The First Half of the Tribulation, First half of Daniel's 70 weeks

27And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,

The completion of God’s revelation to Daniel requires several events that need to be completed.

2. Islamic power needs to be defeated for the Jewish Temple to be built on Mt. Moriah.

3. Israel must have the desire to reconstruct the Temple in the face of world opposition.

If we go back to the Seventy Weeks message to Daniel from Gabriel, we understand the 490-years was determined on the Jewish people, “Your people” and Jerusalem, “Your city”. Sixty-nine weeks at the death of the Messiah are complete, with one 7-year period remaining on the Jewish people and Jerusalem, Daniel’s 70^th Week.

The relation between Israel and the church in Daniel’s 70^th week is a topic of much discussion with several views. The view that God is dealing with Israel, separate from the church during the tribulation period is dispensational. The Greek word for dispensation, oijkonomivaOikonomia means the management of a household or of household affairs, specifically, the management, oversight, administration, of other's property. Paul uses this word several times in his epistles. (I Corinthians 9:17, Ephesians 1:10, 3:2, Colossians 1:25) In Colossians, Paul refers to the mystery of Gentiles being included in riches of glory, as hidden from ages and generations past.

25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The inclusion of the Gentiles into Israel’s covenant blessing is not explicitly stated in the Old Testament scripture, they only are blessed as a result of Israel blessing. The idea they would have a share in the covenant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was a mystery or hidden aspect of God’s plan. Following the rejection of Christ, “Messiah the Prince…Cut off…but not for himself” (Daniel 9:25-26)would die for both Jews and Gentiles. God’s blessing is available to the Gentiles. This body of believing Gentiles and Jews is the mystery of the church Paul refers to in Ephesians, Colossians and Romans.

3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

6 thatthe Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

In the parable of the Wedding Supper (Matthew 22:1-14) and the Great Supper (Luke 14:15-24), Jesus references the rejection by the invited guests to come to supper that was now ready. The original invited guest rejected the call to attend the dinner. The invitation was extended to strangers not even aware of the dinner. In Matthew, the room was made full from both good and bad invited from the highways. In Luke, the list included the lame, maimed and blind. These parables concern Israel’s rejection of the Messiah and the inclusion of the Gentiles, those outside the covenant blessing of Israel.

The church only replaced Israel, for a period, until the fullness of the Gentiles, when God would again restore the dispensation to Israel. Paul refers to this mystery in Romans 9 through 11. Specifically in Romans, Paul contrasts the position of Israel and the Church.

1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,

23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

In the 70^th week, God again begins to work with and through Israel to try the nations. Here Paul makes a distinction between the mystery, the church, and Israel. Paul refers to the limitation of Israel’s blindness, “until” the “fullness of the Gentiles”. Once the Gentile period is complete or full, Israel will be restored.

Post-tribulational view both Israel and the Church going through the tribulation For those who are pre-tribulation, they view the restoration of Israel at the rapture before the 70^th week. The 70^th week begins with the “He shall confirm” (Dan. 9:27) “an agreement” between Israel and “many” regarding Temple worship. The fullness takes place at the mid-point for those from a mid-tribulation rapture view and after the tribulation for those with a post-tribulation rapture view.

The book of Revelation is the final book of the Bible and covers events in the end not covered elsewhere in scripture. John is on the Island of Patmos as a prisoner, and sees Jesus who instructs him to write a letter to seven churches[1]. The letter includes specific instructions including commendations, condemnations, counsel and challenges.

Who is addressed in the book of Revelation? This question is often raised in understanding this controversial book. The letter is to seven specific churches, in seven specific cities. There are several ways to look at whom, Revelation addresses. Four specific audiences addressed in Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation.

Every student of the book of Revelation does not accept the idea of seven church ages; but seven correlations, can be demonstrated between the seven churches and the history of the church. The pre-tribulation rapture position is the proponent of the church ages position.

The contrast is very clear between the church of Philadelphia and the churches of Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea. Philadelphia is promised rescue from the coming tribulation.

Ø Philadelphia: "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Ø Sardis: “If you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you”

Ø Laodicea: “the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed…I stand at the door and knock”

The Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea churches easily fall into the class of the five foolish virgins, of Matthew 25:1-10. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins specifically speaks to the coming of Lord and the churches preparedness. The wise virgins had oil in their lambs and were waiting for the call of the bridegroom (The Rapture) while the foolish went to the marketplace and at midnight when the bridegroom came they were locked out of the wedding and the door was shut.Jesus warned, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day or the hour”.

