Who are the Elect of God? Jews? Christians? Both?

It's time to answer this theological question!

There’s an End-time verse where Jesus warned that false messiahs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, “even the elect.” So who are the elect who will be exposed to the danger of great deception?

I’m so grateful whenever I can speak up for the Hebraic roots of our faith, without which we could not comprehend the New Testament nor the ministry of Jesus as the Messiah, both as the Suffering Servant portrait of Messiah that He fulfilled in the past and also as the King of the Jews portrait that he will fulfil when he returns.

Now the Scriptures speak of both the Jewish people and individual members of the Body of Messiah, the Church, as being divinely elected, that is, divinely chosen, by God.

Throughout Church history there have been theologians such as Augustine who have tried to freeze out the Jewish people by claiming they are no longer favoured by God. To claim that God is finished with the Jewish people is called Replacement Theology, or Supercessionsim, as if the Church could take the place of the Jewish patriarchs to whom were committed the very oracles of God!

The concept of the Israelites being chosen by God is mentioned in the Book of Deuteronomy and is alluded to elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. Deuteronomy 7: 6 declares, “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” Indeed the Jewish people have been chosen by God for a purpose—to be a light unto the nations. In Zechariah 2: 8, the Almighty says “whoever touches Israel touches the apple of his eye.”

The concept of "chosenness" may be construed by some to mean ethnic supremacy, but the status of the Jews as a "chosen people" does not mean that the Lord has no relationship with the nations.  Indeed he is Lord of the nations, but he required a special people to be guardians and scribes of his Word and the messianic bloodline.

It hasn’t been easy for the Jewish people to be the chosen of God. To quote the main character Tevye from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” the Jewish people often despair of all the persecution they’ve endured. Tevye says, “I know we are your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?”

Well not only did the Lord choose the Jewish people for his own eternal plans and purposes, scripture says according to Ephesians 1:4, he also chose every member of the Body of Messiah from the foundations of the world—How was that possible? It’s possible because God lives outside of time, and he sees the end from the beginning.

Although this is still the church age and although the church age is winding up, nevertheless, the Jewish people are in ascendency once again, and they still have special status with God as his elect.

The popular Jewish holiday of Purim when Jews celebrate victory over their enemies is a reminder for members of the church not to "boast against" the root of the Lord’s Olive Tree. The apostle Paul admonished us in Romans 11:18, “do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you!”

John Parsons, author of the phenomenal “Hebrew for Christians” website, reminds us that the Book of Esther centers on God’s faithfulness and care of the Jewish people, and by extension, all those among the nations who become partakers of Israel’s blessings through Yeshua the Messiah.  The idea that God personally chooses some people -- for reasons entirely His alone -- to be recipients of His covenantal love is scandalous to a lot of people.  But in the Bible the Jews are called the “chosen people” (עם הנבחר) —just as Christian believers are said to be “chosen in Yeshua before the foundation of the world.”  In both cases—the chosen Jewish people and divinely elected Christians— God reserves his sovereign prerogative to choose. 

On this topic let me remind you that Jesus said in John 6: 44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” John Parsons, who also knows New Testament Greek as well as Hebrew, literally translated John 6: 44 like this: Yeshua told his followers: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me drags him.” That’s amazing; I looked up this verse in the lexicon and indeed “draws” is translated from the word meaning to drag in Strong’s Concordance number 1670.  This teaches us that in God’s mercy, the Holy Spirit draws divinely elected individuals to the Saviour, and apparently in some cases, he even drags individuals, as it were, kicking and screaming to himself!  That’s why evangelists refer to the Holy Spirit as the Hound of Heaven, because he faithfully hunts down the Lord’s elect. By the way, “The Hound of Heaven” is not just a saying, it was a popular 19th Century poem describing how God pursues souls by His Divine grace.

