Why would the approximately two thousand years of the era of the Christian Church be viewed as an interval of time not recorded by the prophetic clock? It is because the major purpose of the Christian Era has been the creation of the Body of Christ, the fullness of Christ. As soon as the Body of Christ has been created, the ministry of Christ spoken of by the Prophets of Israel will proceed according to the oracles.

It is as though the death and resurrection of Christ is being spread out over the two thousand year period as each member of the Body of Christ reveals in himself or herself the death and resurrection of Christ (Philippians 3:10).

As soon as the entire Body of Christ has been brought "to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ," the Father and Christ will make Their eternal abode in the members of the Body (John 14:23). Then the Head and the Body, acting in the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God, will fulfill the words of the Hebrew prophets concerning the ministry of Christ.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)

The above passage refers to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem of Judaea.

What will happen then, according to the Prophet Micah (verse 3)?

"Therefore will he" [Christ]

"Give them up" [the Israelites].

"Until the time she which travaileth" [the Christian Church—Galatians 4:19; Revelation, Chapter 12].

"Hath brought forth" [Christ in the Body of Christ].

"Then the remnant of his brothers shall return unto the children of Israel" [the Christian saints will assist in the reconciliation of the Jewish remnant to Christ during the seventieth week].

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: . . . . (Daniel 9:27)

As we understand it, the above "week" during which the covenant is confirmed to God's elect will take place just prior to the Lord's return to earth.

Notice that after the remnant of Christ's brothers return to the children of Israel, the Kingdom of God is brought forth:

And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he [Christ] be great unto the ends of the earth. (Micah 5:4)

Paul reveals that deliverance will come to Israel as Christ works through the members of His Body:

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:26)

That the Christian saints are Zion ("Sion") is shown in Hebrews 12:22:

"But ye (Christians) are come to mount Sion, . . . ."

Mount Zion is the Church of Christ:

"To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, . . . ." (Hebrews 12:23).

The "mystery" of the Christian Era is Christ being formed in us (Colossians 1:27). As soon as the Body of Christ has been formed to God's standard, the mystery of God "should be finished" (Revelation 10:7), and there will be delay no longer. The ministry of Christ, of the Servant of the Lord, will continue as prophesied (Isaiah 42:1).

To be continued.