The purpose of this age is then clearly defined as the visiting of the Gentiles to call out of them a people for His name; the called out people being the true Church (as that word signifies), which is made up of all the saved ones who have been saved since the Day of Pentecost, at which time the Spirit came to unite them into one body and to indwell them.  They are the heavenly people, regenerate and complete in Christ, their Bridegroom and living Head.

When this age is considered as the Kingdom of Christ it is usually thought of as in a state of development.  This is a necessary conclusion in view of the presence of sin and failure in the world.  But the setting up of the earthly kingdom is never described as the result of a process.  Scripture deals conclusively with this question.

In Dan. 2:34-35, an image is described, which is defined as being a symbol of the then dawning Gentile world power (which is still continuing, Lu. 21:24).  The image is here made to represent both the development of world rule and its terrible and final ending.  The image is seen to be gradually developing from one world government to another until the form of the image is wholly completed.  Its ending is then precipitated by a shattering blow from a Stone, “cut out without hands.”  By the same inspired interpretation, the “Stone” becomes both a symbol of superhuman power, being “cut out without hands;” and a type of Christ, the Ancient of Days, in His coming to the earth as a resistless Monarch; banishing all rule and authority.  A portion of the whole passage reads thus:  “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floor; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them:  and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth” (Dan. 2:34-35).

This being a Divinely interpreted prophecy as to the extent and ending of the present Gentile age, it should be noted that the Stone (Christ) strikes the image (the world power) with one destructive blow, and at the time when it has become fully developed.  The blow is struck on the part of the image which is last formed.  The great image is thus instantly and violently broken to pieces and is even blown away “like the chaff of the summer threshing-floor.”  In like manner, according to this prophecy, the whole Gentile rule will suddenly be broken and will vanish.