Who are the “elect” in Matthew 24:22 and what is the purpose of shortening the days for their sake?

Just as Our Lord’s Great Prophecy (Matthew 24) applies now to the close of the Gospel Age, it also applied to the close of the Jewish Age.

Jerusalem was sieged by the desolating Roman armies, bringing about a time of intense distress on the people. The famine and internal anarchy of this bleak period are legend. An opportunity for flight came in A.D. 68 when Roman forces returned to Rome. However, flight required faith and a willingness to suffer the pains of a refugee.  Flight was the last and only remedy for the Jews. The flight was more difficult for those with children and those during the winter season (verses 19-20).  Those were days of great distress and affliction. Had not the Lord intervened, the opportunity for this difficult flight would not have come. But for the “elect’s sake” [the faithful Jews] (verse 22) he did intervene, so that they were not swept away in the carnage that followed.

If we relate these same verses (Matthew 24:19-22) to the end of the Gospel Age, we can see that the Lord is the refuge for the true Christian fleeing Christendom. The flight will be difficult. Pray that it be not in the wintertime but in the more favorable summer time of harvest. The original Greek text (Matthew 24:22) in Wilson’s Emphatic Diaglott, reads, “And unless those days were cut short [cut off, amputated, Greek koloboo] No One could survive; but on account of the chosen, those days will be limited.” This translation implies that the Lord will cut the forces gathering for the last debacle.  He will “hold back the four winds” to allow the saints living at the very end of this age to make their calling and election, until their sealing is complete.

 Since we interpret Matthew 24:22 as meaning that there are still some “foot” members of the church on the scene during the very last days of the harvest who are in the process of working out their calling and election, the Lord will hold back the forces of Armageddon for their sakes or, on account of them, so that they can complete what they have started.

How would it be possible for the saints to come down from heaven (Revelation 21:2) when 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says that they would only be gathered as far as the atmosphere?

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Verse 16 denotes what happened at our Lord’s return in 1874 to the saints who had been sleeping in death for centuries. They were awakened to receive new immortal spiritual bodies like that of our Lord’s glorious body. Verse 17 goes on to say that future saints now living “will be caught up [changed at the moment of death] together with them [to be also like the saints who were already raised] in the clouds [often symbolic of trouble and persecution] to meet the Lord in the air [earth’s atmosphere, not the heaven of heavens].” We believe that these scriptures refer to the harvest of the Gospel Age, a time preceding our Lord’s setting up of His kingdom on earth. Even though persecution has not been the experience of all the saints either before our Lord’s second presence or after, there are scriptures pertaining to the closing days that indicate that the very last members of the Church may suffer persecution and violence before they die. For example, their experience would be comparable to that of Elijah who was caught up in a fiery chariot and accompanying whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). Since we believe the Church class is still being completed (as is the great multitude, also a heavenly class), the marriage of the Lamb cannot have occurred. (See Revelation 19.) Therefore, we conclude that the risen saints are not yet with our Heavenly Father in the highest realm of heaven, where Jesus was seated after He ascended to heaven. We believe that the risen saints are with our Lord Jesus in the lower areas of heaven tearing down this present evil system so that Christ’s earthly kingdom can be set up.

However, in Revelation 21:2, the time frame has moved forward to the actual setting up of the earthly Kingdom. The Church is now complete, the marriage has taken place in the highest realm of heaven where God abides, and all people on earth are aware of a change in government from man’s control to Jesus and His Church’s control.

“I saw the Holy City [the government of God], the New Jerusalem [the completed Church in glory and Kingdom power, now united in marriage to the Lamb], coming down out of heaven from God [coming down from the highest place in heaven as they get their directive to rule], prepared as a bride [all the saints are counted as one collectively] beautifully dressed [resplendent for her husband Jesus].” (Revelation 21:2) This verse pertains to the inauguration of the reign of Christ. “Coming down from heaven” signifies that the New Jerusalem is of divine origin.

Are the risen saints in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 being gathered only as far as the earth’s atmosphere? Perhaps they may be in this realm or some other heavenly realm. We are not dogmatic on this issue. However, these same saints in Revelation 21:2 (the New Jerusalem) now descend
from the highest echelon of heaven since that is where their marriage to the Lamb took place.

