The Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Church

The Scope of the Church

God’s church has an even wider significance than in its application to men and women gathered out of this world of sin; it applies also to the millions of the angelic host. In the book of Hebrews the writer pictures “an innumerable company of angels” and “the general assembly and church of the firstborn.” The latter expression refers to God’s church on earth, to those whose names are written in heaven; the expression “the innumerable company of angels” has reference to a large assembly of angels in the courts above. The Authorized Version hardly indicates this, but the Greek text does. The Interlinear translation renders this phrase “to millions of angels, [the] universal gathering.” BSPC 142.5

The thought that God has a church on earth and a church in heaven is expressed in the writings of the Spirit of prophecy as follows: BSPC 143.1

“The church of God below is one with the church of God above. Believers on the earth and the beings in heaven who have never fallen constitute one church. Every heavenly intelligence is interested in the assemblies of the saints who on earth meet to worship God. In the inner court of heaven they listen to the testimony of the witnesses for Christ in the outer court on earth.”—Testimonies for the Church 6:366. BSPC 143.2

God plans to exhibit His victorious church to the unfallen worlds throughout the days of eternity. Even now the church is a spectacle and a wonder to the hosts above. BSPC 143.3

“The angels of God, seraphim and cherubim, the powers commissioned to cooperate with human agencies, look on with astonishment and joy, that fallen men, once children of wrath, are through the training of Christ developing character after the divine similitude, to be sons and daughters of God, to act an important part in the occupations and pleasures of heaven.”—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 18. BSPC 143.4

But throughout the endless ages they will be an eternal evidence of God’s mighty power to save. The church will reveal to the hosts of angel beings, as well as to the inhabitants of those sinless realms, the glory and power of that matchless redemption which is in Christ Jesus our Lord! BSPC 143.5