One definition for the church is "Those who gather in the Name of Jesus Christ." The ecclesia (church) is "called out" from the rest of the world much like Israel before them. They follow the Way of Christ. They become light and salt for the rest of the world, diminishing darkness and adding flavor to an otherwise bland existence by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the church. This is the gathering.
Ezra was a priest and scribe giving authority to lead a group of exiles back to Jerusalem to teach and to lead the people of Jerusalem who were rebuilding to follow the covenant. Ezra gathered Levites and priests, servant families who had been appointed long ago under David for the service of the temple to return (Ezr. 8:15). He was sent by the king Artaxerxes of Persia to "evaluate Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God (Ezr. 7:14)."
Ezra's evaluation was immediate. No sooner than he and his company arrived after a 4 month 4 day journey, he was told that many of the exiles, including their elders and priests, had intermarried with gentiles in the land and some even had children by them (Ezr. 9:1-3). Ezra tore his robes in utter grief and interceded for Jerusalem. "Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me [Ezra], because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles (Ezr. 9:4)."
His tearful confession of Israel's sin and intercessions lead the elders to repent. They called a national day of repentance. All Hebrews in the land who had returned to their inheritance were called to gather in the temple courts. The day was pouring rain and the people shivered in the wet and cold, but they also trembled at the Holy presence of God. The gathering admitted that they needed to repent and agreed to send away their gentile wives and the children they had with through them (Ezr. 10:9-12). This reminds me of Abraham sending away Hagar and his first born son Ishmael.
And so Ezra lead the returning exiles back into covenant faithfulness.
Zephaniah writes much earlier during the reign of King Josiah, another reformer who lead Judah back to covenant faithfulness before the Babylonian exile (640-612 B.C.). This prophet uses imagery describing the coming "Day of the Lord" that is vivid and total. It is not simply the Lord coming against Jerusalem, or Judah, or Nineveh. The Day of God's wrath will be on the whole earth.
I will bring distress on mankind,
and they will walk like the blind
because they have sinned against the LORD.
Their blood will be poured out like dust
and their flesh like dung.
Their silver and their gold
will not be able to rescue them
on the day of the LORD's wrath.
The whole earth will be consumed
by the fire of His jealousy.
For He will make a complete,
yes, a horrifying end
of all the inhabitants of the earth (Zph. 1:17-18).
But there is still hope for those who gather themselves in humility and repentance before the Lord.
Gather yourselves together;
gather together, undesirable nation,
before the decree takes effect
and the day passes like chaff,
before the burning of the LORD's anger overtakes you,
before the day of the LORD's anger overtakes you.
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth,
who carry out what He commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility;
perhaps you will be concealed
on the day of the LORD's anger (Zph. 2:1-3).
God has appointed a time to "gather nations" and "assemble kingdoms" for judgment (Zph. 3:8). After the Lord has poured out His indignation He will "restore pure speech" to the peoples (Zph. 3:10). This was fulfilled at Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. For the people separated by language suddenly heard the Spirit filled disciples proclaiming the gospel in their own languages. Spirit filled people throughout the New Testament speak in other tongues and Spirit enabled ears comprehend them.
And Yahweh speaks a promise of restoration for fallen Jerusalem through Zephaniah before Jerusalem fell.
I will gather those who have been driven
from the appointed festivals;
[They will be] a tribute from you,
and reproach [on her].
Yes, at that time
I will deal with all who afflict you.
I will save the lame and gather the scattered;
I will make those who were disgraced
throughout the earth
receive praise and fame (Zph. 3:18-19).
Yahweh gathers nations for judgment and the fire of His jealousy. He gathers scattered exiles who suffered His punishment for their unfaithfulness, purges them of arrogance, and renews them with meek and humble servants among them (Zph. 3:11-13).
Haggai writes during the leadership of Zerubbabel, son of David, appointed Governor for Jerusalem and Judea under the King of Persia. The prophet writes at a time when the people has settled in their homes, but had not started rebuilding the temple (Ezr. 2:70-3:1). Haggai confronts them.
"Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins (Hg. 1:4)?"
