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LEFT BEHIND: A Study in Matthew Chapter 24

We continue our study in Matthew 24 and we look at Jesus' elect. According to pre-tribbers, the elect  in verses 24 and 31 are the Jews. However, nowhere is there anything in scripture to support this. Many pre-tribbers, however, believe the elect in verse 22 refers to the church. The word elect in Greek is elektos, which means "laid out, "chosen," or "choice." elektos is translated elect in verses 22, 24 and 31 and throughout the New Testament. If the elect  in verse 22 are different than the elect in verses 24, then why is elektos used to describe these different groups, especially when they are used closely?

In letter to Titus, Paul used the word elektos which is translated in King James Bible "elect:" 

"Paul, a servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect..."                                                      

Titus 1:1a KJV

Paul is a servant of God and Christ's apostle according to the faith of God's elect. Clearly, the elect Paul refers to are those who are in Christ Jesus.   

Peter, in his first epistle, also used the word elektos which is also translated elect:

"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappado, Asia, and Bithynia. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ..."                                          

1 Peter 1:1-2 KJV

Peter called those who are strangers, or as we may call them missionaries, who are scattered throughout these countries "Elect" according to 

• the foreknowledge of God the Father,

• through sanctification of the Spirit, 

• unto obedience AND sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Again, Peter referred to those who are Christians elect.

Pre-tribbers also insist that Jews and Christians are separate in God's plan. They believe New Testament Christians up to the "pre-trib" rapture are not included in any promises relating to the Jews. Therefore the Christians must be raptured out so God can continue His plan for Israel. We will look at their claims and examine key scriptures and see if they are correct.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Just before Jesus' ministry commenced. John the Baptist confronted the Pharisees and Sadducees:

"You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore, bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say for yourselves 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise children to Abraham. And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees ; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Matthew 3:7b-12 NASB

Notice above, John said "Do not suppose that you can say for yourselves 'We have Abraham for our father.' " This statement was made before Jesus' ministry. These Jews, through their bloodline were sons of Abraham. But John had an entirely different meaning than being sons of Abraham through the flesh. He continues: "God is able from these stones to raise children to Abraham." There is a deeper meaning to being Abraham's sons. Notice further he says "the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." He said the axe is already laid at the root which is in relation to Abraham's sons. So therefore, the ones who are Jews from birth can be removed as Abraham's sons and they that do not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Notice, pre-tribbers, John said that God is able from stones to raise up children to Abraham. Isn't it also possible that He can use Gentiles to raise up children to Abraham as well?

During Jesus' ministry He confronted the Jews:

"They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father."

 Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is you are seeking to kill me; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father." 

They said to Him, "We have Abraham as our father, even God" 

Jesus said "If God were your father you would love Me...You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murder from the beginning"...

John 8:39-42a,44a NASB

They claimed to be sons of Abraham. Jesus again had a different meaning than the Jews had in mind. Jesus clearly said 

• If Abraham was their father, they would do the deeds of Abraham for Abraham did not seek to kill Him.

They claimed God was their father. Jesus clearly had a different meaning than the Jews. Jesus Clearly said

• If God was their father they would love Him

• They were of the father  the devil because they sought to kill Him and the devil was a murderer from the beginning.

Jesus called Himself the Great Shepherd and His followers His sheep. He came to His people, the Jews. Many refused Him, many followed Him.

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know me, even as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold: I must  bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with the shepherd."

John 10:14-16 NASB

Jesus made one thing clear, He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. He first came to the Jews. The ones who followed Him were his sheep. Notice He said He had other sheep and they were not of this fold. These sheep are Gentiles, some of them could have been the Samaritans in John 4:39. Notice, He said He must bring them also and they shall hear His voice. Notice further, He said they will become one flock with the shepherd. Jesus didn't  leave these two as two different flocks as dispensationalists contend, but He made them one flock with the shepherd.

Jesus said further to the unbelieving Jews:

"But you don't believe, because you are not my sheep. My sheep hear My voice and I will follow them and they will follow Me..."

John 10:26-27 NASB

Again it is clear the unbelieving are not His Sheep!

Paul wrote to the church in Galatia (Galatians 1:2):

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you were baptized Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Jesus Christ. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring (seed), heirs according to the faith...And you, brethren, like Isaac, are children of the promise."

Galatians 3:26-29, 4:28 NASB

Paul wrote to them they are sons of God through faith in Christ. Notice he said "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Jesus Christ." 

Notice further, pre-tribbers, Paul said "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's Seed and Heirs according to the faith." He didn't say that they are Abraham's seed because they were all decedents of him. And he didn't say Jews can reject Jesus and still be in the fold.  Therefore, It is only through faith In Jesus that we are Abraham's seed.

Also notice Paul said that we, like Isaac are children of the promise. This is clear enough  that we are the true children of Abraham. So it's possible God could raise up Gentiles to Abraham after all!

We continue this study in Paul's letter to the Ephesians:

"Therefore, remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called 'Uncircumcision' by the so-called 'Circumcision,' which is performed in the flesh in human hands--remember that you at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now, in Christ Jesus you who were formerly were far off have been brought near, by the blood of Christ. for He himself is our peace, who made two groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall. by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body of God through the cross, by having put to death the enmity. AND HE CAME PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO ARE NEAR*; So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God's household..." 

Galatians 2:11-19 NASB

 *-Isaiah 57:19

In the above verses who did Paul refer to? He referred to those who were formerly Gentiles in the Flesh, who were called "Uncircumcision" by those who were so called Circumcision, the Jews. These formerly called Gentiles when they were separate from Christ they were

• excluded from the commonwealth of Israel

• strangers to the covenant of the promise

• and having no hope and without God in the world

But now by the blood of Christ, when they  were far off they were brought near because Christ is our peace and He made two groups (Jew and Gentile) into one! And Jesus Broke down the barrier of the dividing wall which is the Law of commandments through his death on the cross. By doing this that He may make these the two one new man thus establishing peace and they may be reconciled to God to one body. By Christ's death he put to death the enmity, the Law of commandments.

 Paul quoted Isaiah: "HE CAME PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO ARE NEAR" The ones who were far away were the Gentiles and the ones who are near were the Jews!

Paul said to those former Gentiles: They are no longer strangers and aliens but are fellow citizens and are of God's household.  

From what we examined, the Gentiles through the blood of Christ were reconciled to God. But beforehand they were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of the promise. Now they are no longer strangers and aliens. Therefore, we must reject the dispensational view that the Church is separate from the Jews or even Israel. And we must accept that through the blood of Christ, He made these two one.

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      Articles in this study

Left Behind-A Study in Matthew 24

Disciple
Daniel

Imminence

Take to One's Self 

My Father's House

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