The Church Moves On In The Creation Of The Framework Of The Body As She Hews Out Her 70 Prophets!

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"...And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an bold temple in the Lord... (Ephesians 2:20-21)."

The Apostle Paul, the Apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, declared that the work that he was doing in preaching the formation and foundation was for the purpose of those to the end of the earth.  This Scripture is found in Acts 13:47.  We find the wise masterbuilder writing the words quoted above, pointing out the fact that it is necessary to have the framework of the House before it can be adorned with the material which makes a beautiful dwelling place.  The framework of the House is that which one would call the bone work or the carcass of a body.  The House is not promised a growth, neither is it promised perfection,  until after it has been completely framed.  If one would consider the building of a house with lumber, a material of this earth, and the procedure of building it, then he could understand the creation of the Church.

There is no doubt in the minds of the people that Jesus Christ built a House, for in Hebrews 8:2, we find this writing, '...A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man.'  This Jesus did when He began this House.  He told the Apostle Peter (after Peter revealed that He was not only the son of God, but also the Christ, which means the Anointed One, the Revealer of the Word of God) that He was going to build this Church.  This was the first time God's tabernacle or God's house was ever called by the name Church.

Now, let us follow the procedures of the building of a house.  Of course, we have the foundation laid, which is Christ; next we are in need of pillars to set on this foundation of the House.  Here we find the Apostle Paul in the text Scripture referring to the Apostles.  Jesus went up unto a mountain and ordained twelve apostles, and Paul said in I Corinthians 12:28 that He set first apostles in the Church.  So, these are compelled to be the pillars of the House.  In Luke 10:1, Jesus appointed other Seventy and sent them two by two to prophesy in the cities wherein He was to come.  Another number of the pattern which Paul declared Jesus set in the Church was prophets, secondarily.  We find, also, that Paul said Jesus set teachers in the Church thirdly.  Of course, we have the gifts of the ministry as referred to in the fourth chapter of Ephesians.  Evangelists and pastors are added to these other three.

JESUS-THE SEVEN:  Because Jesus was revealed in the Seven, He had no need to appoint these Seven; however, after His departure, it was necessary for those Seven to be appointed in the fulfillment of the Word of God for it to increase, which means for more of the Word to be put into operation.  These Seven have always been the Seven leaders who enabled the people of God to become triumphant in victory.

OTHER OFFICERS:  Jesus, in framing His House, appointed officers in this framework, such as the principle of the Three which made the inter-circle with the Anointed as Chief.  The Chief is always the 13th, and he is the Servant.  Out of these three, according to the pattern of Moses and Jesus' fulfillment of it, Jesus chose one for a Spokesman.  Later, we find that officers were appointed for the Seventy.  In the Twelve, Jesus had what were known as right-hand and left-hand men.  Under the law, they were Aaron and Hur with Moses in the pattern, and in the Dispensation of Grace, they were John and James.  All this material of the Twelve, the Seven, and the Seventy and Two is used to frame the House.  Here, the House is ready for its great growth.  Keep in mind that the House is not an holy house, for it is not yet perfect.  As some would say, when it gets perfect, then I'll believe it, but the Scriptures point out that after the parts of the framework are set-up or framed, it will grow to an holy house in the Word of God.

WHY DON'T THEY CONFESS?:  Why don't men and preachers confess the principle of the Scriptures?  In Ecclesiastes the 10th chapter is the statement saying that by much slothfulness the building decayeth and by idleness of hands the house droppeth through.  Why don't they confess that in 325 A.D. Constantine destroyed what was left from the 1st Century of the House of God?  Why don't they confess that the Catholic Church  had the golden cup, but now have filled it with abominations?  I am saying this to point out the Scripture in II Thessalonians the 2nd chapter which says that the day of the Lord's coming would not come until after there be a great falling away and that man of sin be revealed.  if a man can see the Word of god in its true course, then why can he not see Amos the 9th chapter, Acts the 15th chapter, and Acts the 3rd chapter?  With undisputable facts, Luke said in verses 20-21 of the 3rd chapter of Acts, 'And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:  whom the heaven must receive until the time of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.'

Then, the Church in its memorial council at Jerusalem in the 1st Century, with James as the Chief Bishop, interpreted the prophecy of the 9th chapter of Amos.  They declared that from the beginning of the world God had chosen the Gentiles to rebuild the Tabernacle of the Lord as it was in the days of old.  If you are a Bible scholar and are not in too big a hurry and are presently doing all your preaching and teaching by skiing on the Word of God, would you take a swim in these Scriptures and see the reality of them?  Or, are you afraid of the burn?

Once it was said that there was a little boy named Johnny.  His mother was very busy in the kitchen, in those days when they used the hot-blast stove for heating.  She told her little boy that whatever he did, he should not touch the heater, for it would burn.  Of course, the little boy was fascinated by the word 'burn'.  He could not figure out what that meant.  So, being sure that his mother was very busy, he went over and slapped his hand on the stove to see what kind of sensation he would get.  In doing this, he burned his hand and began to scream and cry.  Mother ran in and said, 'I told you not to touch that stove, for it would burn.'  Yes, it did burn, but all  his life, Johnny knew the meaning of that word 'burn'.  He had received something by experience that many others did not have.  Likewise, to understand the depths of God's Word and to move in the riches of His glory, it will be necessary for you to experience the 'burn', or to make it milder, you will have to take the consequences of walking in the light.

This is exactly what The Church of God has done.  Truly, we have been persecuted from every angle, but, His truth marches on.  We have the Twelve, we have the Three, we have the One--the anointed.  We also have the Seven principal lights (lamps) of the Candlestick.  Now, we have 26 of the ordained Prophets.  However, we have other 37 appointed, some temporarily, until we can find all the qualified prophets for the Seventy.  The necessary officers have been re-appointed and some are being appointed.  The Seventy are being paired, two by two.  The Ninety and Two Bishops will frame the House, and then we are promised a great increase in growth.  There are still 46 of the Seventy to be located, and I am sure they will be found somewhere in The Church of God.

I would say more about this matter; however, there are some things I dare not say, for some men who are not with us are prone to take them and mistreat them by changing them enough to make them false doctrine, even though they retain some similar ties.  God will reward these men according to the last chapter of the Book of Revelation.  Beware that you take nothing from this Vision, nor add to it.

If you see the light of this Vision, it will pay you to come to this carcass (body framework) which is already set-up.  That is The Church of God of which Grady R. Kent is Chief Bishop.

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 * Article Written By:  The Late Grady R. Kent, St. John II, Chief Bishop of The Church of God, 1957-1964. This sermon was taken from The Vision Speaks, Volume 7 : Number 5 : November 1963.

All grammatical and typographical errors have been corrected except for direct quotations from the Author.  Thought content of said article has not been changed.