Resetting the Goal for the Ekklesia*
Because we will be discussing the Ekklesia , it is necessary to define it. The Greek word ekklesia , which is translated as "church" in the New Testament, really means "the called-out assembly of God's people". The Ekklesia is called out of the world and into God's Kingdom. This is New Year's Eve and the world will be celebrating as it usually does, but what is the goal of the Ekklesia for this new year? Jesus described for His disciples the conditions that would exist in the last days before His return. He said that no man would know the day nor the hour of His return, only the Father in heaven knew this. Because of this uncertainty, when the day and hour comes, it would be as in the days of Noah when the time of the judgment flood drew near. At that time, Jesus said, life went on as usual with the people going about their daily tasks and being completely unprepared for what was about to come. Although they would have witnessed the ...