According To The Lord’s Own Word:
According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep (1 Thessalonians 4:15).
There can hardly be a better place to begin our study of the return of Christ and the end of the age than by examining what Jesus Christ has to say. Jesus Christ is the Messiah who according to the Old Testament will come to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. He will reign from the throne of David, in Jerusalem. From the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry He taught about the coming Kingdom and the end of the age. His most comprehensive teaching on the topic is called the Olivet Discourse, which is recorded in the first three Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark and Luke). Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse in response to the disciples’ inquiry regarding His return. However, He had already taught extensively about the end of the age and the coming Kingdom of God. Therefore, before we go to the Olivet Discourse we will first review Jesus’ earlier teachings.
There will be two ages
During Jesus’ ministry He referred to two ages, this present age in which we now live and a second age which is to come in the future. Below are some of His teachings about the two ages:
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come (Matthew 12:32).
‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus said to them, ‘no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life’ (Luke 18:29, 30).
Jesus replied, ‘The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection’ (Luke 20:34-36).
The present age, the one in which we now live, most likely began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God. In contrast to the present age, Jesus teaches about an age of righteousness that will come after the present age. The age to come will begin when Christ establishes the Kingdom of God on earth. That is the age all believers are waiting for. In Luke 20:34, Jesus tells us that those who are worthy to take part in “that age” will be called children of the resurrection.
As we can see Jesus refers to only two ages, “this age” and the “age to come”. Therefore, we should not believe those who say there are many ages.
The Coming Kingdom of God
The Parable of the Wheat and Tares is one of several parables Jesus employs to tell us about the coming Kingdom of God. The parable is about a man who sowed good seed in his field, but when the crop sprouted it was discovered that someone had planted bad seed among the good. The servants asked if they should weed out the bad from the good. The master told the servants to let both grow together until the “harvest” and then the good wheat will be gathered into the barn and the tares burned. The Parable of the Wheat and Tares provides insight into how and when the coming Kingdom of God will come.
On this occasion His disciples asked Jesus and for an explanation of the Parable of the Wheat and Tares. This is what He says,
The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears let him hear (Matthew 13:37-43).
Jesus clearly states, “The field is the world.” He then explains that the wheat symbolizes the righteous and the tares are the unrighteous, which must grow together until the “harvest” at “the end of the age.” “The harvesters are the angels” who will separate the wheat from the tares at the “harvest.” We also notice that the angels of God are mentioned in association with the return of Christ. Compare the verse above with the corresponding verse below from the Olivet Discourse. Both are referring to the time when Christ returns to establish the Kingdom at the end of the age.
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:31).
Jesus tells us that at the end of this age He will return with His angels and gather the believers. We see the reward of the righteous, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43). He also tells us that the angels will separate out the unbelievers for punishment, “They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42). On the day the Son of Man comes there will be deliverance for the righteous and punishment for the disobedient. Notice the similarities between Matthew 13:43, above, and Daniel 12:3, below, as they describe the deliverance of the believers.
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:3).
Both verses depict the shining brightness of the believers when they receive their resurrection bodies and enter into the Kingdom of God at the end of the age.
The Parable of the Dragnet also describes the same thing. The righteous will be gathered and the wicked will be separated out for punishment.
Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:47-50).
From the Old Covenant to the New
Before we examine the Olivet Discourse, let’s consider what is happening at this time in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus, has just made His triumphal entry into the holy city of Jerusalem riding on the colt of a donkey in fulfillment of the prophecies in Zechariah 9:9 and Daniel 9:25. Jesus made one last attempt to get through to Israel’s religious leaders as He continued to reveal who He is while instructing them regarding the coming Kingdom of God. He was instructing them using the parables of the landowner (Matthew 21:33-41), the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1-14) and the resurrection of believers (Matthew 22:23-32). But the Herodians, the Sadducees and the Pharisees rejected the Messiah and plotted His death.
Jesus continued teaching them even though He knows their hearts. Then finally, He thoroughly admonishes the elders, chief priests and teachers as He prepared to break with them. Jesus then goes on to tell of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Just 38 years later - 70 AD - this tremendous destruction and slaughter happened exactly as Jesus prophesied.
The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you (Luke 19:43, 44).
We should note that Jesus said this destruction and slaughter would occur because the Jewish leaders did not recognize the time of His coming. Even though the Jewish leaders had all the Old Testament prophecies pointing to the coming Messiah, they did not recognize the time of His coming to them.
Then just before leaving the temple Jesus prophesied again about Israel and His return.
For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Matthew 23:38).
