The word church has been diluted and redefined over the centuries until, for many, it means little more than a building, a weekly service, or a religious institution. But when Jesus declared, "I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18), He did not use the word church at all. He used the Greek word ekklesia-a word that means "the called-out ones."

The ekklesia is not an organization; it is an organism. It is not a place you go but a people you belong to. It is the Body of Christ-redeemed, separated, and filled with the Spirit to shine as light in the midst of darkness.

In The Ekklesia (The Called Out Ones), Larry D. Washington takes readers on a biblical journey from the first mention of the ekklesia in Matthew 16 to the victorious, overcoming Bride of Christ revealed in Revelation. This book exposes the difference between the true church and the counterfeit system rising in these last days and calls every believer to walk in holiness, obedience, and readiness for the return of Christ.

Inside these pages you will discover:

• The true meaning of ekklesia and why Jesus chose that word.
• How Israel in the Old Covenant foreshadowed the calling of the ekklesia.
• The early church pattern of power, persecution, and purity.
• Why holiness is the mark of the called-out ones.
• The balance of the Spirit's gifts and fruit in the life of the church.
• How to live as ambassadors of the Kingdom in a fallen world.
• The difference between the remnant Bride and the apostate church.
• What it means to "come out from among them" (2 Corinthians 6:17).
• Why the true church may have "little strength" (Revelation 3:8), yet great reward.
• How the Bride prepares herself for the Bridegroom's return.

With clarity, urgency, and deep scriptural insight, Washington shows that the ekklesia is not defined by its size, wealth, or popularity, but by its loyalty to Christ and His Word. In a generation obsessed with blending in, the true church is called to stand out. In a world sliding deeper into compromise, the ekklesia must remain holy. In an age of deception, the remnant must cling to the truth.

This book is a trumpet blast to the last-days church. It warns of the rise of the counterfeit religious system, while strengthening and equipping the faithful remnant to endure, overcome, and shine. It reminds every believer that the Bridegroom is coming, and only those who are watching and ready will enter the marriage supper of the Lamb.