Little flock and other sheep who are really they

Little flock and other sheep, who are really they?

Luke 12:32 “Have no fear, little flock, because YOUR Father has approved of giving YOU the kingdom.

John 10:16 “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.

Jesus Christ when He was walked on earth spoke about two folds of sheep: a "little flock", and the "other sheep"

In order to know who are the "little flock" and who are the "other sheep" we face two options:

1)Let the Bible interpret itself.

2)Let men to interpret the Bible.

The big problem for those who trust in men and prefer the option (2) is described in Scripture:

Romans 3:4 let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.

Thus, the wisest decision is the option one (1) because the Scriptures were not produced by the will of men. So let's Bible interpret itself.

2 Peter 1:20 For YOU know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation. 21 For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit.

So, back to the question: Little flock and other sheep, who are really they? The answer is in the Bible

“The little flock”

Luke 12:32 “Have no fear, little flock, because YOUR Father has approved of giving YOU the kingdom.

What sheep are these?

Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, giving them these orders: “Do not go off into the road of the nations, and do not enter into a Samaritan city; 6 but, instead, go continually to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Answer: sheep of the house of Israel

Why is it called a little flock?

Romans 9:27 Moreover, Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Although the number of the sons of Israel may be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved. 28 For Jehovah will make an accounting on the earth, concluding it and cutting it short.” 29 Also, just as Isaiah had said aforetime: “Unless Jehovah* of armies had left a seed to us, we should have become just like Sod′om, and we should have been made just like Gomorrah.”

Romans 9:31 but Israel, although pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to the law. 32 For what reason? Because he pursued it, not by faith, but as by works. They stumbled on the “stone of stumbling”; 33 as it is written: “Look! I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock-mass of offense, but he that rests his faith on it will not come to disappointment.”

Romans 11:4 Yet, what does the divine pronouncement say to him? “I have left seven thousand men over for myself, [men] who have not bent the knee to Ba′al.” 5 In this way, therefore, at the present season also a remnant has turned up according to a choosing due to undeserved kindness. 6 Now if it is by undeserved kindness, it is no longer due to works; otherwise, the undeserved kindness no longer proves to be undeserved kindness.

Romans 11:7 What, then? The very thing Israel is earnestly seeking he did not obtain, but the ones chosen [from Israel itself] obtained it. The rest had their sensibilities blunted;

John 1:11 He came to his own home, but his own people did not take him in. [just a little flock put faith in Jesus]

12 However, as many as did receive him, to them he gave authority to become God’s children, because they were exercising faith in his name; 13 and they were born, not from blood or from a fleshly will or from man’s will, but from God.

Therefore Flock the sheepfold of the house of Israel is a little one because only a remnant of the nation of Israel exercised faith in Jesus Christ.

"Have no Fear". What would be a cause of fear to them?

Israel disapproval as a whole.

Matthew 21:43 This is why I say to YOU, The kingdom of God will be taken from YOU and be given to a nation producing its fruits.

Matthew 23 But YOU people did not want it. 38 Look! YOUR house is abandoned to YOU.

So although the nation of Israel was mostly rejected by God due the lack of faith in Jesus, a small, a little flock of sheep, remnants, received the comfort given by Jesus:

Luke 12:32 “Have no fear, little flock, because YOUR Father has approved of giving YOU the kingdom.

“The other sheep”

John 10:16 “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice,+ and they will become one flock, one shepherd.

Acts 13:46 And so, talking with boldness, Paul and Barnabas said: “It was necessary for the word of God to be spoken first to YOU [Israel]. Since YOU are thrusting it away from YOU and do not judge yourselves worthy of everlasting life [only a little flock did], look! we turn to the nations.

Romans 1:5 through whom we received undeserved kindness and an apostleship in order that there might be obedience of faith among all the nations respecting his name, 6 among which [nations] YOU also are those called to belong to Jesus Christ— 7 to all those who are in Rome as God’s beloved ones, called to be holy ones:

Romans 9:24 namely, us, whom he called not only from among Jews but also from among nations, [what of it]? 25 It is as he says also in Ho·se′a: “Those not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved ‘beloved’; 26 and in the place where it was said to them, ‘YOU are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

The people of the nations (non-Jews or gentiles) was not part of the fold of the little flock, was not God's people, but would be "called 'sons of the living God.'", As Jesus said, 'and they will listen my voice and they will become one flock, one shepherd "

“one flock, one shepherd"

Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for there is the same Lord over all, who is rich to all those calling upon him.

