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Ekklesia Versus Church and Assembly, Part I - Ekklesia Defined

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(Part III of VI - Ekklesia versus church, assembly, and kings & men)

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(aka KJV Translations VII - Ekklesia, Part I)

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Section II

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Paragraphs 21 through 61

21.a. 1 Corinthians 1:2 KJV, “Unto the [ekklesia] of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ [Yahoshua], called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of [Yahoshua the] Christ our Lord, both their's and our’s:”. No comment needed.

 

21.b. 1 Corinthians 4:17 KJV, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every [ekklesia].” I have not made direct reference to it up to this point in time, but if you feel that ekklesia does not fit into a sentence and that church would fit much better, then think that no longer. The flexibility that a translator has with many Greek words can change a sentence completely. The last phrase in this sentence is “as I teach every where in every church”. It could just as easily been translated in a different manner, e.g., “as I teach all the ekklesia every where”. The choice of words to translate and the sentence structure was picked by the King James translators so that the word church would fit nicely into the sentence. They could just as easily done the same to make ekklesia fit nicely into the sentence instead. A pre-determined agenda was used to make the translation compatible with the word church. It should not have been so.

 

21.c.  1 Corinthians 6:4 KJV, “If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the [ekklesia].” No comment.

 

21.d. 1 Corinthians 7:17 KJV, “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all [ekklesiais].” Plural.

 

21.e. 1 Corinthians 10:32 KJV, “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the [ekklesia] of God:”.

 

21.f. 1 Corinthians 11:16 KJV, “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the [ekklesiai] of God.” Plural.

 

21.g. 1 Corinthians 11:18 KJV, “For first of all, when ye come together in the [ekklesia], I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

 

21.h. 1 Corinthians 11:22 KJV, “What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the [ekklesias] of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

 

21.i. 1 Corinthians 12:28 KJV, “And God hath set some in the [ekklesia], first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” Using the word church in this verse is a great travesty. People have become conditioned to the idea that saints of God, His ekklesia εκκλησια, somehow cannot function in these gifts outside of a man ordained church setting. This is so far from the truth that it perverts the Scriptures.

 

21.j. 1 Corinthians 14:4 KJV, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the [ekklesian].” This verse means exactly what it says. The ekklesia are edified. There is no church or church congregation that needs edifying.

 

21.k. 1 Corinthians 14:5 KJV, “I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the [ekklesia] may receive edifying.

 

21.l. 1 Corinthians 14:12 KJV, “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the [ekklesias].

 

21.m. 1 Corinthians 14:19 KJV, “Yet in the [ekklesia] I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

 

21.n. 1 Corinthians 14:23 KJV, “If therefore the whole [ekklesia] be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

 

21.o. 1 Corinthians 14:28 KJV, “But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the [ekklesia]; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

 

21.p. 1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all [ekklesiais] of the saints.” Plural. 

 

21.q. 1 Corinthians 14:34 KJV, “Let your women keep silence in the [ekklesiais]: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.” Plural.

 

21.r. 1 Corinthians 14:35 KJV, “And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the [ekklesia].

 

21.s. 1 Corinthians 15:9 KJV, “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the [ekklesian] of God.

 

21.t. 1 Corinthians 16:1 KJV, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the [ekklesiais] of Galatia, even so do ye.” Plural.

 

21.u. 1 Corinthians 16:19 KJV, “The [ekklesiai] of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the [ekklesia] that is in their house.” First usage is plural.

 

22.a. 2 Corinthians 1:1 KJV, “Paul, an apostle of [Yahoshua the] Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the [ekklesia] of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:”.

 

22.b. 2 Corinthians 8:1 KJV, “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the [ekklesias] of Macedonia;”. Plural.

 

22.c. 2 Corinthians 8:18 KJV, “And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the [ekklesion];”. Plural.

 

22.d. 2 Corinthians 8:19 KJV, “And not that only, but who was also chosen of the [ekklesion] to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:”. Plural.

