CALLED OUT KINGDOM OF GOD GATHERINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS – By Ron McGatlin
THE VISION
On the Monday morning of February 14, 2022, I was communing with God in reference to some discussion and questions that arose in a small church gathering the day before. We were talking about what God is really doing today and our part in really experiencing the works of Christ in and through us, especially in the realm of Spirit outpouring to change the world. One godly lady said something like, “This is what I really want, but how do we get it?”
Having experienced some real Spirit outpourings over my lifetime that eventually faded and become just church as usual or disappeared completely, I asked something like, “God what can we as this small church group do to truly become a part of changing the world. Immediately two words were given to me as if blasted from heaven into my heart. These were Greek words that I was familiar with. They were “ekklesia” and “basileia.”
GOD’S ORDER FOR THIS NEW DAY
EKKLESIA BASILEIA
“Basileia” and “ekklesia” are both prominent Greek words used in the New Testament.
Very briefly, “basileia” means the “Kingdom of God” and “ekklesia” means a “called-out assembly” and is often translated “church” in the New Testament.
The word church in this New Testament verse is translated from the word “ekklesia.” Matthew 16:18: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My (ekklesia) and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
It is my understanding that in the language and understanding at the time of Jesus, ekklesia (ek-klay-see’-ah) referred to a gathering or congregation of people called-out for a purpose. Traditionally the purpose involved the well being of the city as to what went on within the city. They were in a sense the gatekeepers that allowed what came into or went out of the city. Somewhat setting the tone or spiritual ways of the city. The scriptures speak of the elders at the gate of the city who also somewhat served as judges among the people of the city. (Deuteronomy 21:19) (Proverbs 31:23).
The word “church” has a very different meaning in the minds of many if not most people today. Many of the “Christian” religious systems of today are lukewarm or mixtures of biblical teachings and humanistic or demonic doctrines and traditions of men. Of the many thousands of denominations of Christian religion probably most believe they are the “church” that Jesus said He would build or at least a branch or part of it. Others see church as a building or God’s house. Some see it as an organization. Many states recognize it as a charitable non-profit non-taxable organization.
To avoid the confusion of the connotations it seems good to me to use the Greek word ekklesia and get back to the original meaning if possible. There is a very different meaning English word is similar to ekklesia, which is ecclesia (i-ˈklē-zē-əl) and means, “of or relating to church.”
Today an ekklesia of called out ones in whom Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit of God abides and fully reigns by His perfect love is beginning to arise. Sons and daughters that are seated in Christ at the right hand of God and at the same time, Christ is alive in us on earth bringing the life and way of Father God to rule and reign by love in this world. Sons and daughters of God in this world but no longer of this world, but now as joint heirs with Christ Jesus our Savior, Lord, and now manifesting King, releasing the love power of Father God to change the world. (Galatians 2:20) (Ephesians 2:4-10) (Romans 8:16-19).
THE DAY OF THE LORD APPEARING
You and I and many others are sent to this world for this time of the appearing of the Lord on earth. The appearing of our lives that were hidden in Christ are to now be made manifest into this world with Christ. ”If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4.
This day of the Lord is a season of the manifest presence of God in Christ coming upon the people of the world with the fire of His glory to purify His people and cleanse the earth of the evil darkness that oppresses the people and seeks to destroy the world.
The systems of man’s governance of the world have been corrupted and are to be purified by turning to the love of God or being dissolved by burning to ashes in the presence of the glory of God.
Beauty for ashes is the result of the work of God in man in this day of the Lord releasing the life and works of God in Christ on earth by the Holy Spirit. Holy God with and within His people is the reality of the appearing of the King and His kingdom on earth. (Isaiah 61:1-3).
The world has been in waiting for the people of God to be matured in Christ, and Christ in us empowering and preparing us to release the love, power and wisdom of God to transform the world. A new world system that is according to the original design of God is being formed from the ashes of the past fallen world systems of fallen man. The kingdom of God with its pattern ruling city of New Jerusalem coming down as a bride prepared for Her husband.