Please note, concerning divine election, that Yeshua said in John 15: 16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you.” I certainly know this is true because in my case the Lord introduced himself to me in an open vision when I was a very young toddler—I was too young to make any theological decisions, but he appeared to me in an open vision and healed me from a deathly childhood illness, and I have loved Him ever since. John Parsons went on to explain at the Hebrew for Christians website that God is the Initiator of our relationship with him; He is the Master of the Universe and “the God of the spirits of all flesh” —so declares Numbers 16: 22. 

It is Heaven’s divine prerogative to bestow revelation on Heaven’s own terms… In Romans 9:15 the apostle Paul reminded us of God’s conversation with Moses: "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”  However, in our continually offended, woke culture, divine election may sound arbitrary or “unfair.” Parsons is indeed a theologian when he wrote, the “scandal” of the gospel is that God loves whom He loves for reasons that are His alone, and this is likewise the scandal of God’s sovereign choice of ethnic Israel. 

But whether people like it or not, God is perfectly righteous in all his ways. In other words, Israel’s election says something about our own...  If you are a genuine believer in Jesus, Yeshua is his Hebrew name, then God called you by name -- before He created the universe itself. That’s what the Bible teaches, and so Paul said to the congregants in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, that “from the beginning God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved.” 

One of the ongoing proofs in the Bible about the divine election of the Jewish people is the Book of Esther and the holiday of Purim, which all believers are free to celebrate in my opinion, because Purim extols the sovereignty of God in history and in preserving the chosen people. The holiday is named after the "purim" (meaning lots) which were cast in ancient Persia for a date to exterminate the Jews. Although there is no direct reference to God in the entire scroll, His Sovereign but invisible hand is evident at every turn. Each year Israelis hold a big national masquerade party that celebrates the happy ending of the story and also illustrates how God Himself deliberately hides or " masquerades" His own identity to pull off the great victory. The story of The Book of Esther takes place in ancient Persia, which is modern-day Iran, and I believe it’s no coincidence that once again Israel’s mortal enemy is Iran, so we have to watch that space! 

Make sure you have a biblical world view. Historically, anti-Jewish statements have been made about the Book of Esther because many Christian theologians have been essentially anti-semitic in their thinking. The central point of the book of Esther reveals God’s providential care for ethnic Israel, and some Christian theologians have found this conclusion abhorrent to their theological prejudice.  Indeed, the Book of Esther celebrates Jewish identity and survival despite the evil plans and designs of anti-Semites, and therefore replacement theologians who erroneously claim that the church has replaced Israel will tend to regard the Book of Esther with disregard (or they will attempt to reinterpret "Israel" to mean the "church").  Confusion can be cleared up if you always adhere to this rule of thumb— in the Bible Israel means Israel and the Church means the Church. Period.

However, for those of us who understand that the Church shares in the covenantal blessings given to Israel, the Book of Esther is a story of victory concerning God’s faithfulness to care for all His people. There is a future and a hope for Israel that is indeed being fulfilled in our generation before our very eyes! And there is a future and a hope for you if you are a believer in Yeshua out there among the nations!

As a Believer I appreciate knowing that my God is a covenant keeper and that he doesn’t go back on his promises to the Jewish people. Furthermore, the scroll of Esther is part of the canon of Scripture for both Jews and Christians. Esther 9: 28 clearly states that “these days of Purim should be remembered and kept throughout every generation.”  So Purim should definitely be on our calendar of days to remember and rejoice.

How various church leaders regard the Book of Esther is a test case of whether or not they accept the heretical doctrine of Replacement Theology. Tragically, the only way to ignore the message of the Book of Esther is to deny the Hebraic roots of our faith. Let’s rejoice that God will always bless those who bless Israel, and He will curse those who curse Israel. (Genesis 12: 3)

The truth is that the Bible teaches the election by God of both Israel and the Body of Messiah, those individual members of the true Church collected throughout the past 2,000 years. When Jesus spoke of the elect being deceived if it were possible in the last days, we can take that to mean both Christian believers prior to the pre-tribulational Rapture and also to the Jewish people who are primarily the elect of God during the 7-year Tribulation period covered by the Book of Revelation when all of Israel will be saved.

