The Ranks of Believers

Part 1 of 2

Very many Christians are unaware of the fact that there are ranks within the body of Christ. Yes, ranks. Just as the many armies of our world are duly composed, so it is within the mystical body of Christ (Rev 19:19). In fact, Scripture says of the bride that she is "terrible as an ARMY with banners" (Song 6:10). Dear reader, armies are composed of several different parts, of course each one being vital (1 Cor 12:21), but separate and distinct nonetheless. As another has well said, "A building in its formative stages appears to be but one vast conglomeration of scaffolds, framework, brick and steel--and it is not too evident how many rooms there will be, and for what purpose the rooms are intended. But in the day of its completion it is all quite evident. So shall it be with the Church of Christ. For there are celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; one glory of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars--and even one star differeth from another star in glory. So shall it be in the day of Christ, when each man is revealed in His own order according to the plan and purpose of God" (George Warnock, The Feast of Tabernacles).

Yes, ranks within the body of Christ are a present reality. Some are spiritual Generals while others may be nothing more than a private in God's great army He is assembling. Not surprisingly, such schisms presented themselves even in Jesus' day, and in the early days of Christianity. Jesus had multitudes and disciples, and even within the disciples He had the 70, then the 12, then the 3 (whom He brought with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration), and finally the 1, John, who was the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (Jn 13:23), the one who was intimate with God, laying his head upon Jesus' bosom, and receiving the great revelation (Rev 1:1).

Paul confirms these thoughts several times. He repeatedly used military terms when referring to the body of Christ. He primarily used these words when speaking of the resurrection to come: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming" (1 Cor 15:23). The word used here for "order" literally means "to arrange, a band, a troop, a class in arrangement". Later he again says, "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead" (1 Cor 15:41-42).

Yes, it is true. As one star outshines another in our natural universe, so it is among believers from time's span: "The path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Prov 4:18). In the ages, some shall sing "this little light of mine", while others will have paid a greater price, and consequently shall shine with a greater degree of splendour.

Paul has said, "Some must enter therein..." (Heb 4:6). Notice he says "some" and not "all". Could it be true that only a high-ranking remnant will ever fully appropriate God's best, and fully apprehend that for which they've been apprehended of? Indeed, it is true. Only a remnant will attain to God's highest rank. The Bible is quite clear in this regard: Of the bride it says, "There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her" (Song 6:8-9).

We should not be shocked to realize such a truth. The Scriptures themselves plainly reveal the existence of both "wise" and "foolish" virgins (Matt 25:1-12). We are so quick to divide these people with heaven and hell, but that is not always the case. "Virgins" in Scripture are a thematic constant: they most always speak of the people of God. These "virgins" are indeed heaven-bound, but will lose the prize of the high [ranking] calling which they should have been attaining (Gen 15:1; Phil 3:14), namely, a position as the bride of Christ. Friend, the bride will be she who "hath made herself ready" (Rev 19:7-8).

Jesus too accredits this truth. To His many followers He said, "But many that are first shall be last; and the last first" (Mk 10:31). He further said that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God "before you [Pharisees]" (Matt 21:31), thus ascribing some a higher rank than even the ecclesiastical powers that be. What a wonder! He speaks in another place of "much" and "little" love (Lk 7:40-47). Those who are forgiven much love much; the greatly forgiven seem to chase Jesus up the ranks more fervently than those who have been forgiven little. In Luke 18:14, Jesus continues to say that the humble shall be exalted (in rank?).

In His Parable of the Sower, Jesus speaks of 30, 60 and 100-fold fruit (Mk 4:8). Could it be true that Christians can actually birth differing measures of fruit? Of course, the Word is plainly clear. The fruitful one will likewise rank fruitfully, while the fruitless will rank fruitlessly: all dependent upon the state of one's heart! No wonder Paul's counsel to us was to be "filled with fruits of righteousness" (Phil 1:11)! God would that every man, woman and child become a General in His great army, filled to the brim with fruit, 100-fold! And why 100-fold fruit? Because only 100-fold fruit will be full enough to spill over onto the paths trodden daily by sinners and heathen. 100-fold fruit is the only measure of fruit that will be duly given to the nations; only an overflowing well can quench the thirst of those standing by it (Song 5:1)!

Scripture illustrates the rank principle for us with the vision of first ripened fruit. James tells us, "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" (1:8). The firstfruits are the first-ripened fruit. In every harvest there is always fruit that matures early. There’s also what is called the "first of the firstfruits". If the early ripened fruit is not picked early, it will simply rot on the vine. In the Old Covenant economy, the firstfruits (of man, cattle and harvest) ALWAYS belonged to the Lord: "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest" (Lev 23:10). Reader, it's no different in our day. There will be a high-ranking company of firstfruits who come to fruition before the remainder, and consequently must be plucked and harvested to avoid spoilage. Perhaps this is the overcomer, the manchild's ascension, as noted in Revelation 12? We think so. The book of Revelation goes on to tell us of the character of these firstfruits: "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. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 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" (Rev 14:1-4). Oh the glory!

To Be Continued...