With this prophecy, Jesus, quoting from Psalm 118:26, lays down a condition of His return. Israel must acknowledge Jesus as Lord before He will return and establish the Kingdom on earth.
The Olivet Discourse
The teaching known as the Olivet Discourse is recorded in all three of the synoptic gospels - Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. Jesus gave the discourse on the Mount of Olives, just across the Kidron Valley from the temple mount. In this discourse, Jesus foretells of the events that will lead up to His return at the end of the age.
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. ‘Do you see all these things?’ he asked. ‘I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down’ (Matthew 24:1-2)
All these things were weighing on the disciple’s minds as they rested on the Mount of Olives. Certainly they sensed that everything was building to some kind of crisis. Jesus had told them “that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21). But if He was the Messiah, the prophesied Son of David, how and when was the Kingdom going to come?
While on the Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John and Andrew came to Him and asked one of the most important eschatological questions in all of Scripture.
‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming [parousia] and the end of the age’ (Matthew 24:3)?
In the New Testament manuscripts the Greek word parousia is that word most frequently used for the return of Jesus Christ. It was first used here in the disciple’s question regarding Jesus’ Second Advent. In His response to their question, parousia is used several times to signify His arrival as He described the events leading up to His return.
In Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon, parousia is defined as “the presence of one coming, hence the coming, arrival, and advent. In the New Testament esp. of the advent, i.e. the future, visible, return from heaven of Jesus, the Messiah, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God.”1
In today’s North American English, we would most likely use the word “arrival” to convey the idea of parousia. The idea of Christ’s coming brings to mind the verb “to come,” which describes an activity. Parousia, however, is a noun. It does not mean the process of coming, rather it signifies the event of one’s arrival. We will examine the meaning and significance of this in more detail later when we study the Apostle Paul’s writing.
Now let’s get to the heart of the matter. Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question provides a concise picture of what will happen between Jesus’ departure and His return. Matthew’s gospel provides the most complete description of His response and is the gospel version we will use for understanding the return of Christ at the end of the age. We will now examine it verse by verse.
Warning of deception
The very first thing Jesus addresses, in His response, is the issue of deception that will surround His return and the last days. He warns us that we will need to be very careful because many will be deceived.
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4 )
Throughout the Olivet Discourse, Jesus warns the disciples about the deception relating to the return of the Son of Man. Deception and the need for spiritual alertness were two of Jesus’ major concerns regarding the last days. Deception and false teaching are always concerns, however, Jesus’ emphasis in connection to the last days should be cause for increased alertness. The apostles also echo Jesus’ warnings about deception and false teaching in the church when they write about the last days. For example,
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Jesus then explains that in the course of human history conflicts and wars will continue to the end of the age. However, he tells us not to be alarmed, for these things alone are not indications that the end is near.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come (Matthew 24:6).
Beginning of birth pains
Next, Jesus mentions a number of things combined with wars that He says will be the beginning of the events leading to the return of the Son of Man and the birth of the Kingdom of God.
Nation [ethnos] will rise against nation [ethnos], and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains (Matthew 24:7).
In this passage the Greek word ethnos is translated as “nation,” however, an understanding of the Greek definition of ethnos may help us understand what Jesus means when He tells us “ethnos will rise against ethnos.” Ethnos means a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; spec. a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by impl. pagan):--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.2 We may gain more understanding when we realize that we get our English word ethnic from ethnos.
Therefore, Jesus is telling us that ethnic group will fight against ethnic group and government against government. He warns us that there will be natural disasters including famines, pestilences3 and earthquakes. All these things together will be the “beginnings of birth pains.” This idea of birth pains is from the Old Testament, where the Messiah’s arrival is described as Israel “giving birth” to the Kingdom of God. The concept of the deliverance of His people (Israel) through birth is described in Isaiah 27:16-21, Isaiah 66:7-11 and Micah 5:2-4.
Many turn away from the faith
Next Jesus warns us of the persecution and death that will occur. He explains that His followers must stand firm to the very end in order to be saved.
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:9-13).
Tribulation and persecution have been part of the believers’ experience throughout this evil age. At certain times and in certain places the persecution has been more severe than others. But, wherever believers have walked according to the commandments of Christ and followed the Spirit, there has been tribulation. Jesus clearly taught that we are to expect persecution. For example, in John 15:20 He said “Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” We are told to expect tribulation, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble [tribulation]. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
As we examine the verses of Matthew 24:9-13, we should note that all of the conditions described take place during the time of persecution and deception which Jesus called the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-25).
