rejected its King and Kingdom. Since it has nothing to do with Israel's prophetic program, it also has nothing to do with the tribulation, which is tied to Israel.
Romans 11:25 — Paul reveals that Israel's blindness is only temporary until the fullness of the Gentiles is brought in, showing a distinct present work apart from the prophetic program.
Acts 20:24 — Paul describes the message of grace by which the Body of Christ is being called out, a message not found in Old Testament prophecy.
Ephesians 2:12 — Describes Gentiles as aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, illustrating the church's separation from Israel's covenant promises.
The Old Testament prophets do not speak of a Gentile church; the prophetic message is directed to Israel. The Apostle Paul reveals a mystery concerning Israel's blindness, writing that blindness in part has happened to Israel 'until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in' (Romans 11:25). Paul also identifies the message he carries as 'the gospel of the grace of God' (Acts 20:24). Scripture itself reserves the phrase 'the Body of Christ' for Paul's epistles, and the Gospel accounts never use that term. Paul further reminds Gentile believers that in time past they were 'aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise' (Ephesians 2:12).
Les Feldick teaches that the reason the Body of Christ is not in Old Testament prophecy is that prophecy is a program for Israel, not for the Church. He states plainly: 'All prophecy was directed to the nation of Israel, and no prophecy gives any indication of the Church as such. Not a word is ever breathed throughout the Old Testament about this Church Age comprised of Gentile believers.' Les also emphasizes that Jesus and the Twelve never used the term 'Body of Christ'; it appears only after Paul is raised up on the Damascus road. After Israel rejected the offer of the King and Kingdom, God set Israel's program aside and inserted an undetermined period of time during which He calls out the Body of Christ, mainly from the Gentiles. This is why Les insists that the Body of Christ has nothing to do with the Old Testament program, nothing to do with the tribulation, and must be off the scene before God resumes dealing with Israel.
No. Les Feldick says the Old Testament prophets never even mention the Church Age made up of Gentile believers. They understood there was something between Christ's first advent and His coming in power and glory, but they saw it like a valley hidden between two mountain ranges — it was not revealed to them.
Because it was a secret held in the mind of God. According to Les, the rapture, church doctrine, and the gospel as we know it are not in the Old Testament or the Gospels because the Body of Christ was not revealed until Paul. God now calls out the Body of Christ, not under law, not associated with Israel or the temple, but entirely by grace based on the finished work of the cross.
Israel rejected the offer of the King and Kingdom after Christ ascended. God then set Israel's prophetic program aside and inserted an unrevealed period of time during which He calls out the Body of Christ from the Gentiles. Les ties this to Romans 11:25, where Israel's blindness is only until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
Les emphasizes that throughout the Gospels there is no reference to the Body of Christ or the saved of the Gentiles; Jesus and the Twelve never use the term. The Gospel accounts remain basic to the covenants made with Israel. That is also why Les warns against getting 90-95% of church teaching from the four Gospels.
Paul's Name for the Church
Les reminds viewers that when he speaks of the church he means what Paul usually calls 'the Body of Christ,' showing this is a Pauline designation for the assembly being called out.
The Body of Christ and Israel's Program
Les directly answers why the Body of Christ is not in the Old Testament program: it has nothing to do with that program, is tied to Paul's calling out of Gentiles, and is insulated from God's dealings with Israel before or after. That is why it must be raptured before God resumes dealing with Israel.
A Term Jesus Never Used
Les challenges that Jesus and the Twelve never used the term 'Body of Christ,' proving it was not part of the prophetic revelation given to Israel.
Revealed Only Through Paul
Les shows that the term 'Body of Christ' is Pauline terminology, revealed only after Paul's conversion on the Damascus road, not during the early Acts chapters when God was still dealing with Israel.
Not in the Gospels
Les says the Gospels contain no reference to the Body of Christ or the saved of the Gentiles; they are still basic to the covenants made with Israel.
Called Out Apart from Israel
Les explains that the Body of Christ is being called out apart from law, Israel, Judaism, and the temple — entirely by grace through Christ's finished work, and cannot be mixed with the law program that will return for Israel.
Prophecy Belongs to Israel
Les states that all prophecy was directed to Israel and that no Old Testament prophecy gives any indication of the Church Age made up of Gentile believers.
A Secret Hidden in God
Les says the rapture, church doctrine, and the gospel as we know it are not in the Old Testament or the Gospels because the church age was a secret held in God's mind. After Israel rejected the King, God inserted an unprophesied period before the seven years and the Kingdom.
Romans 11:25: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Shows Israel's partial blindness while God's present work among the Gentiles runs its course.
Acts 20:24: But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Paul identifies the message he carries as the gospel of grace — the message by which the Body of Christ is called out.
Ephesians 2:12: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
Reminds us that before being in Christ, Gentiles were aliens from Israel's covenant relationship; the Body of Christ is distinct from Israel's prophetic promises.
No. Les Feldick teaches that not a word was breathed in the Old Testament about a Church Age comprised of Gentile believers. The prophets only saw something between Christ's first and second comings, like a hidden valley between mountain ranges.
According to Les, Jesus and the Twelve never used it; the term is revealed through the Apostle Paul. It represents the saved, primarily from among the Gentiles, called out by the Gospel of Grace.
Because the tribulation is connected with Israel's prophetic program, while the Body of Christ is not tied to that program. Les teaches that the Body of Christ is insulated from God's dealings with Israel and must be off the scene before God resumes dealing with Israel.
Les teaches that the Gospel accounts are all basic to the covenants made with Israel and contain no reference to the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is called out not under law, not associated with the nation of Israel, Judaism, or the temple, but by grace alone.
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