By John Thiel, Prophetic Sketches of the Remnant Church Seminar, Study 6, mp3

The most distinctive features of the remnant are found in the churches of Revelation 2 and 3 God’s remnant in all ages. The prophetic sketches point to Christ’s first advent spanning to the Second Advent as a particular point in time in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

What was the first advent of Christ in terms of time? Now – once in the END of the world. When Jesus came as the sacrifice for sin what did Apostle Paul call that time? The END of the world. That’s not only one quote as it’s repeated in others as well.

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

As the apostles were preaching, they were declaring the end of all things is at hand.

Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all [ye] that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

What did Peter just do? He applied the message of the outpouring of the latter rain in the last days to his time. That was the end of the world. That is where he applied, that which we apply to our time. It’s the end of the world. The end of all things is come.

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

When Jesus came to this world and spoke it was in these last days.

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

I have quoted five bible texts that have all said that when Christ did his work back there at his first advent, that was the end of the world, the last time.

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

There was the beginning of the end. The things written in the Old Testament are for those living in the end. The end of the world commenced in the time of Jesus first advent and it’s a period of ends plural. Apostle Peter applied Joel to these people who are moved by the Holy Spirit and as they received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he said this has been prophesied for the end of the word.  It’s applicable for them onwards. The remnant church of the last days commenced then. Before that time, right from the beginning, from the foundation of the earth from Adam and Eve there was always a remnant. The remnant of the end commenced then. The work will be out of the common order of things is how God will work at the end.  We have applied that statement in Joel that it will be your sons and daughters prophesying (preaching), no longer the big leaders of the church. Indeed whom did God use in that remnant of the time of Christ?  Was it the leaders? Fishermen, unlearned fishermen.

He chose the unlearned fishermen to be His disciples, in order that they might learn of Him, and become wise unto salvation. Why was it that He did not choose the scribes and the Pharisees?–It was because He could not trust them. He said of them, “In vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Why is it that the Lord does not choose the learned and the popular today, and work with the churches?–It is because they follow the same course as did the scribes and the Pharisees. {BEcho, October 8, 1894 par. 4}

Ever since the beginning of the end, the remnant church is chosen away from the learned theologians of the day.

In choosing His disciples, Christ passed by the dignitaries of the Jewish nation, and chose lowly, unlearned fishermen. He chose men who had not been spoiled by praise or flattery, men who were not filled with self-sufficiency. {ST, June 7, 1905 par. 6}

“I have gone to college, I have received training under Gamaliel as the Pharisees had, as Paul had.” What are we to learn of this? The end of the world commenced with these disciples. He bypassed the dignitaries and focused on selecting and choosing, not focusing on those who had been trained in literary institutions but the unlearned who had not been spoiled by the rise of glee of being well educated and who can patronise those who are below them.

Let Us Learn the Lesson

The commission that Christ gave to His disciples just before His ascension is the great missionary charter of His kingdom. In giving it to the disciples, the Saviour made them His ambassadors and gave them their credentials. {8T 14.2}

The word credentials, you have to have credentials to have position in a church. What are your credentials? If you go to a delegation session you have to come with credentials so the church will recognise you from a particular area.  Christ gave credentials to the fishermen. The organised church didn’t have those credentials.

If, afterward, they should be challenged and asked by what authority they, unlearned fishermen, went forth as teachers and healers, they could reply: “He whom the Jews crucified, but who rose from the dead, appointed us to the ministry of His word, declaring, ‘All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.'” {8T 14.2}

Where did they get their credentials from? From the one who had all power and who trained them under his schooling. This was the beginning of the remnant church of the last days. See Desire of Ages page {DA 232.2}.  The ecclesiastical authorities challenged the disciples and ever after in the time of the end of the world, the ecclesiastical authorities that had developed would always challenge the authority of those whom Jesus chose and gave his credentials to.

… the disciples of John looked with jealousy upon the growing popularity of Jesus. They stood ready to criticize His work, and it was not long before they found occasion. A question arose between them and the Jews as to whether baptism availed to cleanse the soul from sin; they maintained that the baptism of Jesus differed essentially from that of John. Soon they were in dispute with Christ’s disciples in regard to the form of words proper to use at baptism, and finally as to the right of the latter to baptize at all. {DA 178.2}

This is so natural to humans vying for position when Jesus is the one who gives the position and the credentials and it needs to be carefully researched by the church as to the credentials Jesus gives verses the credentials that they may think should be given. This is the study of the seven churches as the seven churches are God’s remnant church from that time onwards through the time of the end. This is a study of the apostolic remnant people and their ongoing succession. As in their experience of unlearned men so to the end of time each successive generation was pushed out from among them by those who disregarded them as having the right to baptise.

