The Church Past, Present, & Future: Part I
The Church
Past, Present, & Future: Part I
Sunday, November 30th, 2025
Apostle Mike Herzog
The church was created for a greater purpose than a gathering of people on Sunday mornings. The church’s purpose is eternal. In simplest terms, the church is the body of Jesus Christ. Just like you do not walk without legs, Jesus does not do anything without the church. God does nothing at random, and His timing is not determined by man’s timing. Our heavenly Father is eternal, outside of space and time, and omnipresent. His timing is determined by the fulfillment of prophecy. He doesn’t do anything unless He tells His prophets first.
Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
There was great anticipation for the coming of the anointed one. Everything had to be done in divine order for God to send the Messiah. The church was initiated when Jesus was born.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgement and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
God spoke this word to the Prophet Isaiah about the coming Messiah. This word transpired 700 years later.
Galatians 4:4
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law,
The prophecy was fulfilled, and God sent His Son when all the divine prophecies given to Isaiah finally materialized. The fullness of time means that when a series of events is finally aligned with the will of God in full maturity, His prophecy will properly take place.
Mark 4:29
But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.
When Jesus was born, there were certain things happening within the culture. Because of the Roman rule of Israel, the Jews eagerly awaited the arrival of the Messiah. The Israelites were suffering from oppression, which resulted in a yearning for a savior. Rome had unified much of the world under its government. This unification of all the different nations resulted in the empire becoming relatively peaceful. This made travel more flexible and allowed early Christians to spread the gospel. In earlier times, it would not have been possible to have such freedom to share the gospel. Greece had achieved cultural conquest, while Rome had achieved military conquest. Because of the Greek influence, the Greek language was being used for trade. This expanded the common use of the Greek language, so these nations could hear and understand the same knowledge being shared. Many began to abandon the worship of false idols when they discovered that those idols left their prayers unanswered. The religions of that era emphasized a relationship between God and a savior. Offering blood sacrifices was a requirement of these religions. This made the gospel of Christ, which involved one ultimate sacrifice, believable to them. The Romans recruited soldiers. These men were introduced to the Roman culture and ideas such as the gospel. The earliest introduction of the gospel to Britain was the result of the efforts of Christian soldiers stationed there. From man’s point of view, this represented the fullness of time. Until the ancient prophecies that were shared prior to Jesus’ birth were fulfilled, neither He could come to earth, nor He could return to heaven.
A Few Prophecies of the Old Testament
Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.
His crucifixion between two criminals.
He was given vinegar to drink.
Dying without a broken bone in His body.
He was buried in a rich man’s tomb and resurrected again on the third day.
Isaiah 53:7 is another example of prophecy before Jesus could return to heaven.
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
When Jesus was accused of blasphemy and ridiculed, He kept silent as a lamb led to the slaughter. The way He responded was the fulfillment of a prophetic word. Jesus cannot return to earth again until the ancient prophecies have been fulfilled. No man will know the day or the hour. Some of those prophecies yet to be fulfilled are times of restoration, and all His enemies will be made His footstool. Throughout history people have set many dates for Christ’s return, specifically during times of persecution, unrest, and famine. None of these strenuous circumstances determines when He will return. His return is based on certain events happening first.
Acts 3:20-21
And that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
Jesus wants to be reunited with His church. Heaven is holding Jesus back until the completion of the prophecies. Our assignment is to work to fulfill His will on earth as it is in heaven.
A reformation is a time when God makes a major shift in the church to accomplish a specific purpose. Those who embrace the old become persecutors of the new. The biggest threat to the move of God is those stuck in the past refusing to move forward. God is constantly moving and providing us with new revelations so that we can progress. Apostle Mike expressed that he will be examining three unique reformations over the next few weeks in this series of teachings.
1st Reformation:
The birth of the church. This brought redemption for mankind.
Ephesians 2:19-22
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Jesus’ home on earth is the Church. Each member of the church is a part of Christ’s body, each serving a different function. The apostles and the prophets received revelation for the purpose of the church; they laid the foundation for the church, their blood was spilled as martyrs, and there are divine moments that led to this first reformation, along with the birth of Jesus. Often, we don’t understand the significance of what God has done until we reflect on past events.
Ephesians 5:31-32
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
This last scripture refers to Jesus and His church. When we come to Jesus, we become a part of His body. Coming to Jesus to be saved is not only to go to Heaven but also to become one with Him. To fulfill His assignment to restore all things to the way things once were in the Garden of Eden.
