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" If one holds to the fact that Rome was not the true church, where was the Body before Rome, and during Rome, but before Luther or Calvin?"

Sounds familiar:

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. - I Kings 19:13-18

In other words, God is always preserving a remnant for Himself. This will also be true during the Tribulation, of which Jesus said: Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? - Luke 18:8b (For those who need a little help, Jesus is saying that things will look so bad that it will appear to the unenlightened that the Church is non-existent, it will be that bad. Yet, Christ is King, and as King He is both rewarding His loyal subjects, and executing His wrath against His enemies. So, when it comes to the Tribulation, just as in the dark ages of pre-Reformation Europe, He will be destroying a proportionately larger number of His enemies compared to the number of His beloved saints.)

Follow-up to 25.

I probably wasn't as clear in that post about one point. That point being, Christ is not concerned primarily with the salvation of souls. He is much more concerned with His own Glory, and the honor of the Name of the Father. He receives glory by saving, and He receives glory by executing wrath. He is the King, and this is His right. (In fact, anyone who dre complain about this is a rebel and a traitor, and deserves His wrath.)

(In other words, it isn't about us at all, it is all about Him! Our role is to glorify Him, whether as a member of His body, the Church, or as a testimony of the righteousness of His wrath.)

In other words, God is always preserving a remnant for Himself. This will also be true during the Tribulation, of which Jesus said: Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? - Luke 18:8b (For those who need a little help, Jesus is saying that things will look so bad that it will appear to the unenlightened that the Church is non-existent, it will be that bad. Yet, Christ is King, and as King He is both rewarding His loyal subjects, and executing His wrath against His enemies. So, when it comes to the Tribulation, just as in the dark ages of pre-Reformation Europe, He will be destroying a proportionately larger number of His enemies compared to the number of His beloved saints.)

Amen...For His Glory that they may know He is God!