Bible Readers: The term "elect" is mentioned many times in the Bible, Who are these "elect"?

Question

Here is one of the many citations in the Bible, "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, and from one end of heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:31).

Answer 1

I believe these are people specifically chosen by GOD for a certain purpose

Answer 2

THE ELECT'S SAKE

Matt.24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened

THE RAISED UP AT THE LAST DAY

John 6:39,40,44; 14:3 [ A place is prepared for the raised up at the last day ];
Mark 13:27; Heb.12:22-24;
The apostles expect Satan to be underfoot Rom.16:20; As to prophecy Matt.22:42-45; Acts 2:27-35; Heb.1:1-13;
Rev.12:1-12;
Satan is down on footstool earth and has a short time in the end time.
Michael of Jude 9; and Dan.12:1-13; Cast Satan down, Michael is there to the last 1Thes.4:15-17; The caught up to be with Jesus at his second coming Rev.3:!2; 14:1-7; 20:1-6,12,13; Rev.21:1-5;
ALL IS MADE NEW N 1000 YEARS 1Cor.15:22-28,5`1-53; All possible is saved.

Answer 3

Here's one explanation from the below cited article which states:

(begin quote)
"Elect" is from the Greek EKLEKTOS which is usually translated as "elect" or "chosen", but its root meaning is "to make a choice". The elect are those who have power to make their own choices without the consultation of an authoritative figure. They are independent of all but the God within and have "chosen" the path that leads to the Christ consciousness. They are as the wise virgins with the oil in their lamps and can stand alone against all odds and do not have to borrow light from others, but always recognize other lights presented.

Just about all of the teachings of Jesus were directed toward the building of the kingdom of God by gathering the elect. Is it any wonder that he exclaimed: "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Matthew 23:37
(end quote)

Answer 4

Each instance of this word must be evaluated separately for context.

The context of this passage is the end of the Tribulation, after the Messiah has returned, The unbelievers ("goats") are gathered first, then the believers ("sheep" or "elect"). In this case, "elect" means those people whom God knew from the beginning would accept Him during the Tribulation.

Answer 5

They are the church people. They will go to heaven, brought in by angels blowing trumpets, as in the passage you mentioned.

Everybody else goes to Hell, where they will burn and rot forever.

All this nonsense you would know already, if you had studied your Bible.

Answer 6

1. The Greek word ekklesia means assembly, or a gathering of called-out ones. It is used seventy times in the Septuagint for the Hebrew kahal (from which latter we have our word call), rendered in Sept. by sunagoge and ekklesia. (*1) This latter word occ. in N.T. 115 times (36 in plural), and is always transl. "church" except in Acts 19:32, 39, 41 (assembly).

2. kahal is used (1) of Israel as a People called out from the rest of the nations (Gen. 28:3); (2) of the tribal council of Simeon and Levi, those called out from each tribe (Gen. 49:6); (3) of an assembly of Israelites called out for worship or any other purpose (Deut. 18:16; 31:30. Josh. 8:35. Judg. 21:8); (4) any assembly of worshippers as a congregation (Ps. 22:22, 25. Ekklesia in Matt. 16:18; 18:17. 1Cor. 14:19, 35, &c.); (5) the equivalent ekklesia of separate assemblies in different localities (Acts 5:11; 8:3. 1Cor. 4:17, &c.); (6) of the guild or "union" of Ephesian craftsmen (Acts 19:32, 41), and v. 39 (the lawful assembly). Finally, the special Pauline usage of ekklesia differs from all these. Other assemblies consisted of called-out ones from Jews, or from Gentiles (Acts 18:22), but this new body is of called-out ones from both.

3. Our word "church" (*2) has an equally varied usage. It is used (1) of any congregation; (2) of a particular church (England, or Rome, &c); (3) of the ministry of a church; (4) of the building in which the congregation assembles; (5) of Church as distinct from Chapel; (6) of the church as distinct from the world, and lastly, it is used in the Pauline sense, of the body of Christ.

4. It is of profound importance to distinguish the usage of the word in each case, else we may be reading "the church which was in the wilderness" into the Prison Epistles, although we are expressly told that there is neither Jew nor Gentile in the "church which is His body". And when our Lord said "On this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18), those who heard His words could not connect them with the "mystery" which was "hid in God" and had not then been made known to the sons of men. Confusion follows our reading what refers to Israel in the past or the future into the present dispensation. Readers are referred to the various notes in the connexions.

5. The word where qualified by other terms occurs thus: --

Church of God; Acts 20:28. 1Cor. 1:2; 10:32; 11:16 (pl.), 22; 15:9. 2Cor. 1:1. Gal. 1:13. 1Thess. 2:14 (pl.). 2Thess. 1:4 (pl). 1Tim. 3:5, 15 (c. of the living God).

Churches of Christ; Rom. 16:16.

Church in .. house; Rom. 16:5. 1Cor. 16:19. Col. 4:15. Philem. 2.

Churches of the Gentiles; Rom. 16:4.

Churches of Galatia; 1Cor. 16:1. Gal. 1:2. Of Asia; 1Cor. 16:19. Of Macedonia; 2Cor. 8:1. Of Judaea; Gal. 1:22. Of the Laodiceans; Col. 4:16. Of the Thessalonians; 1Thess. 1:1; 2Thess .1:1.

Church of the firstborn (pl); Heb. 12:23.

Church in Ephesus, Smyrna, &c. Rev. 2 and 3; and

Churches; Rev. 22:16.

Answer 7

It refers to the relatively few that have been chosen to rule with Jesus in heaven.

Answer 8

IF that is the Bible and not the Mormon or JW books--it means the ones who have Jesus in their heart.

Answer 9

the ones who cannot be swayed...they are firm followers of Christ...they believe Gods whole word & they follow Gods whole word to the best of their ability....they have a personal, intimate relationship & they are devoted to Christ & whatever he wants

Answer 10

People like popes and preachers.