 

22.e. 2 Corinthians 8:23 KJV, “Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the [ekklesion], and the glory of Christ.” Plural.

 

22.f. 2 Corinthians 8:24 KJV, “Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the [ekklesion], the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.” Plural.

 

22.g. 2 Corinthians 11:8 KJV, “I robbed other [ekklesias], taking wages of them, to do you service.” Plural.

 

22.h. 2 Corinthians 11:28 KJV, “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the [ekklesion].” Plural.

 

22.i. 2 Corinthians 12:13 KJV, “For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other [ekklesias], except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

 

23.a. Galatians 1:2 KJV, “And all the brethren which are with me, unto the [ekklesiais] of Galatia:”. Plural.

 

23.b. Galatians 1:13 KJV, “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the [ekklesian] of God, and wasted it:”.

 

23.c. Galatians 1:22 KJV, “And was unknown by face unto the [ekklesiais] of Judaea which were in Christ:”. Plural.

 

24.a. Ephesians 1:22 KJV, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the [ekklesia],”.

 

24.b. Ephesians 3:10 KJV, “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the [ekklesias] the manifold wisdom of God,”.

 

24.c. Ephesians 3:21 KJV, “Unto him be glory in the [ekklesia] by Christ [Yahoshua] throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

 

24.d. Ephesians 5:23 KJV, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the [ekklesias]: and he is the saviour of the body.

 

24.e. Ephesians 5:24 KJV, “Therefore as the [ekklesia] is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

 

24.f. Ephesians 5:25 KJV, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the [ekklesian], and gave himself for it;”.

 

24.g. Ephesians 5:27 KJV, “That he might present it to himself a glorious [ekklesian], not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

24.h. Ephesians 5:29 KJV, “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the [ekklesian]:”.

 

24.i. Ephesians 5:32 KJV, “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the [ekklesian].

 

25.a. Philippians 3:6 KJV, “Concerning zeal, persecuting the [ekklesian]; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

 

25.b. Philippians 4:15 KJV, “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no [ekklesia] communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

 

26.a. Colossians 1:18 KJV, “And he is the head of the body, the [ekklesias]: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” This verse makes it very clear exactly who the ekklesia are. They are those who make up the body; i.e., the Body of Christ. Christ Yahoshua is the head of this Body and those of us who are the ekklesia are individually part of the Body and collectively we are the Body.

 

26.b. Colossians 1:24 KJV, “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the [ekklesia]:”. Here, six verses later from verse 18, we see again that Christ’s body is the ekklesia.

 

26.c. Colossians 4:15 KJV, “Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the [ekklesian] which is in his house.

 

26.d.  Colossians 4:16 KJV, “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the [ekklesian] of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

 

27.a. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 KJV, “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the [ekklesia] of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord [Yahoshua the] Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord [Yahoshua the] Christ.

 

27.b. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 KJV, “For ye, brethren, became followers of the [ekklesion] of God which in Judaea are in Christ [Yahoshua]: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:”. Plural.

 

28.a. 2 Thessalonians 1:1 KJV, “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the [ekklesia] of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord [Yahoshua the] Christ:”.

 

28.b. 2 Thessalonians 1:4 KJV, “So that we ourselves glory in you in the [ekklesiais] of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:”. Plural.

 

29.a. 1 Timothy 3:5 KJV, “(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the [ekklesias] of God?)”.

 

29.b. 1 Timothy 3:15 KJV, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house (Strong’s G3624 oikos οικοσ) of God, which is the [ekklesia] of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” The word house is not necessarily the best translation of Strong’s G3624 οικοσ oikos. More appropriate would be family instead of house. However, if one has an agenda and in this case the agenda is to have ekklesia mean church (when it does not), then using house instead of family for οικοσ oikos would help to promote that agenda. This is an example of how a little leaven works its way through the whole batch. One mistranslation of ekklesia leads to another and then another, until it works its way through the whole Bible and potentially can destroy entire doctrines.

