The correspondence between Ahithophel, Judas and the Pope makes it appropriate to explore parallels between them. One of these is the direction given in Psalm 109:8, “Let another take his office”, which is applied by Peter to Judas in Acts 1:20, in the form, “His bishoprick let another take”. As a result, Matthias was chosen by lot and “numbered among the eleven apostles” (v 26). Some have thought that the apostles acted prematurely in this, and should have waited for the calling of Paul, but the subsequent acknowledgment of them as “the twelve” (Acts 6:2) confirms that they had been guided by the Holy Spirit in the step that they had taken.
In its original context, Ps 109:8 refers to the death of Ahithophel, David’s counsellor (2 Sam 15:12), who had turned against David, advised how to defeat him, and hanged himself when his counsel was not taken. David was the author of Psalm 109, and the instruction given in verse 8 by the Holy Spirit was obeyed when Ahithophel was replaced as David’s counsellor by Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar (1 Chr 27:33,34). Thus David’s household was restored to its full complement, and the wicked Ahithophel was not missed.
The New Testament Church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph 2:20). The number of apostles – twelve – is the number of “perfection” in Scripture, and corresponds to the number of the tribes of Israel. The defection and death of Judas had reduced the number of apostles to eleven and spoilt this perfection, and it was to rectify this that Matthias was chosen. With the foundation of the Church restored to its state of perfection, the Holy Spirit was poured upon her in the next chapter of Acts. The spiritual truth that is being emphasised here is the perfection of the foundation that Christ had laid in His work on earth, and it was on this perfect foundation that the New Testament Church was built from Pentecost onwards.
The Pope and the Church of Rome occupy an anomalous position in the Christian Church. They appear to be a part of it because the Pope is described as sitting “in the temple of God” (2 Th 2:4), but in truth they are not part of it at all. Before the Reformation, the Church of Rome became deeply corrupt; and since the Reformation she has departed entirely from the truth. Should we be mourning over her and yearning for her restoration? Will part of the Christian Church seem to be missing when eventually the Roman Babylon is cast down and “found no more at all” (Rev 18:21)? Will the true Church be like the Children of Israel when the tribe of Benjamin was absent, and they were asking: “Why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?” (Jdg 21:3)?
Not at all: “his bishoprick let another take”. Judas was not missed, and the Church of Rome is not missed either, nor will be missed at the end of the world. The places of Ahithophel and Judas were easily filled, and the gap left by the Church of Rome was soon filled by the spread of the gospel. At the last, the true Church will be found “foursquare” (Rev 21:16), with no part missing. Christ will bring “forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it” (Zec 4:7).
The holy Jerusalem that John saw “had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: on the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Rev 21:12-14). She was complete. Christ will be able to say of all His people, as He said of His little flock in the days of His flesh: “Those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled” (Jn 17:12).
DWBS