GATHERING-TOGETHER-UNTO EPI-SUN-AGOGE Επι-συν-αγωγη
Some years ago vast crowds in every part of Canada gathered together to honor Princess Elizabeth, now our beloved Queen, and her husband. It was the Princess, whom all the British Empire loved, that attracted the people. They were gathered together unto her. She was the attraction. Most of the people had known her from the time she was a little child, and had watched her grow up. Our children had pictures of her, with her little sister, and her dogs; and they had learned to love the charming girl with the sunny face. So when Canada was honored by a visit from her, all who possibly could, were gathered together unto her.
We read of great gatherings almost every day. People gather together to help some cause they love and admire. They gather together to a cause, to a doctrine, for a purpose; but how different such a gathering is to those who are gathered together unto a living person in their midst, whom they love.
You will note that the word we propose to consider is really made up of three words; and the second and third together, sun-agoge, make a very common English word: 'Synagogue'. One is the Greek way, the other the English way, of spelling the same word. As you may guess, it really means `a-Gathering-Together', and in this way it is often used in the Greek Old Testament. In the New Testament it has generally come to mean the place where they gathered. And today the Jews gather together in the Synagogues to hear the Law and the Prophets and also to pray. This is 'a-Gathering-Together', but not 'a Gathering-Together-Unto' any loved and living person. All over the world we hear of religious meetings of one kind or another, which for the most part are 'Gatherings-Together', but not 'Gatherings-Together-Unto' one they love. It is the living Person we love, unto Whom we gather, that makes the difference.
This word, epi-sun-agoge, 'a Gathering-Together Unto', as a noun, is only used twice in the Greek New Testament; but the verb is used seven or eight times. We find it first in Matt. 23:37, in which verse it occurs twice: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often would I have gathered thy children together unto (Myself) even as a hen gathers together her chickens unto (herself) under her wings, and ye would not.”
This, the first time the word is used, beautifully illustrates its meaning. We have all heard the mother-hen give that special little cluck that calls the little chicks —calls them, where? Calls them unto herself. That is just the thought in this lovely word. You may look up the other places where we find this verb, all of which, you will note, are in the Gospels, telling of our Lord down here on earth: Matt. 24:31; Mark 1:33,13:27; Luke 12:1, 13:34, and perhaps 17:37; but the reading here is, I believe, doubtful. If you examine these Scriptures, I think you will find that all, except the last, refer to gathering together unto our beloved Lord and Savior. CHRIST, and CHRIST alone, is the Object and Center of our gathering. May the Lord help us to bear this in mind when we come together to remember our Lord's death; it is not only a 'gathering together' (the synagogue was that), but a Gathering Together Unto the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
Many today gather together unto a Doctrine, such as baptism; others gather together unto a great leader, such as Luther or Wesley; others to a Form of Worship or Church Government; or to a National Church. Such gatherings have no right to claim they are gathered together unto Christ, and Christ alone.
But let us look a little at the two Scriptures (and only two) where we find this word as a noun. The first is in 2 Thess. 2:1: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled." Here this word tells us of that great gathering in the air, described in 1 Thess. 4:13-18, and in 1 Cor. 15:51-57, when all the true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, whether living or sleeping, shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. What a gathering together that will be, and all unto Him! Not one saint, from the thief on the cross to the last one brought to the Savior before He comes again, will be missing then. Then all will be gathered together unto their Lord, and He will be the Center, the only Center and Object, of that vast throng. And note, the One unto Whom we are gathered is not left to be understood (as it is in some cases), but is plainly told us —"unto Him" —unto the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The archangel will be there, and will utter his voice: but he is not the center or object, the one to whom that vast throng is gathered! No! It is unto the Lord Himself, the Lord alone, He is the Center of all —"The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout." The Lord Himself is our only Object and Center then.
Who would be willing to miss that meeting in the air, with the Lord Himself in the midst? Who then, at that moment, will want any other center, any other object, than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself? Why any other center, any other object, now?
The only other place where we find this word is in Heb. 10:25: "Not forsaking the gathering-together unto (Him) of yourselves, as the manner is with some." This tells us of our gathering together unto Himself down here on this earth, in the present day, just as the other occasion on which this word was used, told us of that mighty gathering together unto Him in that coming day —that gathering together unto Him in the air. How amazingly sweet that the Spirit of God should choose exactly the same word for each of these gatherings! Thus the Lord tells us that this gathering together unto 'My Name', as we get in Matt. 18:20 (for almost the same words are used), is in His sight, the same as that wondrous gathering together unto Him in the air.
And in both these gatherings He promises to be there. In the one, "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout," and in the other, "There am I in the midst of them." It is the presence of the living Lord we love that makes all the difference —the one down here, the other in the air —but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself present in each case: His presence makes these meetings different to all other meetings that can be arranged by men.
Very likely today that meeting is held in some upper room, or down a back street, or in a private house, as in the New Testament days. Adornments are not there. The organ and the choir of the world, or even the music of Old Testament days, are all missing. It may be there are only "two or three" present; but, dear Reader, do not scorn it, for in the sight of God, it is just as truly a gathering-together-unto the Lord Jesus, as is that glorious meeting in the air, with countless myriads, from the grave and from the earth; and HE HIMSELF in all His glory, the visible Center of that mighty throng. Then we shall see Him with our own eyes for the first time; and through that sight, we shall be changed to be "like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
It is amazing, is it not, that the Holy Spirit chooses exactly the same word for each of these gatherings? It tells us that the Lord Himself is just as truly present in that bare upper room with the despised two or three, as He is visibly present in that glorious gathering to which we all look forward with hope and joy.
And just one word more. The Holy Spirit adds this admonition: "And so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Beloved, do we not see "the Day approaching" now? Never was "the Day" so near as in our day! May you and I love that blessed place where Jesus Himself is in the midst, and love and treasure it the more as we see the Day approaching now. May other gatherings-together lose their attraction as we find an irresistible attraction in that
“GATHERING-TOGETHER-UNTO HIM”