Vernon Gray (5 Apr 2015) "A LITTLE KNOW RAPTURE VERSE"
A
LITTLE KNOW RAPTURE VERSE.
By
Vernon Gray
There is much ignorance in the Church of
Laodicea today. So many misinterpretations of the Scriptures have put the
children of God in bondage where they should have liberty in Christ.
Some erroneous teachings are no doubt are a
result of the ignorance of the Word and poor schooling or traditions handed
down from the older generations.
Some misapplications of the Bible are
intentional; designed to deliberately keep the flock in line or to keep the
money coming into the bank account.
One such verse is Hebrews 10: 25 which
says...“Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so
much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Most of the denominational Churches have
interpreted this verse to mean that you are instructed to attend Church on a
regular basis. The tradition Churches, Pentecostal and most of the Charismatic
Churches including the Emergent Church all misapply this verse to mean that you
must attend Church.
Going to a Bible believing, Bible teaching
Church is where we all should strive to be.
Having fellowship on a regular basis is
necessary for the growth of the Christian.
It encourages and exhorts us to keep the
faith and not waver in the face of adversity.
Our fellowship with one another should be a
source of encouragement. We should use this time to show love to our brethren
and to motivate them to perform acts of kindness
and service for others.
The spiritual food that God's true
ministers prepare for us through the Holy Spirit is vitally important for our spiritual
growth and development.
In discussing the relationship of the
ministry to the Church member, Paul explains that the ministry is “For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12-13)
Having said that however, this verse does
not instruct us to attend Church.
In order to give an unbiased exposition of
this verse we have to read it in context AND look at the original Greek in
which it was written.
Let us start with verses 23 and 24.
“Let
us hold fast the profession of our
faith without wavering; (for he is
faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love
and to good works:”
Without putting too much of a strain on
this study, it is worth mentioning here that the word rendered as “faith” in verse 23 of the King James
Bible should in fact be the word “hope.”
The word translated “faith” is from the Greek word
ELPIDOS which is always translated “hope” wherever else it appears in the
New Testament.
Using the word “hope” here in this verse as
opposed to using “faith” changes our understanding of the verse. This verse is
talking about our unwavering hope and not our faith as such.
What is our hope?
The Scriptures often refer to our hope as
the resurrection from the dead and our glorification at the return of Jesus
Christ.
The word hope then refers to the
following...
In Acts 23:6, Paul refers to "the hope and resurrection of
the dead."
Again, in Acts 24:15, Paul says that he has
"hope toward God, which they
themselves [the Pharisees] also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of
the dead, both of the just and unjust."
This same hope is what he refers to in Acts
26: 6 and 28: 20.
In Romans 5:2, Paul writes of the "hope of the glory of
God."
This is not referring to God's essential
glory, but to something we hope for in the future. That is, this is a reference
to our hope in the glory that God will bestow upon us.
Ephesians 1:18 says...“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that
ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the
glory of his inheritance in the saints,”
This is also what Paul is talking about in
Romans 8:19-25:
“For
the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the
sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by
reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself
also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth
and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves
also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we
are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man
seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we
with patience wait for it.”
I must now refer you to 1 Thessalonians
4:13, 14, Paul again refers to the resurrection at the return of Jesus Christ
as our hope: “But I would not have you
to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not,
even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and
rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
In Titus 2:13, Paul says we should be, “Looking for that blessed hope, and
the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Coming back to Hebrews 10: 24, we read, “And let us consider one another to provoke
unto love and to good works.”
In context, then, because of our hope of
glorification in the resurrection at the return of Christ, we are to keep one
another in mind to motivate each other to love and do good works. This has
nothing with going to Church.
“Assembling together”
Hebrews 10:25 says we are not to forsake “...the assembling of ourselves together.”
The two English words "Assembling
together" is from a single Greek word EPISUNAGOGE.
Pronounced “ep-ee-soon-ag-o-gay.”
This word EPISUNAGOGE.is a noun and it is found in only one other place: “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by
word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2)
EPISUNAGOGE is itself made up of four separate Greek words.
These are EPI (pronounced “epi”), SUN (pronounced “soon”) AGO (pronounced “ahgo”)
and GE
(pronounced “gay”).
