Specifically, Invisible Church, the body of Christ. All those that are born again believers, no matter
the denomination they belong to is part of the Invisible Church. Some have mistakenly understood
the church to have existed in the Old Testament. Some bible versions even have the word “church,”
in the OT rather than “congregation,” but the context refers to just the gathering of the people
Israel, or to congregate.

We use the name Invisible Church as the words Catholic has been taken by the Roman Catholic
Church and the word Universal, which is what Catholic means, has been taken by another unbiblical
church; The Universal Church.

We know from Matthew 16:13-18, specifically verse 18, that the church is yet future. Messiah
responds to the statement that Peter makes in response to Messiah’s question of whom do the
people say that I am, by saying that upon this statement I will build my church. Peters’ response
statement is that; “thou art the Christ, the Son, of the living God.” Jesus in verse 18 then says that
upon this rock I will build my church. Notice the “I will,” in His statement, making the church a yet
future entity.

It is important to note that the rock on which the Messiah will build His church is not Peter, but the
truth statement that he made about who the Messiah is. The Greek word for Peter is Petros; a
proper masculine noun, meaning a rock or stone, one that you can pick up with your hand. However,
the Greek word for rock is petra; a feminine noun, meaning a bedrock, or massive rock formation or
cliff. This word petra is used of the Rock in the Old Testament, that Rock being Jesus the Messiah; I
Cor 10:4. It is also used in the parable in Luke 6:47-49 of the man that built his house on a rock
foundation instead of on sand. Yeshua the Messiah is the foundation upon which the church is built;
not Peter.

In Acts 1:1-8, The baptism of the Holy Spirit which marks the birth of the church is yet future and
Messiah tells the disciples not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father
which is the baptism of the Holy Spirit; John baptized with water but they shall be baptized of the
Spirit not many days from now. So, the birth of the church is still yet future in Acts chapter one.
The Church begins in Acts chapter two and will end at the rapture which is only for those in the
Invisible Church. Old Testament and post rapture saints are not part of the Invisible Church. The
church saints will have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit forever as the earnest or guarantee of the
future spiritual blessings and inheritance we will receive at the resurrection.

The Greek word for church is Ekklesia; made up of two words “ek,” meaning out of and “kaleo,”
meaning, to call, so church means the called out assembly. A group called out from the mass to form
a distinct group in itself.

Ekklesia, traditionally carries the meaning of assembly and refers to the assembly itself and not the
people assembled. The N.T. word is used differently and refers to the people gathered rather than
the gathering itself.

It is never used to refer to a building, it is never used of a denomination, it is never used of a national
church, it is never used as the kingdom of God, and it is never used of Israel.

It is used in the technical sense as the people who form the called out assembly, the body of Christ.

The word Ekklesia is used 114 times in the New Testament. Three times in the Gospels, all in
Matthew, once in 16:18 and twice in 18:17. The other 111 times it is used in the rest of the New
Testament.

Ephesians 3:9 and Colossians 1:24-26, teaches that it was conceived in the mind of God, and it was
hidden until the time of the Apostles. A mystery, not revealed in the O.T. but now revealed in the
N.T.

I Corinthians 12:13 in reference to the body of Christ, points out that entrance into the Body of
Christ, the Church is by means of Spirit baptism. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit. Baptism of the Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation; along with justification, and
the forgiveness of sins.

And Ephesians 4:4-5 says there is one baptism. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are
called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

Ephesians 2:11-16 – The Church is made of up of both Jews and Gentiles who have believed in
Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus the Christ from Acts chapter two until the rapture of the church saints.
Hope this is useful to your understanding of the Invisible Church.

Fresh Truth Ministries
The Holy Bible
The Universal Church by Arnold Fruchtenbaum