Adventist view of the SDA church as the remnant

In Seventh-day Adventist belief it is held that there will be an end time remnant of believers faithful to God. Traditionally the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been understood to be a catalyst for the formation of this group, or as roughly equivalent to the group. This is not a claim that Adventists are the only one who will be saved, but that they have been specially entrusted by God with a message for the end times. This assertion is implied in the 13th fundamental teaching of the church, "Remnant and Its Mission" and this interpretation is based primarily upon Revelation 12:17. In this final verse of Revelation 12 we find Gods true church emerging from its 'wilderness' experience; and there comes to view a 'remnant' people the 'remnant of her seed' identified by two characteristics:

1. They keep the commandments of God, all ten of them, including the fourth, or Sabbath commandment, and
2. They possess the 'testimony of Jesus' which in Revelation 19:10 is defined as the 'Spirit of prophecy' a renewed bestowal of the divinely-inspired gift.

Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

While several other churches keep the seventh-day Sabbath [ Seventh Day Baptists, Church of God (Seventh Day), etc.], not one of them fits both identifying characteristics given here: that of keeping the commandments, all ten of them; and of having a renewal of the genuine gift of prophecy in their midst. On the other hand, there are some churches who claim to have the gift of prophecy in their midst, but they do not keep Gods Law written with His finger, all ten of the commandments.

Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The Adventist church holds to and teaches Gods Commandments and lay claim to have the Testimony of Jesus Christ. It clear from Gods Word that only those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ will be part of the Remnant at the end, so those that do not hold on to this or accept it, cannot be the Remnant. A remnant looks like the original, so a remnant must teach what the original taught, and we see this comparing the true early church which Christ and the apostles left. You go to church of Christ and the apostles, and you will see they teach exactly the same as the Seventh-day Adventist Church today. Study the Reformation and you will find the same points and reform from error as those taught in the Spirit of Prophecy. The reformers may not have had the full picture, but they had the same principles as the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to unveil the prophecies of the end time and search for truth in Gods Word and return of Christ as their redeemer.

We look at history and we see how the early church began to falter as it let pagan Greek and Roman philosophy and even Gnostic doctrine into its beliefs and manuscripts to say nothing about the corruption creeping in as the whole system of pagan worship was let in and began to take over the church. The Dark Age came over the people and the church until finally the Protestant Reformers brought back Gods Word and its truth to the people and the light shined on them and faith rebounded and understanding of Gods Word increased. But then the Reformers passed on and their followers chose to lock on to the men themselves instead of continue unveiling the truths contained in Gods Word and solidified their march to truth. So then it took all these brethren coming together through the power of God as the Great Awakening stirred them to look deeper into Gods Word and see what further truths and prophecy would be unveiled, and the Adventist movement was born.

The Adventist movement was the beneficiary of all the work of the Reformers, and the faithful safeguarding of Gods Word by true believers as the haters of God persecuted them and tried to destroy any of the true text of Gods Word by burning every writing or manuscript, they could lay hold of. They could burn the books holding Gods truth and destroy the body but the light of truth to say nothing of the faith of the true believers never went out, and Gods church was kept through the Dark Ages and from its enemies and Gods truth was safeguarded for the end times.

The Seventh-Day Adventist church was given and benefited from all these truths it came into and the prophecies that were being studied and unveiled for what then and today is a remnant people, to bring Gods message for the Last Days to those who love him and for the world to hear.

Here is a good explanation by Frank Holbrook who I consider as one of my mentors and teacher....
'The Millerites, the immediate spiritual forebears of Seventh-day Adventists, were historicists; that is, they interpreted Daniel and Revelation in harmony with the principles of the 'historical school' of prophetic interpretation. But the method was by no means original with the Millerites of mid-nineteenth-century America; they simply reflected and elaborated upon the labors of many earlier Bible students of the Reformation and post-Reformation eras.

Sixteenth-century-Reformation preaching of the apocalyptic prophecies of Daniel and Revelation tended to center on what the Reformers believed to be a Christian apostasy that had arisen within European Christendom and which they saw symbolized in the little horn (chap. 7), the leopard beast (Rev. 13), and the woman seated on the scarlet-colored beast (Rev. 17). This preaching had a telling effect upon Europe.' And what was this affect, it plainly showed the bishop of Rome had take the early church and led it into apostasy in fulfillment of prophecy, the Reformers saw it and clearly taught it.