We will see that this passage and
particularly the word EPISUNAGOGE
refers to our being gathered together to Christ and not going to Church on a
regular basis.
EPISUNAGOGE is used here in this verse as a noun, however it is found as a verb
in other places.
The Greek word used in these cases is EPISUNAGO.
Examples
are...
Matthew 23:37: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest
them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,
and ye would not!”
(a parallel verse is Luke 13:34).
“Gathered" and "gathereth"
are both from EPISUNAGO. Jesus uses the way a hen completely gathers her
chicks to describe the way He desired to gather Jerusalem's children (those who
like children humbly wanted to come to Him—see here for more on this
verse).
Thus, EPISUNAG0 is here used for a gathering
to Christ. It is referring to the Rapture of the Bride of Christ.
Matthew 24:30-31: “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then
shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send
his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together
his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (the
parallel verse is in Mark 13:26-27). “They
shall gather together” is from EPISUNAGO. Again, this is an obvious
reference to a gathering to Christ and has nothing with going to Church.
Mark 1:33: “And all the city was gathered together at the door.”
Again “gathered together” is translated
from EPISUNAGO. Jesus was in a house healing the sick when all the city
gathered at the door of the house. Although only a relatively small
manifestation of such a gathering, this is again a gathering to Christ.
Luke 12:1: “In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable
multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say
unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees,
which is hypocrisy.”
"When there were gathered
together" is from the word EPISUNAGO.
This verse speaks of a multitude of people
gathered together to Christ.
In every place where we find the verb EPISUNAGO,
it is used to refer to a gathering of some sort to Christ. And in the only
other place where the noun form EPISUNAGOGE is used, it is used for that
great gathering to Christ on the day of His return and our resurrection.
Thus, when we see EPISUNAGOGE used
in Hebrews 10:25, we must begin to suspect that perhaps it does not refer to Church
attendance, but to something greater.
We will
now take this single Greek word and break it up into its various meanings. We
will see that it has a far deeper meaning than simply going to Church. In fact
it is a powerful Rapture verse albeit hidden within the word itself.
We will
dissect the word EPISUNAGOGE into its four parts as follows:-
First we
will look at EPI by itself.
Secondly
we will look at SUN as a separate word.
Then we
will look at AGO on its own.
Finally
we will look at GE as a word on its own.
“EPI”
You will notice that the word begins with
the prefix “EPI.” I.e. EPI – SUN – AGO - GE.
EPISUNAGOGE ... is a compound of the Greek prefix EPI with the word SUNAGOGE
... . EPI means super - imposition,
that which is above, higher than, highest, upon.
SUNAGOGE as a word means a meeting, assembly, or gathering.
There is an "EPI" word usage in our word Epilogue, which shows EPI used to denote the "End" or "Finale" as it were, of a
body of words.
In "Epi-logue" we have the
meaning "the last word,"
or "conclusion" of all
the words that went before.
Therefore EPI can mean “the highest beginning” AND “the final conclusion “of
a matter.
We already know that Jesus Christ is the
Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end of all history. But did you know
that there are two places in the Old Testament where the same idea is found?
Genesis 1: 1 says, “In the beginning God...” In the Hebrew there are two untranslated
letters after the word God. They are the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet
“Aleph” and the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the “Tav.”
This occurs again in Zechariah 12:10“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon
[inserted here is the Aleph and the Tav, meaning the first and the last.]
me whom
they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only
son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his
firstborn.”
To continue; if we put these two words
together, EPI-SUNAGOGE means “the above synagogue, the higher meeting, the highest
assembly, the higherthan allgatherings.”
EPI, Strong's Number 1909 is a root word, a preposition which most often
denotes “above or over or on high,” or “up on,” and other such usages.
EPIis like the word “super.” Like EPI, the Latin word “super” denotes “above,
on top of, higher than, over, or greater than, greater in quantity, or greater
in quality.”
To superimpose one thing on another is to
place it on top of it. If an ability is super-human it means it surpasses human
ability, exceeds it.