In the book of Revelation, the word church appears 19 times. Between Revelation chapters 1 and 3 the word occurs 18 times, after chapter three we do not have any mention of the church until chapter 22.

John in the book of Revelation is an eyewitness reporter of the events taking place. After writing to the churches, he ascends into heaven, to the throne room of God. In Heaven, John describes what he sees,

Ø Around the throne were twenty four thrones…and on the thrones I saw twenty four elders sitting

Ø In the midst of the throne and around the throne…were four living creatures full of eyes….

Ø The twenty four elders fall down before Him who sit on the throne and worships Him who lives forever..

John, called up into Heaven, represents the rapture of the church after chapter 3, according to thepre-tribulation rapture position, he is a proxy for what happens to the church. John represents the church who is caught up into Heaven and taken into the presence of God. The 24 elders represent the Old and New Testament saints. The word elder in Greek is presbuvteroßPresbuteros means elder, of age. All angels were created at the same time, there are no senior angels in regard to age. Therefore, the elders are descendents of humanity. Twelve Old Testament saints and twelve New Testament saints, the job of the elders is to represent the church body.

John continues his description of Heaven, focusing on the throne of God and a seven-sealed scroll in the hand of God. John begins to cry because no man can open the scroll, just then one of the elders informs him of the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”, and the Messiah has prevailed and can open the scroll. This scroll in all likelihood represents the title to Earth, which Adam lost at the fall. Only the Messiah could recover what Adam lost. The opening of the seven seals begins in Chapter 6, initiating God the tribulation period.

When the Lamb of God, the Messiah, takes the scroll, all of Heaven breaks out into song. Singing about redemption, John hears them say,

"You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

Looking at the context of the new song, we can see the saints are included in the innumerable number of singers surrounding the throne. Specifically we can note about the this group are;

If the rapture takes place before the tribulation period, then the raptured saints would be the ones surrounding the throne, including the angels, singing praises to God.

The 70^th week starts with the military might of the “Prince who is to come”, He will guarantee Israel’s peace with many. The word confirm in Hebrew is rbgGabar, and means to prevail, have strength, be strong, be powerful, be mighty, be great. Through power of strength, He will protect Israel, and allow the Jewish Temple’s construction.

From scripture, we can construct several points with certainty. The rests is speculation until God clearly reveals his plan and details become clear.

Ø The Prince who is to come is a descendent of the armies who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple

Ø The Prince’s kingdom will be pro-Israel and pro-Temple, since he allows Temple construction contrary to Islam’s wishes.

Ø The Prince’s kingdom must have tremendous military might and power to enforce such an agreement or covenant of peace.

Ø This peace agreement will follow a period of extreme conflict, allowing the Temple to be built.

There are three options for his kingdom based on what we know today, including some speculation.

2. He could be descendent of the Roman armies who heads the United States, the worlds only super-power.

3. He could be a descendent of the Roman armies who head a combined United States –European alliance.

Whatever the configuration, Israel will trust this leader sign the covenant guaranteeing their peace and right to worship.

One event that could definitely cause a change in the world is a pre-tribulation rapture. Imagine a world one day where those who truly know the Lord vanish from the scene. The United States with the most powerful military, the most advanced technology world has ever known will still exist, but without a significant part of their population which views the world with moral absolutes. America without its Christians would be more like Europe with a similar perspective on the world. Europe for the most part is secular, and based in humanism and views Christianity with disdain. A rapture would align Europe and the United States, because those who cause division would be removed.

The rapture would also cause financial and economic destruction in the United States, and a United Europe and America could very well stabilize the situation.

The battle of Gog and Magog is an End-times event according to the Jewish understanding of End. They see this battle as a precursor to the coming of Messiah son of David. They believe Messiah son of Joseph dies in battle here. Gog and Magog is led by Armilus, the false Messiah (Antichrist) who proclaims himself to god and demands the world to worship him. Israel refuses and is persecuted with many being killed, but Messiah son of David arrives, he kills the false messiah and bring Messiah son of Joseph back to life.

Ezekiel tells us this battle will take place in the latter days after Israel is recovered from the nations and brought back into the land of Israel after a long period of absence (Ezekiel 38:8).

The battle clearly takes place prior to the agreement, since the nations involved in this conflict fit into an Islamic Russian alliance that would definitely be opposed to Israel’s moves on the Temple. We also know the will be a seven-year recovery period following this battle of Gog-Magog.

"After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.

8 "Surely it is coming, and it shall be done," says the Lord God. "This is the day of which I have spoken.

9 "Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years.