Unfortunately, many Protestant churches have not maintained the views of the reformers. They have a different belief system. They've largely exchanged their view on the Antichrist for futurism, although some cling to preterism. Many have an antinomian theology, which says that the law is gone, and we are now under grace. So we have all these theologies out there that are not consistent with the early Church or the Reformation. The reformed churches cannot be a remnant because they are unlike the original.

Being the remnant is not about being arrogant or the 'only' ones that are going to be saved. Thats not what that term means. Its about being true to the original. The Adventist church holds to the fullness Gods truth in its doctrines and beliefs, there is no other church which can make that claim and prove it from scripture alone. You see many Christians loosing their faith in churches which no longer teach what the Protestant Reformers championed. They fall away and more and more are picking up strange philosophies, or private interpretations or letting themselves fall into false ideas of universal salvation or that grace means there is nothing from God that they need to obey, even a hardening of the heart against God.

The Remnant will be a special people at the endtime, who God uses in the last days to show His truth to the world and spread the gospel as we see in Revelation. Seventh-day Adventists believe that they have the message for the world found in Revelation 14:6-12. No other church today is proclaiming the 'Three Angels Messages.'

'Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come'. (Revelation 14:7). Notice that a part of this last call of God will be announcing that the judgment has already started. 'is come,' not 'will come.'

The next part of the first angels message is this: 'And worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water' (Revelation 14:7). It is quoted almost word for word right from the fourth commandment of the decalogue, which strongly indicates that the Sabbath will be a part of the ';gospel' proclamation which must go to the whole world just before the end.

Right in the heart of the Ten Commandments God tells us, 'For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it' (Exodus 20:11).

The Sabbath is Gods own established sign that He is the maker of everything. Over and over throughout the Bible God claims worship because He created all things. 'thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: For thou has created all things.' (Revelation 4:11) and makes clear who formed the earth, 'God himself . . . formed the earth and made it . . . I am the Lord; and there is none else' (Isaiah 45:18).

The Sabbath was instituted by God as a great reminder-sign of His sovereign authority as the only God to be worshiped. The Creator set in motion the arbitrary cycle of the seven-day week to mark off the true Sabbath, so that the world would be without excuse in knowing whom to worship and when.

Thus the first angel message says to 'worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea'; a call to true Sabbath-keeping.

The second and third angels messages described by John say: 'Babylon is fallen . . . If any man worship the beast . . . and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God' (Revelation 14:8-10). The warnings against the mark of the beast will be heralded to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people by Gods remnant. The true remnant church of the last days will surely be used of God to carry His final warning message to all inhabitants of planet earth. That message will include (a) the judgment hour is come, (b) true Sabbath worship, (c) the fall of spiritual Babylon, and (d) the mark of the beast.'

We see further examination of this theme, where Adventist scholar Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, has observed how some view the concept of the 'remnant' in the present day church:

"it is with great concern that some observe a tendency to de-emphasize or ignore this fundamental self-definition [of Adventists being the remnant]". Rodríguez identifies six different interpretations of the "remnant" that have gained popularity within contemporary Adventism:

1. The traditional position: The remnant is equivalent to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.
2. The remnant includes Adventists and non-Adventists: Although the Adventist church bears the unique "remnant message", all faithful and sincere Christians (regardless of denomination) can be counted as being among the remnant.
3. A remnant within the remnant: Only a select group within the Adventist church constitute the true remnant. The church as a whole is in fact headed into apostasy. (This view tends to be held by ultra-conservatives.)
4. The remnant is an invisible entity: In contrast to the traditional position, which defines the remnant as an institutional/ecclesiastical entity, this view regards the remnant as an invisible body which transcends the Adventist denomination. It is promoted by progressive Adventist Steve Daily.
5. The Remnant is not yet a Reality: The prophecy of Revelation 12:17 is as yet unfulfilled, and as such the existence of the remnant is still future. This position has been suggested by Jack W. Provonsha.
6. Sociological Understanding of the Remnant : The mission of the remnant is to work for social and political reform. The remnant should not be defined in exclusively religious terms.

http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/remnantSDAchurch.htm

In his conclusion he states..." The different uses of the concept of the remnant in the Old Testament are useful in refining what we mean when we call ourselves the remnant church. We are the historical expression of the eschatological remnant, raised by the Lord after the fulfillment of the prophecy of the 1260 years recorded in Rev 12. The historical remnant is at the same time the faithful remnant in the sense that they are the bearers of God's message to the world. They have been entrusted with a mission and message from God that, if accepted by others, will be a protection against the last great deception of Satan. This is a visible remnant that can be identified through some specific marks. The fulfillment of their mission requires the presence of some type of organization.