He points out that blessing of the Lord is not on the land, nor prospering their work for they have not attended to Him.
"You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought [the harvest] to your house, I ruined it. Why?" [This is] the declaration of the LORD of Hosts. "Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house (Hg. 1:9)."
The former exiles responded and began to rebuild the temple. They laid the foundation for the new temple and the people gathered there to celebrate. They shouted with joy but some wept for they remembered the glory of Solomon's temple which was completely destroyed. 50 years had passed since it's destruction (586-536 B.C). Those in aged in their 20's and 30's who were there in Jerusalem when the city fell are now in their 70's and 80's. They survived. They came back home to see the ruins. They watch the efforts to rebuild. They know what was lost and they weep.
Ezra records this event (Ezr.3:10-13) and Haggai speaks directly to it as well. With the gathered people at the laid foundations Haggai cries,
Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn't it seem like nothing to you? Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel"—the LORD's declaration. "Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land"—the LORD's declaration. "Work! For I am with you" —the declaration of the LORD of Hosts.
"The final glory of this house will be greater than the first," says the LORD of Hosts (Hg. 2:3-4, 9)."
John, the Revelator, reveals the hidden things that will soon occur to deliver God's church, His gathering. He writes to seven churches in the western region of modern Turkey. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Each church is represented by a golden lampstand among which a glorified and triumphant Christ stands with seven stars in his right hand. The stars are angles for each church. They are protectors and providers and messengers to Christ's churches.
Even though this message for churches in late first century Asia Minor, I should note that the number seven means total or complete. This the message to these seven churches could be interpreted as a message to all God's churches, the complete total of them. For at the end of this fallen age, all who remain faithful to the love of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ will be gathered into the New Jerusalem. They will gather with all the saints and angels and worship and serve God forever without evil, in complete and total holiness.
So a message to not listen to false teachers who tell you you can have sex with whoever you want, is a message for all churches everywhere and at any time (Rev. 2:14-16, 20-24). A message for a near dead church because of laziness and lackadaisical incomplete efforts for God's work is a message for any church that sits on its proverbial posterior and is not diligent about the business of the kingdom (Rev. 3:1-3).
The message of Revelation is clear: "Be Faithful to the death" for Jesus Christ and His church, His called out people gathered in His Name.
"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life (Rev. 2:10)."
The seven promise to these seven churches for enduring faithfulness are promises to churches everywhere at all times and forever. These are to the victor, to the one who overcomes.
- I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God (Rev. 2:7).
- I will give you the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
- I will give the victor some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it (Rev. 2:17).
- I will give him authority over the nations—I will also give him the morning star (Rev. 2:26, 28).
- They will walk with Me in white, because they are worthy...dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels (Rev. 3:4b-5).
- I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God—the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God—and My new name (Rev. 3:12).
- I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne (Rev. 3:21).
The angel of the Lord reveals to John "what must take place" in the form of a sealed scroll (Rev. 4:1; 5:1). But only Jesus Christ, the slain and living Lamb of God is worthy to break the seven seals and reveal what must take place (Rev. 5:3-7).
And the entire cosmos sang praises to the Lamb. The 24 elders, representing the twelve tribes of a believing Israel and the twelve apostles for all the gentiles who believed through their message, all these bow in worship. Countless angels, thousands of thousands, join the chorus! And "every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them" cry out in worship.
Their sevenfold, complete and total praise is given to the One who has been victorious, the Slaughtered Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals;
because You were slaughtered,
and You redeemed [people] for God by Your blood
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they will reign on the earth.
The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing!
Blessing and honor and glory and dominion
to the One seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever (Rev. 5:9-10, 12, 13)!
Will you be in the gathering? Will you join the gathering called out to serve the Lamb in worship and faithfulness through love and good works? Will you receive the totality of His great promises to those who are victorious through His grace?
Will you join the gathering in the throne room of heaven and with the four living creatures representing all the created realms of the One seated on the throne and cry "Amen!"
So let it be!
"Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev. 2:7)."
Interesting! If we aren't gathering, are we the genuine church?
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