Hope of Israel Ministries (Ecclesia of YEHOVAH):

The "Church" and "Israel"

by Arnold Kennedy

"The term ekklesia is the combination of two Greek words, ek -- out of, or from, and klesis -- to call."

Ecclesia simply means an assembly, any assembly of people who are called out from other peoples and from which all aliens and slaves have been excluded (see Ellicott’s comments on Matthew 16:18). Hence it is used of the whole nation of Israel, as distinct from other nations. For those who claim that trying to limit ekklesia to Israel is a biased view, please read Dr. E. W. Bullinger (The Apocalypse of the Day of the Lord) from which these notes are summarized.

The Old Testament equivalent is the Hebrew word cahal (or qahal) which means to call or to assemble together, but there is not one place where it is rendered “church”. Cahal is used seventy times and is mostly translated as “congregation”, this being the congregation of Israel. An interesting feature is that this word is used for those called out of Israel to assemble before the Tabernacle and Temple, and it denies or excludes the “mixed multitude” (edah -- which is also translated as congregation) which comprised of those from other races who had joined themselves to Israel.

In the New Testament there was a parallel situation of there being a “mixed multitude” in the Judean nation.

The Foundation of “The Church”

The word church is usually thought of traditionally as being a New Testament word, because it is supposed to be a multi-racial entity, whereas in the Old Testament, Israel was a single race. Let us look at the foundation of the Church as given by the Messiah.

(a) The Roman Catholic view -- that “The Church” is built upon the Apostle Peter.

(b) The Protestant view -- that “The Church” is built upon the rock itself. The translators of the KJV did not give the word rock a capital “R” as might have been expected. The traditional teaching from this verse is that the Messiah is the rock upon which YEHOVAH God builds His Church. This sounds quite reasonable until we look into the words used in the verse. (Please note that it is not being said that the Messiah is not the cornerstone of the foundation).

The Messiah’s words are the stumbling stone Israel could trip up on. This never applies to peoples other than Israel. But the stone in Romans 9 is not petra or petros; it is lithos. The stumbling stone and the rock are not the same words. The Messiah said those who build their houses in response to these sayings of mine are those who build on the feminine petra. The Messiah was then addressing his disciples (Israelites all), and not the Scribes and Pharisees in the mixed multitude.

(3) Petra a huge, unmovable mass of rock -- like Ayer’s Rock in Australia. It is more than foundation rock -- it is awesome in its immensity.

To be wise, we must consider well the Messiah’s words.

Could “The Church” Take Over the Promises Made to Israel?

In the last chapter of the Book of Romans, it is sometimes claimed that the dispersed of Israel rejected the salvation of YEHOVAH God, and when Paul turned to the “Gentiles” (v. 28), he was supposed to be turning to non-Israel stock. “The Church” is thus said to contain non-Israelites and to have taken over all the promises that had been made to Israel. We need to consider three issues in connection with those verses:

(1) Paul was speaking with Judeans who were then in Rome. He turned to the House of Israel because they will hear it. In all of Paul’s epistles, he writes to Israelites (see the article, That Unfortunate Word “Gentile”).

WHO is “THE assembly”?

When Stephen was addressing the Judean leaders, he related the history of Israel to them. This is what “got them going”. These leaders were a mixture of men and brethren, both appearing jointly as elders. Stephen reminded them of the prophecy that Moses had made about a prophet being raised up unto Israel "like unto me and that him shall ye hear." The Messiah was to be raised up unto the very same (like) racial group of people. Stephen then goes on to say:

Here we find mention of the church (ekklesia) which also existed in the Old Testament. This means that they are the same entity. Stephen isolates the church as having our fathers in a genetic way. This is not what is taught in our Bible schools and churches, because it does not fit with the multiracial conception of “The Church”. The Israelites were on their own, separate from the other races, in the wilderness. Stephen tells of the lively oracles given to us. That these oracles were given to Israel alone has been shown from many Scriptures.

Acts 20:28: "…and to all the flock, over which the holy ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church (ekklesia) of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

We could look at this flock later because it adds to what is being said. Israel as sheep in prophecy ties up with sheep in the New Testament. They isolate Israel as being the same people in both Testaments. In this verse Paul is addressing the church of YEHOVAH God. The church has been purchased, or bought back, by the Messiah’s blood. Bought back signifies that they were previously a possession of YEHOVAH God. Without going into this as a subject, it can be stated that this can apply only to the nation of Israel. As Zacharias prophesied, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed His people…to remember his holy covenant, and the oath which he sware to our father Abraham" (Luke 1:67, 73). All this identification could not possibly apply to other races. The assembly (ekklesia) is of Israel, and OF ISRAEL ONLY, and these are the ones who the Messiah hath purchased with his own blood as quoted above.

