Remnant
Who or what is the remnant church?
"Remnant" means that which remains of an original body or substance. In reference to God's people, it means those who are faithful to His original truth despite apostasy and opposition. It's in the Bible, Isaiah 1:9. "Except the Lord of hosts had left us a very small remnant, we should have been like as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah." Among people professing religious faith, the remnant is a relatively small minority. It's in the Bible, Romans 9:27. "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved."
God's remnant people are keenly aware that they are saved by grace and not by any merit in themselves. It's in the Bible: Romans 11:5. "Even so at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."
God's remnant have a deep appreciation of His forgiveness and mercy, and thus receive the full benefits of His salvation and truth. It's in the Bible, Micah 7:18,19, NKJV. "Who is God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He … delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us and subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, which you have sworn to our fathers from days of old."
Satan is angry with God's last day remnant and wages war against them. It's in the Bible, Revelation 12:17. "The dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed." The dragon is the devil, Revelation 12:9. "That great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." The woman symbolically represents God's people, Jeremiah 6:2: "I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman;" and Isaiah 51:16: "Zion, thou art My people."
The remnant are a people of unshakable integrity, who love truth and are totally honest. It's in the Bible, Zephaniah 3:13. "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down and none shall make them afraid." Compare this with Revelation 14:1-5.
Although Satan deceives the whole world, he does not succeed in deluding the remnant, for they are loyal to God. They keep the commandments and have the testimony of Jesus. It's in the Bible, Revelation 12:17: "The … remnant of her seed, … keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus."
The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. It's in the Bible, Revelation 19:10. "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
This prophetic testimony is a guiding light for God's last day people. It's in the Bible, 2 Peter 1:19,20. "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that ye take heed. As unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation."
Jesus pronounces a special blessing on those who study His prophetic word and take guidance from it, especially the book of Revelation. It's in the Bible, Revelation 1:3. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."
The remnant have a world-wide evangelistic influence "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord" Joel 2:31. It's in the Bible, Joel 2:32. "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be delivered, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call."
You can be among that remnant if you respond faithfully and obediently to God's call. It's in the Bible, Revelation 22:14,16,17, NKJV. "Blessed are those who do God's commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and enter through the gates into the city… I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things… I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. And, whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."
