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community, congregation gathering. Ecclesiastes

Kiddush Vayehi erev vayehi boker Yom hashishi, vai’chulu ha shamayim V’ha’aretz, v’chol tz’va’am Vaichal Elohim ba’yom hashvi’i m’lachto asher asah Va’yishbot ba’yom hashvi’i mikol m’lachto asher asah Vai’varech Elohim et yom hashvi’i va’ikadaysh oto, Ki vo shavat mikol m’lachto asher bara Elohim la’asot Savri maranan v'rabanan v'rabotai: Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam, borei p'ri hagafen. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'ratzah vanu, v'shabat kod'sho b'ahavah uv'ratzon hinchilanu zikaron l'ma-aseih v'reishit, ki hu yom t'chilah l'mikra-ei kodesh, zeicher litzi-at mitzrayim, ki vanu vacharta v'otanu kidashta mikol ha-amim, v'shabat kodsh'cha b'ahavah uv'ratzon hinchaltanu. Baruch atah Adonai, m'kadeish hashabat

Shabbat Blessing There was evening and there was morning The sixth day, the heavens were finished And the earth along with everything in them On the seventh day G-d finished His work which He had made So he rested on the seventh day From all His work which He had made G-d blessed the seventh day And called it holy Because that in it He rested from all His work Which G-d in creating had made Blessed are You O L-RD our G-D King of the Universe Who brings forth bread from the earth Blessed are You O L-RD our G-D King of the Universe Who has sanctified us throught Your Word And has taken delight in us. In love and favor You have given us the holy Shabbat A reminder of Your work of creation And as the first of our sacred days recalling our departure from Egypt For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all peoples And in love and favor given us the Shabbat as a joyous heritage Blessed are You Adonai who makes holy the Shabbat

The concept of 'church' is one developed through many centuries of tradition. Yet, today there is a conflict of ideas over the true meaning of 'church'. To get through the cloud of confusion we must blow away old myths and establish a scriptural foundation. In doing so we have one big obstacle, and that is the word 'church' itself.

'Church' comes from the Old English word 'kirke', meaning 'a circle', especially an occultic or pagan ritualistic circle of participants. History is silent on how such a word came to signify what is now thought of as a 'church'.
In almost every English translation of the Bible, 'church' is the word used for the Greek word 'ekklesia'. This is an error in translation evidently fostered by translators' continual regard for medieval tradition. 'Ekklesia' is a word made up of two words, 'ek' meaning 'out of', and 'klesis' meaning 'a calling'. The proper meaning of 'ekklesia' is 'the called out'. Usually in the English Bible where it says 'church' it should be translated 'the called out' or 'called out ones'. There is no authority for using the word 'church'. When any of the New Testament writers spoke of the Ekklesia, they were speaking of a people called out of the world by G-d to be holy unto Him in some specific way.

One can see, that if such a simple and important foundational concept can be lost due to mis-translation, how easily the identity of what is called 'the church' can be confused. Especially realizing Yeshua (Jesus) never used the word 'church', nor based His coments on any of the traditional concepts now associated with that word.

With many denominations claiming to be 'the church', and demonic entities like the Church of Satan and the Church of Wicca freely using the title, it is clear the word 'church' has no holy connection or devine authority. There needs to be a re-examination of this tradition of 'church' as it relates to the true people of G-d.

The Septuagint

The Septuagint is the Tanakh, or Jewish Old Testament, which was translated from the original Hebrew to Ancient Greek language by 70 rabbis before the comming of Messiah Yeshua.  Bu the time of Yeshua, the Septuagint was widely available for study throughtout the Helenistic world. 

The form of the word 'ekklesia' is found in the Septuagint.  It is translated from the original Hebrew word 'miqra', also meaning 'called out'.  Miqra is used 23 times in 22 verses of the Old Testament.  In each case it refers to the holy convocatoin (gathering, assembly) of Yisra'el, as they hear and obey the call to attend a feast celebration (Exodus 12:6).  Therefore, before Yeshau came, the Jewish mind understood that the Miqra and the Ekklesia are one-in-the-same concepts.  Language translation from Hebrew to Greek demanded that each referred to the same entity, that being the Ones Called Out to the Feasts of Yisra'el.

