Archive for ekklesia

Debunking Replacement Theology: Church Origins & Shavuot 5786/2026/5951

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Pentecost/Shavuot/Feast of Weeks, Replacement Theology with tags , , , , , , on May 19, 2026 by paulthepoke

Welcome to part 6 of the series, Debunking Replacement Theology.

Shavuot, Feast of Weeks, Feast of the Harvest, and Pentecost are synonymous. Shavuot is often associated with God giving the Torah, the birth of Judaism. Pentecost is often associated with God giving the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church. God chose His appointed holiday to reveal aspects of who He is.

Same holiday… A Historical event for nation Israel and the giving of the Law. A Historical event for the birth of the church and the giving of the Holy Spirit.

On a Gregorian calendar, we are in the year of 2026, the holiday of Shavuot/Feast of Weeks/Pentecost begins at sunset on Thursday, May 21. The God Appointed holiday ends at sunset Saturday, May 23.

The Feast takes place in the month of Sivan on the 6th and 7th of a Hebrew calendar. This is the Hebrew year 5786 on the traditional lunar calendar.

On the solar Essene calendar, Shavuot/Feast of Weeks/Pentecost begins on what is Sunday, Sivan 15th, 5951 or May 31, 2026. Yes, the Counting of the Omer is calculated differently by the Essenes as compared to how the Pharisees and others mark time.

Other calendars have the Appointment on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

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The Greek word for “church” is εκκλεσια/ekklesia. It means: an assembly, congregation; the whole body of Christian believers. People called out from the world and to God, the mystical body of Christ; the universal body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. -Strong’s Concordance

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words breaks down the word εκκλεσια/ekklesia. The following definition and contexts are provided by the dictionary.

εκκλεσια/ekklesia: from ek, “out of;” and klesis, “a calling” (kaleo, “to call”). The word is used in many different ways in the New Testament. Below are some examples of contexts and usage of the word.

In Acts 19:39, ekklesia was used among the Greeks of a body of citizens “gathered” to discuss the affairs of state. In the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) it is used to designate the “gathering” of Israel, summoned for any definite purpose, or a “gathering” regarded as representative of the whole nation.

Acts 19:39 But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.

In Acts 7:38 ekklesia is used of the nation Israel. Here the word is translated as “congregation”.

Acts 7:38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.

The example below presents the term ekklesia as a mob in Ephesus. Here the word is translated “assembly”.

Acts 19:32 So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.

The focus of the term ekklesia in this book is on the body of believers in Jesus Christ. The term is used at least 111 occurrences in the New Testament. The majority of the instances, it is translated as “church”.

The first time the word ekklesia is used in the New Testament is by Jesus Himself.

Matthew 16:18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

www.mf.no/bibelprog/vines?word=%AFt0000173

People dressed in historical robes standing and talking around a fire pit in an old stone courtyard lit by torches at dusk

Jesus uses the word ekklesia. Christ states He is the person doing the construction. He also claims the church is His. “I will build My church.” -Jesus.

Embedded in this verse, “…and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” -Jesus.

Some would argue this as a pre tribulation rapture statement. Hell and the antichrist are not going to win against the church or the body of Christ. Hell is not stronger and will not prevail against the church.

Compare this statement by Jesus in Matthew 16:18 against Revelation 13:7 and Daniel 7:21.

Revelation 13:7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him…

The reference to “him” is the antichrist. He is allowed to “overcome”. Conquer is the idea expressed in the Greek language. The antichrist is given authority to do whatever he wants. This guy is a universal dictator and acts with a heavy hand over the tribulation saints.

Daniel 7:21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them…

In the Bible, horns are equated with kings, kingdoms, and leaders. This was the case in the writings of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Daniel’s dream in Daniel 7 is consistent with verses in Revelation 13 and 17. The language regarding beasts and horns is consistent.

This section of Daniel 7 is in the Aramaic language. Interesting observation, this section of Daniel that focuses on gentile worldly kingdoms is in Aramaic and not the original Hebrew. The Aramaic states the antichrist is making war. He is winning and prevailing against the saints.

The church is in Heaven as of Revelation 4 before the tribulation starts. The context of Revelation 13 and Daniel 7:21 is on Earth.

