QUESTION:
Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) and Luke 22:7-107Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. (Luke 22:7‑10) indicate that the Spirit of God is the divine Gatherer; He leads Christians to the place of God’s appointment. If the position of the so-called “gathered saints” is that ground, why are there so few there? Either there is a problem with the Spirit’s power to gather, or, maybe this is not the place to which He is leading people.
The problem here is that we have made the numerical size of a company of Christians the measure of their ecclesiological correctness. That is, if there are a lot of people in a certain Christian fellowship, then that must be a place to which the Spirit of God is leading people. This, however, is a wrong criterion on which to judge the true ground of gathering. Wherever did we get the idea that big was right? It is a worldly principle; we see it in every sphere of life in the world—in business, in sports, etc. However, it shouldn't have any place in the Church of God.
We do not read in Scripture that there would be large groups of faithful believers in the last days. The Bible indicates quite the opposite. In the last days of the Christian testimony we are told that evil men will increase in number—not faithful men (2 Tim. 3:1313But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13)). This is the main difference between the two epistles written to Timothy. In 1 Timothy the mass in the Christian profession is seen going on well, but there were a few individuals who had turned aside into error. But in 2 Timothy (which describes the last days) it is just the reverse; the mass is seen as having gone bad and there are relatively few individuals going on faithfully. In fact, in Scripture, the only groups that are said to be large in the last days are heretical movements! For instance, 2 Peter 2:1-21But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:1‑2) says, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who shall privily bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways.” I am not saying that all large groups of Christians today in evangelical Christendom are evil and that they teach damnable doctrines. We are simply pointing out that if large numbers are the sign of being right, then the Catholic Church would be the right place that God approves of—they have more people than any other denomination! Surely, we can’t be so naive as to think that having large numbers equates having to God's approval.
The often-heard remark is, “Our church is growing.” What is meant is that the number of people in that particular group is getting larger. Now, we all want to see this, but in Scripture, growth is used to denote spiritual development in the soul, not the numerical size of a group of Christians. Suppose I went to a gathering that had 50 believers who came together regularly for worship and ministry, and I saw that there was not much interest there. They were more interested in sports and their houses, etc. While I’m thankful that they were coming together, I go away saying to myself, “I wish there was a little more devotion there.” Then, after a year I come back to the same company of 50 believers, and immediately I see a marked change. They are really keen about the things of God. They are full of questions and stay around after the meetings for fellowship. Their understanding and maturity in the truth has definitely progressed. Though they have not added one person to their number, I could say that they have really grown! This is the way in which growth is spoken of in Scripture.
When we get occupied with numbers, there is always a temptation to compromise principles to bring people in. For instance, we could get more people into our meetings if we advertised that there was going to be a rock band here. But we are not going to do that because we must serve according to the principles of God’s Word if we want the Lord’s approval (2 Tim. 2:5).
I realize that I haven’t answered the question, so let’s look at some Scriptures that will do that.
Answer:
There are many thousands of people who are gathered to the Lord’s name today, but relatively speaking, they are only a few in comparison to the great mass of believers all over the world. This, however, does not mean that they are not meeting on right principles. I believe that there are at least three reasons for the smallness of this testimony.
It is a Remnant Testimony
The first reason why the “gathered saints” are relatively few in number is that it is a day of small things. Zechariah 4:9-109The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. 10For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. (Zechariah 4:9‑10) says, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things?” The times in which Zechariah was called to live were remnant testimony days. At that time, the Lord had allowed His people to be carried away to Assyria (2 Kings 17:6) and to Babylon (2 Kings 24-25), and only a remnant of them had returned to the divine center in Jerusalem. One of the characteristic features of a remnant testimony is that it is “small”—most of God’s people are viewed as not being among them. We live in remnant testimony days in the Church’s history, and we cannot expect that there will be large numbers gathered to the Lord’s name in the way in which God originally intended before ruin had come in.
I believe that it is extremely important that we understand what is meant by “a remnant testimony”—so let me explain this more thoroughly. A great principle on which God acts, when that which He has committed into the hands of men in testimony fails, is that He reduces its size, strength, glory, and numbers, and carries it on thereafter in a remnant form. He does not identify Himself with that testimony in power and glory as He once did when it was first established. If He were to do that, it would appear before the world as though He condoned its fallen and corrupted state. Instead, He falls back upon His sovereign power and grace to maintain His testimony—but in a remnant form. The word “remnant” means a small part of the whole. Hence, the very nature of such a testimony is smallness in size. If all His people were there to participate in it, it wouldn’t be a remnant. God has acted on this principle in Israel in the past; He will do it again with the Jewish remnant in a coming day; and He is doing it today in the Christian testimony.
