Study Lesson 9
End Times Shortened For The Elect
Scripture To Consider:
“But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days will be shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24.19-22
A Few Words Of Warning:
What group of people other than the nation of Israel should be concerned about how far they could or could not travel on the Sabbath? Jesus was and is warning the Jewish believers of whom many would eventually be gathered again at the end of time into the land of Israel, of an end time disruptive event. As already mentioned, both Jesus and the prophet Daniel title this future end time event as the abomination of desolation. As also mentioned in earlier lessons, the apostle Paul also addressed this very same event in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, and links the abomination of desolation with three other extremely important future end time events, as mentioned in last week’s lesson.
Just to recap, Paul began chapter 2 by stating, “Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him [the blessed hope or the rapture], we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the Day of Christ [His coming] had come. Let no one deceive you by any means [including end time false teachers]; for that Day will not come unless the falling away [departing from the faith] comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.”
Paul described four future end time events but emphatically reported that two of those events will take place before the other two. Those two end time events to take place before the coming of the Lord and the gathering of His enduring to the end elect, are the falling away or great departing from the faith, and the unveiling to the world of the future end time event known as the revealing of the Antichrist which will lead to the abomination of desolation as spoken of by Daniel and mentioned by Jesus in Matthew chapter 24.
Paul further exposed more information on this son of perdition or Antichrist who creates the abomination of desolation in the yet to be built Jewish temple in Jerusalem, by declaring of him; “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the [yet to be built] temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Something To Consider:
Are End Time Events Shortened For The Elect
Do not be deceived by the many false prophets who have famously and recently risen to the ranks of the much listened to by those having itching ears. Be not misled by those who are hailed by the so-called church as great religious orators. And be watchful not to be associated with those searching the world over for what they want to hear rather than the truth of God’s Word in which they are in desperate spiritual need of hearing. If they disagree with Scripture such as the timing of the rapture and the timing of the abomination of desolation, they cannot be trusted with other important doctrines of the Word of God.
Jesus, after His warning the world of the coming abomination of desolation, said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no nor ever shall be.” Therefore, how can anyone, how can any church leader, pastor, or teacher, or church denomination claim and or falsely proclaim that the abomination of desolation has already happened? The abomination of desolation has not occurred, and when it does it will according to Jesus, initiate great tribulation as never before. Are we prepared? Are we ready to endure to the end of extremely difficult end times?
Let us also not be among those who base their faith on fleeting false words of so-called religious leaders simply because they have been able to acquire a position or platform from which to captivate the undivided attention of the masses. And for heaven’s sake let us not be ensnared by those who are able to purchase air time on local T.V. with the hard-earned donations of their strategically targeted deceived and disillusioned end time audience of those with little to no spiritual discernment.
Something More To Consider:
Are We Among The Elect
We must speak to the truth of Jesus’ words concerning verse 22 of Matthew 24, as Jesus promised, “And unless those days [the days after the abomination of desolation] were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” And so, the question should be who are the elect? And for those who have never searched the Scriptures for themselves, the immediate programmed answer by most is the nation of Israel. Yes, the nation of Israel was chosen by God to be a nation who would rightly represent God to the world, but the nation of Israel rejected God’s Word and authority over it time and time again. And finally, as a nation Israel has rejected God’s Son and His atoning death upon an old rugged cross.
This misconception of the nation of Israel being the elect of God does not have its roots in the biblical record. Like so many unscriptural thoughts, theories, traditions, and doctrines of men, this heralded false concept is without validity whatsoever as it pertains to the truth of holy Scripture. And what is worse is that Christendom is filled with just such false conceptions. Therefore, if it is not found within Scripture, do not be deceived by its being much declared by false prophets. When buying a used car, if wise, we ask to see the car fax. When faced with that which appears to contradict Scripture let us ask to see the bible facts. If it does not appear in Scripture we must count it for what it is, non-truth!
The term “elect” is mentioned approximately sixteen times in the bible. They are as follows: ten times the word elect refers to believers in general, two times elect refers to believers who are Gentiles, once the word elect defines believers who were Jewish, twice elect refers to Jesus Christ, and once more the word elect is used of Jacob, the son of Abraham who became a believer in God. Paul writing in Romans 11.7, speaking of the election of grace, announced, “What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the election [believing Gentiles] have obtained it [election by faith through grace], and the rest [Israel] were blind [hardened].”
A Few Final Words:
Take Heed That No One Deceives Or Misleads You
Jesus’ warnings are of so much importance as we race toward the spoken of by Jesus troubled end times. These end time troubling times will be preceded by the vile but enchanting voice of the Antichrist and his end time economic, political, and religious entourage, declaring “Peace, peace”, that only lasts approximately three and one-half years. As Jesus lovingly declared, “Take heed that no one deceives [misleads] you.”
Let us allow the words of Daniel 9.27 to wisely instruct us, “Then he [Antichrist] shall confirm a covenant [peace treaty] with many for one week [biblical seven-year period]; but in the middle of the week [3-1/2 years later] he [Antichrist] shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wings of abomination shall be one [Satan’s evil and vile representative] who makes desolate, even until the consummation [end] which is determined [by God] is poured out on the desolate.”
Who will we believe as to future end time events being exposed? Will we believe through deception the many end time false prophets and misleading false teachers who have secretly risen within the religious ranks of the church? Or will we believe Jesus, Daniel, and the apostle Paul, as it pertains to end time events, the abomination of desolation, the coming of Jesus Christ, the gathering together of all true faithful enduring saints both dead and alive, and yet, both spiritually alive in and through Jesus Christ?
Jesus was right of course when He later said in Matthew 24.36, “But of that Day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” But, as true believers diligently searching the Scriptures, the illuminating light and lamp of God’s Word, end time event details are revealed in order that we are not deceived. And as true believers, we are able to discern the signs of these end times and their accompanying exposed events! Let us study therefore to show ourselves approved unto God, servants who need not to be ashamed, rightly understanding while rightly communicating the true messages of God’s truthful Word.
According to Jesus, great tribulation is to be created by the Antichrist, his earthly representatives, and the hatred, bitterness and betrayal of ungodly one-time believers who will depart from the faith due to their being offended by their remaining on the earth during this time. This great tribulation is on the horizon! But also, according to Jesus, “But for the elect’s sake those days [the days of the great tribulation] will be shortened.” How? Those days will be shortened by the coming of Jesus and His gathering together His end time saints to Himself!
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, thank You for Your promise of Your shortening the days of the future end time event referred to as the great tribulation for the elect of God. Help us Father to heed the many warnings of Jesus and other biblical scribes to not be deceived by the proliferation of false end time prophets and their false messages. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 