One might try to argue from the etymology of the word 'church' that if church is Ekklesia, and Ekklesia is Miqra, and Miqra is the 'called of Yisra'el', then the church is the called of Yisra'el.  But this reasoning is flawed if you have in mind the modern concept of 'church'.  It's wrong reasoning because it supposes 'the called out' is an idea equal with the present concept of 'church'.  No such correlation is intended in scripture.

I Will Build...

For proper understanding, we must start with Yeshua's statement, "I will build My Assembly of Called Out Ones (Ekklesia) and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18.  This is the same language used to designate the holy convocation of Yisra'el.  The L-RD called His people Yisra'el to attend His holy feasts (Exodus 12:16).  Those that came were the Miqra or ekklesia.  This is the Hebraic/Jewish concept which Yeshua used when He said, "I will build my Ekklesia."  Yeshua was saying He was going to build a gathering called from Yisra'el to the celebration of His feasts.  By inference, a people were to be formed who celebrated the revelation of Him in the holy appointed feasts.

Yeshua never gave any indication that this Ekklesia was to be a group divorced from the Hebraid/Jewish concept of Miqra.  TheMiqra or Called Out Ones, are always the people of G-d and always linked to Yisra'el.

There is no indication in scripture that G-d has two people.  He allows for different tribes, or groups within His people, but never for two separate peoples.  The intent of the L-RD in bringing non-Jews into Yisra'el by commandment, through Yeshua'scovenant, was and is to make one holy people.  this holy people resides in Yisra'el.  As Rabbi Sha'ul (Paul) said, the gentiles who trust in Yisra'el's mediator, Yeshua are grafted into the tree of Yisra'el (Romans 11:17).  Once grafted in they all, Jews and non-Jews, as new covenant Yisra'el, are called together to feast on Messiah Yeshua, or called to celebrate Messiah in the holy feasts.  The two concepts are synonymous.

When Jewish believers, together with non-Jewish believers, accept the call to Yeshua as on Yisra'el, then the Ekklesia/Miqra will be fully built.  Then and only then will the  gates of hell not be able to prevail against this force.  We know hell has been able to do almost as it pleases against that which has the name 'church'.  G-d must be waithing for something else to form before hell will be ultimately defeated.  G-d never intended for Jews to convert in to a gentile (pagan) 'church'.  Jewish people need only accept their own Messiah "Yeshua" and be saved.  Rather, it is made clear by Rabbi Sha'ul, the Shaliach (Apostle) to gentiles, that righteous non-Jews are tocome into a renewed (not replaced) Yisra'el which celebrates the feasts with Messiah Yeshua as the focus.  This group is to be given the title Ekklesia/Miqra, the Called Out Ones.

What Now

The fulfillment of the Ekklesia/Miqra has been a mystery for many centuries, but the true understanding of it has not been a mystery.  Yeshua knew full well the Jewish meaning of Keelesia/Miqra, and He declared it to an audience of Jewish people who understood its meaning.  The original understanding was nearly lost due to medieval apostasy and blind traditions.  Now in our time we are witnessing the beginning of the restoration ad fullillment of the Ekklesia/Miqra.

While the term 'church' is deeply embedded in the English vocabulary, it is time for G-d's people who believe in Yeshua as Messiah to regain the original intention of the Word of G-d concerning the Ekklesia/Miqra.  It is time for the Called Out Ones of Yisra'el in Yeshua to form a mighty army by the Ruach (Spirit of G-d) against all demonic power, and come out of 'kirke', or any witches brew of man-made religion.

It will happen when the Faithful decide they love the Word of G-d, equally from Genesis to Revelation, above all the traditions of churchianity.  Let us no longer consider or confuse the claim to being 'church' as the same as being the Ekklesia/Miqra of Messiah.  Truly, the L-RD is keeping it a mystery as to who relly are His Called Out Ones.