Ekklesia Meaning and Appearance – Taken from ONE EKKLESIA Chapters 5,7

EKKLESIA: MEANING & APPEARANCE is the second of the five-part series taken from Henry Hon’s ONE EKKLESIA which is his first in his Trilogy–the titles of the other two books are ONE TRUTH and ONE LIFE & GLORY. When Jesus said “Iwill build My Ekklesia and the Gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18), what exactly did He mean by these words? Hon explores the distortion and profound theological implications on how and why the translators of the early English Bibles translated the word “Ekklesia” to “Church” instead of Assembly and/or Congregation–the emphasis being upon a physical building and not the people. He contends that the People of God today need a paradigm shift in their thinking in understanding the “organic” nature of the Ekklesia as a living, breathing organism–the people, members of the Body of Christ–and not an organization andcertainly not a physical building. The Lord’s desire–His plan and purpose for the ages–is to create in Himself, through theblood of His cross, one New Man, so making peace. The fundamental nature of the Ekklesia is at stake here–otherwise, the Gates of Hades will prevail against us all. However, the Lord is building His Ekklesia, therefore, the Gates of Hades will not prevail.