THE BODY OR THE SPIRITUAL

It involves price............

Heb2:15"And (Jesus)might release these-AS MANY AS BY FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME LIABLE TO BONDAGE"
Rev.2:10".....BECOME YOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH and I will give you the crown of life".
Rev.12:11"And they overcame him(the adversary)by reason of the blood of the Lamb and by reason of their witnessing word, AND THEY LOVED NOT THEIR LIFE EVEN UNTO DEATH".

There are two "classes" or groups of "christians"- they who are of the Body and they who are spiritual. The following is a description of those who are of the Body(aka Bride/Assembly):

Rev.6:9,11"And when he opened the fifth seal I saw beneath the alter the souls of those who had been slain BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD and BECAUSE OF THE WITNESS WHICH THEY HELD.....and there was given to them each one a white robe...."
Rev.7:9,13&14"And after these things I saw and lo! a great multitude- which to number it! no one was able..........arrayed in white robes......and one of the elders began saying unto me, these arrayed in white robes, who are they and whence came they?........and he said unto me these are they who come out of the great tribulation and they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb...."
Rev.12:17"And the dragon was angered with the woman and went away to make war with the rest of her seed-(and these are...)with themWHO WERE KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND HOLDING THE FAITH OF JESUS..."
Rev.13:17"....and it was given unto him (the adversary) to make war WITH THE SAINTS AND TO OVERCOME THEM"
Rev.14:12"Here is the endurance OF THE SAINTS-(which are...)THEY WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND THE FAITH OF JESUS...."
Rev.17:6"And I saw the woman(mother of harlots/babylon)DRUNK WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS AND WITH THE WITNESSES OF JESUS"
Rev.19:8 (the marriage of the Lamb; Lambs Bride/body)".....and it has been given unto her.....to be arrayed in fine linen, bright, pure, for the fine linen is THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS"

The following is a description of spiritual:

Rev.14:1-5"And I saw, and lo! the Lamb standing on mount Zion(the city/mind of God)-and with Him a hundred forty four thousand, having His name and His Father's name written upon their foreheads (symbolic of mind/thoughts/way of thinking-Rev 3:12) And I heard a sound out of heaven (where these dwell), as the sound of many waters(cool, refreshing words), and as the sound of loud thunders(words of warning-prophetic words), and the sound which I heard (was also like) of harp-singers harping with their harps.(in harmony with each other). And they sing as it were a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one was able to learn the song save the hundred forty four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. These are they who with women were not defiled, for they are virgin. These are they who follow the Lamb withersoever He is going (Rev.19:14). These were redeemed from mankind as a first fruit (1Cor15:23) unto God and the Lamb, and in their mouth was found no falsehood-faultless they are".

The difference between the two groups is in the price paid by the individuals in each group. Take note: the Body is innumerable-"a great multitude; which to number it! no one was able" (Rev7:9) The spiritual is numbered-144,000.

They of the Body/Bride/Assembly are unable to lay down/love not, their life unto death. The spiritual do. In Rev.12:11 there are listed three stages of life: #1"The blood of the Lamb"; #2"their witnessing word"; #3"they love not their life unto death". They who are of the Body have the first two and are called saints-earth living holy ones. They who have all three don't have an earthly name even though their character is described. They are enabled to "go the whole way" and "love not their life unto death". These are "heaven" and "throne" dwellers while yet living in their physical bodies on earth. They are usually hidden and not known by others until after they depart the body.

Laying down one's life unto death is the highest price paid and is the "high calling of God in Christ Jesus". It is what Jesus spoke of in the "sermon on the mount" and many of His other sayings. He was showing the way unto the spiritual or narrow way, if you will.

They of the Body are unable to go this far because of double vision (they see both good and evil-the "evil eye") and their bondage to the fear of death their whole earthly lives. They have the "faith of/in Jesus"; "the witnessing word"; "they keep the commandments of God", and are called saints. They want to take revenge on those who do them harm (unable to turn the other cheek; ie, they refuse to "die") Rev 6:10. They keep firm grasp of the earthly life as though it was the real life, and have difficulty therefore, living by faith, and involve themselves in debate/word battles.

Rev.13:9-10"If anyone carries into captivity-into captivity he goes. If anyone with the sword does slay-he must with the sword be slain. HERE IS THE ENDURANCE AND FAITH OF THE SAINTS" "Endurance" is their "life long pattern"- they do this their whole life. This is the "kind of faith" they have-little faith. One example of "carrying into captivity" is preventing others from entering the Kingdom by "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men"-holding fellow servants back-placing stumbling blocks before others-"the gifts aren't for today", etc. (Rev.2:14 Balaam)

The "song" they sing is the "song of Moses the SERVANT of God" and "the song of the Lamb".(Rev.15:2-4) This is a life of faith plus works: Moses=law; Lamb=grace/faith. Their lives are a mixture. The song is not a literal song sung with the mouth, but IS ONE'S OWN LIFE which "makes music" unto God, but in this case is not music, but rather noise/cacaphony, disharmony. The words of the song exalt God, but the lives of those singing it don't match up.

A further note on captivity. It also means making sure others are kept knowing their sinful state-keeping them slaves to sin, thereby keeping one's self the same way.