Weekend Meditation--The Very Elect Will Be Deceived, Part 1

Deuteronomy 18


We are walking in today: Weekend Meditation--The Very Elect Will Be Deceived, Part 1

Witness chosen throughout the Bible: H977 bachar spelled beit, chet, resh--to choose, elect, decide for, to be chosen​, selected​, properly, to try, by implication, acceptable, appoint, choice, excellent, join, be rather, require
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​Nehemiah 1:9
But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen​ to set my name there.​

The Torah testifies: Exodus 17:9, 18:25; Numbers 16:5; Deuteronomy 7:6-7, 10:5, 12:5, 12:11, 12:26, 14:2, 14:23, 17:15, 30:19, 31:11
The prophets proclaim: 1 Samuel 2:28, 2:28, 12:13, 17:40; 2 Samuel 6:1, 6:21; Isaiah 41:9, 43:10, 48:10; Haggai 2:23
The writings bear witness: Joshua 24:15, 24:22; 1 Kings 8:16, 8:44; 1 Chronicles 15:2, 28:6; 2 Chronicles 7:16, 29:11; Psalms 25:12, 33:12, 65:4, 119:30; Proverbs 1:29

Psalms 47:4
He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

The Eighth Commandment--Exodus 20:13  Thou shall not steal471. You shall not deny falsely --Leviticus 19:11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.472. You shall not lie to one another --Leviticus 19:11

473. You shall not retain a worker's wage overnight until morning --Leviticus 19:13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

474. You shall not rob --Leviticus 19:13

475. You shall not cheat your neighbor --Leviticus 19:13

476. You shall not commit a perversion in measurements --Leviticus 19:35
Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.

477. You shall not commit a perversion in weights --Leviticus 19:35

478. You shall have correct scales, correct weights, and correct measures --Leviticus 19:36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.

479. You shall not slaughter an animal and its offspring on the same day --Leviticus 22:28 And whether it be cow, or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day.

480. You shall not reap the corners of the field and the gleanings of your harvest --Leviticus 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God.

Fiveamprayer we have a question that must be looked at this morning--who is this group called the very elect?  There are various groups that have come to put an emphasis on certain scriptures regarding this group.  Which each claims to be the exclusive too--that sets them apart from all the other groups. One scripture being used in this way is Matthew 24:24. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; in so much that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” The point being that if you are one of the very elect, you can not be deceived.  Further implying that if you are one of them, the certainty you have not been deceived. Yet we have to look closer to the text to determine accuracy.  As with things in our every day lives, those being deceived are very rarely aware of this deception that they pay membership to.  This has to be more than a claim that can be held fast that they are not deceived and thus the elect.

While this thought displays it's circular reasoning: once a person accepts membership into this very elect group his mind closes to the possibility that he could ever be deceived. This is a powerful glue that then permanently binds the person to that group, and thus the whole group thinks of themselves as the very elect who can not be deceived. Of course this includes the leaders who teach it with this goal in mind. When some do leave the group it is pointed out that they have succumbed to deception and therefore were not part of the very elect to begin with. Who by their definition, can not be deceived, so could not have been of the very elect. This is a powerful tool used to prevent the comparison of what is being taught with the standard of truth – God’s word – the Bible. With no comparison or rather study this circular thoughts wrap around and choke those that it was supposed to protect.  There are questions that need to be answered to grasp the intent of Christ’s statement of Matthew 24:24. We must pay heed for there is a warning being given about this elect and the plans of hasatan for them. Could this warning be that what is applicable only to the end time? Yeshua gave this same alarm in verses 5 & 11, “For many shall come in my name, saying ‘I am the Christ,’ and shall deceive many.” “And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many.” Each of these warnings represents an intensification by satan to destroy the elect. His greatest effort comes as his time is running out. The terms used in Matthew 24 for signs and wonders gives rise to more spectacular events such as fire from heaven. It would come as the appearance of Godly character of those pretending to lead the way of truth. Such a sign or wonder would likely persuade many to follow one with such apparent power, yet would it be possible to only put on a great show with out actual ability?  Would that be the root concern for this warning, which is repeated for emphasis?   As the sights and wonders in absence from study of scriptures makes for a ripe situation of deception to not only walk in but to have full reign of the situation!  The children of Israel were warned repeatedly as well to not harken, nor listen to one who has a show of power of ability that would appear from heaven if they do not speak in accordance to His word.  Is this what Yeshua is showing the people that as it was in the days of old, do not allow those who have the appearance of a Godly nature but are not in alignment with scripture, fool you!  As He was questioned about healing and other displays of power, 'what does the scripture say about it'.  If Yeshua, the word made flesh, refers us back to the word to determine validity why would we seek anywhere else for validation?? This logic would only work if there was no possible way to be deceived because of your status in the elect.

