As we have mentioned previously, Ecclesia (Greek) means: Body, Gathering, Assembly, and Group. (In Hebrew) the term is Kahal.
Ecclesia here has nothing to do with the Church (so called) or indeed any Church, whether it be Catholic, Protestant, or whatever, for these have estranged themselves from God in any case, with regards to their teachings, practices and beliefs.
The number those who have estranged themselves from God, and are a part of the sum total of all the known man made Churches, Sects,Cults and other Groups today, and they number around 35000.
The Ecclesia in question here, they have nothing at all to do with the above mentioned groups, for they are those who have been “individually” picked/chosen and called out to serve (Kaleo). Like Christ, they were known from the foundations of the Earth. While Christ and those of his Body were known from the foundations of the Earth, this does not mean that they had pre-existed.
They are those who are in Christ, those who will have lived and died in him since his departure.
While the Parables of the Kingdoms mentions 10, this is not literal, for it is the correct amount required (for which no one knows the number) that will be used until Christ comes again.
While many are called, as we can see from the Parables of the Kingdom, very few will be chosen. And, as Peter himself had said, “if it is hard for a righteous man to be saved, how much more so for those on the outside?” (1 Peter 4:17). This statement in itself should highlight how hard/difficult it will be to get into the Kingdom.
While the True Body (Ecclesia) are the Lampstand and bring Enlightenment (like Christ) to everyone, on the other hand the Messengers/Angels act in the capacity of warning the Body of Christ what it is they should be doing, and what they must do in order to be pleasing so as to be able to win the prize. Just as Prophets were used to warn the Kings of Israel and Judah.
The Angels/Messengers are in Christ’s hand, they are under his control, it is he who is directing them in this correcting work.
Ecclesia here has nothing to do with the Church (so called) or indeed any Church, whether it be Catholic, Protestant, or whatever, for these have estranged themselves from God in any case, with regards to their teachings, practices and beliefs.
The number those who have estranged themselves from God, and are a part of the sum total of all the known man made Churches, Sects,Cults and other Groups today, and they number around 35000.
The Ecclesia in question here, they have nothing at all to do with the above mentioned groups, for they are those who have been “individually” picked/chosen and called out to serve (Kaleo). Like Christ, they were known from the foundations of the Earth. While Christ and those of his Body were known from the foundations of the Earth, this does not mean that they had pre-existed.
They are those who are in Christ, those who will have lived and died in him since his departure.
While the Parables of the Kingdoms mentions 10, this is not literal, for it is the correct amount required (for which no one knows the number) that will be used until Christ comes again.
While many are called, as we can see from the Parables of the Kingdom, very few will be chosen. And, as Peter himself had said, “if it is hard for a righteous man to be saved, how much more so for those on the outside?” (1 Peter 4:17). This statement in itself should highlight how hard/difficult it will be to get into the Kingdom.
While the True Body (Ecclesia) are the Lampstand and bring Enlightenment (like Christ) to everyone, on the other hand the Messengers/Angels act in the capacity of warning the Body of Christ what it is they should be doing, and what they must do in order to be pleasing so as to be able to win the prize. Just as Prophets were used to warn the Kings of Israel and Judah.
The Angels/Messengers are in Christ’s hand, they are under his control, it is he who is directing them in this correcting work.
Once saved, always saved is a fallacy, for one must endure to the end if one is to be saved (Matthew 24:13), and salvation is only closer from the day onward when one hears the Gospel (Romans 13:11).
Revelation is not a book of the ages, but a book that deals with a single time period, namely the Time of the End, and warnings throughout the Bible were written afore time, and for our time, so that one may be warned (Romans 15:4).
Revelation highlights the group as a whole, and what the True Body (members) of Christ should be doing. Only two groups are spared admonition, and instead told to hold fast.
The Body (members) of Christ are a group that will have lived and died in Christ since his departure, and be there (alive) on his 2nd and final advent, and happy will those when ones be when the master arrives as they are doing his work he left for them to do.
While there will be those who’ve lived and died in Christ, they will live again when they come to life on Christ’s return at the 1st Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:51a, 52b and John 11:25) and there will be those who will never die at all who will be living on Christ’s Return that will be changed in but a moment (1 Corinthians 15:52c, and John 11:26 ). These will be those who (like their Master Jesus Christ) will put on immortality and become just like him (1 Corinthians 12-14).
Revelation is not a book of the ages, but a book that deals with a single time period, namely the Time of the End, and warnings throughout the Bible were written afore time, and for our time, so that one may be warned (Romans 15:4).
Revelation highlights the group as a whole, and what the True Body (members) of Christ should be doing. Only two groups are spared admonition, and instead told to hold fast.
The Body (members) of Christ are a group that will have lived and died in Christ since his departure, and be there (alive) on his 2nd and final advent, and happy will those when ones be when the master arrives as they are doing his work he left for them to do.
While there will be those who’ve lived and died in Christ, they will live again when they come to life on Christ’s return at the 1st Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:51a, 52b and John 11:25) and there will be those who will never die at all who will be living on Christ’s Return that will be changed in but a moment (1 Corinthians 15:52c, and John 11:26 ). These will be those who (like their Master Jesus Christ) will put on immortality and become just like him (1 Corinthians 12-14).
Paul MacDonald RN RMN MA (Hons) Dipl