The opposition which Christ received came from his own nation, who would have been greatly blessed had they accepted him. In like manner the remnant church receives opposition from those who profess to be their brethren. {RH, August 28, 1883 par. 13}

The Seven Churches Are One Church Through Seven Periods of Time

The names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian era. The number seven indicates completeness, and is symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, while the symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the history of the world. {AA 585.3}

It goes through to the end of time. Every successive generation is another end. Look carefully at what we can learn out of every church period so we can learn what the remnant church in the last days actually displays. We are trying to gain their identity, nature and interaction with the church militant. It’s very vivid in the seven churches.

Ephesus

Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Ephesus is a word, a name that denotes the meaning of desirable. This is the desirable remnant church. The remnant church is desirable to God. It is the apostolic remnant from AD 32 to AD 100. The ideal desirable condition of that church is what Jesus said in verse 2 to 3.

Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

This is what he repeats time and time again. Jesus is not interested in their profession but their works. Here you see the remnant that is desirable to him.

Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

This is the character of the remnant which is desirable to God who labour in patience and who do not bear them which are evil. We are to have patience for his name sake and not fainting but hating the deeds of the Nicolaitanes which I also hate. What were the Nicolaitans?

The doctrine is now largely taught that the gospel of Christ has made the law of God of no effect; that by “believing” we are released from the necessity of being doers of the Word. But this is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which Christ so unsparingly condemned (ST Jan. 2, 1912). {7BC 957.6}

I hate them. In other words, it’s a false idea that it matters not how particular you are.  That you can be accepted with God no matter how particular you are not. God has got something against this company as they travelled on.

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Something happens inside of that body of desirable people;

What was the origin of the great apostasy? How did the church first depart from the simplicity of the gospel? By conforming to the practices of paganism, to facilitate the acceptance of Christianity by the heathen. The apostle Paul declared, even in his day, “The mystery of iniquity doth already work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7. During the lives of the apostles the church remained comparatively pure. But “toward the latter end of the second century most of the churches assumed a new form; the first simplicity disappeared, and insensibly, as the old disciples retired to their graves, their children, along with new converts, . . . came forward and new-modeled the cause.”–Robert Robinson, Ecclesiastical Researches, ch. 6, par. 17, p. 51. {GC 384.5}

I have somewhat against you. You have lost your first love. Obey because you love. He is talking to those people who are new modellers.

Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Here already in the time of the apostles, iniquity was abounding and love was being lost. What did that mean in their experience, to lose their first love?

But the early Christians began to look for defects in one another. Dwelling upon mistakes, encouraging suspicion and doubt, giving way to unkind criticism, they lost sight of the Saviour, and of the great love he had revealed for sinners. They became more strict in regard to outward ceremonies, more particular about the theory of the faith, more severe in their criticisms. In their zeal to condemn others, they themselves erred. They forgot the lessons of brotherly love that Christ had taught. And, saddest of all, they were unconscious of their loss. They did not realize that happiness and joy were going out of their lives, and that soon they would walk in darkness, having shut the love of God out of their hearts. {RH, February 25, 1904 par. 4}

Can you recognise this sort of thing happening? That among brethren we can lose the love of Jesus by looking for defects and being so particular that we look at everyone around us and say, you are supposed to be measuring up here. The love of God is going out the door. People don’t realise it because they think we have to be particular, of course we do. We’re supposed to be carefully watching and discerning and at the same time but we don’t lose our love for the souls. We are to do it as Jesus would do it. He was there with the disciples and they were so faulty. Here is the picture of the church of Philadelphia how the line of the true remnant was launched out and straight away there came the danger. Here is the message for us – the overcomer of Revelation 2.

Smyrna

Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Here is the word the overcomer the true remnant from that time. This true line of the remnant leaves us to Smyrna.

Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Why would Jesus say this? In 323AD was the time of persecution of Christians being fed to the lions. Jesus said to them, I was dead and am now alive.

Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.

Smyrna is the name given to sweet smelling savour, the crushing of the herb, the crushing of Gods people. They are in tribulation. They are being crushed and killed. While they are poor and in tribulation, what does he say? Thou art rich. The people who are poor and afflicted, they are rich.

James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Heirs of the kingdom that is richer than any other kingdom. You who are poor on this earth, you who are afflicted on this earth, you are rich in faith. Indeed Smyrna was rich in faith.