What do we know about the 144000 mentioned in Revelation?

Revelation 7:2-4, “Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: ‘Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.”

This is an end-time picture. Joel 2: 1,2,10 talk about “the day of the Lord…a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness,…the earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining…” During the period of our Lord’s second presence, Jesus shall judge the national, social (earth) and religious systems (heavens). However, before our Lord destroys this present evil world (Galatians 1:4), he will seal a class of 144,000 in their foreheads.

What is a seal? In ancient days, people would use a seal to imprint their identification marks in hot wax. When the seal was removed, the wax would bear the designated image of the owner. So, pictorially, this imprint of God is formed in the forehead. We know our foreheads represent out minds and thoughts. Therefore, this class bears the holy mark of God in their minds. Their thoughts and ways are clearly manifest to all as the seal is shown on their faces. This holy group of people radiate the mind of Christ.

What people have Christ’s mind? I Cor. 2:7, 16 states, “…we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God,…none of the rulers…understood this,…But we have the mind of Christ.” We, the faithful followers of our Lord, have the mind of Christ. Those who are of this unique class are but a “little flock.” Our Lord specially rewards those who are transformed into Christ’s likeness. He permits them to reign with Christ in His kingdom. Luke 12:32, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Referring back to Revelation 7, the final, armageddon phase of God’s judgment doesn’t start until the 144,000 of spiritual Israel have proven faithful, have the seal of God in their foreheads, to reign with Christ (see Revelation 20).

What happens to us the minute we die. Where do we go?

If you are not a true Christian, then the instant you die, you go into the equivalent of a dreamless sleep.

The penalty for sin that was given to Father Adam was death. Genesis 2:17 “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Please remember that a day with the LORD is as a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8).  Adam died at 930 years of age (Genesis 5:5) which is within a day (according to the LORD).

We are under the same death penalty as Adam. So does the Bible tell us death is like? Yes! A description of the death condition is found in Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

This describes a dreamless sleep. There is no thought or conscience when you are dead as further described in Ecclesiastes 9:5“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing…”

Even Jesus described death as sleep. His disciples were confused when Jesus told them that Lazarus was just resting. John 11:11-14, “…Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.”

These scriptures describe the death condition as a sleep condition. All mankind who experience death will eventually be awaken from this death/sleep condition in the future resurrection. (John 5:28, 29)

However, the instant a faithful Christian dies, he is instantly changed into a divine, heavenly being. 1 Corinthians 15:52-53, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we (Christians) shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (See also 1 John 3:2)

What is going to happen at the end of the world?

The “…ends of the world…” (1 Corinthians 10:11) is the ending and transitional period of the world as we know it. It is called, “…the great day of Jehovah…” (Zephaniah 1:14 YLT).  The righteous Kingdom of God, under the authority of Christ, will be gradually established on earth as the unjust governments and systems of the present world pass away.  Isaiah 61:2 lists this period as, “…the day of vengeance of our God…".    Psalm 110:5 describes this as "…the day of His wrath."  Daniel 7:9, 13, & 14 (KJV) states, “…the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit…and behold, one like the Son of man came…And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people…should serve him:  his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away…shall not be destroyed.”

Various prophecies describe this ending period of the old evil world order. It overlaps with transitional events required to fulfill the promise in Acts 3:21 (NIV), “…for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”   

There is a prophecy detailing the fall of false Christian systems. These systems are Christian in name only (meaning not true at heart, not holy spirit-begotten, unfaithful).   Revelation 18:21 prophesies, “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.”  As the literal Babylon fell to ruin, so symbolic Babylon (nominal Christianity) will fall.  It will be raised as though it were a giant stone. Then its sudden, violent fall will bring total destruction of its unjust practices. This will forever be a forceful example of why and how God will eliminate all hypocritical systems.    

The prophecy describing future mourning of those responsible for Jesus’ death is found in Zechariah 12:10. “…and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as…for his firstborn.”  When Jesus, our Lord and redeemer, awakens ALL mankind (John 5:28,29), people will be taught God’s plan and instructed in righteousness (Hebrews 10:16). They will know that Jesus is “…a ransom for all…” 1 Timothy 2:6.

