Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

From their beginning as a scattered, fledgling group of leftover Millerites, Seventh-day Adventists have referred to themselves as the remnant.

Even before formally instituting a church, the pioneers called themselves the remnant.

Perhaps the earliest use of the term was in an 1846 pamphlet titled “to the little remnant Scattered Abroad.”

In 1849 Joseph Bates used Revelation 12:17, which points to those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus in describing Adventists as the remnant.

In 1853, Ellen White referred to Sabbath-keeping Adventists as the remnant people of God, In 1855, when J.M. Stephenson left the movement, he was urged to reconsider severing himself from the remnant people of God.

In 1857, James White wrote that the Laodicean message was “a special call to the remnant,” and he urged Adventists to obey its counsel.

In 1860, when pondering a name for the new church, the pioneers considered “the remnant.”

Adventists adopted the remnant Motif, according to historian P. Gerard Damsteegt, because it indicated the uniqueness of Sabbtarian Adventists as the remnant of God’s people who continued to adhere to the major position of the Advent movement.

I.

The remnant are Called by God.

a.

The surviving or historical remnant[1] is the concept that God always has a people that He calls his remnant.

The terminology of the Old Testament remnant motif is represented by six Hebrew roots: serach (“be left over, remain”), plṭ (“escape”), mlṭ (“escape”), yâthar ytr (“remain over, be left over”), śrd (“run away from;” śārîd, “survivor”), and ’aḥarît (“posterity, remnant”).[2]

In the the New Testament translated into Greek words formed from leimma/leipō (“remnant, remainder/leave behind”)[3]The remnant theme according to Gerhard Hasel, “moves through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation as a red thread.

They- that is the remnant are called out not because the they are better than any other group of people; the Scripture however says that Noah was a ‘just man and perfect in his generation, and that Noah walked with God” (Genisis 6:9).

Secondly the Lord said to Noah “thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation” (Genesis 7:1).

And finally, Noah did “all that God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22).

Not that they were perfect; because Noah became a drunk according to Genesis 9:21.

It seems as if the remnant are so called because of the sheer grace of God.

The label “faithful remnant” does not point to self-achievement.

Rather, as Hasel demonstrates, the faithful remnant is a remnant of grace.

For example, though both Noah and Lot were “righteous” (Gen 6:9; 18:23–32), their righteousness was not meritorious, but they were the recipients of God’s “grace” and “mercy” (Gen 6:8; 19:16, 19).

Thus, “the salvation of a remnant is not due to merit on the part of the remaining survivors but to the grace of Yahweh.”[4]

II.

The remnant are Commissioned by God.

a. the remnant is not an elite club.

The concept of the elite or faithful remnant, is the concept that designates, within the sociological makeup of God’s people, the religious elite.

In the eyes of God they are the only genuinely vibrant segment, the only one that truly represents the whole and are able to carry forward the religious future of Israel.…

They are different from the surviving remnant, the lone survivors; the elite remnant coexists with the other members of the people who appear spiritually but not physically dead, such as is the surviving remnant[1].

You see the Pharisees thought that because they were Abrahams seed (descendants) that that qualified them to be Gods remnant, but John said to them O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

b.

Luk 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

c. Luk 3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.(Luke

3:7-9)

d. “Obviously, being part of the remnant did not come about by inheritance or by marriage.

Being of remnant blood doesn’t make one a member of the remnant family.”

Goldstein.

e. Membership in this family remnant, then came by individual choice.

The remnant had to agree to the Lord’s terms and then follow them by faith.

[1] Lehmann, R. P. (2009).

The Remnant in the Book of Revelation.

In Á. Manuel Rodríguez (Ed.), Toward a Theology of the Remnant: An Adventist Ecclesiological Perspective (Vol. 1, p. 86).

Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute.

III.

The remnant are Committed to God even in endtimes.

a.

The eschatological remnant brings together aspects of the two preceding views and is in fact an expression of the historical and faithful group that faces and endures anguishing challenges.

This is the “remnant” considered in Rev 12, John wrote Rev 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.

b.

This remnant fully involved in spiritual conflicts and willing to testify in the midst of a sweeping religious disaster.[1]

In the midst of false doctrines and false christ’s we still believe and preach that The Bible, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God; we still believe There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Beings; we still believe that God created the heavens and the earth is six days and rested the seventh day; we still believe that man and woman were created in God’s image and likeness and though fallen we did not evolve into existence; All humanity is now involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan; we still believe and preach that God so loved that world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life; we still believe and preach that baptism is by immersion and he that believes and is baptized the same shall be saved; we still believe and preach that The of gift prophecy is one identifying marks of the remnant church and we believe it was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White; we still believe and preach the ten commandments are still binding on all mankind including the fourth commandment Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

c.

Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

d.

Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

a. Exo 20:11 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; We still believe and preach that There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle that the Lord set up and not humans.

In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross; We still believe and preach that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is remnant church of Bible Prophecy and we proclaim a special message for these last days Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

b.

Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

c.

Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

d.

Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

e. Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

f.

Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

g.

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

Conclusion

The remnant are the last witnesses to a truth that comprehends all opposites, transcends all factions, bringing together grace and law, love and justice, creation and judgement, and the New and Old Testaments.

The remnant combines God’s commandments with the testimony of Jesus.

On October 22, 1844 the Millerite Adventists believed that Jesus would come it was a time of great joy and expectancy ‘the Lord was coming let this be the herald not of jubilee’ the millerites were bitterly disappointed, because there was a misunderstanding 2300 days prophecy.

Out of the Millerite movement was born the Seventh-day Advents the remnant church of Bible prophecy.

We still believe that Jesus is coming soon we don’t know the exact date but we know that it is not long from now and we can’t help but preach you see that’s what the remnant does we proclaim that Jesus is coming again.

[1] Lehmann, R. P. (2009).

The Remnant in the Book of Revelation.

In Á. Manuel Rodríguez (Ed.), Toward a Theology of the Remnant: An Adventist Ecclesiological Perspective (Vol. 1, p. 87).

Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute.

[1] Lehmann, R. P. (2009).

The Remnant in the Book of Revelation.

In Á. Manuel Rodríguez (Ed.), Toward a Theology of the Remnant: An Adventist Ecclesiological Perspective (Vol. 1, p. 86).

Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute.

[2] Li, T. (2009).

The Remnant in the Old Testament.

In Á. Manuel Rodríguez (Ed.), Toward a Theology of the Remnant: An Adventist Ecclesiological Perspective (Vol. 1, p. 25).

Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute.

[3] Li, T. (2009).

The Remnant in the Old Testament.

In Á. Manuel Rodríguez (Ed.), Toward a Theology of the Remnant: An Adventist Ecclesiological Perspective (Vol. 1, p. 25).

Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute.

[4] Li, T. (2009).

The Remnant in the Old Testament.

In Á. Manuel Rodríguez (Ed.), Toward a Theology of the Remnant: An Adventist Ecclesiological Perspective (Vol. 1, p. 29).

Silver Spring, MD: Biblical Research Institute.