How many people do you know who live in the Divine fire and announce the present will of God? Who know the mind and will of God? Who know God? Are they many or few?

So it is true that multitudes are called to inherit the Kingdom of God, but only a few walk in the ranks of the conquerors.

How small God's remnant actually is will no doubt come as a surprise in the hour of the Lord's appearing. The true saints appear to be relatively few in number.

What then of the multitudes of the saved; of those who call themselves by the name of Christ? God loves them. No doubt He will bring them into green pastures and lead them beside the still waters.

But the conquerors, those who inherit the fullness of the first resurrection, may prove to be a small remnant of believers.

Being chosen brings us to authority over the nations of the earth.

To be given power over the nations (2:26,27).

We are gaining the wisdom and power to rule with Christ in the present world so we may be able to rule with Christ throughout the ages to come.

Notice in the following passage that forsaking all this life has to offer, thus becoming a member of the Lord's chosen few, leads to authority over people.

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye that have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:27,28)

When we behold the Apostles of Christ in the Day of the Lord—Peter, James, Andrew, John, Philip, Bartholomew and so forth—they will be arrayed in royal robes. They will be seated in exalted majesty on the thrones of glory, administrating the affairs of the nation of Israel.

It is interesting that one of those exalted thrones was reserved for each of the twelve disciples, including Judas Iscariot. But Judas (who was one of the chosen—John 6:70) sold his divinely appointed monarchy for thirty pieces of silver. How many today are selling their fabulous inheritance for a few dollars?

We only can imagine what it will be like to judge the nation of Israel, or to govern any other nation. To sit as a king and judge is a dreadful responsibility.

But not all believers will be rulers of nations.

Among the multitude of believers there is a handful of saints who are being trained each moment of each day to rule in Christ. There is so much to learn! Obviously (and scripturally) it will be those whom God has carefully trained in obedience who will rule the nations of the earth.

It is neither scriptural nor reasonable to suppose we will rule nations on the basis of being pardoned by the Lord. If we would be princes of the realm we must submit ourselves to the King of the realm.

To be continued.