Let’s consider Mark 13: 22 and Matthew 24: 24 in which Jesus states, “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”  The Amplified Bible puts it like this, “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will perform great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones).” Has this verse ever concerned you about the possibility of being deceived? For clarification, let’s see what the Bible commentaries say.

According to the Pulpit Commentary, Jesus prophesied dangers to which believers will be subjected. He did not confine his view to Jewish history; he foretold the appearance of pretenders who would claim that they are THE Messiah. On the other hand, false prophets are those who don't claim the title of Messiah itself, but they are nevertheless impostors who profess to be inspired lawful teachers. They claim to possess a new revelation, or something supplemental to the eternal gospel. However, Paul wrote in Galatians 1: 8, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed!” Such accursed ones were the founders of new religions around the world such as Mormonism, and other religions claiming special revelation from heaven. I’m sure you can think with me of a few more “prophets” who claim an angel gave them a special revelation. But Paul the apostle testified that such will be the action of the antichrist, "whose coming, he wrote, “is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders.”

The anti-Christ will have a certain success insomuch that if it were possible, even the very elect will be misled. While the Bible indicates multitudes will be led astray, nevertheless it will not be possible to draw away the elect entirely from the truth. Halleluyah! Bible commentaries point out that the con artists Simon Magus whom we meet in Acts Chapter 8  and Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13 are examples of these false prophets who will have satanic supernatural powers in the End Times when God’s restraining hand is removed. In fact, the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2: 9 that “signs and lying wonders” will be the trademarks of the Wicked One, the anti-Christ, in whom the mystery of iniquity will receive its full development. 

If it were possible, the very elect will be temporarily or almost deceived because the pretended miracles will resemble true miracles making detection difficult. I want you to take comfort in the fact that Jesus said his real disciples would be too firmly established in the belief that he is the Messiah to be wholly led away by false messiahs and false prophets. Christians may sometimes be hoodwinked; they may be in doubt about some great doctrines; they may be perplexed by the cunning craftiness of impostors who do not love the truth, but they cannot be entirely deceived and seduced away from the Lord. Our Saviour says that if this "were possible," it would be done; but thankfully it is not possible. The Lord assures us in John 10: 28 “No-one can snatch us out of his hand.”

Theologians explain that by the elect are meant, a select number of particular persons descended from Adam, whom God, in his sovereign goodwill, without respect to their faith, holiness, and good works, has chosen in Messiah, before the foundation of the world: and so for these to be deceived finally and totally is impossible, —of course not impossible, considering their own weaknesses, and the craftiness of deceivers, they might easily be seduced; but considering the purposes and promises of God concerning them, and their security in the hands of Christ, their final and total deception is in fact ultimately impossible. Of course, as sinners before conversion, these elect very well may have been deceived at some point because all unsaved persons are subject to disobedience and foolishness, so says Titus 3: 3, and even believers may also be temporarily deceived as it were after conversion; but not totally— a true believer will not deny the doctrine of salvation, or fall into damnable heresies. On the other hand, a genuine believer may be seduced away from the simplicity of the Gospel, but not finally; eventually true believers will be recovered out of the snare of the devil, and not left to perish in deception.

So the “elect” are sealed by God for safety from fatal deception in the evil day. Let us rest and rejoice in this truth! Now then…..If we can get a proper definition of the term “Anti-christ," we shall see that such deceivers have appeared in every age, full of evil and mischief making. An “Anti-christ" is any man or any woman who, in any sphere, undoes or resists the work of the Messiah, or compels men to think unworthy thoughts of Jesus. The word “Anti” not only means against Christ but also in place of Christ. So an Anti-christ figure ties to replace God’s Messiah. The Anti-christ is the ultimate embodiment of Replacement Theology.  An Anti-christ spirit opposes and criticises the true authority of Yeshua and attempts to substitute something or someone else for his Divine authority.