The early Christians were indeed a peculiar people. Their blameless deportment and unswerving faith were a continual reproof that disturbed the sinner’s peace. Though few in numbers, without wealth, position, or honorary titles, they were a terror to evildoers wherever their character and doctrines were known. Therefore they were hated by the wicked, even as Abel was hated by the ungodly Cain. For the same reason that Cain slew Abel, did those who sought to throw off the restraint of the Holy Spirit, put to death God’s people. It was for the same reason that the Jews rejected and crucified the Saviour–because the purity and holiness of His character was a constant rebuke to their selfishness and corruption. From the days of Christ until now His faithful disciples have excited the hatred and opposition of those who love and follow the ways of sin. {GC 46.2}

No pastor such and such or reverend such and such. The remnant church are horribly persecuted. Then what does he say? He mentions again about the synagogue of Satan, those who say they are Jews and are not. Who are these that are of the synagogue of Satan?

Christ speaks of the church over which Satan presides as the synagogue of Satan. Its members are the children of disobedience. They are those who choose to sin, who labor to make void the holy law of God. It is Satan’s work to mingle evil with good, and to remove the distinction between good and evil. Christ would have a church that labors to separate the evil from the good, whose members will not willingly tolerate wrong-doing, but will expel it from the heart and life (RH Dec. 4, 1900). {7BC 958.1}

Those who are saying they are Jews but of the Synagogue of Satan are liars.  In the next church there is no reproof. Why is there no reproof? Here is the true description of the remnant church we must be part of.

There is another and more important question that should engage the attention of the churches of today. The apostle Paul declares that “all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12. Why is it, then, that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber? The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world’s standard and therefore awakens no opposition. The religion which is current in our day is not of the pure and holy character that marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the word of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital Godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled. {GC 48.3}

If you are a member of the remnant church, you will suffer persecution.  The reason why Smyrna received no reproof is because they were so faithful and so pure that they were persecuted.

Pergamos

Pergamos was an interesting period from the year 323 to 538AD.

Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].

What does Pergamos mean? Highbrow, height and elevation. In this period, the remnant faithful people become overwhelmed by the influx. Jew’s claiming to be Jews, Nicolaitans. This is now happening to the remnant church, it is being over whelmed within the church militant.

Little by little, at first in stealth and silence, and then more openly as it increased in strength and gained control of the minds of men, “the mystery of iniquity” carried forward its deceptive and blasphemous work. Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into the Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism. But as persecution ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers; and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions. The nominal conversion of Constantine, in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing; and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ. {GC 49.2}

It is when high official people accept the message and are apparently converted. Pergamos means high and elevated because the Roman Empire became Christian. The remnant church is being overwhelmed. Here is the dreadful experience that is mentioned under Pergamos. The Roman Empire was where Satan sat. He was ready to snap up the child born to the woman.

Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Anti-pas = anti papa. The overcomer, the faithful remnant stands firm while the others are now become Jezebel.

Thyatira

538AD to 1798.

Revelation 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last [to be] more than the first.

Here is this company of faithful people going through the time of papal persecution. The name Thyatira is sweet savour of sacrifice.

Revelation 2:19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith,

Who is he talking about here? He is talking about the faithful remnant. Who were they? The Waldenses, the Huguenots, Colombo of Ireland and the Britons.

Amid the gloom that settled upon the earth during the long period of papal supremacy, the light of truth could not be wholly extinguished. In every age there were witnesses for God–men who cherished faith in Christ as the only mediator between God and man, who held the Bible as the only rule of life, and who hallowed the true Sabbath. How much the world owes to these men, posterity will never know. {GC 61.1}

The bible is only our rule of life, not the catholic catechism. The faithful remnant were faithfully doing their work. The Britons, Colombo and Great Britain had primitive Christianity very early in its roots.

In Great Britain primitive Christianity had very early taken root. The gospel received by the Britons in the first centuries was then uncorrupted by Romish apostasy. Persecution from pagan emperors, which extended even to these far-off shores, was the only gift that the first churches of Britain received from Rome. Many of the Christians, fleeing from persecution in England, found refuge in Scotland; thence the truth was carried to Ireland, and in all these countries it was received with gladness. {GC 62.2}

The Britons meekly replied that they desired to love all men, but that the pope was not entitled to supremacy in the church, and they could render to him only that submission which was due to every follower of Christ. Repeated attempts were made to secure their allegiance to Rome; but these humble Christians, amazed at the pride displayed by her emissaries, steadfastly replied that they knew no other master than Christ {GC 62.4}

The Waldenses and the Huguenots came face to face with the same thing.

Amid the prevailing error and superstition, many, even of the true people of God, became so bewildered that while they observed the Sabbath, they refrained from labor also on the Sunday. But this did not satisfy the papal leaders. They demanded not only that Sunday be hallowed, but that the Sabbath be profaned; and they denounced in the strongest language those who dared to show it honor. It was only by fleeing from the power of Rome that any could obey God’s law in peace. (See Appendix.) {GC 65.1}

What do you see here? People wanting to honor the leaders of the church. Jesus had something against these people bowing and scraping to that. He said you have some amongst you who teach. The Waldenses would not permit the truth to be adulterated, the genuine remnant church.