CONSUMMATION OF HEAVEN AND EARTH AS ONE
This is not the end and not even the beginning of the end, it is the END of the BEGINNING. All history of man and God on Planet Earth to this point has been the beginning.
It is documented through biblical research of life spans that we have now entered the seventh millennium somewhere around our calendar of year of 2000. Four one-thousand-year periods passed from Adam to Christ Jesus. And over two thousand more from Jesus till now. Six millennia are completed and the seventh has begun. We are now living in the first quarter of the first century of the seventh millennium.
Much of the book of Revelation is coming about before our eyes today. The great falling of Babylon and the coming down of the New Jerusalem from heaven as the purified Bride made ready for her husband and above all the reality of the PRESENCE OF GOD AND CHRIST JESUS ABIDING IN AND WITH HIS PEOPLE ON EARTH.
THE GREAT PROPHETIC FEASTS OF ISRAEL MANIFESTING IN THE WORLD
Two of the three prophetic pattern feast in the Bible have already come to pass. The feast of Passover was fulfilled in the crucifixion of Christ Jesus and reconciliation of mankind. The second great feast, the Feast of Pentecost was fulfilled at the coming of the Holy Spirit bringing God to live in man empowering man with the life of God in Christ by the indwelling fullness of the Holy Spirit.
The third major prophetic feast is the Feast of Tabernacles. Now being fulfilled in the manifest presence of Christ Jesus and Father God in and among His people bringing the all-powerful love of God consuming our lives and lifting us into heavenly places while on earth. There is much more to experiencing all of the things involved in Tabernacles that we cannot get into in this article.
We tend to think that the prophetic fulfillment of these major feasts as occurring on earth as a single event in a point in time. In reality their fulfillment may occur over an extended period of many years or several centuries. For example, the feast of Passover of salvation by the faith in the blood of the Lamb was restored around five hundred years ago and grew firmly into place over the next four hundred or so years. The feast of Pentecost began to be restored as the filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit with power over one hundred years ago.
From my personal observation, it appears that the Feast of Tabernacles started to be re-introduced about twenty-five years ago around the turn of the Millennium with the transition of “booths” or house church, and the reintroduction of the reality of the Kingdom of God, through Christ Jesus being literally formed in His people by the Holy Spirit, in a pure holy love relationship with God. The major thrust of Tabernacles is God with us on earth changing the world to as it is in heaven. I do not know how long it will take for Tabernacles to be fully accomplished. However, It is definitely now in process.
THE NOW FALL OF BABYLON AND THE MARRIAGE FEAST OF THE LAMB
Jesus taught of the King’s great feast for the Marriage of the Lamb.
Peace and joy in the Holy Spirit are supplied by the King for those entering the great feast of the marriage of mankind on earth as the purified holy Bride of Christ. Actually, becoming one with God in Christ Jesus in His all-consuming love in the great marriage of His Bride producing many sons and daughters on earth. (Matthew 22:2-14).
There was great destruction for those invited who made light of it and would not come. These are of they that are tied up in the great city of Babylon with its great wealth and huge human accomplishments, with its grandeur of fine works of man’s pride without God. The great works of man that have become a cage for demons and filled with evil. The great destruction of Babylon is part of the changing of the world to the kingdom of God on earth as in heaven. (Revelation 18).
Many of God’s people have been captured by the allure of the ways of Babylon. The New Jerusalem kingdom god ruling city of God coming forth on earth, the ruling city of God replacing Babylon and that which is being dissolved by the fire of God. (Revelation 21).
Believers are warned to get out and away from Babylon lest they suffer with her. Set your heart and mind on the New Jerusalem now coming down from heaven. (Revelation 18:4).
As the ekklesia gatherings lift the fire of all-out praise and passionate love to God, His love pours down His presence with us loving us into joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Ron McGatlin
openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net