1. Severe persecution and death.
2. Universal tribulation, you will be hated by all nations.
3. Great falling away from the faith.
4. False prophet and deception, many will be deceived.
5. There will be terrible times and increased wickedness.
6. He who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Gospel proclaimed to all nations
In this next verse, Jesus indicates that the gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed worldwide and then the end will come.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).
This passage in Revelation is clearly related to this prophecy. Let’s compare,
Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water’ (Revelation 14:6-7)
In the above Revelation description of the last days we find that an angel of the Lord will proclaim the eternal gospel to the whole world, in keeping with Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24:14. Then following the proclamation to the whole world we see the following,
I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one ‘like a son of man’ with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested (Revelation 14:14-16).
Just as Jesus prophesied, following the proclamation of the eternal gospel the end will come. When we see one “like a son of man” appearing on a cloud then the earth will be harvested. Recall that Jesus also told us in Matthew 13:39 that the Harvest will take place at the end of the age and the harvesters are the angels.
The abomination that causes desolation
Starting in Matthew 24:15, Jesus changes his descriptions from general to the specific. Now, He refers us to a key prophesy which, when correctly understood, will give us a reference point for the last day's events. The prophecy in question is about the abomination that causes desolation.
So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand— (Matthew 24:15)
As Jesus directs our attention to the abomination that causes desolation He is ensuring that we understand the significance of this important prophecy. Jesus tells us to understand the prophecies of Daniel to comprehend what he is telling us. Daniel used the expression "abomination that causes desolation" three times in his prophecies. In one of these prophecies Daniel gives us detailed description of this event. In Daniel 9:27, he explains that there will be a seven-year period that will take at the end of the age. Now let’s view this seven-year period by clicking on Daniel's 70th Week below.
The abomination that causes desolation will take place when “he” - the world ruler - sets himself up in God’s temple proclaiming himself to be God.4 This abominable act of the Antichrist will cause the temple to become desolate and unfit for worship. After the abomination that causes desolation there are still 3 ½ years remaining before the end of the age.
The Great Tribulation
At the time of the abomination that causes desolation all followers of Christ who are in the area around Jerusalem must flee to the mountains immediately.
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath (Matthew 24:16-20).
Following His warning to flee Judea, Jesus describes a time of persecution and death that will spread to the whole world. The Great Tribulation will be so dreadful that Jesus says there has never been anything like it in the past and never will be anything like it the future. He says if those days were to continue on unchecked no one would survive. However, because of the elect the Great Tribulation will be brought to a close before its natural conclusion. The return of the Son of Man is what cuts that time short.
In this next passage, Jesus defines what we now call the Great Tribulation, in Greek it is the megus thlipsis.
For then there will be great [megas] distress [thlipsis], unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-- and never to be equaled again If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:21-22).
· Megus means big (lit. or fig., in a very wide application):--(+ fear) exceedingly, great (-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years.5
· Thlipsis means pressure (lit. or fig.):--afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.6
Notice that Jesus uses almost the same words to describe this period as Daniel. Its as though Jesus is ensuring that we do not miss the connection. Compare these verses.
For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-- and never to be equaled again (Matthew 24:21).
At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered (Daniel 12:1).
Another important similarity of these two passages is that they both describe the believers being delivered after the Great Tribulation. Daniel says “everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered.” Jesus says that “[i]mmediately after the distress of those days…of the Son of Man will appear…his angels…will gather his elect” (Matthew 24:29-31).
More deception in the last days
As we return to the Olivet Discourse, once again, Jesus is warning us of the deception that will take place in the last days.
At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming [parousia] of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:23-27).
Jesus says that the deception will be so great that "even the elect would be deceived if that were possible." However, the Bible is clear on this point, true believers will not be deceived. John makes a clear case that indicates the elect will not be deceived in Revelation.
All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world (Revelation 13:8).
Jesus also warns us that false Christs and false prophets will appear to deceive the elect, in verse 24. We know there have been imposters ever since Christ’s First Advent. The description Jesus gives us foretells of the rise of the Antichrist and the False Prophet (Revelation 16:13, 19:20). The deception in the last days will be so great that Jesus finds it necessary to say, “See, I have told you ahead of time.”
So, how will we keep from being deceived? The same way we keep from being deceived today! Do not believe everything you hear! Stay in the Word, test everything against Scripture and be lead by the Holy Spirit! Jesus knows that many will come along and try to get us to follow them. However, He clearly tells us that we are to wait for His visible appearing in the clouds of the sky and His physical return to earth.
Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather (Matthew 24:28).
