DOCTRINE 13. THE r e m n a n t a n d i t' s m i s s i o n |
| The universal church is composed of all who truly believe in Christ, but in the last days, a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has been called out to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This remnant announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through Christ, and heralds the approach of His second advent. This proclamation is symbolized by the three angels of Revelation 14; it coincides with the work of judgment in heaven and results in a work of repentance and reform on earth. Every believer is called to have a personal part in this worldwide witness. |
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Revelation 12:17; And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14:6-12; Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue and people - (7) saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship Him that made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." (8) And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. . . "
Revelation 18:1-4; After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. (2) And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird. (3) For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."
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2 Corinthians 5:10; For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, weather good or bad. |
1 Peter 1:16-19; 2 Peter 3:10-14;
Revelation 21:1-14.
In Biblical prophecy, a pure woman represents God's faithful church.The dragon, the "serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan" was waiting to devour the male Child, the long-expected Messiah, Jesus Christ. Satan, warring against his arch-enemy Jesus, used as his instrument the Roman empire. Nothing, not even death on the cross, could deter Jesus from His mission as Saviour of humanity.
The Mission of the Remnant
The prophecies of the book of Revelation clearly outline the mission of the remnant. The three angels messages of Revelation 14: 6-12 reveal the proclamation of the remnant that will bring a full and final restoration of the gospel truth. These three messages comprise God's answers to the overwhelming satanic deception that sweeps the world just before Christ's return. (Rev. 13: 3, 8, 14-16) Immediately following God's last appeal to the world Christ returns to reap the harvest (Rev. 14: 14-20)
The first angel's message proclaims the everlasting gospel and calls for the restoration of the true worship of God as Creator because the judgement hour has arrived. The second angel warns against all humanly origination forms of worship. Finally the third angel proclaims God's most solemn warning against worshiping the beast and his image - which all who reject the gospel of righteousness by faith ultimately will do.
Every person will have to choose whom to worship. Either one's choice of righteousness by faith will be revealed as one participates in a form of worship God has endorsed, or one's effectual choice of righteousness by works will be revealed as on participates in a form of worship God has forbidden but which the beast and his image command, a man-made worship. God can not accept this latter form of worship, because it gives priorities to the commandments of men and not to those of God.
In the light of the soon coming of Christ and the need to prepare to meet Him, God's urgent, compassionate call comes home to each of us: "Come out of her my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities" (Revelation 18: 4, 5)
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