To see this principle in God’s Word more clearly, let’s turn to Deuteronomy 12:5-75But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: 6And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: 7And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee. (Deuteronomy 12:5‑7); “The place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His name there, even unto His habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come. And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: and there ye shall eat before the Lord your God.” This clearly shows that God’s original desire for His people Israel was to gather them together for worship at this one place of His choosing, which was Jerusalem.
Now let’s turn to 1 Kings 11:9-13, “And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David My servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.”
Then, in verses 29-36 it says, “And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: and Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: (but he shall have one tribe for My servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) because that they have forsaken Me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways, to do that which is right in Mine eyes, and to keep My statutes and My judgments, as did David his father. Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David My servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept My commandments and My statutes: but I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David My servant may have a light alway before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen Me to put My name there.”
Then in chapter 12:22-24 it says, “The word of the Lord came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from Me.”
We see from this, that although it was God’s original desire to have all His people gather at Jerusalem to offer their sacrifices (Deut. 12), since failure had come in, He would no longer continue His testimony at His divine center in the power and glory that it once had. Solomon and the children of Israel had failed and had turned from the Lord to idolatry (1 Kings 11:10-11, 33), and this led the Lord to change His ways in regard to them. He would reduce the size, power, and glory of His testimony in Israel and carry it on thereafter in a “remnant.” This is the first time in Scripture that that word is used in connection with the public testimony of God’s people. The “first-time rule” in Bible interpretation is important to observe. That is, when something is first used in Scripture, it usually gives the sense of how it will be used thereafter in other passages. Hence, we do well to pay attention to what is said here. The principle of a remnant testimony is developed in more detail in Ezra and Nehemiah, and in the writings of the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi; however, I have turned you to this passage in 1 Kings because it sets forth the principle clearly and simply.
The important thing to see here is that there was a marked change in God’s ways when failure came in. He removed ten of the tribes from the divine center and kept only “one tribe” there—a remnant. This is not a contradiction of God’s principles, but a change in His ways when wholesale failure had come in.
Now you might say, “I can see this principle in God’s dealings with Israel in the Old Testament, but can it be applied to those who live in New Testament times? Is there really such a thing as a remnant testimony in the Church?” The answer, unequivocally, is yes. You see it in the passage that we looked at in 2 Timothy 2:19-2219Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:19‑22). There, God encourages exercised believers to separate from the mixture in the house of God and to retreat to a remnant position “with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
But to see this more clearly, turn now to Revelation, chapters 2 and 3. These chapters outline the prophetic history of the Church from its early days, just after the apostles, right down to its last days. If we follow the course of things as depicted in these addresses to the seven churches, we will see a downward course in the Christian testimony, until finally, a point of no recovery is reached, and thereafter, the Lord acts on the principle of a remnant testimony.
In Ephesus, we learn that “the angel of the church” (the responsible leaders) rightly judged all that was inconsistent with the Lord. It says that they would not “bear them which are evil.” But sadly, their heart was not with Him in it (Rev. 2:2-42I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. 4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2:2‑4)). In Smyrna, any further slide downward was temporarily stayed by the great persecutions that came upon the Church. The severity of the trial cast them back on the Lord. But in Pergamos, when the times of great persecution were ended, “the angel of the church” began tolerating some who held “the doctrine of Balaam,” which is worldliness and idolatry. The angel was not charged with holding these doctrines, but the Lord found fault with them because they did not denounce the evil, as did the angel at Ephesus.
In Thyatira, a worse condition prevailed; “the angel of the church” allowed the same evil doctrine and practice that was held by some in Pergamos to be taught! (Compare Rev. 2:1414But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14) with 2:20) What started out as some holding evil doctrine resulted in many teaching the evil doctrine. This shows that if the holding of evil is not judged, it will lead to the propounding of it. In Thyatira, the teaching of this evil had developed into a system of things called “Jezebel,” which surely answers to Catholicism. In the Middle Ages, that wicked system had such a tyrannical grip on the Church at large, with its strength and organization, that it controlled the angel! Those who were in the place of responsibility had failed to deal with it when they could have, and now it had grown into a monster that controlled them! (Compare Acts 27:14-1514But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. (Acts 27:14‑15). The “Euroclydon”—a great Mediterranean wind—swept over the sailing ship, and the sailors could do nothing but “let her drive.”) The figure of “Jezebel” is aptly used here because that woman not only brought idolatry into Israel formally, but she also controlled and manipulated her husband, king Ahab.
