[Part 1] Who Are The “Elect” Of Matthew 24:31?

[Matthew 24:31] 31 “He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

Matthew 24 verse 31 is referring to the second coming of Jesus Christ. Many Christians believe that this verse proves that the rapture happens after the Great Tribulation because it parallels 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 which says…

[1 Thessalonians 4:16-17] 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

The thing is that in 1 Thessalonians, it says that we are kept from the coming wrath of God. See below.

[1 Thessalonians 1:10] 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead ​– ​Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

[1 Thessalonians 5:9] 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ

The wrath of God is designed for the wicked. This is seen in Romans 1:18 which says, “18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth”

The wrath of God has a twofold purpose for the unbelievers. [1] To punish them for rejecting Jesus Christ as their Savior and for living in sin. [2] And to bring them to repentance so that they may obtain eternal life through faith in Jesus.

So, getting back to Matthew 24:31. Who are the “elect” mentioned there? We know that the Christians before the Great Tribulation are kept from God’s wrath. Who are the saints that are gathered after the Tribulation?

In Revelation 14:6, it says, “6 Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth ​– ​to every nation, tribe, language, and people.”

After the saints get taken from this world (before the Great Tribulation) to meet the Lord in the air, God’s angel will fly and go through the whole earth preaching the gospel of salvation, and many will get saved. This is seen in Revelation 7. See below.

[Revelation 7:9] 9 After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.

[Revelation 7:13-14] 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people in white robes, and where did they come from? ” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” Then he told me: These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Even though there are no more Christians to preach the good news, God will send out His angel with the eternal gospel to give the inhabitants of the earth a chance for salvation (who have not yet received the mark of the beast).

The parallel of Matthew 24:30, the second coming of Christ, is Revelation 19:11-21, which is when Jesus comes to fight against the Antichrist, and the false prophet with their army. The Lord will wipe them out with a spoken word (a sword which comes from the mouth of Jesus Christ). After Jesus defeats the beast, He will rule the earth with His saints for a 1000 years, locking up the dragon (Satan) with a chain, and putting him into the bottomless pit until the 1000 years are over.

This will be the End of [Part 1]. Tomorrow I will post [Part 2]. I will finish by showing who are the saints (the elect) mentioned in Matthew 24. I don’t like making my posts too long.

I Hope that this post helps those who want to believe in a Pre-Trib Rapture, but had difficulty understanding Matthew 24:31. Don’t take my word, do your own study. Look at the verses used in this post and exam the Scriptures for yourself with the aid through prayer of the Holy Spirit. Don’t miss Part 2. It will make it even more clear.

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