Mike is so religious on this forum thread instead of scripturally following Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is NOT absent as the head of the body of Christ. The early disciples later to be apostles clearly saw this. For example from the book of Acts are the following scriptures as quoted from the New King James Version.
With Jesus seated on the right hand of God and he currently still is, spoke to Saul later to be the apostle for the Gentiles, got Saul to make a major change from perhaps being the worst persecutor of first century followers of Jesus Christ to being the best and most informative teacher of the New Testament. The Roman citizenship name of Saul was Paul. VPW new about Paul, and quoted from some of the scriptures originally written by Paul many times in his books. For example, what I view as Wierwille’s best book named, “Are the Dead Alive Now?”, which I have fully read. Chapter 13 of my biblical teaching book is in harmony with this book and is named: “When Will the Dead Be Made Alive Through Jesus Christ?”.
Even the original apostles were not able to get Saul also called Paul to make a major change like Jesus Christ did as the head of the body of Christ.