People are being persecuted and killed by the antichrist. These are the people who did not believe in Jesus Christ at the time of the resurrection and rapture. They were left behind and came to understand the truth about Christ later. The Tribulation saints are a different group of people than the church.

The church or the body of Jesus Christ is not overcome by Hell, Satan, the beast, or false prophet. Jesus said.

The term ekklesia is generally translated as the church, the body of Jesus Christ. Scripture does the best job of defining the idea. See the three examples below.

Colossians 1:18a He is also head of the body, the church…

He is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:22b-23 and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

There are many other examples in the New Testament where the church is described as a body of believers in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:5).

The church is not a building. The church is not nation Israel. The church is a body of believers attached to the head, Jesus Christ.

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This series is an excerpt from the book, Rapture the Bride Redeemed. https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Revelation: Smyrna Under Pressure

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags , , , , , , , , , on December 18, 2016 by paulthepoke

Revelation 2:8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

The first and the last…The idea of the Messiah being the first and the last goes back to the Old Testament prophets. The phrase is the calling card to identify the Messiah. Jesus identifies Himself as the first and the last in Revelation 1:17.

Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me”.

Isaiah 48:12 Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.

At the last of the book of Revelation and the Bible closes with this reminder.

Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. -Jesus

…who was dead, and has come to life… The gospel message is simply stated in the first sentence to the church at Smyrna. We know Jesus died on a cross. We know He was buried. We know He resurrected. Jesus is the person talking. Christ proclaims His good news.

Revelation 2:9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

The English word “tribulation” is the Greek word τηλιπσισ/thlipsis. Per Strong’s Concordance it is defined as:  pressing, pressing together, pressure; metaphorically it means oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits.

In other words, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are going to come under pressure from the world. This life promises stress and oppression. What we believe will come under affliction.

“Tribulation” or τηλιπσισ/thlipsis is not the same word used for God’s “wrath”. The Greek word for “wrath” is οργε/orge. The word is defined as: wrath, indignation; anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment itself; of punishments inflicted by magistrates.

A couple of example of God’s wrath are noted below.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

The church does not come under God’s wrath. But the body of Christ was, is, and will be pressured during our earthly lives.

…(but you are rich)…The church at Smryna was materially poor of wealth and worldly possessions. The reality, they were wealthy in an eternal sense. The Greek vocabulary says these folks were people of virtue and character. And they believed in Jesus Christ, their Heavenly possession.

…but are a synagogue of Satan. This is the first of four references to Satan in the book of Revelation.

The Greek word for “synagogue” is not the same Greek word used for “church”.

The word for “synagogue” is the transliterated word συναγογε/sunagoge. Two points about this word. One, it is a physical structure or building. Two, it is an assembly of men.

The Greek word for “church” is εκκλεσια/ekklesia. It means: a called out group of Christians; the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth. The church is not a building.

Satan’s synagogue is different than Jesus Christ’s church.

Satan’s crew, the so called Jewish congregation had some character issues. They used the Lord’s name in vain and they were liars.

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Revelation: Ephesus, Stars & Lampstands

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags , , , , , , , , on November 13, 2016 by paulthepoke

Revelation 2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

Scripture interprets Scripture…Wild guesses, speculation, and conjecture are not necessary. But one is going to do some homework.

Where did John get his information? John tells us multiple times in the first chapter of Revelation. A couple of examples include Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John…

Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

John’s source of information is Jesus Christ.

To the angel…The Greek word for “angel” is aggelos/αγγελοσ. It means: a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God. The word is essentially transliterated.

…of the church…The Greek word for “church” is ekklesia/εκκλεσια. It means:  an assembly, congregation; the whole body of Christian believers. People called out from the world and to God, the mystical body of Christ; the universal body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. –Strong’s Concordance.

The church is not a building. 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand…What are stars? The answer is given in Revelation 1:20b …the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches… Stars are angels of the churches.

…the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands…What are lampstands? The answer is given in Revelation 1:20c …and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Lampstands are churches.

Jesus is the source of information to John. Jesus is the One talking. Jesus is the One giving directions. Jesus is the One holding the seven stars. Jesus is the One walking among the lampstands.

Colossians 1:18a He is also head of the body, the church…

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