Ezekiel also tells us this conflict will involve those who live in security in the coastlands or islands. This could very well include the United States or Europe, now in range of Iran missiles, somehow receiving a nuclear or even biological strike in this battle for Israel. This could also be nuclear attack from within the country using a suitcase nuclear bomb or tactical warhead. God allows the attack on the secure coastlands and Magog that the world may know He is Lord.

"And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel 39:6

This battle, Israel will win according to Ezekiel, thrustingIsrael and Jerusalem to the center stage. The purpose of these events is to bring an unbelieving world back into line, into submission to their creator.

"Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord."

The abilities of nations to wage nuclear war are not limited to Super-powers. The technology WMD’s (Nuclear, biological and Chemical) becomes more pervasive each year. Smaller and less developed nations are well on their way to developing missiles and nuclear payloads capable of destroying cities of millions.

What if Islamic terrorists placed a bomb in a major U.S. or European city, killing hundreds of thousands or millions. How would the world react? Would there be compassion on Islam and understanding.

Tomorrow would be a different day. There would more then likely be an outpouring of hatred toward Islam, turning Europe from a friend of Islam perspective to a pro-Israel anti-Islamic view. Europe or the U.S. may even cheer the destruction of the Dome of the Rock, and the rebuilding of the Temple as just deserts for Islamic terrorism.

The world would cry out for someone take control and reestablish world order through military might making the appearance of the “Prince who is to come” as the right man for the right time.

Another potential event could be an earthquake destroying major world cities causing financial ruin to the nations. This in conjunction with the battle of Gog and Magog could also cause the world to be ripe for a person to take charge. A person, who could unite the world and focus its resources into a unified system would needed for the peace and safety of all.

19 "For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: 'Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel,

20 'so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.'

The kingdom of this “Prince to come” will reflect the nation of his descent. The Roman Empire known for its deification of rulers, will deify the coming prince. Julius Caesar, like the other emperors proclaimed themselves gods.

Self-deification is the natural result of humanism. With no God to answer too, then we answer to ourselves. Eventually, in humanism, someone becomes the chief of the tribe, and the chief if godless will become god. This is what happened to Rome past and what will happen in Rome future.

We have living examples of this scenario today. North Korea and other Communist countries, and dictatorships operated with cult of personality. This future leader will operate in the same realm. He will declare himself God and demand worship. Israel will refuse, the world will accept.

36“Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37He shall regard neither the £God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all

who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits £as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

8All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Following the conflict over the Temple mount, Israel and Islam many in the world will look upon a religion claiming exclusive truth as divisive and potential threat to security. With the submission of Islam, its not hard to imagine a world-wide movement to unify the religions of the world into a single belief system. All who refuse will suffer the wrath of the “Prince who is to come” we see this in Revelation 6:9-11, as the dead saints killed for their faith are in heaven.

The construction of the Jewish Temple with the agreement of the Anti-Christ is not done out of obedience but disobedience. Israel looks to the Temple to bring Messiah and redeem Israel. In building the Temple, Israel is still rejecting the Messiah. In the first half of the tribulation, Israel is not saved by the Temple construction and agreement. Israel only hope is in Messiah who was rejected by earlier generations.

During this period, Daniel’s 70^th Week, Israel will begin to see Messiah with the help of the 2 witnesses (Revelation 11) and the 144,000 move Israel to accepting Messiah the Prince. (Daniel 9:25)

In the desecration of the Temple by (Matthew 24:15) Anti-Christ, Jesus warns those inJudea to flee into the mountains. Those who listen to Jesus, speaking to them through Matthew 24 will be able to escape. Through Jesus Christ alone is Israel only hope of rescue.

Following Revelation 4 and 5, John now sees the scroll in the hand of the Lamb, who now begins to open the seals. With each seal opening in Heaven, corresponding events take place on earth.

And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

The white horse symbolizes the false peace this false messiah will bring to the world. His peace is temporary through the use of military threat and power. The white horse symbolizes Daniel 9:27, the covenant made with the world. The Antichrist is going to use military power in the guise of peace. He will subdue the nations of the world with his military might and the threat of force.

3When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come £and see.” 4Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

War will follow; very likely, a nuclear exchange could take place that will affect a large percentage of the Earth population. In the year, 2002 India and Pakistan have already been close to nuclear war. Technology in the future is only going to make it worse as smaller nations begin to develop these technologies. The ability to control events is slipping out of the hands of larger nations.

5When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A £quart of wheat for a £denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

Following a Nuclear exchange would be an immediate inflationary impact as crops and foods become contaminated with nuclear fallout. Uncontaminated food is scarcer and more valuable because of the vast amounts of food now unusable.

