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The church in history
Who says the church, the REAL church, must be visible throughout history from Pentecost till now?
The Reformed Protestant doctrine is not apostolic succession, but apostolic continuity - ie, the real church is whoever believes and practices the Bible, whenever they may be living.
The Catholic/Orthodox churches claim apostolic succession - ie, one must point to a continuously visible and continuously existing 'church' to identify the 'real' church.
Not saying either is correct, just pointing out to seekerman that his argument against OPs being representative of the true church is outside the pale of Reformed, Protestant, and Evangelical orthodoxy, and would be recognizable as valid only by a catholic/Eastern Orthodox person.
Just saying.
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