 Paul’s warning to the Corinthians clearly shows this. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”  Paul is telling us not to be surprised at this transformation. Look what satan does. When a being as evil as he can appear as an angel of light, that is a wonder. This would fall under signs and wonders without the spectacular visual effects; but it would be a spiritual wonder, devastating to God’s people. Further, one must question the purpose of warning about a deception if the group addressed cannot be deceived--if these people cannot be deceived there must be a reason for Yeshua to send forth this warning. Could it be that their preparation and unmovable foundation gives them understanding about what the Father has accomplished in creation? The building of a family to go on through eternity; who know Yahweh’s laws and understand that those laws emanate from love; that they know the workings of this world are designed by satan to deceive them.  It becomes very obvious that this is a warning for us to understand His truth, and to be trained and prepared for what is coming. I Peter 5:8-10, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered awhile, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” The word perfect here is used to mean bringing something to its designed state through repair. Establish means to set fast by reinforcing, and settling is to place something on a firm foundation. It is our love of the truth that keeps us from being deceived through our strengthening by Rauch HaKadoesh in us - by His testing and training of us. In addition the warning implies there is a potential for failure. The following scriptures confirm this reality. I Cornthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 2 Timothy 2:14-18, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.” This is a clear statement that some have been lost. 2 Peter 3:15-18, “…...and account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation – as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, has written to you, as also in all of his epistles, speaking in them of things in which some things are hard to understand, which those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know these things before hand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory now and forever. Amen.” (2) This makes it quite clear that failure is possible.  All of His word was given to direct and lead our lives in the lifestyle of the kingdom of heaven!  But presuming that we have obtained and do not truly understand the fullness of the errors of the early church fathers, variance of translations, altered transliterations we are open to many deceptions! It is when we become aware of the possibilities of deceptions that we become and remain diligent in study of His word!

We must be continually on guard, never trusting any man or group of men, but Yahweh alone through His holy word!” Was there  a special category of elect here? Did he create the very elect, a group set apart from the regular elect?  The word for elect is number G1588  and is used 23 times in the New Testament. The only place that the word elect (G1588) is modified by the word “very” (G2532) is in Matthew 24:24. This holds true for the King James translation. The companion scripture of Mark 13:22 uses the same combination of words, but G2532 is here translated “even.” If Yeshua was creating a new category of elect we should be able to find it in other scriptures, but it is no where to be found. It is only used in Matthew 24:24. This should be ample cause for investigation. The definition of “kai” G2532  reads: “Apparently a primary particle, having a couplative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: - and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.” It is clear that this word is never used as an adjective of a noun, but is used as a copulative. This error is corrected in the New King James translation as well as many other  present day translations. J.P. Green’s Interlinear Bible uses the word even instead of very, which is considered to be the norm. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines “very” as real, true, genuine. Webster’s states “very” as  actual, real, legitimate. The word “very” emphasizes identity or significance, and brings the noun into special prominence. This definition shows the word to be an adjective, not a copulative. Therefore the correct translation should be “even,” and most translations correctly read, “….in so much that if it were possible, they shall deceive even the elect.” The understanding that one cannot be deceived is the same as, one being infallible. Yeshua, never established an infallible group of the elect--this was a creation of the King James translators. As Strong points out, G2532 is either a couplative or a cumulative force. “kai” can be translated very when it is showing a cumulative force such as in Matthew 10:30, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” This would be a correct translation because it is used accumulatively.  Fiveamprayer, it is imperative that we never leave our guard down and become open to deception. Let him who thinks he stands, take heed--lest he fall!!

Deuteronomy 18:5

For the Lord thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons forever.