This historical and faithful remnant is active during the time when the dragon is forming a coalition with the beast from the sea that was healed and the beast from the earth (Rev 13) in an attempt to unite the world against God's people. During that time the remnant is also active proclaiming the messages of the three angels and gathering the rest of the members of the eschatological remnant. The biblical understanding of the remnant indicates that not every member of the historical remnant is fully committed to the Lord in a permanent faith-relationship. But it is God's intention to cleanse this remnant separating the weeds from the wheat before the final crisis.

If the term remnant is to be used to refer to the people of God who are still in Babylon, as E. G. White suggests, we must define the term very carefully. They are a faithful remnant in Babylon, but they are not yet part of the historical and visible end-time remnant. They are faithful to the light God entrusted to them and they are also willing to accept more light from the Word of God. They need to hear the message proclaimed by the historical remnant in order to be ready to confront the deceptions of the enemy and to be able to reflect as fully as possible the character of God and the Lamb in their lives. Only then will they be part of God's historical and faithful eschatological remnant.

The eschatological remnant will be fully developed when those who came out of Babylon join the historical, visible and faithful remnant. This will take place at the eschatological polarization of the human race shortly before the return of our Lord. During the final confrontation they will find refuge in the providential care and protection of the Lamb...."

Here is even further examination of this theme in the article 'The Remnant of God, or Spiritual Israel at the End Times' by Professor Walter J. Veith from Amazing Discoveries:

"Throughout the ages, God has had a people through whom He chose to disseminate His truth. It was God's plan that all people - every nation, tribe and tongue should become partakers of His grace. In His divine plan of restoration, He chose fallen human beings to become co-workers together with Him to achieve this end. God has always had faithful followers who would stand for truth and justice even in the face of great opposition. Before the flood, Enoch walked with God, and faithful Noah became the father of the post-flood human race, when he and his family were the only remnant to be saved from the destruction of the then-time apostate world.

After the flood, the patriarch Abraham was given the promise that through his seed all peoples would be blessed.(Genesis 12:2) The Messianic promise was to be realized through Isaac and Jacob whose name was changed to Israel after he wrestled with God for divine forgiveness and blessing.(Genesis 32:28)Israel became the name of the descendants of Jacob - the chosen people in terms of the covenant between God and Abraham their forefather.(Genesis 15:18; Psalm 105:9,10)

First lets go through the Isreal of God in Old Covenant Israel.There is much confusion today as to who constitutes the Israel of God. Many denominations seek the fulfillment of the promises of God to ancient Israel in modern Israel. They expect the restoration of Israel, and the modern Israel in Palestine is seen to be integral in this process. It must be remembered that Israel is not the natural name of Jacob, but was given to him by God in recognition of a spiritual victory when he prevailed with God and secured pardon for his past sins. Jacob wrestled with the Angel and refused to let Him go unless he obtained the surety of the heavenly blessing which would grant him the pardon of his sins. Jacob prevailed and received the blessing, his was heart was renewed and he could face his brother Esau knowing that God was with him. The name change signified a change in character from the supplanter or deceiver to God contends. An understanding of the relationship between physical Israel and the covenant people of God is vital if we are to discern who Gods light-bearers are in this modern age.

Following the Exodus from Egypt, God formally entered into a covenant with the nation of Israel.(Exodus 19:1-8) Israel was to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:6) and they were to spread light to all people on the face of the earth.(Isaiah 60:1-3) The covenant promises made to ancient Israel were conditional to obedience.
Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a special treasure unto Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. Exodus 19:5

The promises were subject to "if". The physical throne of Israel was always conditional to obedience, and both David and Solomon were informed on this issue.
...that the Lord may continue His word which He spake concerning me, saying,"If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul," He said,"there shall not fail thee a man on the throne of Israel."1 Kings 2:4

This promise was repeated in 1 Kings 9:5-7:
...then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David thy father, saying "There shall not fail thee a man on the throne of Israel." But if ye shall at all turn from following Me, ye and your children, and will not keep My commandments and My statues which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house which I have hallowed for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 1 Kings 9:5-7

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 contains a list of the most wonderful blessings ever pronounced to any nation or people. Again the promises were conditional to obedience.
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 28:2

Israel did, however, not heed this admonition and became more corrupt than the nations around them.(2 Kings 17:6-23) Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were spared for a while, and the other tribes were carried away captive by the king of Assyria and disappear from history, though some believe that they constitute the nations of Britain and their descendants including the USA. Without loyalty to God, the promises could not be fulfilled, and a century and a half later, even Judah was plucked up from the Promised Land and scattered in the Neo-Babylonian Empire....

