Question: Is the Great Company, referred to as the Great Multitude in Revelation 7: 9-17 and Revelation 19: 1-9, a spiritual class or the Restitution class?
Answer: We understand that they represent a spiritual class, but not the Restitution class. This is clearly implied in Revelation 19: 6, where their voice is distinguished from the voice of many waters, peoples, that is, those who will be of the Restitution class. It is even more clearly implied in Revelation 19: 7-9 by the fact that they are described as those who are invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. In this picture the Bridegroom is Jesus, the Bride is the Little Flock and the Guests at the Marriage Supper are the Great Multitude. The following order of events connected with a family proves that these Guests could not be the Restitution class: first, there is the marriage; second and afterward, the marriage supper; third and still later, the begetting of children; and fourth and finally, their birth. The Great Multitude, being the Guests at the Marriage Supper, cannot be the Restitution class, which will be the children of this Marriage, begotten and born after the Marriage Supper.
The figure of Levites and Noblemen used in Revelation 7: 15 likewise proves them not to be of the Restitution class. The expression, “serve him day and night in his temple,” proves them to be antitypical Levites. Here the figure is that of Priests, Levites and Israelites. The Priests are Jesus and the Church; the Israelites are the Restitution class; and part of the Levites are the Great Company (Malachi 3: 2, 3). The fact that the Levites had no inheritance in the land proves that the Millennial Levites will all either be or become spiritual; hence, none of them will ultimately be of the Restitution class.
To be before God’s kingly throne (Revelation 7: 15), but not to stand before His judicial throne (Revelation 20: 12), means to be a nobleman and officer of the Kingdom. Here in the Kingdom figure (not in the court figure where He functions as Judge) The Christ in the throne is the King; the Great Company are the officers, nobles, before the throne; and the Restitution class are the subjects of the King and the subordinates of His officers, the nobles; therefore, they are not represented in this scene, which implies a palace scene; for their place is outside of the palace.
The Great Company as Bridesmaids
Psalm 45 introduces the same and additional distinctions: verse 1 introduces God; verses 2-9 introduces Jesus; verses 9-13 introduce the Church as Jesus’ Bride; verses 14 and 15 introduce the Great Company as the Bridesmaids; verse 16 introduces the Ancient Worthies as Christ’s children and the restitution class’ princes; while verse 17 introduces the Restitution class, separate and distinct from all other classes.
Psalm 107 also introduces the same and other distinctions; verses 2-9 treat of the Little Flock; verses 10-17 treat of the Great Company; verses 17-22 treat of Fleshly Israel first cast off from, and later restored to God’s favor; verses 23-32 treat of mankind during and just after the Great Tribulation; verses 33-38 treat of the Restitution class during the Millennium; verses 39 and 40 treat of the wicked; and verses 41 and 42 treat of the righteous during the Little Season after the Millennium.
What Paul says of the man that committed fornication with his father’s wife (1 Corinthians 5: 5) proves that the Great Company will be spiritual, and hence not of the Restitution class. “Deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh [for the overcoming of this evil disposition, that he might learn not to fornicate any more, even as Hymenaeus and Alexander were delivered unto Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme any more, 1 Timothy 1: 20], that the spirit [the New Creature] may be saved [by being awakened from the dead as a spirit] in the day of the Lord Jesus.”