1 Corinthians 1:2: "Unto the church (ekklesia) of God which is at Corinth, to them which are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,…"

This qualifies WHO are the members of the assemblies. The calling is essential. "Both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:11-13). "God’s name is declared among the brethren…in the midst of the church (ekklesia) will I sing praise unto thee…I and the children which God has given me." This assembly can NEVER be stretched beyond this to include everyone on earth.

Ephesians 1:22, 23: "…and gave him to be the head over all things to the church (ekklesia) which is his body,…"

Colossians 1:18: "And he is the head of the body, the church (ekklesia):…"

Colossians 1:24: "…for his body’s sake, which is the church (ekklesia):…"

Ephesians 5:23: "for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church (ekklesia), and he is the savior of the body."

In Ephesians 5:23, there are the masculine aspects, the “husband”, “head and “christ” with the feminine aspects, the “wife”, “church” and the neuter noun “body”. The assembly has a head and a body.

So far we have the one body which is the ekklesia. This is one single body. In the New Testament, the KJV translators translated the singular word ekklesia as “churches” 37 times. It would have been better if the translators had used the word “congregation” or “assembly”. Congregation is not used by the translators as a New Testament word, apart from Acts 13:43. Here we have the start of a problem with the word church. Because of the translations, we wrongly associate the word church (as a place) with congregation (as people). This gives problems when reading through the Word. Sometimes our conception of the church as a place where we go to is adequate, although in reality each person there must be a called-out one. They must all be of the ekklesia; they must all be of Israel. The place of the meeting is the synagogue (used 58 times).

The translators had “a lot of fun” translating this word, giving it meanings such as assembly, appointed, seasons, congregation and solemn. There are 24 references. All these translations do not help to make understanding easy. It means an appointed meeting or their coming together. This word is inclusive of everyone within the Israelite camp, both Israelite and non-Israelite.

Unfortunately, both ‘edah and qahal are translated as “congregation” and this gives rise to the misconception that the mixed multitude had the same total position as the Israelite bloodline. A parallel situation of mixture applied in Judea at the time of the Messiah and a similar position is found among our assemblies today.

(1) Unconverted “Jews”, or the Judeans of Israel.

(2) Unconverted “Gentiles” of the Dispersion of Israel.

The popular reasoning from this verse is that assembly is comprised of converted people from out of the “Jews and Gentiles”. This is thus thought to encompass every race on earth. But, as these “Gentiles” are the House of Israel, the assembly must be comprised of those who are from the House of Judah plus the House of Israel, who are redeemed under the terms of the New Testament made to Israel. Scripture says the New Testament is made with these two Houses alone (Hebrews 8:8). This confirms what we saw in the Adoption article. In the above verse, then, no offence is to be given to any of Israel stock from either House, whether converted or unconverted. The context as given in verses 1 and 2 of this chapter in Corinthians is ISRAEL. Those being addressed in the first verse of chapter 10 had “fathers” who were associated with Moses; this means that they were Israelites.

Today, although we have open, unashamed, so-called “churches” of Satan, these are not our concern here. The Synagogue of Satan is an imitation and a counterfeit of the real thing. The Messiah spoke about the synagogue of Satan in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9. This synagogue of Satan co-exists with what is translated as the “churches”. If we venture to say that the members of Satan’s synagogue are such because they are not of the seed of Abraham, some might object and they might object loudly. The Messiah says that these of Satan’s synagogue call themselves Judeans and are not. They profess to be of YEHOVAH’s people but they are not. The Messiah says so, and in the Gospels he also points to the children of the wicked one. This indicates that they are of a different seed. This distinction must be kept in mind.

