View source for To be given a white stone in that is inscribed a new name (Revelation 2:17).

Our understanding is that the white stone is a voting pebble. It signifies the believer has passed from the ranks of those who have been called to those who have been chosen.

Multitudes are "called" to enter the Kingdom of God. But only a "few" respond to that call by forsaking all to follow Christ. Only those few are given confirmation by the Lord that they will receive the fullness of the inheritance.

It may be difficult for us to understand God works His greatest works with a minority, not a majority of people. This is contrary to the way of the world.

The rights of people are being emphasized today. Governments respond to pressure from the masses. World approval is sought. Revolution is in order. Antichrist has persuaded humans that "the voice of the people is the voice of God."

But it is not at all true that the voice of the people is the voice of God. That often is the opposite of the truth.

The will of God is revealed and performed through individuals, not through masses of people. Noah, Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, John the Baptist, Paul, Martin Luther, stood nearly alone when their messages were brought forth.

The Scriptures are a record of a handful of people, a remnant, bearing the true witness of God before a hostile, rebellious church and world. The reaction of Israel and the world is to reject and slay the prophets of the Lord. It is the same today in the Christian churches.

Today, perhaps as never before, the peoples of the earth are under great pressure to conform to public opinion. In a wicked age, the pressure to conform to group opinion works to Satan’s advantage. The television adds to this emphasis on the will, the opinion, of the masses of people.

God seeks men and women whose hearts are perfect toward Him; who will stand resolutely in His Presence and speak His Word — not only the written Word of the Scriptures but also the Word that is issuing now from the mouth of God. Every true saint of Christ is called to stand in the Divine fire and announce the present will of the God of Heaven.

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.