In this verse Jesus is saying that His return to earth is the timing of His arrival, parousia, verse 27. The gathering of the vultures is a reference to the battle of Armageddon when the Lord slays the armies of the Antichrist and the birds of the air feed on the slain bodies. This is a picture portrayed several times in Scripture. For example,
On the mountains of Israel you will fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to all kinds of carrion birds (Ezekiel 39:4)
The sun, moon and stars are darkened
Once again, after bringing us right up to His arrival [parousia] Jesus stops and backs up to give us more details about how those last days will be.
Immediately after the distress [tribulation] of those days ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken’ (Matthew 24:29)
Jesus explains that right after the Great Tribulation we will see the sun, moon and stars being darkened. This is a sign that has been well established in the Old Testament in connection to the Day of the Lord. The sign of the sun, the moon and the stars being darkened is what the prophet Joel said would come before the Day of the Lord. See excerpts from Joel chapter 2.
Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful (Joel 2:10-11).
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD (Joel 2:31).
Jesus’ use of this well-known Old Testament sign provides even more evidence that the Day of the Lord and return of Christ will follow the Great Tribulation, just as Jesus is telling us.
Son of Man coming in the clouds
At the time that the sun, moon and stars are darkened, Jesus says we will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky in great glory
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30).
Christ’s coming on the clouds of the sky was first revealed by the Old Testament prophets and then described again in the New Testament. Below are a few other examples that describe this coming of the Lord on the clouds.
He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him-- the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. The LORD thundered from heaven; (Psalm 18:9-13)
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven (Daniel 7:13).
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him (Revelation 1:7).
When we add these other passages to the picture of His return in the Olivet Discourse the picture becomes extraordinary. Christ will come down from heaven appearing in brightness and glory breaking out of the darkness that surrounds the earth.
He comes with all His angels
Jesus tells us about His coming in the clouds of the sky with His angels.
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect (Matthew 24:31)
His reference to the angels at His coming is something that Jesus taught at various times in His ministry. See the following examples.
…The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, (Matthew 13:39-41)
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory (Matthew 25: 31).
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels (Luke 9:26).
The apostles also tell us that when Jesus appears coming down from heaven, His angels will be with Him, “thousands upon thousands.”
This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels (2 Thessalonians 1:7).
See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones (Jude 1:14).
So, Jesus will appear in glory with “thousands upon thousands” of His holy angels, but something even more amazing is about to happen.
The trumpet call
The scene is set Jesus Christ has come down from heaven and appears out of the darkness on the clouds of the sky with thousands upon thousands of His angels. From there He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call to gather His followers.
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect (Matthew 24:31)
Jesus points out that the trumpet call of God is the signal for the gathering of the saints. This trumpet call is an aspect of the coming of the Lord that is well established throughout Scripture. Below are several examples, which connect the Lord’s appearing, and the trumpet call.
Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet, (Zechariah 9:14)
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming (Joel 2:1).
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
Many of the prophets wrote of this trumpet call in connection with the coming of the Lord. The trumpet call is recorded from Exodus 19 to Revelation 11:15. We will learn more about this trumpet call as we continue our study in subsequent chapters. For now we know it as the signal to gather Christ’s elect.
His Elect
Jesus says that when He appears He will send His angels to gather His elect. Who are His elect, who will be gathered at the trumpet call? The word “elect” is translated form the Greek word eklektos.
Eklektos means select; by impl. favorite:--chosen, elect.7
Eklektos is used twenty-three times in the New Testament writings. Eklekos is used for believing Israel, the Church, the angels of God and even Christ Himself as the Chosen One of God. Let’s look at a few examples.
As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen [eklektos] by God and precious to him—(1 Peter 2:4)
But you are a chosen [eklektos] people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).
The elect is also used in the book of Revelation to refer to His called, chosen and faithful followers.
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen [eklektos] and faithful followers (Revelation 17:14).
From these examples we can see that eklektos in Scripture refers to all believers, Jewish, non-Jewish. Therefore, when Jesus tells us that His elect will be gathered by the angels when the trumpet sounds He is including all the followers of Jesus Christ, everyone whose name is written in the Book of Life.
Gathered from the four winds of the earth and from heaven
In this verse Jesus also tells us that when the angels gather His elect, they will be gathered from the four winds and from heaven.
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:31).
What does Jesus mean when He says His elect will be gathered from the four winds and one end of the heavens to the other? Once again we need to search the Scripture to determine the answer. There are several passages which will help us correctly interpret what Jesus is saying when he says “the four winds.” The gospel of Mark confirms He is referring to the earth.
And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens (Mark 13:27).
Therefore, the elect are gathered from the earth and from heaven.
In Psalm 50 the same event is described. Compare these two passages and see.