One is not a “mere” man if one is a
superman. Superior and superintendant signify persons who either are “over”
others or higher in rank. A miracle is said to be “super-natural.”
Super-sonic signifies that a sound is of a
higher frequency than is audible to the human ear.
Can you see how EPI is often used to
denote almost the same thing, transcending or exceeding the normal, or being
far above it.
“SUN”
Strong's says that "sun" (4862)
is “a primary preposition denoting UNION.”
From it are made many words with the
connotation of UNION or FUSION.
To get a fuller meaning of this word, we
must consider "SUN"
completely apart from
"AGO-GE."
EPI working with SUN can
communicate a specially intense or full
union (as might be suggested by a fusion into one), or the state of ultimate or
absolute completeness, a culmination in ultimate oneness.
Of course this readily brings to mind our
union with Christ in that day when he comes to complete our redemption. Our
redemption draweth nigh when he will change our mortal body, we will be
glorified, and we will “marry”him,
and evermore be ONE with him.
Strong's number 4862 says about SUN, “Sun - a primary preposition denoting union; with or together (but much
closer than 3326 or 3844), by association, companionship, ...
resemblance, to have in possession, and, in composition it has applications
including completeness."
An association "much closer
than"META or PARA, more truly indicating a
"UNION" with.
Notice it says sun means a "UNION,"
a "with" or together that is “much
closer than
3326 (META) or 3844 (PARA)."
That's saying a lot when you look at the
uses of META in the Word of God. We
know for example that the Holy Spirit is the PARA - KLITOS.
For example, Strong's 3326 (META) is "WITH" in the
following verses:
“Jesus said unto them, Can the children
of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is WITH them?” (Matthew 9; 15.)
"With" is META (Strong's
3326).
Jesus spoke concerning the Last Supper, “I
will keep the Passover at thy house WITH my disciples” (Matthew
26:18.)
Jesus spoke to the dying thief on the cross: "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou
be WITH me in paradise." (Luke 23: 43)
Jesus said, “Lo, I am WITH you
alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
(Matthew 28:20.)
Strong's tells us that SUN denotes a UNION; a kind of "with" or
"together" that is much closer than the Strong's 3326
"with" (META)
Note what SUN brings to the following:
The Greek word SUN - TEKO means to FUSE into one mass.
The Greek word SUN - TEKON means to WELD.
In all these meanings, it is "to
become absolutely one with.”
Because Christ's bride consists of
many-members, and not just a single individual, what is going to transpire at
the Marriage Supper is not just one Christian being joined in one to Christ in
the marriage feast.
The word SUNAGAMOS falls short, being applied to one person joined with one
other in marriage. Rather when Christ comes, we shall first be
"bundled" or gathered together unto him to comprise that
many-membered bride "on site." then we are joined in one to Christ in
the marriage feast. so a word is needed that (beyond SUNAGAMOS) shows
a plurality of people bundled into one and presented, and likewise joined in
one to Christ in a marriage feast. EPISUNAGOGE
beautifully accomplishes this!
This word shows a plurality of people
bundled into one and presented, and likewise joined in one to Christ in a
marriage feast. It can make a marriage partner out of a multiplicity of
persons!
When Paul speaks of such a union with Christ as to describe his existence as no
longer Paul living. He says, “...for me
to live IS Christ" and "it is no longer I that live, but Christ
liveth IN me.”
Pretty compelling is it not? But wait,
there is more still.
“AGO”
Strong’s number 71 AGO means the following...
1. Properly (A. V. ordinarily, to bring);
a.“To lead by laying hold
of”
b.“To lead by accompanying to (into) any place:”
c.“To lead with oneself, attach to oneself as an attendant:”
d.“To conduct, bring:”
e.“To
lead away:”
2. Tropically,
a.“To
lead, guide, direct:”
b.“To lead through, conduct, to
something:”
c.“To more, impel, of forces and
influences affecting the mind:”
d. “To pass a day, keep or celebrate
a feast, etc.”
e. “Intransitive, to
go, depart.”
“GE”
Strong’s number 1093 GE means...
Properly, the physical earth;
(figuratively) the "arena" we live in which operates in
space and time which God uses to prepare us for eternity.