The doctrine of absolute predestination of course logically holds that some are foreordained to death as truly as others are foreordained to life. The very terms ‘elect’ and ‘election’ imply the terms ‘non-elect’ and ‘reprobation’. The biblical usage of “election” has absolutely nothing to do with salvation contrary to the teaching of Calvinism. He qualifies his summary by stating:

The predestination by which Yahweh adopts some to the hope of life, and adjudges others to eternal death, no man who would be thought pious ventures simply to deny…

By predestination, we mean the eternal decree of God, by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. The very terms ‘elect’ and ‘election’ imply the terms ‘non-elect’ and ‘reprobation’. When some are chosen out others are left not chosen.  Once the definition of the word is established biblically, the foundation of Calvinism will be undermined and will collapse and arguing the tenants of TULIP will become inapplicable.

The word elect (Greek verb: eklegomai ἐκλέγομαι; Hebrew verb: bakharבָּחַר) means to choose, select.

The elect or chosen (as nouns or adjectives) are those people or things that have been elected, selected, or chosen for a particular purpose by someone. Scripture bears witness that elect and its derivatives have nothing to do with someone being chosen specifically to eternal life.

The Election of Priests, Kings, and Disciples
We see times when Yahweh chose and people chose--Yahweh chose Levi to minister forever “… the LORD your God has chosen him…”
[bakhar בָּחַר / eklexetai εκλεξηται]

God chose Saul to be the first king of Israel. What is fascinating about King Saul is that he was chosen both by God and the people. Saul’s election by Yahweh to be king had nothing to do with eternal life and his removal from being king likewise had nothing to do with eternal life – he was simply removed from his post. Saul is analogous to Judas in many ways because both he and Judas were chosen yet they both forfeited their election. The choosing or election had nothing to do with eternal life according to the Calvinist definition.

1 Samuel 12:13
Now, therefore, behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the Lord hath set a king over you.

God elected David to be king and passed over the other seven sons of Jesse.

1 Samuel 16:7-10
“The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature because I have refused him’ … Neither has the LORD chosen this one…the LORD has not chosen these.”

The Election of Messiah and Angels
This very title was used of Yeshua on the crucifixion stake. Peter further confirms God’s election of the Messiah. Jesus was unquestionably chosen, elected, predestined by God to be the Messiah but His election was not for His salvation. He was chosen by the Father to give us eternal life! In a similar fashion, we find that angels can be elected – demonstrating that “elect” does not mean chosen to eternal life.

Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Luke 23:35
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he is Christ, the chosen of God.

1 Timothy 5:21
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Hebrew 2:16
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

The Election of Jerusalem
Yahweh also elected (chose) Jerusalem to be His city proving that election has nothing to do with eternal life.

2 Chronicles 6:6
Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel

Psalms 132:13
For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place.

In all of these verses we see that God has chosen or elected Jerusalem for a purpose and the word, election does not entail eternal life.

The Election of False Gods and Foolish Things
In Corinthians, we learn that God has chosen foolish, weak, base and despised things: Our conclusion from the above verses is that election has nothing to do with predestination to eternal life. God chose priests, kings and Jerusalem for His purposes and man chose both God and idols. We would be wrong to try to insert the concept of predestination into the term election.

1 Corinthians 1:27-28
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.

Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD for yourselves, to serve Him…” (Josh 24:22) “Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.” (Judg 10:14)

The Election of Israel
While the election is made by Yahweh and men of people and places, there is a usage that stands out uniquely in Scripture: God’s chosen people, the elect, are the Israelites. The title “chosen/elect” is in no less than eight verses in Scripture. The use of the title “elect” to describe Israel becomes very important when we venture into the New Testament because it clears up many theological, esoteriological, and eschatological issues.

1. Seed of Israel His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones! 1 Chronicles 16:13

2. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. Psalm 33:12

3. Seed of Abraham His servant, you children of Jacob, His chosen ones! Psalm 105:6

4. He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness. Psalm 105:43

5. For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure. Psalm 135:4
6. For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect… Isaiah 45:4
7. I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, And from Judah an heir of My mountains; My elect shall inherit it, And My servants shall dwell there. Isaiah 65:9

8. For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. Isaiah 65:22

The verses above demonstrate how Yahweh has specifically called Israel or Jacob, the Seed of Abraham, His chosen. Thus the term “the chosen” or “my chosen” and “the elect” is a reference to ethnic Israel. This point is proven by Paul who, in a synagogue on the Sabbath day in Antioch, read from the Law and Prophets and then spoke to his fellow Jews: “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: ‘The God of this people Israel chose our fathers…’” (Acts 13:16, 17) Thus, the election of Israel was true in the Old Testament and the New Testament as well.   Shema, Selah--hear, listen and obey the words of Yahweh, take time to reflect and consider this lesson.