An Anti-christ spirit also opposes the holiness of the Church and lowers it standards. There are those who teach liberty that’s in reality depravity and self-indulgence. Holiness is a test that exposes these Anti-christs.

Recently I saw a video on YouTube of a Baptist pastor bragging about how his church is all inclusive. He proudly named every kind of sinner as being represented in his congregation and he wasn’t at all concerned that they were unrepentant …… rather he bragged about how they all wanted to be members of his church.  We say—Yes, of course, let all sinners come to church, but let Messiah clean them up. To pat them on the back and encourage them to remain in their sins is a great deception!

My friend, we do well to take heed to the sure Word of prophecy in the Bible. Jesus warned Jerusalem that in the last days the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet will be "standing in the holy place.” The holy place can only refer to the sanctuary of God that will be reinstituted. And Jesus added, "Whoso readeth let him understand." Those who read the Scriptures should endeavour to understand them.

In Matthew 24: 16 Jesus warned concerning the abomination that will defile Jerusalem’s holy place— “Then those in Judea flee to the hills. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak,” and so forth—don’t collect anything for the journey! I’ve been on hundreds of flights in my lifetime and always the preliminary safety precautions tell you that in the unlikely event of an accident, when exiting the plane we are to take nothing with us. Why? Escape must not be hindered by burdens. Life is more than property. Believers carry all our property in Christ.

For sure we should have understanding of the times as did the leaders of the tribe of Issachar. Of them 1 Chronicles 12: 32 records, “All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.”  In Matthew 16: 3 Jesus upbraided the people of his day saying, “You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!”

What were the signs of his generation that they should have readily recognised? He was born of a virgin, as was prophesied by Isaiah 7: 14, he was born in Bethlehem of Judea, as was prophesied by Micah 5: 2, at a time when the sceptre was departed from Judah, and the lawgiver from his feet, as was prophesied by Genesis 49: 10; the prophetic weeks of Daniel Chapter 9 were at their close; John the Baptist came in the power and spirit of Elijah, to prepare the way of the Lord, as was prophesied by Malachi 4: 5, and Jesus was performing Messianic miracles as prophesied by Isaiah 35 and verses 5 and 6. All these are the signs of the time when the Messiah was to come; but instead the hypocrites demanded another sign because they were disbelieving.

Israe was looking for the Redeemer at that time, and Jesus’s own Messianic miracles and teachings proved his Divinity and the fulfilment of many obscure prophecies; his signs were abundant for all to see and ponder.

When End Time signs are in abundance, the people of God should confer with the prophets and understand the times we are facing. According to Daniel 12: 10, those who are wise will understand. So there you have it. We have been forewarned. Jesus told his own people in advance of the danger of being led astray and also of the spectacular manner of His Second coming — which will be sudden and unmistakable.

The second coming of the true Messiah will be a grand thing, with power and great glory like a great bolt of lightning, covering the whole world, reaching at once from east to west. He has also forewarned sinners of the certainty of judgment. Does the world heed his warnings? No, I was shocked to read of a poll in Britain saying that the British would prefer a Muslim leader over an evangelical Christian. 

Well, all around us the world is going to go through more and more calamities, perplexities and disasters, faster and faster, increasing in frequency and intensity, until the very end, when the tumults will be almost unbearable, and continuous, rapid fire, one right after the other. Then He will return, to inaugurate a new chapter in history, the golden age of the Millennial reign on King David’s throne. The intensity and are frequency of events should alert us to the lateness of the hour and the nearness of his coming.

It’s my prayer that without delay you will make sure you’ve received the Lord Jesus into your heart. Have you done that— have you received Jesus as Lord and  Saviour? If yes I rejoice, if not, delay no longer! Jesus was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead! Although these End Times are not easy, Titus 3: 13 promises the blessed hope of the Lord’s soon appearing.

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