The physical earth (1093/GE) is the temporary,
probationary place to live out moral preferences "through the
body," i.e. as free moral agents (cf. 2 Cor 5:1-10).
In this way, God makes an eternal record
of everything we do on the earth.
Through faith, each scene of life becomes equally,
eternally significant
(cf. Matthew 13:31, 32, 17:20; cf. also
Luke 16:10; Luke 17:6; 2 Peter 1:1).
1. Arable land; of the earthy
material out of which a thing is formed, with the implied idea of frailty and
weakness: 1
Corinthians 15:47.
the members of your earthly body, as it
were the abode and instruments of corrupt desires, Colossians 3:5;
(in contrast with Christ as having come from heaven) he who is of earthly
(human) origin, has an earthly nature, and speaks as his earthly origin and
nature prompt, John
3:31.
c.a country, land enclosed within fixed
boundaries, a tract of land, territory, region; simply, when it is plain
from the context what land is meant, as that of the Jews: Luke 4:25; Luke 21:23; Romans 9:28; James 5:17.
We will be gathered
together unto the Lord in a realm that is HIGHER than the actual
physical place of meeting (the synagogue). The only true place of worship
is a realm of spirit, and it is not a geographical location at all!We will be taken away from this earth that has bound us to it
through the flesh.
It indicates an
assembling IN THE SPIRIT, as Paul also testified, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Millions of believers gather
together in "Church buildings" every Sunday morning, and because they
make the effort to get out of bed, get the family ready, and drive off to a
warm pew, they are convinced that they have met the requirements of the divine
decree: “Forsake not the assembling of
yourselves together.”
Our efforts are for
the most part nothing but lifeless words, until we sit in the presence of the
Father, joined in worship with kindred spirits, and partakes of that holy
communion within the veil! It is only as spirit calls to spirit that the depths
of eternal truth are opened.
And multitudes who
meet together every week for singing, teaching, etc., have never discovered the
glorious and eternal reality of that ABOVE SYNAGOGUE. They do not meet or
minister or live from that higher than all heavens realm of HIS LIFE.
This is soon to
change.
The
Day is Approaching
Again,
the entire verse reads: “Not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting
one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Notice
that, instead of forsaking, we are to be exhorting (the word can also mean
beseeching or comforting) one another, and all the more as we see the day
drawing near.
What
day?
Just a
little further in the chapter, we read this: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence
of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of
God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall
come will come, and will not tarry” (verses 35-37).
“He that shall come” is certainly a reference to
Jesus Christ.
We are
to have patience (verse 36) in waiting for that day, the day of Christ's
return.
But
apparently some did not have patience and forsook the hope of our gathering to
Christ at His return.
The
evidence from both the context and the words used is weighty. It clearly leads
us to the conclusion that Hebrews 10:25 is saying that we are not to forsake
the hope of our gathering to Christ at his return, as some had done, but
instead we are to exhort one another concerning this hope, and we are to do
this all the more as we see the day of His return approaching.
A rather sobering point is made by Paul in
verses 26, 27 where he gives the hypothetical case if we were to forsake the
truth of this hope: “For if we sin
wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”
In other words, to forsake our glorious
gathering to Christ is to forsake the very thing our salvation points to. It
would be a forsaking of the truth and a wilful sin.
Anyone doing this would suffer the
condemnation and fate of the adversaries.
But remember, this is a hypothetical case.
Verse 39 says, “But we are not of them
who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the
soul.”
God causes true Christians to persevere so
that they cannot forsake their hope.
In Conclusion
We have established that “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching.” Has NOTHING to do with going to
Church. It is in fact a Rapture verse tucked away by the Holy Spirit within the
body of the verse.
Let us summarize the word EPISUNAGOGE as follows...
EPI = Means the utmost beginning AND the ultimate end of the matter.
SUN =
Means to be in union to the extent of becoming one.
In Christ we are one with Christ even as we are one in Spirit with each other.
(John 17: 23)
AGO =
Means to lead by accompanying to another place.
GE = Speaks of the earth which has held us “captive” until this time.
I want to thank Robert Randall, for his
fine work relating to this verse and especially the word EPISUNAGOGE.