Definition and Significance:
In the biblical context, gatherings refer to the assembly of people for religious, social, or communal purposes. These gatherings are significant as they often serve as a means for worship, instruction, fellowship, and the strengthening of community bonds. The Bible provides numerous examples of gatherings, each with its own purpose and significance.

Old Testament Gatherings:
In the Old Testament, gatherings were often commanded by God for specific purposes. One of the most notable gatherings was the assembly of the Israelites at Mount Sinai, where they received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:17). The Israelites were also instructed to gather for annual feasts such as Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23). These gatherings were times of worship, remembrance, and celebration of God's provision and deliverance.

The gathering of the people for worship and instruction is also seen in the regular Sabbath assemblies. Leviticus 23:3 states, "For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD."

New Testament Gatherings:
In the New Testament, gatherings take on a new dimension with the establishment of the early church. The Book of Acts records the gathering of believers for prayer, teaching, and fellowship. Acts 2:42 describes the early church: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

The New Testament also emphasizes the importance of regular gatherings for worship and mutual edification. Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages believers, "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Purpose of Gatherings:
Gatherings serve multiple purposes in the biblical narrative. They are a means of worship and reverence towards God, as seen in the communal worship practices of both the Old and New Testaments. Gatherings also provide opportunities for teaching and learning, as the community comes together to hear God's Word and apply it to their lives.

Fellowship is another key aspect of gatherings. The early church's practice of meeting together for meals and prayer highlights the importance of community and mutual support among believers. Gatherings also serve as a platform for accountability and encouragement, helping believers to remain steadfast in their faith.

Eschatological Gatherings:
The Bible also speaks of future gatherings, particularly in the context of eschatology. The prophetic books and the New Testament describe a final gathering of God's people. Matthew 24:31 states, "And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."

Revelation 7:9-10 provides a vision of a great multitude gathered before the throne of God: "After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands, and they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'"

Conclusion:
Gatherings in the Bible are integral to the life of God's people, serving as moments of worship, instruction, fellowship, and anticipation of future glory. They reflect the communal nature of faith and the importance of coming together in the presence of God.

The Card Parties
... Besides this, John discovered that at these evening gatherings he could often replenish
his supply of tobacco by slipping a little from someone's pocket when ...
/.../byrum/how john became a man/chapter v the card parties.htm

The Feast of Tabernacles.
... The finest seasons of the year, spring and autumn, were chosen for these
gatherings of the people. Separated into the various tribes ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the feast of tabernacles.htm

Reform
... all the delightful excitement of the day, if he had not seen some glorious consequences
result from the ministrations and from the great gatherings of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/reform.htm

Social Recreation.
... We have known a few persons who have once been in society, but who have allowed
themselves to remain away from all sorts of gatherings, for a number of years. ...
/.../judy/questionable amusements and worthy substitutes/vii social recreation.htm

My Brother Eusebius Writes to Me That, when He was at a Meeting of ...
... whose work I carefully purged from corruptions and gave to Latin readers many years
ago, and daily expound it at our conventual gatherings; whose version of ...
/.../24 my brother eusebius writes.htm

At the Feast of Tabernacles
... purposes. Enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, Israel's invisible Leader had
given the directions in regard to these gatherings. During ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 49 at the feast.htm

My Second Year in Benares.
... I saw the great gatherings of the people at their religious festivals, and realized
their character, and the nature of the work to which I had devoted my life ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter ix my second year.htm

Return to Benares.
... [Sidenote: TWO GATHERINGS AT BENARES.]. Towards the close of 1856, and at the beginning
of 1857, there were two interesting gatherings at Benares. ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xv return to benares.htm

The Object of Missions, and Various Modes of Operation.
... On the occasion of great gatherings we took our stand at the roads by which the
people were pouring into the city, or making their way out of it. ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xi the object of.htm

1861-1869. Prayer of Hon. And Rev. Baptist Noel --Residence in ...
... From the mouths of many witnesses, in a series of outdoor gatherings every Lord's
day evening in the past summer, they have heard, on their own village green ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter i 1861-1869 prayer of.htm

Gatherings (9 Occurrences)
...Gatherings (9 Occurrences). ... (KJV). 2 Samuel 22:12 And he made darkness round about
him a tent, Gatherings of waters, thick clouds of the skies. (DBY). ...
/g/gatherings.htm - 9k

Lord's (548 Occurrences)
... the first enthusiasm, necessity of pursuing ordinary avocations, and increasing
numbers of converts must soon have made general daily gatherings impracticable. ...
/l/lord's.htm - 88k

Gathers (27 Occurrences)

/g/gathers.htm - 14k

Wailingplace
... "The congregation at the wailing-place is one of the most solemn gatherings left
to the Jewish Church, and as the writer gazed at the motley concourse he ...
/w/wailingplace.htm - 7k

Wailing-place
... "The congregation at the wailing-place is one of the most solemn gatherings left
to the Jewish Church, and as the writer gazed at the motley concourse he ...
/w/wailing-place.htm - 7k

Prospered (35 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him
in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. ...
/p/prospered.htm - 17k

Collection (7 Occurrences)
... as, for some reason, perhaps more severe persecutions, that church was especially
needy (1 Corinthians 16:1, 2; verse 2 the King James Version "gatherings"). ...
/c/collection.htm - 11k

Assembly (371 Occurrences)
... 19:32, 41). The solemn assemblies of the Jews were their feasts or religious
gatherings of any kind (Isaiah 1:13). The word paneguris ...
/a/assembly.htm - 38k

Asuppim (2 Occurrences)
... a-sup'-im, (beth ha-'acuppim): King James Version, margin "gatherings"; the Revised
Version (British and American) "the storehouses." In Nehemiah 12:25, the ...
/a/asuppim.htm - 7k

Agape
... were the only elements of the memorial rite instituted by Jesus (1 Corinthians
11:23-29), the abuses which had come to prevail at the social gatherings of the ...
/a/agape.htm - 15k

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