Nevertheless, some had remained faithful to God even in the face of this calamity as is shown by the stories of Daniel and his friends who were willing to rather face death than to disobey God. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God had granted a specific time for repentance and reflection, and He had promised that they would return to their land after 70 years of exile (Jeremiah 31:10-14; Isaiah 43:1-13). They were to rebuild the temple, the time prophecies of Daniel predicted the advent of the Messiah; and they had the opportunity to be witnesses to the nations (Micah 4:1-4; 5:2-6; Zechariah 8:20-23). Again all these promises were conditional to obedience (Zechariah 6:15). Sadly, the nation rejected the Messiah, and forfeited its covenant role and the covenant promises. By Rejecting Jesus, the house of Israel became desolate:

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Matthew 23:37

Now lets go through the Isreal of God in New Covenant Israel. When the Jewish nation rejected the Messiah, the gospel was to go to the Gentiles and all who would believe in the name of Jesus would become the spiritual descendants of Abraham.(Galatians 3:16; Romans 4:16; Romans 9:3,8)
And if ye be Christs, then ye are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29

The apostle Paul speaks of Christians as the 'Israel of God'(Galatians 6:16) and the 'circumcision'(Phil. 3:3) The kingdom of God and the covenant promises associated with it were to be taken from the Jews and passed on to spiritual Israel - those who would permit Christ to transform them, to change their character as was the case with Jacob of old:

Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bearing forth the fruits of it. And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Matthew 21:43,44

Jesus did not choose 12 disciples coincidentally. Just as the twelve patriarchs were the founders of ancient Israel, so these twelve men are the foundation stones of new Israel to which the Lord promised the kingdom (Matt 19:28; Luke 22:30). The subsequent choice of seventy others is modeled after the choice of seventy elders by Moses in ancient Israel (Num 11:16). The real Israel of God is a remnant chosen by grace (Rom 11:5). There is a marvelous continuity between the old and the new Israel of God. In Romans 11:17-24, Paul speaks of the olive tree which represents Israel. The branches (Jews) were broken off because of unbelief and the wild olive shoots (Gentiles) were grafted in to share in the nourishment of the tree. The natural branches could be grafted back into the tree if they accepted the conditions. God is no respecter of nations or individuals. All who turn to Him will be accepted (Acts 10:34,35).
For there is no difference between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all that call upon Him. Romans 10:12 NIV.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26

The new Israel is the inheritor of Gods covenant promises. Those who have accepted Christ have become the chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.(Compare 1 Peter 2:9,10 with Exodus 19:5,6) They were chosen to reveal God's marvelous light to the world,(1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 28:19,20; Ephesians 3:10) a remnant, called out to shine the light of truth and prophecy of the end times, and are those that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

The human race is in desperate need of redemption, yet many reject his commandments and the faith of Jesus. God yearns to forgive and cleanse and never gives up trying.(John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:4) Henceforth it is the role of the remnant or Spiritual Israel to carry Gods truth to the world.

Freth said:

Paul was accused of being in a sect.

Acts 24:14-15 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. ​

What is this "Way"?

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.​

God's people are called a remnant, or the rest of her offspring. Essentially, a sect.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring [KJV: remnant], who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.​

This sect comes out of apostasy.

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.​

​

What was the identifier of the remnant that Satan makes war with? Revelation 12:17 "...who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." What is the testimony of Jesus Christ? Revelation 19:10 "...For the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy."

The remnant is indeed a "wacky fringe sect". Wacky because they have an understanding of prophecy (i.e. the Spirit of prophecy). Fringe because they keep the commandments of God. Sect because it was prophesied that there would be a remnant set apart from the rest of Christendom.

Yep, that's pretty wacky stuff, Christians following Jesus, relying on scripture and obeying God's commandments.

Click to expand...

Well, anyone that uses the Bible or Sola Scriptura tends to get called that and the Bible itself has been banned or censored or outright burned to keep people from the truth.