The key to Ecclesiates

So, we begin reading Ecclesiates today. Written by King Solomon, the book’s Hebrew title is “Qoheleth” (the preacher or teacher or speaker)
The Greek translation (the Septuagint) translated the title as “ekklesiastes” (which might be translated “the one calling out”). In the New Testament, the word came to be the name for the church (ekklesia – the called out ones). The Preacher is calling out to his hearers explaining that everything “under the sun” is “vanity” (or “meaningless” as in the NIV). The key to understanding Ecclesiates seems to be in this repetitive phrase “under the sun.” Unless there is more to life than what we experience “under the sun,” then life is meaningless. But what if there is life “beyond the sun?”