Did the church ever cease?
Introduction. The full question concerns the existence of the church from Acts 2 until the present. There are those who maintain they can historically trace the church back to its beginning in Acts 2.
The church was prophesied. Isaiah prophesied that in the last days the Lord's house would be established. He said it would be established "in the top of the mountains" and "all nations shall flow unto it." He also prophesied that "out of Zion shall go forth the law" (Isa. 2: 2-3). The "last days" were present in Acts 2 (vs. 17). Paul spoke of the church being the "house of God" and as being in existence (1 Tim. 3: 15). Jerusalem ("Zion", where the church was begun in Acts 2) was literally located on top of the mountains, and Jew and Gentile had entrance (Eph. 2: 15-19). The law actually went forth from Jerusalem (Luke 24: 47-49).
The Lord's church can be identified and duplicated today. A careful study of Acts and the epistles reveals essential traits of the early church. She was established by the Lord (Acts 20: 28; Matt. 16: 18), she taught only the gospel (no creeds, etc., 1 Tim. 3: 15; Gal. 1: 6-10), and she taught belief, repentance, confession of Jesus' deity, and water baptism for the remission of sin as requirements for primary salvation (Acts 2: 36, 38; 8: 37). She was not a denomination (1 Cor. 1: 3). Each local church was autonomous (Acts 14: 23; 1 Pet. 5: 2), and she was designated by terms which glorified God, not some man, religion, or movement (cf. Rom. 16: 16). The early church also regularly partook of the Lord's Supper on the Lord's Day (Acts 2: 42; 20: 7).
Conclusion. I personally cannot prove from history that the Lord's church has continued without interruption. Regardless, we can have the true church today simply by being what they were and doing what they did.
The church was prophesied. Isaiah prophesied that in the last days the Lord's house would be established. He said it would be established "in the top of the mountains" and "all nations shall flow unto it." He also prophesied that "out of Zion shall go forth the law" (Isa. 2: 2-3). The "last days" were present in Acts 2 (vs. 17). Paul spoke of the church being the "house of God" and as being in existence (1 Tim. 3: 15). Jerusalem ("Zion", where the church was begun in Acts 2) was literally located on top of the mountains, and Jew and Gentile had entrance (Eph. 2: 15-19). The law actually went forth from Jerusalem (Luke 24: 47-49).
The Lord's church can be identified and duplicated today. A careful study of Acts and the epistles reveals essential traits of the early church. She was established by the Lord (Acts 20: 28; Matt. 16: 18), she taught only the gospel (no creeds, etc., 1 Tim. 3: 15; Gal. 1: 6-10), and she taught belief, repentance, confession of Jesus' deity, and water baptism for the remission of sin as requirements for primary salvation (Acts 2: 36, 38; 8: 37). She was not a denomination (1 Cor. 1: 3). Each local church was autonomous (Acts 14: 23; 1 Pet. 5: 2), and she was designated by terms which glorified God, not some man, religion, or movement (cf. Rom. 16: 16). The early church also regularly partook of the Lord's Supper on the Lord's Day (Acts 2: 42; 20: 7).
Conclusion. I personally cannot prove from history that the Lord's church has continued without interruption. Regardless, we can have the true church today simply by being what they were and doing what they did.