Past, Present, & Future: Part I
Sunday, November 30th, 2025
Apostle Mike Herzog
The church was created for a greater purpose than a gathering of people on Sunday mornings. The church’s purpose is eternal. In simplest terms, the church is the body of Jesus Christ. Just like you do not walk without legs, Jesus does not do anything without the church. God does nothing at random, and His timing is not determined by man’s timing. Our heavenly Father is eternal, outside of space and time, and omnipresent. His timing is determined by the fulfillment of prophecy. He doesn’t do anything unless He tells His prophets first.
Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
There was great anticipation for the coming of the anointed one. Everything had to be done in divine order for God to send the Messiah. The church was initiated when Jesus was born.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgement and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
God spoke this word to the Prophet Isaiah about the coming Messiah. This word transpired 700 years later.
Galatians 4:4
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law,
The prophecy was fulfilled, and God sent His Son when all the divine prophecies given to Isaiah finally materialized. The fullness of time means that when a series of events is finally aligned with the will of God in full maturity, His prophecy will properly take place.
Mark 4:29
But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.
When Jesus was born, there were certain things happening within the culture. Because of the Roman rule of Israel, the Jews eagerly awaited the arrival of the Messiah. The Israelites were suffering from oppression, which resulted in a yearning for a savior. Rome had unified much of the world under its government. This unification of all the different nations resulted in the empire becoming relatively peaceful. This made travel more flexible and allowed early Christians to spread the gospel. In earlier times, it would not have been possible to have such freedom to share the gospel. Greece had achieved cultural conquest, while Rome had achieved military conquest. Because of the Greek influence, the Greek language was being used for trade. This expanded the common use of the Greek language, so these nations could hear and understand the same knowledge being shared. Many began to abandon the worship of false idols when they discovered that those idols left their prayers unanswered. The religions of that era emphasized a relationship between God and a savior. Offering blood sacrifices was a requirement of these religions. This made the gospel of Christ, which involved one ultimate sacrifice, believable to them. The Romans recruited soldiers. These men were introduced to the Roman culture and ideas such as the gospel. The earliest introduction of the gospel to Britain was the result of the efforts of Christian soldiers stationed there. From man’s point of view, this represented the fullness of time. Until the ancient prophecies that were shared prior to Jesus’ birth were fulfilled, neither He could come to earth, nor He could return to heaven.
A Few Prophecies of the Old Testament
Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.
His crucifixion between two criminals.
He was given vinegar to drink.
Dying without a broken bone in His body.
He was buried in a rich man’s tomb and resurrected again on the third day.
Isaiah 53:7 is another example of prophecy before Jesus could return to heaven.
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
When Jesus was accused of blasphemy and ridiculed, He kept silent as a lamb led to the slaughter. The way He responded was the fulfillment of a prophetic word. Jesus cannot return to earth again until the ancient prophecies have been fulfilled. No man will know the day or the hour. Some of those prophecies yet to be fulfilled are times of restoration, and all His enemies will be made His footstool. Throughout history people have set many dates for Christ’s return, specifically during times of persecution, unrest, and famine. None of these strenuous circumstances determines when He will return. His return is based on certain events happening first.
Acts 3:20-21
And that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
Jesus wants to be reunited with His church. Heaven is holding Jesus back until the completion of the prophecies. Our assignment is to work to fulfill His will on earth as it is in heaven.
A reformation is a time when God makes a major shift in the church to accomplish a specific purpose. Those who embrace the old become persecutors of the new. The biggest threat to the move of God is those stuck in the past refusing to move forward. God is constantly moving and providing us with new revelations so that we can progress. Apostle Mike expressed that he will be examining three unique reformations over the next few weeks in this series of teachings.
1st Reformation:
The birth of the church. This brought redemption for mankind.
Ephesians 2:19-22
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Jesus’ home on earth is the Church. Each member of the church is a part of Christ’s body, each serving a different function. The apostles and the prophets received revelation for the purpose of the church; they laid the foundation for the church, their blood was spilled as martyrs, and there are divine moments that led to this first reformation, along with the birth of Jesus. Often, we don’t understand the significance of what God has done until we reflect on past events.
Ephesians 5:31-32
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
This last scripture refers to Jesus and His church. When we come to Jesus, we become a part of His body. Coming to Jesus to be saved is not only to go to Heaven but also to become one with Him. To fulfill His assignment to restore all things to the way things once were in the Garden of Eden.
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