JD Abshire

Christians are not the only group in the Bible called "elect". In Isaiah's prophecy concerning the forthcoming redeemer, the Lord is called the Father's elect. (Isaiah 42:1-7)

Israel is called God's elect.
"For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me." (Isaiah 45:4)
See also (Isaiah 65:9 and 65:22).

Bear in mind that Christ's earthly mininstry was primarily to the Jews. He was speaking to his Jewish disciples when giving the discourse of Matthew 24 (see V.4) Although in the mind of God from eternity past, the Church had not yet come into existence. There is nothing in scripture I'm aware of that indicates the Church's later advent nullified God's dealings, covenant promises and future restoration of Israel. 

I personally believe the "elect" mentioned in Matthew 24:22 are the Jewish remnant of the great tribulation. (Matthew 24:21-28)

February 09 2016 • 10 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Aurel Gheorghe

The very popular secret rapture doctrine has no Biblical base. Although sounds very appealing to many, the Scripture does not support such belief. 

The Scriptures teaches Christ's coming, the resurrection, and catching up of the saints to meet Jesus in the air, as a singular event taking place at the end of the world. Jesus promised to be with His Church until the end of the world (Mat 28:20). Such promise would make no sense if the elect were to be raptured seven years before the end the world. 

Jesus also said that wheat and tares would grow together until the "end of the world" and then would be separated (Mat 13). Furthermore, the rapture doctrine teaches that the righteous would be separated from the wicked seven years before the end; yet Paul declares that the saints are caught up to meet the Lord at the same time the dead in Christ are raised (1 Thes 4:16-17). Hard to imagine graves opening and the righteous rising without anyone noticing.

There are many Bible texts that describe the second coming of Christ to gather His saints; all point to a public manifestation, anything but secret (Rev 6:16-17; Mat 24:27; 1 Cor 15:52; Rev 1:7; Mat 24:30-31). 

Jesus said that a terrible time of trouble would come upon the world just before His return, echoing a similar prophecy made by the prophet Daniel (Mat 24:21-22; Dan 12:1). The great tribulation corresponds with the time during which the seven last plagues of Revelation 16 will fall (Rev 15:1) and God's wrath will be directed against the ungodly (Rom 1:18). 

Some Bible scholars believe that the tribulation will last only a month or two. They base this belief on Revelation 18:8 that talks about "plagues come in one day." A "day" in Bible prophecy represents one literal year (Eze 4:6,Num 14:34, Luke 13:32). So when Revelation says that "her plagues come in one day," it could mean within, or less than, one year's time. The very nature of the seven last plagues, the rivers and seas turning to blood and the planet being scorched with great heat, would render it impossible for the human race to survive more than few weeks. And this is why Jesus said, "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened" (Mat 24:22). The text makes it abundantly clear that the saved will be present on earth during the great tribulation and not raptured.

February 09 2016 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Francis Kirby

My opinion is that in that day men will indeed love to believe a lie! Why? Because to believe the truth about the rapture would mean that one will need to believe EXACTLY what Jesus said, and He said it would be a POST Tribulation gathering.

Matthew 24:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

October 08 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Billy P Eldred

I have never understood where proponents of a pretribulation Rapture base their belief. From the first time I read the book of Revelation, I understood that there would be a midtribulation Rapture. I have tried to study scripture to understand the pretrib theory but I don't find it. I have found some scripture that might support posttrib but to me midtrib is most likely. 

This fits with your question as to why. The whole pattern of the tribulation period shadows the periods of warning that God sent to Israel to bring them to repentance. Plagues, invaders, etc. Were sent against Israel to get them to return to the worship God asked for instead of the high places, baal worship etc. That they were guilty of. God then sent the Babylonians to destroy Israel and send them into exile. Then God had mercy on Israel and sent judgement against Babylon. 

The book of Revelation is basically the same pattern. God sends all types of judgements to try to bring the world back to him in a last chance scenario. After 3 and one half years the opportunity for repentance is over. He then he takes out his people that are true to him through Jesus, and pours out his Wrath on the remainder. 

And since the period of Revelations is the worse time of tribulation ever, then yes, it is important than we be taken out and for us, that period to be shortened.

February 08 2016 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Dave Mohler Preacher's kid.

The great tribulation of Mt. 24:21 begins with the antichrist in vs. 15, who is given authority to require allegiance to him by taking his mark. Otherwise non-compliance renders anyone unable to buy or sell (eat, work, etc.) and probably other persecutions of great pressure. Nothing on earth has ever been this bad for Israel or believers. 

But for the elect's sake (God knows who they are) the days of tribulation are shortened. My view is that when the sun and moon go dark (clearly out of the control of the antichrist and his followers) the persecutors begin to realize that the wrath of God is imminent (Rev. 6:12-17, read it) and no one is in persecution mode any more but is looking for some way to hide from "the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb". 

This is the shortening of the days of tribulation. The bible goes on to teach that the antichrist has authority for 1260 days (3-1/2 years) but this does not necessarily shorten the days allotted to him. The length of the great tribulation is not spelled out.

December 18 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report