THE TRUE CHURCH THE TRUE CHURCH The 28th study in the series. Studies written by William Carey. Presentation by Michael Salzman. All texts are from the New King James version. All rights reserved. 1-TC THE TRUE CHURCH What does the pure woman represent? Revelation 12:1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 1-TC THE TRUE CHURCH The prophecy of Revelation 12 traces out in a few bold strokes the career of Christ’s true church under the figure of a PURE WOMAN. 2-TC THE TRUE CHURCH What is the daughter of Zion compared to? Jeremiah 6:2 I have likened the daughter of Zion To a lovely and delicate woman. God has compared the daughter of Zion to a beautiful woman. 3-TC THE TRUE CHURCH What does Zion represent? Isaiah 51:16 And I have put My words in your mouth: I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, and Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’” 3-TC THE TRUE CHURCH ZION represents the Lord’s people, His true followers, HIS TRUE CHURCH. In Bible symbolism, THE TRUE CHURCH is often compared to a PURE WOMAN. (Compare 1 Cor. 1:2 with 2 Cor. 11:2) 4-TC THE TRUE CHURCH Who is the man child? Revelation 12:5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 4-TC THE TRUE CHURCH The Man child that the woman brought forth is Jesus Christ. He is the only one who has been given authority to rule all nations. He is the only one who was ever caught up from this earth to sit on the throne of God with the great Father. 4-TC THE TRUE CHURCH THE WOMAN, then, must have been IN EXISTENCE BEFORE JESUS CHRIST WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM as the Man child of Revelation 12:5. 5-TC THE TRUE CHURCH How long has God had a church? Acts 7:38 “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us, 5-TC THE TRUE CHURCH Ancient Israel, in their journey from Egypt to Canaan, are called THE CONGREGATION (CHURCH) in the wilderness. Then the church of God was in existence in he days of Moses, 1500 years before Christ was born. The word “CHURCH”, as used in the New Testament, means those who are called out from the world to serve God. 5-TC THE TRUE CHURCH In each generation, from the beginning of the world to the end, those who have responded to God’s call to serve Him, CONSTITUTE HIS CHURCH. 6-TC THE TRUE CHURCH How long was the woman in the wilderness? Revelation 12:6 & 14 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days. 6-TC THE TRUE CHURCH 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 6-TC THE TRUE CHURCH This woman, THE TRUE CHURCH, was to be in the wilderness, in a state of seclusion, for 1260 prophetic days, or years, Eze. 4:6. This was the period of the Dark Ages of Catholic rule and persecution from A.D. 538 to 1798. 7-TC THE TRUE CHURCH What does the remnant church do? Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 7-TC THE TRUE CHURCH This twelfth chapter outlines the career of the TRUE CHURCH TO THE END OF TIME, and the last verse in the chapter describes the TRUE CHURCH AS IT WILL APPEAR IN THE LAST DAYS. This verse speaks of THE REST OF HER OFFSPRING or the REMNANT of the church. 7-TC THE TRUE CHURCH The word REMNANT means the LAST PART of the church, and the last part of the church must be here on earth in the last days, just before the return of Christ. If we can find this REMNANT CHURCH TODAY, WE WILL KNOW THE TRUE CHURCH OF GOD FOR THESE DAYS, AND THE VERY ONE TO WHICH WE OUGHT TO BELONG. 7-TC THE TRUE CHURCH Rev. 12:17 says that this remnant will be DISTINGUISHED BY THE KEEPING OF THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD AND THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS. 8-TC THE TRUE CHURCH What is the testimony of Jesus? Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” 8-TC THE TRUE CHURCH THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY. To find the TRUE CHURCH today, we must find the church which keeps the commandments of God and has the Spirit of Prophecy. This church which keeps the commandments of God will keep the seventh-day (Saturday) as the Sabbath, because this is the only day God has ever commanded man to keep each week. 8-TC THE TRUE CHURCH This church will also practice tithe paying and observe feet washing in connection with the Lord’s supper, as these are two of the Lord’s commandments (See Lev. 27:30 and John 13:12-15). The REMNANT CHURCH will abstain from such unwholesome foods and drinks as 8-TC THE TRUE CHURCH pork, tobacco, tea, coffee, all alcoholic liquors, and cola drinks, since one of the Lord’s commands is that we should eat and drink as will please God, according to the principles He has laid down in the Bible, 1Cor. 10:31. 8-TC THE TRUE CHURCH The remnant will also refrain from adorning themselves with gold or pearls, 1 Tim. 2:9. As THE SEVENTHDAY ADVENTIST CHURCH TEACHES TO OBEY ALL THESE COMMANDS, IT MUST BE THE REMNANT CHRUCH OF REV. 12:17. THE TRUE CHURCH FOR THESE LAST DAYS. 9-TC THE TRUE CHURCH What do the saints do and have? Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 9-TC THE TRUE CHURCH They are the people who are preaching this true message for the last days, teaching that the time of God’s judgment is come, calling attention to the fall of Babylon, and warning against the mark of the beast: therefore they must be the true people of God for this time. 10-TC THE TRUE CHURCH • What happens to those who gain victory? • Revelation 15:2-3 • And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, 10-TC THE TRUE CHURCH standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of saints. 10-TC THE TRUE CHURCH They will be victorious at the coming of the Lord. Be faithful to this true message and you are sure to have eternal victory. 10-TC THE TRUE CHURCH Should you be a member of this true church? End TC