Such being the case of the public state of the Church, where there remained no power to deal with evil, the Lord separated a remnant, saying, “But unto you I say, the rest [remnant]...” He let the mass go (Rev. 2:2424But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. (Revelation 2:24)). Thereafter, He worked with a remnant that would hear what the Spirit was saying to the churches. Here, we have the word “remnant” used in connection with the Christian testimony. It is significant that the Lord did not put on them “the burden” of setting right the confusion in the Christian testimony in an effort to bring the Church back to where it once was. Instead, He turned their focus forward to His coming, saying, “Hold fast till I come” (Rev. 2:2525But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. (Revelation 2:25)).
From that point forward, a marked change in the Lord’s ways with the church is seen. Up to this point, the voice of the Spirit was to the whole Church. “What the Spirit saith unto the churches” preceded the promise to the overcomer in the first three churches. This indicates that the reward to the overcomer was set before the whole Church because the Lord was still dealing with it at large. But now at this point, that order is reversed. The call to “hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” follows the promise to the overcomer. This is the order in the latter four churches. What the Spirit has to say in regard to Church order is no longer given to the mass—only to the overcomer. This is because it is assumed that only the overcomer will hear what the Spirit is saying—the mass is not expected to hear and repent. Paul’s prediction to Timothy that the masses would “turn away their ears from the truth” has come to pass (2 Tim. 4:2-3), and therefore, the Spirit is no longer speaking to the body at large.
Remarking on this change, J. N. Darby said that the body at large is “dropped” from this point onward, because the public mass in the Christian profession is treated as being incapable of hearing and repenting. W. Kelly said, “The Lord thenceforth puts the promise [to the overcomer] first, and this is because it is vain to expect the Church as a whole to receive it ...a remnant only, overcome, and the promise is for them; as for the others, it is all over.” As a result, the Lord no longer expected the mass of the Christian profession to hear and return to the point from which it had departed. All thought of recovering the Church at large is abandoned because it has reached a point of no recovery. This is why I do not believe that the Spirit is necessarily speaking to every person in Christendom today in regard to the truth of gathering. With most, He is letting them go their own way in regard to their ecclesiastical affiliations.
Working with a remnant testimony since that time, it has pleased the Lord to recover the truth that was lost through the church’s carelessness in the centuries before. However, He has not seen fit to recover all the truth at once. The remnant referred to in Revelation 2:24-2924But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28And I will give him the morning star. 29He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 2:24‑29) refers to the Waldenses, the Albigenses, and others like them who separated from the evil of “Jezebel” in Medieval times. They were told to “hold fast” to what little truth they did have. Sometime later, leading up to the Reformation, the Lord allowed a little more truth to be recovered—such as the supremacy of the Bible and faith in Christ alone for salvation. But that movement of the Spirit was impeded by the Reformers turning to certain national governments for help against the persecutions of the church of Rome. This was tantamount to turning to the flesh for help instead of relying on the Lord (Jer. 17:55Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:5); Psa. 118:8-98It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. 9It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. (Psalm 118:8‑9); Isa. 31:11Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord! (Isaiah 31:1)). The result was the forming of the great national churches in Christendom, and the deadness of Protestantism began, as depicted in the church at Sardis (Rev. 3:1-61And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:1‑6)).
It was not until the early 1800s that the Lord gave a full recovery of “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 33Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3)). It happened when men stepped away from all formal, man-made organization in the Church. This is depicted in the Lord's address to the church at Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-137And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:7‑13)). At this time, God established a corporate testimony to the truth of the one body. Prior to this time, the remnant had been made up of individuals who sought to go on faithfully in separation from the corruption of the Roman church. We are now in days when every man is doing that which is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:2525In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)), and most are complacent in their low state. This is depicted in the church at Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-2214And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:14‑22)).
The point for us to see here is that the Christian testimony has reached a point of irremediable ruin, and this has called for a change in the Lord’s ways with it. He has let go of any attempt to restore the public state of the Church and is now working in a remnant testimony.
Just as it was with Israel, to maintain a remnant testimony today to the truth of the one body, the Lord does not need to have every last Christian in the world to be gathered to His name, though it is His desire for them. As mentioned, the very meaning of the word remnant implies that not all are there. In divine prerogative and grace, God is taking one here and one there, and He is gathering them unto the Lord’s name so that this remnant testimony may be carried on. The maintaining of it is a sovereign work. This is seen in the Lord’s remark to Philadelphia; “He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth” (Rev. 3:77And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (Revelation 3:7)). No man or devil can hinder its continuance, though it might appear to carry on in much feebleness. Humbling as it may be, He does not need any one of those whom He has gathered, regardless of how gifted or spiritual they might be. If we don’t want to be there and we go away, the Lord will gather someone else so that this remnant testimony will be carried on until His coming. The fact that any are gathered in the first place is wholly a work of God; the grace that saves a soul is the same grace that gathers them unto the Lord’s name. If any of us have heard “what the Spirit saith unto the churches” and sees the truth of gathering, it is only because He has opened our ears (Prov. 20:1212The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them. (Proverbs 20:12)).
