It would seem that if you believe Christ and the Apostles to be visible, than it should follow they were also an ORGANIZED and VISIBLE Church that would continue in succession though the ages. Scripture does not say the visible church would end with the Apostles,dear sister.
The only VISIBLE and ORGANIZED Christian Church that can be traced back to the time of the Apostles is Catholicism with its Sacramentalism given to us by Christ Himself
There are volumes upon volumes of writings from the early Church Fathers that back all this up and defend Catholicism through the ages.
As the late Bishop Sheen so beautifully stated....
"If you would find Christ today, then find the Church that does not get along with the world. Look for the Church that is hated by the world, as Christ was hated by the world. Look for the Church which is accused of being behind the times, as Our Lord was accused of being ignorant and never having learned. Look for the Church which men sneer at as socially inferior, as they sneered at Our Lord because He came from Nazareth. Look for the Church which is accused of having a devil, as Our Lord was accused of being possessed by Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils. Look for the Church which the world rejects because it claims it is infallible, as Pilate rejected Christ because he called Himself the Truth. Look for the Church which amid the confusion of conflicting opinions, its members love as they love Christ, and respect its voice as the very voice of its Founder, and the suspicion will grow, that if the Church is unpopular with the spirit of the world, then it is unworldly, and if it is unworldly, it is other-worldly. Since it is other-worldly, it is infinitely loved and infinitely hated as was Christ Himself. … the Catholic Church is the only Church existing today which goes back to the time of Christ. History is so very clear on this point, it is curious how many miss its obviousness…”
Except this "sacramentalism" cannot be traced back to Jesus Christ nor to the Apostles but gradually became ingrained within the organized and controlling institution that, through force in concert with the temporal power of the state, enforced the views of the hierarchy. The Roman Catholic Church did not assert itself as primary until the fourth century and later and even then was not seen as over all the other local churches. Until that time, there were MANY local churches in Rome (it's a BIG city) as well as in other parts of the known world and they shared the common Christian faith that was based upon the teachings of Christ and handed down from the Apostles. I know you have to be aware that the Eastern Orthodox separated from Rome in the eleventh century when the Primacy of the Pope of Rome was established. This was NOT as the early church believed and it was rejected because of its novelty much like other doctrines with which they also departed.
the Catholic Church is the only Church existing today which goes back to the time of Christ. History is so very clear on this point, it is curious how many miss its obviousness…”
I understand why Catholics hold so tightly to this but it is NOT at all "obvious". The only way we can know a local assembly is part of the "faith" of Christianity is how closely they hold to the doctrines taught by Christ and perpetuated by the Apostles and these teachings, traditions, are what is set forth in Holy Scripture. Teachings of fallible men do not usurp the Divinely-inspired Scriptures. So ANY church that calls itself Christian only has legitimacy as long as they follow God's truth as taught in Scripture. When these central doctrines are deviated from, then it no longer represents the true church, the Body of Christ. And this body IS a spiritual household - that is the ONLY way that the sheep can be separated from the goats, the wheat from the tares. Christ knows those who are His and His sheep hear HIS voice and follow Him.
I accept that we may not EVER agree about this but I thank you for your respectful manner and your concern. I am positive that what I believe IS the true faith and I am assured that I have eternal life through Christ my Savior.