Paul in Rome Pictures God's Elect Out in the World After the Church Age has Ended

By God's grace, we have learned that the shipwreck in Acts 27 typifies the destruction of the corporate church at the time of the end of the Church Age. And we also know that the city of Rome and the Roman empire of that day represent the world. It was according to the Lord's will that the apostle Paul appeal unto Caesar and go to Rome in order to illustrate the truth that once the Church Age comes to an end, all of God's elect people must come out of the churches (Israel) and go out into the world (Rome).

Significantly, we find that the apostle Paul continued to minister the gospel while he lived in Rome:

Acts 28:16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

Once in Rome, Paul received numbers of people into his "lodging" and expounded the Scriptures to them:

Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

In fact, the Bible tells us that Paul received all "in his own hired house" and preached to them:

Acts 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Interesting, isn't it? We know the spiritual context is the end of the Church Age. And Paul is receiving people in a house and preaching to them. Oh, but God emphasizes to us that it was his "own hired house" so that we do not mistake it in any way for the house of God – the corporate church. It was not a church. But it was a rented house wherein he received all and preached the Bible.