The “Brethren” Are Not God’s Remnant in Christianity
Now this might seem like I'm saying that the brethren gathered to the Lord's name are God’s remnant today—His faithful few—and all other Christians are just the failing mass. But this is a misunderstanding.
I recall brother C. E. Lunden saying that, properly speaking, all true believers among the mass of mere professors in Christendom are God's remnant in Christianity. He also said that, ecclesiastically, the gathered saints simply occupy a remnant position, in testimony, and are where all the remnant (every true believer) should be, as gathered to the Lord’s name. The gathered saints, therefore, at best, are only part of God’s remnant; they make no claim to be the remnant. They may be accused of believing that they are God’s chosen few, but these accusations are bogus.
It may be that people have thought that brethren are saying that there is ruin out there in the church denominations, but not among them, because they are doing things right. This too, is a misunderstanding. Brethren do not see themselves apart from the ruin; they fully own their part in it. They often refer to Daniel’s prayer as an example—where he owns his part in the failure in Israel (Dan. 9). The fact that we have people among us that don’t believe the very principles of our existence ecclesiastically ought to be proof enough that the brethren are in a weakened state. There is such a thing as being in a right position ecclesiastically but be in a wrong condition spiritually. This is generally the case among brethren.
The gathered saints have been set in a very privileged position in the Christian testimony, but sad to say, as a whole, they have not been faithful—and they will freely own it. So, this idea of the brethren thinking that they are God’s only faithful ones is pure fiction. They see themselves as being quite unfaithful, though extremely privileged.
Practicing Some Aspects of the Truth is Unpopular
A second reason why the “gathered saints” are relatively small in number is that they seek to practice all of the truth of God—and some of these things are not popular. Things such as worshipping in spirit and in truth without musical instrumentation (John 4:23-2423But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23‑24); Acts 17:24-2524God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; (Acts 17:24‑25)); the sister’s place in the Church (1 Cor. 11:2-16; 14:34-40; 12Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. 5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. (1 Corinthians 11:2‑16)
34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40Let all things be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:34‑40)
3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:3‑9) Tim. 2:9-15); corporate judgment—excommunication (1 Cor. 5:1-131It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:1‑13)), and other such truths, are not popular. Most Christians today don’t want to be connected with something that curtails their lifestyle.
God’s Hand in Governmental Dealing Has Been on Us
The third reason for the smallness of numbers among those who are gathered to the Lord’s name is that we have failed in our responsibility as gathered to the Lord’s name, and the hand of God has been upon us in a governmental way. Consequently, He has reduced us numerically in order to humble us. This, again, is to our shame. Realizing this will not make a person proud.
We have been proud that we are the ones that the Lord has gathered to His name, even though it was really the work of sovereign grace that has brought us there. This, of course, is not the spirit to have when the Christian testimony is in ruins. If we have been gathered as such, we have nothing to boast in, for it has been His grace alone that has granted such a privilege. If those whom He has gathered to His name are a testimony, they are a testimony to the fact that there is a ruin in the Christian testimony; it is certainly nothing to be proud about. As a result of our poor state, the Lord has had His hand on us, and has reduced the numbers among the gathered saints from what it once was. Let us “hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it” (Mic. 6:99The Lord's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. (Micah 6:9)).
Zephaniah 3:11-1211In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. 12I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. (Zephaniah 3:11‑12) gives us the principle of the Lord’s governmental action. It says, “In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against Me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of My holy mountain. I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.”
Summary:
The simple answer as to why the numbers are relatively small among the “gathered saints” is:
Being that it is a remnant testimony, it is supposed to be small—it’s “the nature of the beast.” The Spirit of God is not necessarily gathering every last Christian on the earth to the Lord’s name to maintain this testimony. Through sovereign grace, He is keeping a “light” (1 Kings 11:3636And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. (1 Kings 11:36)) on earth as to the truth of the one body in practice until the Lord comes.
Those gathered to the Lord’s name seek to practice all of the truth of God in connection with gathering together for worship and ministry, and some of those things, as we have noted, are not popular. Therefore, most Christians are not interested in identifying with this movement.
Those gathered to the Lord’s name have failed, and the hand of God has been upon them governmentally. He has reduced the numerical size of this remnant testimony to humble those connected with it.