The Gatherings To Come

Elect is an English word that has been used to translate the original Hebrew and Greek words of The Bible which describe those who have been, or will be, elected, or chosen by God for a purpose: to become the "first fruits" of salvation. They will be spiritually gathered (resurrected, or transformed if alive that day) at The Return Of Jesus Christ. They will then reign with Him for the 1,000 years (the "Millennium"), after which the resurrection of the rest of humanity will occur (Revelation 20:4-6).

"Election" Explained

"This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are reckoned as descendants. For this is what the promise said, "About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son."

"And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad, in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of His call, she was told, "The elder will serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

"What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

"So it depends not upon man's will or exertion, but upon God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing My power in you, so that My Name may be proclaimed in all the earth." So then He has mercy upon whomever He wills, and He hardens the heart of whomever He wills."

"You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?" But who are you, a man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me thus?" (Romans 9:8-20 RSV)

The Elect In The End Time

"I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast [see Who Is The Woman Riding The Beast?] which was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and bedecked with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication; and on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of earth's abominations." And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints [see What Is A Saint?] and the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus." (Revelation 17:3-6 RSV)

"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. Then if any one says to you, 'Lo, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it. For False Christs and false prophets [see The Great False Prophet] will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Lo, I have told you beforehand." (Matthew 24:21-24 RSV)

"they will gather His elect"

"Immediately after the tribulation [see The Seven Seals] of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken [see Signs In The Heavens]; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matthew 24:29-31 RSV)

"For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 RSV)

Fact Finder: Will there also be a great physical gathering of people in the time of the Return of Jesus Christ?
See The Gathering of Israel and Judah