SUBJECT:  The Elect

QUESTION:  In Matthew 24:31, we see the elect being gathered at the return of Jesus Christ.  Who are these elect?  How does one become an elect?  Is just being called to be an elect enough?

ANSWER:

The verses in question:

Matthew 24:30-31

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.

The elect in this verse is referring to the firstfruits--those called of God prior to the return of Jesus Christ and who were called to repentance, baptism and who received the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands (Hebrews 6).  Many firstfruits will be alive at the end of the Great Tribulation.  This verse is saying that they will be gathered together.  This is when they raise up to meet Christ and are changed to spirit beings.  Notice...

1 Corinthians 15:52
 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.
 

If you are familiar with a book with the title, "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge", you will know that this book lists each scripture that is connected to every other scripture based on content (speaking about the same thing).  When you look up Matthew 24:31, you will see that it is connected to 1 Cor. 15:52

Using this same book, we are lead to another scripture that will show who this verse is talking about:

2 Thessalonians 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
 

Okay, we have established that the "elect" of Matthew 24:31 are the firstfruits, so now, let us answer two important questions?

1) How does one become a firstfruit?

2) How does one remain a firstfruit and gain the Kingdom and/or get collected in Matthew 24:31?

ITEM 1) How does one become a firstfruit?

By no effort or choice of his or her own.  One cannot choose to be a firstfruit.  One has the opportunity to become a firstfruit when God calls them to be a firstfruit.

John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
 

When God draws a person to Him, He is "calling" them to be a firstfruit.  Notice:

Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
 

Philippians 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
 

2 Thessalonians 1:11
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
 

2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
 

Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
 

Note:  All these verses show this high calling by God.

Now this calling is only a calling.  It does not guarantee anything.  One called must do two things, namely, he or she must a) respond to the calling and b) stay in what he or she were called to.

How do we know this?  Answer: 3 scriptures:

Matthew 22:14

For many are called, but few are chosen.
 

Note:  Not all who are called end up chosen.  A "chosen" is a person who responds to the calling and stays in it till death or the return of Christ.|
 

2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
 

Note:  If the calling is all we need, then why do we need to give diligence to make that calling sure?  Giving diligence means staying in that calling to the end.  The verse says that if we give diligence to our calling, we will not fall (away).  What happens if a person falls away?  Notice the next verse...

Luke 9:62
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
 

Note:  We are only fit for the Kingdom if we remain in our calling.  Notice:

Revelation 17:14
These (the beast power) shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
 

Note:  Those firstfruits with Jesus are not only the called, but the called AND chosen, meaning those who were called and who stayed in that calling, "faithful" to the end.

ITEM 2) How does one remain a firstfruit and gain the Kingdom and/or get collected in Matthew 24:31?

To answer this question, we might want to answer what it is a person is called to.  When a person is called, they are called to something we call, "The Salvation Process".  This is a lifelong process.  Everyone who has ever lived receives one and only one opportunity to enter this process.  We know this by many verses, including Luke 9:62 above.  Most, who have ever lived will get this opportunity AFTER the return of Christ.  Let us look at the definition of the Salvation Process:

So, what is the definition of the Salvation Process?

It is a commitment to a way of Christian life in which one is actively:

1) keeping the Law and commandments.

2) invoking the Principles of God which the Law points to (Gal 5:22-23).

3) overcoming sin....making progress...stopping the sin process before it begins....controlling the mind.

4) becoming more like Jesus Christ.

5) going on to perfection (Heb. 6)

6) responding to your specific Godly Calling (God calls each member to a specific place and to specific duties and/or offices). This includes duties pertaining to the first commission of spreading the gospel and the second commission of feeding the flock.

7)  maintaining this process at the return of Jesus Christ.

8)   having absolute trust in God and Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:12-14; 1 Pet. 1:21; John 14:1; 1 John 2:23-24)

These are only the major points of the process.  I have a paper that details each point if you need it.  When one is called, he or she chooses, before God, to commit to these elements.  Once a person commits, they must maintain to the end, lest they fall away to wait for a quick death in the Lake of Fire.  Going back once again to Luke 9:62, if one is not fit for the Kingdom, what is he fit for?  The answer must be obvious.  Notice a couple of scriptures:

2 Peter 2:20-22
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
 

Hebrews 10:38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
 

So, is there any indication in the Bible that some will fall away from the Salvation Process?  Answer:  Yes there is:

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
 

Note:  In the end time there IS a great falling away.  Several fall from the process.  Question:  What will we see these people do in their "falling away" process?  Answer:  Read the next verses:

Matthew 24:8-13
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
 

In verses 10, 11 and 12, these many, many, many are speaking of firstfruits who are falling away. 

--they shall become offended.

--they shall betray their brothers and sisters in the faith.

--they shall hate their brothers and sisters.

--they shall become deceived.

--their love shall wax cold.

But who of the firstfruits will make it to the end?  Who will be gathered at the return of Jesus Christ and who will be turned to spirit at His appearing in the sky?  Verse 13 of Matthew 24 above...

"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."