Who Are The Very Elect?

Name: Thomas McCarvell
Question: Will you please address the 7000 very elect. It is my understanding that these are the only ones who will never bow to the false one. The 144,000, being initially deceived, but came out of deception after hearing the testimony of the 7000. The very elect (7000) being the only ones who can approach Christ during the millennium as described in Ezekiel.

Answer: Thank you for the question Thomas.

The phrase “very elect” is used one time in the Bible, we will discuss that shortly. However, Scripture never discusses 7,000 “very elect” Saints during the Great Tribulation. In the New Testament, we only find 7,000 mentioned once.

Please turn your Bible with me to,

Romans 11:4
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

This verse is actually quoting 1 Kings 19:18 which concerned ancient Israel and their worship of Baal. During those days of old, God simply set aside a group of Saints that would not bow to Baal.

Romans 11:5
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Paul made it clear.

Just as there was a “remnant,” which means a “remainder” in the days of old, so was there an unnumbered “remainder” (or set aside group) of Saints in Paul’s day. This of course carries on even to this day.

However, that does not mean this number is 7,000. That is reading too much into Scripture.

Instead, if we are looking for a specific number of Saints during the Tribulation, God’s Word made it extremely clear. 12,000 people from each of the 12 Tribes of Israel are Sealed which gives us, 144,000 Elect Saints.

Even so, don’t forget about the “multitude” of other peoples and nations who will also stand for God during the Tribulation as well, (Revelation 7:9, 14).

The Sons Of Zadok

Thomas, in another email you said,

“We are told that sons of zadok are the only ones who approach Christ in the millennial temple.”

That is simply not true.

Concerning this subject in the book of Ezekiel, our Lord Jesus Christ is not mentioned. Instead, we find the “LORD,” which should have been translated as God’s name, “Jehovah”.

Now, some attempt to say the “Zadok” mentioned in Ezekiel are this “very elect”. Yet, when we read the four times “Zadok” is mentioned in Ezekiel, it becomes clear, it does not concern the future Elect who will live during the Tribulation.

For example:

In Ezekiel 40:46, “These are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi”.

This does not define any future 7,000, but refers to the sons of Levi.

In Ezekiel 43:19, “the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok”.

The word “seed” even means “posterity,” being the literal children of Zadok.

In Ezekiel 44:15, “The sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me”.

This is past tenths, this occurred long ago when the Israelites went astray, but the sons of Zadok held fast to God.

In Ezekiel 48:11, “Sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.”

Once again, a past tenths phrase. So this cannot refer to a future “7,000”.

Unfortunately, these verses among others have been used to stitch together a doctrine of 7,000 “very elect,” which is simply not Biblical.

The Very Elect

In fact, the phrase “very elect” only appears one time in the entire Bible.

Matthew 24:24
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.

The word “very” is used for emphasis, not to identify a select group of people.

We all do this sort of thing and don’t even realize it. In some of our studies, I have said, “the very throne of God”. I was not talking about any other throne except for God’s. I just added emphasis.

Notice, in the book of Mark, we have the very same event being discussed.

Let’s read it.

Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Where is the “very elect”?

It’s not there, yet we are talking about the same group of people, our Father’s Election. Instead, Mark simply says “even the Elect,” which is another expression of “the very Elect”.

As a matter of fact, the Greek word translated as “very” in Matthew 24:24 appears over 5,000 times in the King James Bible. Nearly every time it is translated “and,” with “very” being the translation just three times.

Here are the usages.

Matthew 10:30
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

And.

Luke 12:59
I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

And.

Luke 9:5
And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

Notice the usage of the word “very” in these verses?

They simply add more emphasis to the word being described, not that these are select items. Dust is dust, there is no “very dust”.

Lamb Stood On The Mount Sion

Now, I want you to think about what happens at the end of the Tribulation.

What happens when Jesus returns?

Revelation 14:1
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

The 144,000 were “redeemed from the earth,” they were not deceived.

What else are we told about 144,000 Saints?

Revelation 14:4-5
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

So rest assured Thomas, the 144,000 are not deceived.

Instead, the 144,000 are the “firstfruits” of the Father and Son.