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Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, (Hebrews 10:23-26 KJ2000)

When you read the Numeric Bible you will see that the word translated “faith” in the King James should actually be translated “hope.”  The Greek word is “elpis” and literally means “to anticipate with pleasure.”  What is our hope?  In Acts 23:6 Paul says it is “the hope and resurrection of the dead.”   In Romans 5:2 he says it is the “hope of the glory of God.”   Paul explains a little more to the Romans, saying, “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” (Romans 8:20-21 KJV)  “Our hope,” then, relates to our hope in our own glorification, that someday we will be even as He is. 

Hebrews thus exhorts us to hold fast this hope.  Why?  Because God is faithful and he promised this to us.  Therefore, he says, “let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.”    Hebrews 10:24.  This is a positive command.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that the greatest expression of Christianity is “love.”  F.B. has taught us in his commentary on the Book of Revelation that the Two Witnesses are “the Word and the works that follow.”  “The Word” is God.  God is love.  So, this verse basically tells us “to be” the two witnesses as we wait in hope.

Next Hebrews says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:25  Consider the context.  We should hold fast to our hope of one day being glorified.  When will that occur?  At the parousia.  At this point you should recall or read all of 1 Corinthians 15 and especially, “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 KJ2000)  But, does Hebrews 10:25 itself somehow reference this glorification of our mortal body?  Indeed it does. 

The phrase translated “assembling ourselves together” in Hebrews 10:25 translates two occurrences of the Greek word “episunagoge.”  The word appears in only one other passage of Scripture, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, where Paul says, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.”  The words “gathering together” here translate the Greek word “episunagoge.”  The context here, just as in Hebrews 10:25, is the Lord’s second coming.  Both passages exhort us to be prepared for that.  The “gathering together” speaks of being gathered together with Christ at his coming; it has nothing to do with going to a church meeting.

Then Hebrews warns that the habit of some is to neglect this gathering.  What does that mean?  Well, just talk about the nearness of the LORD’s return and you will see what that means.  People simply do not want to be confronted with the fact that Christ is now on their doorstep, that the episunagoge is at hand.  And when is it that we should especially not neglect this profound doctrine of the episunagoge and the glorification of the saints and exhort one another?  As you see the day approaching!  Do you see the Day approaching?  Do you see that Christ’s return is near?

Why is this so important?  Because, “if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins.”  Hebrews 10:26.  This gets back to the crux of the issue again.  God calls his people to practice righteousness.  If we sin, we repent and confess.  We do not plan to sin and thus sin willfully.  If we do, then we will not be ready when Christ comes.  We will not be accounted an overcomer, and we will not be glorified with the saints at that time.  We will then have our part in the Lake of Fire…. (Eternal torment in hell?  No, but that’s another story.)

So, the gathering together of the saints is not quite what we have been taught, is it?