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NASB | Matthew 24:31 "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 24:31 "And He will send His angels with A LOUD TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect (God's chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. [Is 27:13; Zech 9:14] |
Subject: The ingathering of Israel? |
Bible Note: Elect of Matt 24, Christians not Israel '...There are many who would want to exclude Matthew 24 from applying to the Church. They say that Matthew 24 applies only to Israel and has nothing to do with the Church and Christ's return for us. (...) 'There are at least 6 reasons why I believe the Olivet Discourse of Christ not only pertains to the Church, but details events of the end times for which believers are to prepare. Let's examine them. (...) 4. The ones being persecuted in the Olivet Discourse are Christians. 'Jesus tells of a time in the future when all nations will hate his followers. He tells his disciples that they will be persecuted, hated and killed. Why? "On account of My name," He says (Matthew 24:9). ... 'Clearly it is Christians that Jesus is addressing. It is those who are preaching the gospel who will be arrested. It is those who are filled with the Holy Spirit who will be persecuted. This teaching is in accord with numerous Scriptures that tell believers that they will suffer tribulation (John 15:20, 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2 Cor. 1:5; Phil. 1:29; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 2:21). '5. The elect of Matthew 24 are Christians not Israel. 'Jesus speaks of His "elect" several times in Matthew 24: '"Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, "Behold, here is the Christ,' or "There He is,' do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect… And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other." (Matt. 24:22-24, 31) 'Just who are these elect? Some would have us believe that the elect are the Jewish people, and that these warnings and instructions refer to Israel and their gathering together for the Millennial rule of the Messiah. But is this the case? 'Anytime the Greek word eklektos (elect, chosen) is used in the New Testament to speak of individuals it refers to believers in Christ, Jew or Gentile (Matt 20:16; 22:14; Luke 18:7; Rom 8:33; Col 3:12; 2 Tim 2:10; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1, 2:9; Rev 17:14). This word never refers to Jews or the nation of Israel. Why should Matthew 24 be any different? It is to these elect, Jesus' disciples, that the warnings of Matthew 24 apply. It is simply not Scriptural to teach that Jesus' words here do not apply to the present-day Church. Jesus' obvious intent is that these warnings be applied to the Church throughout the age, for He provides warnings specifically applicable to His contemporaries as well as those elect/chosen who would be alive at the end of the age, who will see "all these things" take place (Matt. 24:33). '6. Jesus' promise to return in John 14 is the same event. 'Just two days following the Olivet Discourse, Jesus was with His disciples in the upper room, sharing the Passover meal with them and preparing them for His departure. In this context he told them: '"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-3). 'Now, how can one honestly say that Jesus’ teaching to His disciples on the Olivet Discourse was to them as representatives of the Jews and about the future of the nation of Israel, but that His teaching to His disciples just two days later was to them as representatives of the Church and about the Church's future? They cannot be referring to two separate events since they were both delivered to the disciples in view of their looking for Christ's coming for them. Clearly both accounts speak of Jesus return for His disciples when He will "receive" us to Himself – "gather together" His elect. 'Jesus warned His disciples to not be deceived about His coming (Matt. 24:4). Paul warned the Thessalonian believers to not be deceived about Jesus' return (2 Thess. 2:3). Let us take these warnings to heart and base our beliefs on the solid Word of God, rather than on the teachings of men.' Quoted from: The Olivet Discourse - For the Church or Israel? Reprinted from eParousia #9, October, 2003 ____________________ www.solagroup.org/articles/ endtimes/ep_0009.html |