7When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

The results of nuclear war are 1/4 of the Earth population dies, including the effects, which follow, lack of food, disease and animals without control.

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

The souls of persecuted believers wait for their fellow believers to arrive. The goal on earth will be to create a unified religion in the first half of the 70^th week. Christians who refuse to submit will be killed, like Islam they will be forced to submit to the will of the Antichrist. Those who see a post-tribulation rapture hold these to be the saints killed for their faith. The pre-tribulation view is these are people who accept Christ after the rapture, as result of the rapture, the witnesses of the 2 witnesses in Jerusalem and other events taking place.

12I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and £behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the £moon became like blood.

The earthquake allows man to see his own mortality. Through this period of testing (Revelation 3:9), many who hold an exalted view of man, humanism, will be humbled.

The first 3.5 years will result in the greatest revival the world has ever known. Many who rejected Christ will come to Christ. Several factors will cause this world-wide revival.

Seeds planted before the rapture will bloom during the tribulation period, causing many to come to Christ in the tribulation period. In Jerusalem, we have two individuals one being Elijah the other either Moses or Enoch, proclaiming God’s judgment on the world. They are seen by the world and became hated by those who reject Christ, but the serve to lead many to salvation.

With Israel reinstated to their position the Jewish nation begins to recognize the Messiah rejected by Israel two thousand years ago.

4And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

The ministry of the 144,000 Jews will bring many people to a saving knowledge of Jesus as Messiah.Israel will be fulfilling the role she was meant to fulfill from the start. Bring the knowledge of God to the nations. Imagine 144,000 Billy Grahams or Pauls through out the earth spreading the Gospel. With many converts being killed soon after conversion we see the results of the 144,000’s ministry, pictured as a great multitude gathered from the nations before the throne in Heaven.

13Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

With the ministry of the 144,000, God offers hope to those on earth, the satanic plan is countered. The result being a great multitude that no one could count coming out of the nations standing before the throne of God in Heaven.

The 144,000 are sealed after the initial after, the 6 seal judgments, they appear between after the start of the first half of the tribulation.

1When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

God mercy to Man continues after the lull between the war and earthquakes. Now natural disasters strike the earth. God, who is forcing humanity to make a choice, destroys the environment, worshipped by man.

7The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the £earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

The earth is struck by what many see as a meteorite shower, causing the earth which is dry because of the lack of rain to burn.

8Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Here we see a comet or asteroid strike the earth, destroying 1/3 of the sea, ships and life. One third is only destroyed because God is forcing the earth to decide, and at the same time judging them for the persecution of his people.

10Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

Here a second asteroid or comet strikes the earth, this time 1/3 of fresh water becomes poisoned, resulting in the death of many.

12Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

Many see this as a volcanic cloud covering the earth, or the result of the asteroids striking the earth, following by the burning darkening the skies for a period of time.

5And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

John, sees demonic forces unleashed on humanity, people are stung but cannot die. Here we can see a demonstration of God’s mercy, people before being killed are again realizing their own humanity and must decide who is God. In the next trumpet many die, man is given an opportunity to choose.

13Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.

War is unleashed again, this time 1/3 of humanity dies. Already ¼ of the earth died in the seal judgments, here another third of the survivors die. With these two numbers, not counting the other disasters 47% of the earth population dies in the first half of the tribulation period.

15Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The £kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,

With all these Judgments, the 2 witnesses in Jerusalem and the 144,000 mankind is being given a chance to come to Christ, before the living enter eternity. The judgments result in either men turning to Jesus or away from Jesus. There is no middle ground.

The 20But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21And they did not repent of their murders or their £sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Each of these signs are designed to point men to Christ. The Two witnesses in Jerusalem are the ones calling down the judgments. In the process the world is being informed of the power behind the judgments.

Israel is also realizing their friend who signed the agreement guaranteeing their security, is no friend. He is demand the world to become one. Israel refuses to submit, a revival is taking place in Israel as people begin to consider what Jesus Christ said.

One hundred and forty-four thousand Jewish males accept the call to Christ, and along with the two witnesses proclaim to the world that Jesus really is the Messiah. The Antichrist persecutes those who turn to Jesus Christ. In the process of the 3.5 year period, half the earth population dies.

This period ends with the Antichrist and his armies invasion of Jerusalem. The two witnesses are killed at the hands of Antichrist. The Earth rejoices at the death of the two witnesses and exchange gifts with one another. And in a final act of mercy God calls up the two witnesses in the sight of all men after their bodies lay dead in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days.

[1] Church translated from the Greek word, ejkklhsiva Ekklesia, means a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly, an assembly of people convened.