The Bible describes the end of the world as a time when Christ removes all manmade, unrighteous systems.  Temporary, severe upheaval will lead to the fulfillment of God’s wonderful promise for mankind found in Revelation 21:4.  ”…God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes…death shall not be any more,  nor sorrow, nor crying,  nor…pain, because the first things did go away.” (YLT).

Luke17 verses 22-37 (excluding verse 25). Is it about Christ’s 2nd coming or the rapture?

In Luke 17:20-37, Jesus answers the Pharisees’ question on “when the kingdom of God should come”. Rather than addressing the time feature, Jesus chooses to focus his response on the manner of his second coming.

The Scriptures seem to present the topic of the second coming from two different perspectives, which at a first glance may appear contradictory:

1. The kingdom comes “not with observation” (verse 20) and the kingdom “comes as a thief in the night” (2 Thessalonians 5:2) when he comes to gather his saints (Mark 13:27).

2. He comes as the lightening (Luke 17:24); he comes “with a great sound of trumpet” (Matthew 24:31); and he “comes with ten thousands of his saints” (Jude 14).

These Scriptures can be harmonized when we understand that Jesus’ second presence includes a work of preparation for the setting-up his kingdom. Initially, the world is unaware of the signs of his presence, but these signs can be discerned by watchful Christians. A special work of separation (the wheat and the tares parable) will take place and Jesus will have a final reckoning with his servants. Hence the words “one will be taken and one shall be left” (verse 34) indicate that some will be privileged to be led out of the worldly systems with their impending destruction to a condition of enlightenment and protection.

Thus Jesus gives the sign: “as it was in the days of Noah, so will be in the days of the Son of Man” (Luke 17:26) and “likewise as it was in the days of Lot” (verse 28). Some faithful ones will be like Noah, a preacher of righteousness, who take heed to the signs of trouble ahead and prepare their salvation. Others, less diligent, are like Lot, who have to be pulled out of the impending destruction in the last minute. Like in the parable of the ten virgins, we must strive to be of the wise class.

Jesus hints that the second coming is most of all a lesson on personal preparation, watchfulness and character development rather than a sensationalism of instant phenomena in the sky.  The scriptures of 1 Thessalonians 4 are symbols and are not referring to a literal “rapture.” (The word “rapture” is not even found in the Bible.) The voice of an archangel, the trump, and the clouds foretell the shattering of church and social orders.

There will be an impending disaster upon the world, a time of “great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world” (Matthew 24:21), but the purpose of this trouble and of Jesus’ second coming is to destroy the evil structures of the present evil world and establish God’s kingdom on earth. Jesus and his Church will bring about the “times of restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21) and the blessing of all the families of the earth.

Are the righteous people going to live in Heaven or on Earth forever?

When we pray the Lord's prayer, we ask for His kingdom to come and for His will to be done on earth, as it is in heaven. This tells us that there are two salvations–one on earth and one in heaven (Matthew 6:10, Luke 11:2). When we read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, we see that some traits are given an earthly reward and some the kingdom of heaven.  What is the difference?

A Heavenly Reward Promised to Christians

We find a clue in Romans 12:1, 2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  We must follow the example of Jesus in laying down our lives in order to receive a heavenly resurrection. Heaven is a reward from God for faithfully obeying His will and being transformed into Christ’s character likeness. “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10. “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,…since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.” Colossians 1:3-5 (ESV)

"By His great mercy we have been born anew to a life of hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, born to an unscathed, inviolate, unfading inheritance; it is kept in heaven for you."  I Peter 1:3, 4 (Moffatt translation of the Bible).

An Earthly Reward for Mankind

However, the vast majority of mankind will receive an earthly resurrection. During Christ’s reign on earth, they will also develop loving, obedient characters. The difference between the two groups is this, mankind will not be developing obedience when there is great opposition to righteousness – as is the case now. No, when Jesus reigns with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:27), righteousness will be the rule. Christ will teach mankind God’s truths (Isaiah 2:2-4) and all will know the Lord from the least unto the greatest (Jeremiah 31:34). People will be healed physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually (Isaiah 35:5-10). Mankind will not need to strive against their fallen flesh, the sinful world, nor the devil. Thus, the willing and obedient of mankind will have life everlasting but on earth and not in heaven.