Demos (δημος) means a gathered people. It is distinct in use from a crowd (ὄχλος) or an assembly (ἐκκλησία). Demos is organized, where a crowd is chaotic.
When the Jews learned of Paul’s success in preaching the Gospel of the risen Christ, they sought out malignantly evil men to cause an uproar in the city. When they came to where they assumed Paul was residing, after not finding him, they grabbed the owner of the house and brought him out to the gathered people, Acts 17:5. Demos (δημος) is not the same concept as an assembly (ἐκκλησία), which describes a group of people brought together for a common reason, such as with the Ephesians gathering because Demetrius and his fellow tradesmen stirred up the city against Paul and the saints in Ephesus because faith in Christ was threatening their profits from selling idols, Acts 19:39.
Peter uses a form of “demos (δημος)”, which means to be a pilgrim – alongside the gathered people. 1 Peter is written to the elect pilgrims of the dispersion of Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 1 Peter 1:1. Through his letter, Peter encourages us to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul while we are out among the Gentiles, for we are sojourners and pilgrims in the world, 1 Peter 2:11.
Using the concept of a gathered people, Paul describes what happens to Christians when they pass away before the Lord returns.
Indeed, we are confident and well pleased rather to be absent (out from the gathered people) out from the body and at home (in the gathered people) facing the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:8.
Although not all saints of the Church will face death, for when Christ returns, those who are alive will be caught up to meet Him in the air, 1 Thessalonians 4:17, we are not to be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep, 1 Thessalonians 4:13. They are absent (ἐκδημῆσαι) from the body and therefore from the gathered people on earth; however, they are present (ἐκδημοῦντες) with the Lord and will be resurrected along with those who are alive at His call, 1 Thessalonians 4:16. These saints are now in the gathered people who are in the presence of the Lord waiting for the day of our full redemption, just as we wait in anticipation of the meeting while in the gathered people on earth.