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29.c. 1 Timothy 5:16 KJV, “If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the [ekklesia] be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

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30. 2 Timothy 4:22 (verse 22 + the subscript) KJV, “The Lord [Yahoshua the] Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. 

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The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the [ekklesias] the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.” Subscripts are at the end of some New Testament books. Some translations have them dangling at the end without a verse number. Other translations include them as part of the last verse number in the book. Either way, I include them as part of the last verse. 

 

31. Titus 3:15 (verse 15 + the subscript) KJV, “All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

 

It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the [ekklesias] of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.” Subscripts are at the end of some New Testament books. Some translations have them dangling at the end without a verse number. Other translations include them as part of the last verse number in the book. Either way, I include them as part of the last verse.

                     

32. Philemon 2 KJV, “And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the [ekklesia] in thy house:”.

 

33.a. Hebrews 2:12 KJV, “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the [ekklesias] will I sing praise unto thee.

 

33.b. Hebrews 12:23 KJV, “To the general assembly and [ekklesia] of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,”. If ekklesia means assembly, as used by Christ (which it does not), then how would this verse play out: To the general assembly and the assembly of the firstborn? This is simply more evidence that shows, once one word is manipulated by the translators, others words - such as general assembly - must be tweaked as well. My meaning is this, that ekklesia has been mistranslated into church, that leaves the translators free to use “general assembly”. Another example is Young’s Literal Translation. Young uses assembly for ekklesia instead of church. Therefore, he translates “general assembly and church of the firstborn” to “the company and assembly of the firstborn”. So what is “company”, what is “general assembly”? Do they mean the same thing? Not to me, they do not. But if fallen men (I am not judging Young, I have not studied him) want to have their way with the word ekklesia and use it as church or assembly in sentences where it does not belong, then they must do something else to other words in the sentence to make everything fit within the same sentence with some appearance of order. I do not see order, I see disorder and deception.

 

34. James 5:14 KJV, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the [ekklesias]; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:”.

 

35. 1 Peter 5:13 KJV, “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.” The Greek word ekklesia is not behind this word church. The word church in make up out of thin air in this verse. Notice that it is in italics. In fact, there is no word behind it at all. It appears that Peter is writing, “Those at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.”

 

36.a. 3 John 6 KJV, “Which have borne witness of thy charity before the [ekklesias]: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:”.

 

36.b. 3 John 9 KJV, “I wrote unto the [ekklesia]: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

 

36.c. 3 John 10 KJV, “Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the [ekklesias].

 

37.a. Revelation 1:4 KJV, “John to the seven [ekklesiais] which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;”.

Plural.

 

37.b. Revelation 1:11 KJV, “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven [ekklesiais] which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Plural.

 

37.c. Revelation 1:20 KJV, “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven [ekklesion]: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven [ekklesiai].” Both usages of ekklesia are plural. In these three verses of Revelation chapter one, we see references made to seven cities in the province of Asia (which may have been composed of several other provinces). The references to a group of believers in seven different cities did not mean that they were organized churches as we understand them today. As in other references in the New Testament, there was a group of believers that met in a person’s home in most every city, sometimes more than one group per city depending on the size and number of believers.

 

37.d. Revelation 2:1 KJV, “Unto the angel of the [ekklesias] of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;”.                              

 

37.e. Revelation 2:7 KJV, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the [ekklesiais]; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Plural.

 

37.f. Revelation 2:8 KJV, “And unto the angel of the [ekklesias] in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;”.

 

37.g. Revelation 2:11 KJV, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the [ekklesiais]; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Plural.

 

37.h. Revelation 2:12 KJV, “And to the angel of the [ekklesias] in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edge;”.                               

37.i. Revelation 2:17 KJV, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the [ekklesiais]; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Plural.

 

37.j. Revelation 2:18 KJV, “And unto the angel of the [ekklesias] in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;”.

 

37.k. Revelation 2:23 KJV, “And I will kill her children with death; and all the [ekklesiai] shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” Plural.

 

37.l. Revelation 2:29 KJV, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the [ekklesiais].” Plural.

