By John Thiel, mp3

We will meditate on Gods wonderful help to the remnant. It’s fascinating to observe the words of Jesus when he was with his little church on earth as he spoke these words to this little company.

Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

As you ponder the scene here, eleven disciples. Very small company only eleven. Jesus came to them and said to them, go ye therefore and teach all nations. Go and teach, you eleven.  What a formidable task.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore. As you look at that and appreciate its meaning, these eleven people were sent forth by Jesus to go and do this huge task of sharing the message to all nations and he said its my power that is going to do that. Don’t look at your small numbers. You are to go out as all power is given unto me. Not only in earth but also in heaven. Then comes the most important message for us today in the light of that. Sharing the message with those few people that then were and who have been instrumental in parting to all nations in a very short time in their time.
Matthew 28:20 …and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world.

The church that Jesus sent out was a small company then. The history of the seven churches reveal its always a little remnant in each church period that Jesus is with. Coming to our time now, I am with you always even to the end of the world. We know that this means us. He says all power is given unto me, go ye therefore. When he says, I will be with you until the end of the world, who does he mean? Here is the description of the end of the world.

Joel 2:30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32 And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Where shall be deliverance in the last days? In the remnant who the Lord shall call. Didn’t Jesus do that in the time of Israel? He called the remnant in Israel. History is repeated in every successive generation. The remnant with whom he was and whom he is with.

The Remnant Brought to Prominence

Isaiah 1:9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, [and] we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

What sort of a remnant? A very small remnant. Though the house of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant. Here it says a very small remnant just like in Christ’s time, only eleven. From those eleven the church was further called and in every succeeding generation, it always left a remnant.

Zephaniah 3:12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.

I saw the nominal church and nominal Adventists, like Judas, would betray us to the Catholics to obtain their influence to come against the truth. The saints then will be an obscure people, little known to the Catholics; but the churches and nominal Adventists who know of our faith and customs (for they hated us on account of the Sabbath, for they could not refute it) will betray the saints and report them to the Catholics as those who disregard the institutions of the people; that is, that they keep the Sabbath and disregard Sunday. 2- {SpM 1.5}

A poor and afflicted people, a remnant he will leave. If he would not have left a very small remnant, then Sodom and Gomorrah would have taken place. The question is, these poor and afflicted people, how did they come into existence? As we look at the terrible condition of the last days, this is how they came into existence.

Isaiah 66:2 For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

A poor and afflicted people. A poor contrite people. A people that tremble at my word. How did they come together as a remnant?

Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

How did this little remnant come into existence? They were the humble contrite people who would hang on every word that God spoke. Because they trembled at the Word, the others that did not who were sure of themselves, rich and increased in with goods saying we are Gods church, these brethren will cast them out for his names sake saying let the Lord be glorified. This is how this little remnant comes about as a separate people. Here you see the summation of that experience. These people who their brethren are casting out are described in Amos.

Amos 9:8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD [are] upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD. 9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as [corn] is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.

We are living in the time of the harvest. The grain is being threshed, the chaff is being blown away by the wind as E G White writes, thousands. The church Israel is being sifted in a sieve and not the least grain will fall upon the earth. The pure grain will be left over. That is how the remnant come into existence by the sifting process. Jesus says I am with you to those who are being sifted and coming forth as that little remnant, I am with you in the last days.

Amos 5:1 Hear ye this word which I take up against you, [even] a lamentation, O house of Israel. 2 The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; [there is] none to raise her up. 3 For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out [by] a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth [by] an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel. 4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: 5 But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.

As the Lord is sifting his people and separating the faithful from those who make a profession of Christianity, they may have started with thousands, they only end up with a hundred, a very small remnant. They may have started with a hundred but they only end up with ten, a very small remnant. As they are dismissed, saying let the Lord be glorified and push the others out, what do they do?

They want to go into some city, Bethel, Gilgal, Beersheba because they don’t like being left out in the cold. He says don’t go there. Because those cities are going to go into captivity, stay out. As it says there, where are you going to find protection? Seek ye me and you shall live. This is the beautiful message that he gives to the remnant. I will be with you even unto the end of the world. Don’t go hunting around for Gilgal, Bethel and Beersheba. They are all townships and companies of Israel, don’t go there, seek me. Look to me for protection. This is the enlargement of Jeremiah. Its speaking of the same situation of the virgin of Israel being destroyed and taken away. Its going to be a terrible woe to those who claim to be the brethren of the faithful.

Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. 2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.

Here is Gods help for the remnant. Do you have fear as you get driven out and left in a sort of a state where you don’t know how to move on? Seek me saith the Lord. Don’t go to Gilgal, bethel, Beersheba. Seek me. You will find my help and I will place you into my folds and I will set up shepherds that will feed you. This remnant people are identified.