Sardis

What have we got here in Sardis? The name Sardis, that which remains.  1798 to 1833 this period is mentioned here. The faithful remnant of Sardis.

Revelation 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Many people apply the dates from the reform period of the 1500’s to 1833 but this can’t be true because the reformers did not have a name that they lived by and are dead. This is the second and third generation who have a protesting name but are no longer protesting.

Revelation 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

A few, a remnant, a few only who have not defiled their garments. The protestant churches were a flow on from the reformers and observe from this period the number of churches here addressed. The Lutherans, Methodists and Baptists were all under the umbrella of the Sardis church that Jesus addressed. Which one of them can say you are not the church we are? These few people amongst all these churches that are among Gods faithful remnant are addressed like this;

Revelation 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

What is this referring to? The period of 1798 to 1833 What was the message that came to them? Behold the bride groom cometh go ye out to meet him. A Thief? He speaks to the overcomers. Remember 1798 was the sign of Christs coming. Which seal? The sixth seal, the Lisbon earth quake, the dark day, the falling of the stars and the rolling back of the heavens. The ones that heeded the counsel, the ones that were faithful, the few men left, they became the overcomer.

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Philadelphia

These overcomers continued into the period of Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Here is the prayer of Christ as the high priest praying as they are one. Here is the introduction of the judgement. This generation will not meet the terrible time in which we live in. What was the true condition of the remnant in the period of Philadelphia?

God’s people were then accepted of Him. Jesus looked upon them with pleasure, for His image was reflected in them. They had made a full sacrifice, an entire consecration, and expected to be changed to immortality. {EW 239.1}

Here in the Philadelphian period is a commitment to God which we must gain.

The Christian life is constantly an onward march. Jesus sits as a refiner and purifier of His people; and when His image is perfectly reflected in them, they are perfect and holy, and prepared for translation. A great work is required of the Christian. We are exhorted to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Here we see where the great labor rests. There is a constant work for the Christian. Every branch in the parent vine must derive life and strength from that vine, in order to yield fruit. {1T 340.4}

We are to be in the spiritual condition of Philadelphia which is why some people get this period mixed up to the Laodicean period. They say we need to go back to the Philadelphia period. No we are to come into the condition of Jesus seeing his character perfected in them. We must be like those in Smyrna, like those who rejected the high brow attitude in Thyatira. Like the Britons. I can’t regard you any higher than anyone else in the church. We must be like the Smyrna people dressed in white. All though this was their position that Jesus would be reflected in them, there was still some overcoming needed there.

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

Even though Jesus saw himself reflected in them, they had some overcoming to do. These people of Philadelphia would have the name of God written in them.

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

The Philadelphian period people will be included in the 144,000.

The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name. {EW 15.1}

To be an overcomer, to be among them, what was required of them?

The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God’s hand had directed the great advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of His people.” {GC 423.1}

What is your present duty?

But the people were not yet ready to meet their Lord. There was still a work of preparation to be accomplished for them. Light was to be given, directing their minds to the temple of God in heaven; and as they should by faith follow their High Priest in His ministration there, new duties would be revealed. Another message of warning and instruction was to be given to the church. {GC 424.4}

Philadelphia had more to learn. Now we come to that terrible disappointing statement, you must go and prophesy again. There is more to learn before Jesus comes.

Laodicea

The judging of the people is from 1844 through to the coming of Jesus. In this period the same condition exists at the same time of the remnant church at the time of the disciples. It’s the same description to the Jewish Pharisee. You think you are rich and increased with goods but are poor blind and naked.  The overcomer of Revelation 3:20 is the person that must open his heart to the Lord Jesus in this time. Meanwhile he says to the Laodicean leadership, I’m bypassing these Pharisees like I did before. I’m going to spue them out of my mouth but if any man opens the door, I will sup with them.

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.

This is the experience of Revelation 14:12, the third angels message.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Who are they? The 144,000. The Philadelphian people and the Laodicean’s who are the overcomers are the 144,000. They are the final remnant of her seed. Right from the time from when Jesus launched out his church, they have continued through but always rejected by the authorities of the church who had grown. As it has been in the apostasy, then it applies to us now. The same scenario happens again.  He bypasses the theologians as he did back there and he imparts it to the unlearned fishermen, to the tax collector. Are you those kind of people? We have to make the decision, will I relinquish the hold of my pride and learn all over again and submit myself to my Lord and Saviour? This is the challenge, this it’s the message of the time of the end that started in the first advent.

Amen.

Further reading;

http://sabbathsermons.com/category/prophetic-sketches-of-the-remnant-church-series/