"If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them." v.20

"Cut short those days" v.20a and "he has shortened them" v.20b

He has limited the days of destruction because there must be survivors to occupy the Millennial Kingdom that will be set up at his second coming.

The "elect" are the genuine believers

"But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen" v.20.

"perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect-if that were possible." v.22

"And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds."

Mk 13:27

Chosen

"When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed." Ac 13:48

J D.L. Moody used to illustrate this by imagining a sign over heaven's gate that says, "Whosoever will, let him come and take the free gift of eternal life Rev 22:17." On the back side of the sign it says, "Chosen before the foundation of the world" Eph 1:4.

Everyone believes in election, it is all over the Bible. People differ as to the basis of election. One branch believes that God look down the corridors of time and saw the decision you would make and then elected you to salvation. The other branch of theology believes the Bible teaches that God elects a person to salvation based upon something within God and not within us.

Suggests the firm hand

God will have on them as they struggle with the hard task of persevering in the faith.

21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect-if that were possible. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time." v.20-23

Powerful and persuasive miracles

Simon the Sorcerer example of influcence: "Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic." Ac 8:9-11

"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." 2 Th 2:8-10

"And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth." Rev 13:13-14

Source of this power: "Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon (Satan), out of the mouth of the beast (antichrist) and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty."

Rev 16:13-14

"to deceive the elect-if that were possible" v.22

That God will take steps to see that they are not deceived; by informing, warning; enlightening and empowering.

God's care over us is so complete; praise to him.

Biblical guidelines to protect true believers

We have already read the directions in Deut that if prophecy fails we are not to believe anything he or she says.

"If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deut 13:1-3

“But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken." v.24

Unprecedented natural disasters

"On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken." Lk 21:25-26

Prophecy of Joel, "I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord." Acts 2:19-20

"I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind (a reference to a hail of meteorites). 14 The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place." Revelation 6:12-14

"At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory." v.26

His second coming will not be hidden or secret

The rapture will be a hidden event, though its aftereffects will be obvious.

Backdrop: "At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it." Mark 13:21

"Will see. . ." "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." Mt 24:27

There is an emphasis on the cloud's (Why belabor the point?)

"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

"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him." Revelation 1:7

"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. "Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9 &11

A glorious event or a disaster, joy or a moment of terror and judgement.

For the saved: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Titus 2:11-13

For the lost: 2 Thess 1:6-10

"It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31

"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." v.27

These will include all those who came to Christ during the tribulation, many who have died and others who are alive.

Old Testament saints will be resurrected at this time.

"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. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:1-2

At this time the millennial reign of Christ, described in Revelation 20 will begin. At the end of the thousand years the Great White Throne Judgement takes place, followed by the new heaven and the new earth.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Re 21:4