The Great Company, Who are they? Part 1

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After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of (or from) all nations, tribes, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands” (Rev 7:9)

This group of individuals consists of anunknown number” this due to the fact that as a CLASS or COMPANY they were neither predestinated nor foreordained, that is, AS A NUMBER.

In other words none were called to the particular position mention in this verse, but rather ALL (at this time, during the Gospel age) who were called (Heb 5:4), werecalled in the one hope of (our) calling” (Eph 4:4) i.e. to be joint heirs with Christ, and to sit with him IN his throne (Rev 3:21). This however is not to say that God did not know or plan for this particular company, but merely that there NUMBER unlike that of the Little Flockwas not a fixed or predetermined one. The reason why man cannot number them is because as a class they are a by-product, who was never called to the position they have obtained.

It was the Lords intention that in the time of the harvest He would send forth the reapers and separate the Wheat from the tares, the true church from the nominal, thus we read in the prophecy spoken through Isaiah (Isa 66:7-9):

Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the Lord. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.”

BEFORE she (Nominal Zion) was in labor, she gave birth (to the “spiritual seed”, Compare: Rom 11:26; Obadiah 21);

BEFORE her pain came (that is to say, at the close of the Gospel age before her “travails”, come upon her in the great time of trouble), she delivered a male child (The Christ complete, Jesus and “the church [ecclesia—body] of the first born”, the “Little Flock”. The great composite Christ shall come forth entire, not one member lacking, before Zion's travail has begun).”

Who has heard such a thing? (Who could imagine someone giving birth to a child before they went into labor, and then subsequently later when they did go into labor bare a child?)

Who has seen such things?


Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day (the Millennial Day)? Or shall a nation (the “Holy Nation”) be born at once (Come forth perfect and complete in the first resurrection)?

For as soon as Zion (Christendom, Babylon) was in labor…

Note closely the distinction being made here, before she was in labor, engulf in the great time of trouble she bore the “male child” the Christ, head and body complete but, now being IN labor that is IN her travails, IN the great time of trouble),

she gave birth to her children (Another class of spirit begotten ones, the “Great Company” class, coming up out of Babylon through the great tribulation Rev 7:14).”

The travail upon nominal Zion will quickly liberate the true children of God still in her. Nominal Zion (the professing church) will die in her travail pains, and in dying, bring forth the Great Company.

Shall I bring to the time of birth (the time of labor and travail), and not cause delivery?” says the Lord. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.”

This scripture shows that although there has been, but the onecalling” throughout the gospel age, God had indeed known of this secondary class who would also be brought forth as a “by-product” of THAT CALLING, and He would make provision for them.

They like the “little flock” were called from among the various “nations, tribes, and peoples”. The scriptures speak of the 144,000 as coming from the “tribes of Israel” that is, God’s original intention arranged for the full number of the elect to be taken from natural Israel, however the full number were not to be found there, so the invitation was opened to alltribes and peoples”, the Gentiles, that they should fill up the deficiency in the elect number not supplied by Israel to whom the original promise was made.

Those of the Jewish nation who maintained their relationship with God were transferred from natural Israel and became the nucleus of spiritual Israel (Israelite's Indeed). Those taken from among the Gentiles were the wild olive branches grafted into the good olive tree making up the number, which lacked to complete the Body of Christ.

Continued with next post.

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