A Gathered of People (δημος)
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.
Lift up (αἴρω)
αἴρω (airo) means to lift up or bear. It is used for picking up a bed, baskets, fish, money, people, and many other objects. Therefore, by lifting up, you are bearing the weight. When not referring to an object, it is used of justice being stolen, the loss of life, and the lifting of sin.
When Christ informed a lame man that because his sins were forgiven, he could stand up and walk, the Jewish scribes said He was committing blasphemy. However, Jesus explained to them that He said, “The man’s sins are sent away.” so they would understand that He has the authority to forgive sins. Then He turned to the man and instructed him to lift up his bed and go home, to which the man did, Matthew 9:2-7.
Christ was manifested to lift our sins, 1 John 3:5. Through His work on the cross, while we were dead in our trespasses and sins, the Father made us alive in Christ, sending away (forgiving) our trespasses after wiping out the handwritten dogma against us, lifting it out of the way by nailing it to the cross, Colossians 2:14. Therefore, in Christ, the law has been completed and all who are in the Christ are counted to be righteous and not under the law, Romans 6:14. Just as a child is no longer under tutors and governors when he has completed his training, Galatians 4:1-2, so is a Christian when it comes to law. We are no longer to be inarticulate babblers that need the law to guide us. Instead, as sons, we must train our senses to know good and evil, Hebrews 5:14.
In response to Pilate seeking to release Jesus, for Pilate found nothing worthy of death in Christ, the leaders of Israel accused him of being against Caesar if he permitted Jesus to be set free because He is said to be the king of the Jews, John 19:11. Pilate reacts to them by presenting Jesus in a mocking way to the Jews as their king. This is when the crowd started to cry out for Pilate to lift up Jesus; to crucify Him, John 19:15. The Jews did the same thing to Paul after beating him for being in the temple, calling out to the centurion to lift up Paul, implying they wanted him crucified, Acts 22:22.
In John chapter fifteen verse two, Jesus explains the new relationship those in the Church will have with Him and the Father. He is the vine, the source of life. The Father is the vine dresser. When one of the branches is not producing, the Father lifts it. Bear up (αἴρω) does not mean to take away in the same sense as forgive (ἀφίημι), which means “to send away.” Nor is it expressing the sending away of a person such as with ἀπολύω (apoluo). The disciples asked Jesus to send away (ἀπολύω) a woman crying out after them because she sought healing. However, she was not a Jew; therefore, Jesus did not respond to her. This caused the disciples to urge Christ to send her away, Matthew 15:23. When the Father lifts a branch that is not bearing fruit, He is not removing it from the vine. Instead, just as a vinedresser will lift a branch out of the dirt and clean it up so that it can produce fruit, the Father reacts in the same manner. Things within this person’s life that are holding him down so that he cannot produce fruit are removed by the Father, lifting him up.
Happy and Joy
Happy (μακάριος) is an attitude of enjoyment and delight, whereas Joy (χαρά) is contentment. In action, joy is rejoicing; however, it is different from exultation (ἀγαλλιάω), Matthew 5:12.
When the magi of the east saw the star of David rise, they knew the King of the Jews was born. They responded to this finding by rejoicing with very great joy because their discovery brought them happiness, Matthew 2:10. Zacharias is informed by an angel that the Lord has heard his supplication for a son. Elizabeth will bear him a boy, and he will have joy and gladness along with many others who will rejoice at his birth, Luke 1:14. In addressing the saints of Philippi, Paul expresses that they are his joy, Philippians 4:1. For they bring him a sense of delight just as the saints in Thessalonica, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, even though Paul has been separated from them through the persecution he was facing. Not only did they receive the gospel of the Christ, but they also took hold of eternal life through obedience to the gospel. During Christ’s ministry, as He proclaimed the gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens, some of the Jews immediately received the message with joy; however, they were like seeds on stony ground that have no root, so they only endure for a short time, Matthew 4:16. Joy is not emotionally centered because it is also shown by the spirit beings, who do not possess a soul. There is great joy in heaven over one sinner changing his mind, Luke 15:7.
Unlike joy, which is often expressed in rejoicing because of satisfaction, happy is more of a state of mind. Happy is the man to whom the Lord does not impute sin, Romans 4:8. During the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus was speaking to the Jews about His coming kingdom, He expressed many reasons for them to be happy, even when facing persecution and being forced out into the wilderness by the Gentiles and the man of lawlessness. Happy are those who lack knowledge concerning what is happening in Jerusalem and to the temple, Matthew 5:3. Happy are those who mourn because they have hope of being comforted, Matthew 5:4. The Jews that maintain an objectivity of mind, hunger and thirst after righteousness, show mercy, have a pure heart, and are reviled because of Christ, while they await the return of the Messiah to deliver them, can be happy because they will inherit the earth, be filled, obtain mercy, see God, and be called the sons of God, Matthew 5:5-11.
The Christian has a happy hope that comes from knowing that the Lord will return, Titus 2:13. Happiness is a characteristic of God, for He is a happy Being, 1 Timothy 6:15. Joy is an aspect of the character of Christ, seen in the fruit from the Spirit, Galatians 5:22. When a Christian is Spiritual, emanating the things from the Spirit, he will be able to use this fruit, which will result in a sense of contentment in any situation. For we should learn to be satisfied with what we have and not be covetous, Hebrews 13:5.
Happiness is a state of mind that comes from a sense of well-being. Joy comes from experiencing a situation that turns out in a beneficial way, even when the circumstances are not ideal. Both happiness and joy are logical in nature, not emotional. Therefore, we can be happy and have joy even when facing negative circumstances because of the sense of well-being that comes from knowing that God will never leave us or forsake us.
Working Out Your Own Salvation
So that, my beloved, just as always you obeyed, not as only in my presence but now much more in my absence, with respect and trembling, work out your own salvation.