 

37.m. Revelation 3:1 KJV, “And unto the angel of the [ekklesias] in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

 

37.n. Revelation 3:6 KJV, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the [ekklesiais].” Plural.

 

37.o. Revelation 3:7 KJV, “And to the angel of the [ekklesias] in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”.

 

37.p. Revelation 3:13 KJV, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the [ekklesiais].” Plural.

 

37.q. Revelation 3:14 KJV, “And unto the angel of the [ekklesias] of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;”.

 

37.r. Revelation 3:22 KJV, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the [ekklesiais].” Plural.

 

37.s. Revelation 22:16 KJV, “I [Yahoshua] have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the [ekklesiais]. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” Plural. 

 

38. To continue this teaching go to Part II - Where Did The English Word Church Come From?

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Appendix 1

 

Declension of Ekklesia Εκκλησια

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39. ekklesia - dative (case), singular (number), feminine (grammatical gender), noun (part of speech).

 

40. ekklesian - accusative (case), singular (number), feminine (grammatical gender), noun (part of speech).

 

41. ekklesiai - nominative (case), plural (number), feminine (grammatical gender), noun (part of speech).

 

42. ekklesiais - dative (case), plural (number), feminine (grammatical gender), noun (part of speech).

 

43. ekklesias - genitive (case), singular (number), feminine (grammatical gender), noun (part of speech).

 

44. ekklesias - (apparently only at Acts 15:41) accusative (case), plural (number), feminine (grammatical gender), noun (part of speech). Although, I know in English and other languages, there are exceptions to the rule. It’s not a hard stretch to believe that there is one here. However, it does raise my suspicion about rather this is a true exception or a created one to make the English word “churches” fit the translation given.

 

45. ekklesion - genitive (case), plural (number), feminine (grammatical gender), noun (part of speech).

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Appendix 2

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Hebrew Words That May Have An Association With Assembly, Congregation, and Sunagoge

 

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46.a. Strong’s H6951 qahal קהל assembly or congregation 

 

46.b. (Gesenius’ lexicon)

 

47.a. Strong’s H5712 edah עדח used as congregation or gathering, means an appointed meeting or assembly 

 

47.b. (Gesenius’ lexicon)

edah = sunagoge

 

48. Strong’s G4864 sunagoge συναγωγη Jewish synagogue, Christian church

 

49. Strong’s H4150 mowed כןרעך appointed place, time, meeting.

                        moed כרעך

 

                        mowadah כןרעדה

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Appendix 3

 

 

Scriptures That Show That We, As Ekklesia, Are Being Built Into A Spiritual House or Temple*

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*NOTE: Companion teaching with Appendix 3 is The Third Temple.

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50. Matthew 16:18 KJV, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my [ekklesian]; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 

51. 1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

 

52. 2 Corinthians 5:1 KJV, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

 

53. 2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

 

54. Ephesians 2:19-22 KJV, “19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, [Yahoshua the] Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

55. 1 Peter 2:5 KJV, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by [Yahoshua the] Christ.

 

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Appendix 4

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Scriptures That Support The Doctrine That The Ekklesia Refers To The Chosen Or Elect*, Not To Men’s Churches

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*NOTE: Companion teaching with Appendix 4 is KJV Translations, Part VIII - Elect.

 

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56. Matthew 20:16 KJV, “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

 

57. Matthew 22:14 KJV, “For many are called, but few are chosen.

 

58. Matthew 24:24,31KJV, “24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 

59. Mark 13:20,22,27 KJV, “20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

 

60. Luke 18:7 KJV, “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

 

61. We welcome constructive input supported by Scriptures from the Bible. Please contact us by using the contact icon. Copyright © 2005, ©2012, and ©2014 Richard Douglas Mauck and/or Sandra Faye Mauck. All rights reserved. This material is copyrighted to protect the integrity of this work. Permission is hereby granted to copy this treatise in its entirety as long as no editing is done, no charge is made to those with whom it is shared, and full credit is given to the authors.

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