Romans 10:9 For if you publicly declare that ‘word in your own mouth,’ that Jesus is Lord [King of the Kingdom of Heaven since He ascended to heaven], and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved.

Referring to other sheep, we read:

Ephesians 2:11 Therefore keep bearing in mind that formerly YOU were people of the nations as to flesh; “uncircumcision” YOU were called by that which is called “circumcision” made in the flesh with hands— 12 that YOU were at that particular time without Christ, alienated from the state of Israel and strangers to the covenants of the promise, and YOU had no hope and were without God in the world. 13 But now in union with Christ Jesus YOU who were once far off have come to be near by the blood of the Christ. 14 For he is our peace [King of Peace, King of Salem], he who made the two parties one [two folds of sheep in one flock] and destroyed the wall in between that fenced them off. 15 By means of his flesh he abolished the enmity, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees, that he might create the two peoples [two sheep] in union with himself into one new man and make peace; 16 and that he might fully reconcile both peoples in one body to God through the torture stake, because he had killed off the enmity by means of himself. 17 And he came and declared the good news of peace to YOU, the ones far off, and peace to those near, 18 because through him we, both peoples [two sheep], have the approach to the Father by* one spirit.

19 Certainly, therefore, YOU are no longer strangers and alien residents, but YOU are fellow citizens of the holy ones and are members of the household of God [one flock, one shepherd.], 20 and YOU have been built up upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, while Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone. 21 In union with him the whole building, being harmoniously joined together, is growing into a holy temple for Jehovah. 22 In union with him YOU, too, are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit.

As Jesus prophesied:

John 10:16 “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold [fleshly Israel]; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.

There is just one hope:

Ephesians 4:1-6 I, therefore, the prisoner in [the] Lord, entreat YOU to walk worthily of the calling with which YOU were called, 2 with complete lowliness of mind and mildness, with long-suffering, putting up with one another in love, 3 earnestly endeavoring to observe the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace. 4 One body there is, and one spirit, even as YOU were called in the one hope to which YOU were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all [persons], who is over all and through all and in all.

“one hope to which YOU were called” , There is not “other hope”

Conclusion:

Therefore, the "little flock" refers to the remnant of Israel - a small number of sheep who exercised faith in Jesus Christ and so were called to be children of God.

The "other sheep" refer to people of the nations who exercise faith in Truth and therefore are also called to be children of God by Holy Spirit.

All are "one flock, one shepherd" with "one hope" based on the call of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to be children of God.

John 17:17 Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth.

Rev 20:4 …And they came to life and ruled as kings with the Christ for a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended)

If what "some consider" as being "salvation" was actually, really salvation, then they would come to life (resurrection of life) and not to remain as "dead" (resurrection of judgment).

Or we are living through Christ, by obedience to the truth , or we are dead (in the group: “The rest of the dead” ) for the lie that it is sin that brings death (2 Thess 2:9-11).

Luke 9:60 But he said to him: “Let the dead bury their dead, but you go away and declare abroad the kingdom of God.”

Jesus' sheep are one flock, one shepherd: One Live

John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 And I give them everlasting life (“The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended”), and they will by no means ever be destroyed [resurrection of life], and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is something greater than all other things, and no one can snatch them out of the hand of the Father. 30 I and the Father are one.”

John 17:11 “...Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name which you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her: “I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life; 26 and everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all. Do you believe this?” (“The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended”)

John 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again: “Most truly I say to YOU, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All those that have come in place of me are thieves and plunderers; but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved, and he will go in and out and find pasturage. 10 The thief does not come unless it is to steal and slay and destroy. I have come that they might have life and might have it in abundance.

“have it in abundance” - (“The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended”)

Is to remain "dead" a good news??? is it "have it in abundance"??

Luke 9:60 But he said to him: “Let the dead bury their dead, but you go away and declare abroad the kingdom of God.”

Christianity's aim:
John 1:12 However, as many as did receive him, to them he gave authority to become God’s children, because they were exercising faith in his name; 13 and they were born, not from blood or from a fleshly will or from man’s will, but from God.

John 11:52 and not for the nation only, but in order that the children of God who are scattered+ about he might also gather together in one.

Ask for Holy Spirit!! Luke 11:9-13

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