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.

They shall feed. God gives them shepherds in their folds and they shall feed and lie down. In consequence of this ministry that he has promised, he says I am with you even unto the end of the earth. This little people he is with and he feeds and they have nothing to fear. He will help them. If you read Isaiah 59 you will see exactly the situation of the end of the world and how these people come into existence. Darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people. We see this people that he has brought about by this work of sifting. Mark what he says about the condition of the church that is meant to be Gods church but judgement is far from it.

Isaiah 59:15 Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment. Isaiah 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. 21 As for me, this [is] my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that [is] upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

This little remnant whom Jesus is with.  He says all power is given unto me.

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

There is one thread we’ve been looking at and that is the words of Jesus, I am with you, with my remnant people. If the pastors of the church militant will do this dreadful work, depart from the evil ways that are common in the church, he makes himself a prey. As this takes place, I am with you, I’m going to help you as you concentrate on the total cause for this time and you feel devastated as there is none that help.

Isaiah 59:16 And he saw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

We know that is what Jesus went through. God’s faithful people go through that as they have to rely alone from the help that comes from Jesus Christ. God will help these people.

Every obstacle to the redemption of the people of God is to be removed by the opening of the Word of God and the presentation of a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” {UL 265.2}

The Truth of the Living God

How are the obstacles to be removed? How are the impasses to be removed? By opening the Word and presenting a plain thus saith the Lord. As each one of these people rely totally upon their Lord, they rejoice to hear a plain thus saith the Lord. The true light is to shine forth for darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people. The truth of the living God is to appear in contrast with error. That’s what makes us a prey. The world didn’t receive it, therefore they won’t receive those who receive it.

Proclaim the glad tidings: We have a Saviour who has given His life that all who believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. {UL 265.2}

Obstacles to the advancement of the work of the Lord will appear, but fear not. To the omnipotence of the King of kings, our covenant-keeping God unites the gentleness and care of a tender shepherd. Nothing can stand in His way. His power is absolute, and is the pledge of the sure fulfillment of His promises to His people. He can remove all obstructions to the advancement of His work. . . . {UL 265.3}

He is going to gather his flock and put them in his fold and he’ll provide shepherds for them.  He’s omnipotent but as gentle as a shepherd nothing can stand in his way. Every time an obstacle stands up in front of you, don’t go to Gilgal or rush here and there. Just submit to him. He is the one who will bring every obstacle to nothing. Nothing can stand in his way. His power is absolute. What did he say? All power is given unto me. Go ye therefore and I’ll be with you until the end of the world.

The church of Christ is God’s agency for the proclamation of truth, empowered by Him to do a special work, and if she is loyal to God, obedient to all His commandments, there will dwell within her the excellency of divine power. If she will honor the Lord God of Israel, there is no power that can stand against her. If she will be true to her allegiance, the forces of the enemy will be no more able to overpower her than is the chaff to resist the whirlwind. {UL 265.4}

That is what this little remnant people are. They depend on the Lord. As those of the enemy are working to try and overpower her, that force will be of no resistance. It s going to be as chaff resists the whirlwind.

There is before the church the dawn of a bright, glorious day, if she will put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness, withdrawing from all alliance with the world. The members of the church need now to confess their backslidings, and press together. My brethren and sisters, allow nothing to come in that will separate you from one another and from God. Talk not of differences of opinion, but unite in the love of the truth as it is in Jesus. Come before God and plead the shed blood of the Saviour as a reason that you should receive help in the warfare against evil. I assure you that you will not plead in vain. As you draw near to God, with heartfelt contrition and in full assurance of faith, the enemy who seeks to destroy you will be overcome. {UL 265.5}

What must we do? Draw near to go with heart felt contrition.

Turn to the Lord, ye prisoners of hope. Seek strength from God, the living God. Show an unwavering, humble faith in His power and willingness to save. From Christ is flowing the living stream of salvation. He is the Fountain of life and the Source of all power. {UL 265.6}

I am with you unto the end of the world. All power is given unto me. We have the plain word of God before us. Our security, our hope and our assurance is in a thus saith the Lord. Don’t permit anything to cause us to waver. Our help is in the Lord. The people who press together in the truth as it is in Jesus will unite. Those that will go contrary to that Word will be the ones who will claim to be Gods people and they will say to those that tremble at his word, get out of here! It will be a sad experience, it is a sad experience but those who are left behind must press together and permit nothing to come in there just a thus saith the Lord. As you read these words in your time, make them your own.

Amen.