How many are Elect? And who are they?

[childeye]

Yes! God says thing like this: Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps. 2Kings 19:25

I know this verse is not with respect to salvation, but it speaks loudly to the "I have done it" component that you mention. There are many verses like this. He simply says the word, and it sure enough happens.

There is some truth to the notion that God can look across time like we look across distance, but we must be careful not to assume that He then "chooses" those who "choose" Him. This makes US sovereign and NOT Him. The bible is clear that God has elected some and not others, for His good pleasure and purpose. Other constructs assume that God wants to save all people, yet is powerless to actually do it. This clashes with WAY too much scripture.

26But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:26-29)

We know that people disbelieve because they are not sheep.
We know Jesus knows the sheep.
We know the sheep follow.
We know God gave the sheep to Jesus.
We know the sheep can't be "all men".
We know that Jesus will loose none of the sheep

How to reconcile this?

If it's really just a system of, "anyone who wants it can come and get it." then why do we read SO MUCH about God "seeking out His sheep who are scattered among the heathen"? Jesus is exactly the fulfillment of those very chapters in Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah in which we are told of a Shepherd who will gather the lost sheep.

Never once do we read about "determining who the sheep are"...

-HisSheep

You should read post 27 on the many are called but few are chosen thread and tell me how that fits with your theology.

Regarding the sheep, are they not also the salt of the earth and what are the implications of that? For these sheep may be His instruments as priests to intercede for others even as Christ did and he is the high priest... All of this in the view from eternity does open possibilities that all his sheep are being gathered in due time.