The three views as to the identity of the “Elect Lady.” 545-2-3

There are three views as to the identity of the “Elect Lady.”

1. The Christian Church.

2. An individual, probably a prominent lady in the Church.

3. Mary, the mother of Jesus, the most “Elect Lady” in the entire Bible.

In 2 John refers to the “elect lady and her children.” Mary, the elect lady, who John is warning to be on guard against those who will come in her name with false teachings to lead her children, the Church, astray.

As an aside, in Genesis God foretold the virgin birth 3:15, “and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Mary was of the house of David through Nathan, the son of King David thus circumventing the blood curse of Jeconiah.

The angel Gabriel had a message for Mary. Luke 1:31, “And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” Mary humbly answered, Luke 1:38, “And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”

Mary’s reaction to to Gabriel’s message from God was her Song of Praise, often called The Magnificat

Luke 1:46-47, “46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour (G4990).”

Saviour, G4990, a deliverer, that is, God or Christ. Mary made no claim of being a co-creator. Rather she was humbly in need of a deliverer.

Luke 1:48, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”

Mary would be called blessed, however, nowhere does the Bible say that she would bestow blessings. Catholics pray to Mary “Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women." Does the Catholic hierarchy consider this as an out-flowing of grace that Mary can infer on those praying to her? I think not.

Luke 1:49-50, “49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.”

Mary is not in a proactive role, rather, she is in a in a passive role and the receiver of great things. She recognized the holiness of God and that the fear of God is rewarded with mercy.

Luke 1:51-53, “51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.”

As Paul put it in Romans 2:11, “For there is no respect of persons with God.”

Luke 1:54-55, “54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55  As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.”

Mary speaks with gratitude for the eternal faithfulness God has for His chosen people.

So who is the Elect Lady John was referring to in 1 John 2? Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

God spoke to Mary, Zechariah and the shepherds while they were attending to their usual duties. 531-1 - 2 - 2

Zacharias was going about his Temple duties and tending the Golden Altar, the Altar of Incense, when the angel Gabriel visited him. Imagine his surprise when he was informed that his wife would give birth to a son who would Luke 1:17, "And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

John, the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth would go before the coming Messiah, Jesus. Zacharias was skeptical as his wife Elisabeth was barren and well up in years. Zacharias was struck dumb for the duration of Elisabeth’s pregnancy.  

Mary was recently engaged and likely looking forward to her marriage. She also was skeptical when visited by the angel Gabriel as she was a virgin, nevertheless, she acquiesced, Luke 1:38, “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” 

Luke 2:8, "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." The shepherds were visited by the angel Gabriel, Luke 2:10, "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

The shepherds "said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." Afterwards, Luke 2:20, "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."

A priest and his wife were to be the parents of the man who would “go before” Jesus. A village virgin in the line of David would be the mother of the coming Messiah.

Shepherds were the outcasts in Israel as their work made them ceremonially unclean. Per CM they were kept away from the temple weeks at a time. Lowly shepherds, not the religious leaders, welcomed Jesus into His incarnation.  

All three fulfilled the charge Jesus later gave to the disciples in The Parable of the Ten Minas. A foretelling of what we have been given and are expected to do with it?

Luke 19:11, “And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.” Today as with these early believers, many believers rest on their “Blessed Assurance” rather than waging spiritual warfare. Luke 19:13, “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy (G4231) till I come.” 

Occupy, G4231, From G4229; to busy oneself with, that is, to trade: occupy. G4229, From G4238; a deed; by implication an affair; by extension an object (material): - business, matter, thing, work. Digging deeper, G4238 is a primary verb; to “practise”, that is, perform repeatedly or by implication to execute, accomplish, etc.; specifically to collect (dues), fare (personally): - commit, deeds, do, exact, keep, require, use arts.

This speaks to me as I have been given my salvation and I’m to occupy until Jesus comes for me,  I’m in the business of bringing people into the Kingdom.