What does Paul mean by 'company' when referring to the church?
Paul’s use of 'company' concerning the church means a particular group of believers who are separated from all the rest. It carries the same connotation as a distinct, set-apart company, emphasizing that within this group of believers they are separated from all others and stand as a specific group.
Les explains that Paul uses the word “company” concerning the church with the same connotation as a particular group of believers separated from all the rest. He ties this to Daniel and the Old Testament saints standing in their lot at the end of the days—the extra 75 days beyond the tribulation. After the church is raptured, that company of believers is in the Lord’s presence in a resurrected state. During the seven years of tribulation, multitudes believe and are martyred, both Jew and Gentile. They are not members of the body of Christ, and Les places them with the Old Testament believers because the tribulation is God dealing with Israel, the temple is operating, and it is primarily a Jewish period. This forms a resurrection of this group of just people.