Matthew Chapter 24
VERSE 22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
What is the thought of “for the elect’s sake”?
“By means of” or “through” the elect, these days will be shortened because the Church glorified with Jesus at this time, will stop the trouble. The word “sake” is not in the original Greek—it should be italicized in the King James as a spurious word. “But through the elect those days shall be shortened” or “But if it were not for the elect ...” In other words, the elect, the Church, as well as Jesus, are the instrument who will cut short the trouble.
Obadiah 21 reads, “And saviors [plural] shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.” This prophecy about cutting short the trouble is addressed particularly to Israel, but by inference the stoppage will be worldwide. The trouble will be stopped in connection with the rescue of Israel at the end of the age. If that rescue did not take place, not only would Israel be destroyed but all mankind; that is, “no flesh [would] be saved.”
The Greek word dia, translated “for the elect,” can be rendered “by the elect” or “through the elect.” This Greek word, which can be used with the ablative or the accusative case, has various meanings. Therefore, it should be translated with the word that best fits our vocabulary according to the meaning of the context. The word “but” has a larger thought; namely, “If it were not for the elect shortening those days, there would be no flesh saved.” It is through or by the elect—and not on their behalf—that the days will be shortened.
The Church will be the benefactors, and not the recipients of the benefaction. The elect class will be the instrumentality for cutting short those days and thus terminating Jacob’s Trouble by delivering Israel.
“Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.” This trouble is yet future. It will occur after all the elect are beyond the veil.
The trouble we see in various locations in the world today is not THE Great Time of Trouble (Armageddon), for the real trouble will shatter the nations like a potter’s vessel, causing the complete destruction of the social order. Troubles to date are merely the overthrow of one satanic government and its replacement by another satanic government. When the true smiting occurs, it will be accomplished by the Lord’s stone (The Christ). Hence the Church will be instrumental in the trouble as well as the salvation.
As we look around the earth today, we see evil men crushing other men. This is not the Kingdom. After the stone smites the image, it will start to GROW. At present, things are getting darker. When the stone smites, it will get still darker—and then lighter as the stone grows. In addition, many Scriptures stress the suddenness of the trouble.
“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thess. 5:3). “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 (the professing church) be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all” (Rev. 18:21). Papacy will be LIFTED UP as a millstone (as a religious institution receiving some of its former power and authority for a short space), and then hurled into the sea (the anarchist masses of mankind).
Today we see both the Papacy (Catholicism) and Protestantism lifted up, not their being cast into the sea. Understand this “lifting up” does not imply that they are getting more “Christ like”, far from it, but rather that they are beginning to exercise a wider influence upon the affairs of this world (in government, laws and policy), howbeit most of this presently behind the scenes. Satan likewise is getting stronger every day too, with more and more influence in the church systems.
Continued with next post.
VERSE 22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”
What is the thought of “for the elect’s sake”?
“By means of” or “through” the elect, these days will be shortened because the Church glorified with Jesus at this time, will stop the trouble. The word “sake” is not in the original Greek—it should be italicized in the King James as a spurious word. “But through the elect those days shall be shortened” or “But if it were not for the elect ...” In other words, the elect, the Church, as well as Jesus, are the instrument who will cut short the trouble.
Obadiah 21 reads, “And saviors [plural] shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.” This prophecy about cutting short the trouble is addressed particularly to Israel, but by inference the stoppage will be worldwide. The trouble will be stopped in connection with the rescue of Israel at the end of the age. If that rescue did not take place, not only would Israel be destroyed but all mankind; that is, “no flesh [would] be saved.”
The Greek word dia, translated “for the elect,” can be rendered “by the elect” or “through the elect.” This Greek word, which can be used with the ablative or the accusative case, has various meanings. Therefore, it should be translated with the word that best fits our vocabulary according to the meaning of the context. The word “but” has a larger thought; namely, “If it were not for the elect shortening those days, there would be no flesh saved.” It is through or by the elect—and not on their behalf—that the days will be shortened.
The Church will be the benefactors, and not the recipients of the benefaction. The elect class will be the instrumentality for cutting short those days and thus terminating Jacob’s Trouble by delivering Israel.
“Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.” This trouble is yet future. It will occur after all the elect are beyond the veil.
The trouble we see in various locations in the world today is not THE Great Time of Trouble (Armageddon), for the real trouble will shatter the nations like a potter’s vessel, causing the complete destruction of the social order. Troubles to date are merely the overthrow of one satanic government and its replacement by another satanic government. When the true smiting occurs, it will be accomplished by the Lord’s stone (The Christ). Hence the Church will be instrumental in the trouble as well as the salvation.
As we look around the earth today, we see evil men crushing other men. This is not the Kingdom. After the stone smites the image, it will start to GROW. At present, things are getting darker. When the stone smites, it will get still darker—and then lighter as the stone grows. In addition, many Scriptures stress the suddenness of the trouble.
“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thess. 5:3). “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 (the professing church) be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all” (Rev. 18:21). Papacy will be LIFTED UP as a millstone (as a religious institution receiving some of its former power and authority for a short space), and then hurled into the sea (the anarchist masses of mankind).
Today we see both the Papacy (Catholicism) and Protestantism lifted up, not their being cast into the sea. Understand this “lifting up” does not imply that they are getting more “Christ like”, far from it, but rather that they are beginning to exercise a wider influence upon the affairs of this world (in government, laws and policy), howbeit most of this presently behind the scenes. Satan likewise is getting stronger every day too, with more and more influence in the church systems.
Continued with next post.