Here we see two differing "children". The Messiah says that a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. It is absolutely impossible. Peter tells of two differing seeds, the corruptible and the incorruptible. This compares the natural man of Genesis 1 with the spirit carrying man, of Genesis 2. The good seed is the only seed which can be quickened by the Word of YEHOVAH God. So, is there a corruptible seed and an incorruptible seed or not? Peter is writing to the “elect” (chosen) nation and he tells about the salvation that should come to this people. The prophets of Israel searched for the grace that was to come to Israel (1 Peter 1:10). Is YEHOVAH God not allowed to make such choices? Is YEHOVAH not allowed to be merciful to those whom He will? Is YEHOVAH God not supposed to harden whom He will? Yes, but we are taught this is not so and that every kin is the same and has the same opportunity. The tares, like the trees from corrupt seed, have the destiny of being cast into the fire.

(a) The false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15).

These all look like the real thing in outward profession! They use YEHOVAH’s word in the way Satan does. They say "lord, lord, have we not prophesied in your Name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and done many wonderful works?" This would be enough to convince the average churchgoer that these were so-called spirit-filled (present tense) and born again Christians (perish both expressions). They are one thing outwardly, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. The outward wonderful works claimed are works, and not Grace. Works are not fruit; only the good seed can produce that. Fruit is produced, by YEHOVAH God, as the good seed abides in the Vine. The seed is manifested by actions; it is by their fruit ye shall know them.

He never ever knew them. But who will agree with the Messiah today? So let us now see how Satan’s synagogue also has wonderful works. As it has been said, these things, such as the prophesying in the name of the Messiah, the casting out of devils and the wonderful works, might deceive even the elect.

Mark 13:22: "For false Christs and false prophets shall arise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect."

John 4:48: "Then said Jesus unto him, except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe."

Matthew 12:39: "An evil and adulterous generation seek after a sign;…"

How much closer to the truth could he appear to be? Satan is shown as doing wonders in the sight of men! Look at the order of service at many modern Pentecostal-type meetings. There is a similar technique to that found in parts of the entertainment world to raise an atmosphere. The old nature is quickened. First we have the loud music and the clapping to the beat of drums. Choruses are sung proclaiming what we are; how we are a mighty army and all these things. The songs are what they call affirmations; such as, "We are a people of power." Now, what is the thought that is being instilled in the congregation’s mind? What is being whipped up? What is the ambition? Is it not to raise enough fervor to prophesy, then to cast out devils (deliverance) and then do mighty works?

These three things, the power, the signs and the wonders, are what some people seek above all else. Satan can do it! Satan can make fire come down from heaven, in the sight of men, we are told (Revelation 13:13, taking this literally). So they sing, I’m calling down fire to get the meeting all fired up. Their fire has to come from the outside. They do not already have it within. YEHOVAH’s people, the elect, can easily be led astray in this area.

One thing more might be said. Consider the worship service on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18). Study the worship order of the prophets of Ba’al. The Word of the LORD did not matter to them. They cried out; they cut themselves, they prophesied, but there was no fire for them. Elijah did what he did, because YEHOVAH’s Word had told him to. He just prayed a simple prayer and the fire fell. And the ratio there was one true prophet to 450 false prophets. Could we have a similar ratio today?

Although all professed to worship a god, the prophets of Ba’al did not address their god the same way Elijah addressed his God. Elijah knew his God as the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not the Ba’al of all races. Is this the same in the noisy so-called Christian world today? Almost always it is Christ this, and Christ that, it is Lord this, and Lord that. They are forever saying "Lord, Lord," but they are not ever doing the will of YEHOVAH God. Their actions do not support their words. Seldom is the precious name of the Father heard in their worship, sometimes they try to use the name of the Messiah to cast out demons (see Acts 8:9:24). That they do wonderful works in YEHOVAH God's Name, or in the Messiah's name, proves nothing!

The grand old songs of the Church, the songs of Redemption, the songs of Calvary and the songs of the Savior’s Love are not popular. No, power, signs and wonders are paramount, to them. These are what they like to sing about. They have much in common with the New Age!

We read of a “false Jew” in Acts 13:10 who ceased not to pervert the right ways of the LORD. He could not help it.

Jude 12, 13: "These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear, clouds they are without water…to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."

Does our charity deny the Word of YEHOVAH God which says to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. Darkness is reserved for them even as surely as Israel’s inheritance is reserved for Israel (1 Peter 1:4). There is one great thing wrong with these people, even if they profess to be Christians. Yes, they separate themselves, but they are not having the spirit (Jude 19).

Hope of Israel Ministries -- Preparing the way for the Return of YEHOVAH God and His Messiah!

Hope of Israel Ministries P.O. Box 853 Azusa, CA 91702, U.S.A. www.hope-of-israel.org

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