The Remnant [What is It and Its Mission?] – Pastor Ted Wilson

About this sermon

In this video, Pastor Ted Wilson discusses God's remnant and its mission, constituting the thirteenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists. A remnant is a group of people who remain loyal to God no matter what. Noah and his family were an example of the remnant people in the beginning. In Genesis 6:5, 11, we read, "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually…The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord," verse 8 says. God told him of His plan to destroy the earth with flood because people were so wicked. Amid the destruction, there would be a way of escape for those who chose to accept God's grace through faith and obedience. God asked Noah to build an ark, inviting people to come inside so that they would be safe from the flood. Noah preached for 120 years but only his family of eight chose to be saved. In the last days, before Jesus returns to earth to take His children to heaven, a similar situation will happen. The world will be filled with wickedness but those who trust and believe in God will remain strong in following His ways amid worldly influence. Our thirteenth fundamental belief states, "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." Throughout history, God has always had His remnant people. Thousands of martyrs have sealed their faith with blood, especially during the Dark Ages. The same persecuting power of the Dark Ages will rise again as a religious and political power in the last days. It will persecute those who will not submit to its demands. God's faithful remnants are referred to in Revelation 12:17 as those who "keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." However, these people are not an exclusive club. Everyone who loves Him, accepts the truth from the Bible, and willingly follows Him, can be part of them. These remnant people are commissioned to share the three angels' messages found in 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—saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him Who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water'" (Revelation 14:6,7). It implies that the first angel proclaims the everlasting good news that God is our Creator, the source of salvation. And we are to worship only Him. It also indicates that the seventh day is the Sabbath. Still, it includes the message that the hour of judgment has come—a call for true repentance and reformation. Moving on, Revelation 14:8 reads, "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.'" This second angel warns that Babylon, the biblical symbol of false worship and coercion, will fall. God's judgment is coming. So, people must flee the confusion of Babylon and its false teachings and turn to Christ and His truth. The third angel's message warns, "saying with a loud voice, 'If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb" (Revelation 14:9, 10). This final crisis involves true and false worship. Time will come when everyone on earth will decide whether to worship the beast or be true to God. The proclamation of these messages is the mission of God's remnant people. Through the remnant church, He proclaims a message to restore true worship by calling His people out of apostasy and preparing them for His return. The end is near. Jesus is coming soon. Now is the time to give our hearts fully to Him and become part of the remnant, fulfilling His mission. To know more about the thirteenth fundamental belief, go to https://www.adventist.org/remnant-and-its-mission/.

Topics

• Leadership