The Gathering
by Dr. Ken Matto
(Heb 10:25 KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
(Mat 24:31 KJV) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
As we look at the two verses above we see both of them deal with the second coming of Christ on the last day. Many times we have heard Hebrews 10:24-25 used to try and get us to go to church. However, I believe there is a deeper meaning to this verse than just the chiding of the believer to go to church.
When we look at the assembled church on a Sunday morning we see a church with the elect of God in it. Those who come to church come from various surrounding vicinities to join in praise, prayer, Bible study, and the hearing of the Word being preached. In essence of type the believers are coming from the "four winds" to join with other believers for worship.
It seems that God is using our Sabbath gathering as a foreshadow or type of our gathering to Christ on the last day. The reason that the Bible tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together in the Hebrews passage is because if a believer is not joined to a true congregation, then they are like the unbelievers who are on the outside.
(Rev 22:15 KJV) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
By going to a true church (or house church) on the Sabbath, it is the foreshadow of the glorious moment when all the believers will be gathered unto the Lord Jesus Christ. On Sunday we gather to worship Christ but on the last day He will gather us.