Box 12: Present - "Church Age"

To determine the beginning date of Christ's New Testament Covenant, the same date as the start of the preaching of the gospel and the immediate establishment of the Lord's church with 3000 converts, we look at the dates associated with the Roman rulers of the time (Daniel 2:44).
Thus, Jesus being born during Herod's reign, historian scholars estimate Jesus' birth between 6 and 2 BC. John the Baptist began preaching in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar, which would have been around 27 AD. He baptized Jesus and was beheaded by Herod's son (Herod Antipas) in 29 AD.
Thus, Jesus began His ministry probably in 28 AD at age 30 (John 3) and was crucified, according to researchers, most likely April 3, 33 AD, which was the same day as the lunar eclipse of April 3, 33 AD (as alluded to in Matthew 27:45; Acts 2:14-21 and Tertullian 190).
The church was established 50 days later on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2—approximately on April 23, 33).

Of course, the church was in the mind of God before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4; 2:10), and Jesus taught that it would never be destroyed (Matthew 16:18; Daniel 2:44).
Jesus further taught that there would be but one church (John 10:16; Ephesians 4:4; 1:22- 23; Colossians 1:18) and that there should be no divisions (I Corinthians 1:10), but should be unified in Him (John 17:21-23).
His people become Christians, members of His body, through faith, repentance, confession of faith and baptism (Romans 10:17; Luke 13:3, Matthew 10:32; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:1-8; 16-17). The church upholds the Bible as its only rule and practice (John 4:24; I Timothy 3:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
He made the pattern, or New Testament blueprint, of His church simple enough, that the church can exist and spread anywhere on earth (without formal denominational structure) in worship, organization, mission and service.

Because the church is eternal, it is even traceable in every century since 33 AD. This is only sensible and logical as people, anywhere on earth exposed to the seed of the kingdom (Mark 4:26- 29) sown in their hearts, can obey the gospel (Romans 6:3-8; Hebrews 5:9) and restore the New Testament pattern as the church in practice and growth.
Two European Bible and church historians, Keith Sisman (Great Britain) and Hans Grimm (Germany) have traced evidence of New Testament Christians known as the church of Christ throughout Europe and Africa over twenty centuries since Jerusalem in AD 33.
For instance, history mentions the church of Christ in various specific locations:

33-100--throughout Roman world (Colossians 1:23-Europe, Asia, Africa);
100-200—Britain;
200-300—Syria, Armenia, Arabia, Northwestern Africa;
300-400—Spain, France, Palestine, Italy, Egypt, Asia Minor;
400-500—Britain; 500-600—Scotland, England;
600-700—Armenia, Britain;
700-800—Germany, throughout Europe;
800-900—Wales, Scotland, Turkey, Kurdistan, Asia Minor;
900-1000—Europe, North Africa;
1000-1100—Armenia, Alsace-Lorraine, Siberia, Balkins, Spain, France, Germany, Ukraine;
1100-1200—Germany, Netherlands, Alsace-Lorraine, Switzerland, Italy, Bulgaria, Macedonia;
1200-1300—Bohemia, France, Britain, throughout Europe and far East;
1300-1400—Wales, England;
1400-1500—Bohemia, Great Britain, Moravia, Austria;
1500-1600—England;
1600-1700—England, Germany, America;
1700-1800—England, United States;
1800-1900—Great Britain, Germany, United States;
1900-2000—throughout Europe, America and world-wide into 2000.

Most attention is paid today to what is called the Restoration Movement in the United States in the 19th century, as if it were a singular event. However, restoration (to go back to the original) of New Testament Christianity has occurred for 20 centuries and still occurs.