According to the dictionary, a “remnant” is a noun that means a small piece or amount of something that is left from a larger original piece or amount. It is a remainder, residue, that is left over.

In the Hebrew language, the word she’erit denotes explicitly a remnant or residue, often used in prophetic contexts to describe those who survive calamities or remain faithful to God (Isaiah 10:20). Noah and his family were the remnant saved out of the millions on the earth before the flood (Genesis 6). Only Lot and his two daughters survived the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, a very small remnant, indeed (Genesis 19). When Elijah despaired that he was the only one left in Israel who had not bowed down to idols, God assured him that He had reserved a remnant of 7,000—“all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal and every mouth which hath not kissed him” (Kings 19:18).

In the New Testament, the Greek word for remnant is leimma, derived from the verb Leipō, meaning “to leave” or “to forsake.” It refers to a remainder or surviving group, often indicating those who remain faithful amidst widespread apostasy (Romans 11:5). “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved” (Romans 9:27, 28). This indicates that great multitudes from among the original Israel would perish. If only a remnant was to be saved, many must be lost, and this is the point which Paul was trying to convey. While the word ”remnant” means “what is left,” particularly what may remain after a battle or a great calamity, in this verse, it means “a small part or portion.” Out of the great multitude of Israel, there would be so few left as to make it proper to say that it was a mere remnant.

Both Hebrew and Greek terms convey similar ideas of survival and preservation; their slight difference can differ based on context. The Hebrew terms often emphasize physical survival and faithfulness during times of national crisis or divine judgment. The Greek term focuses more on spiritual fidelity and God’s grace in preserving a faithful community amid unbelief.

Jesus addresses His last-day remnant: “To you, My disciples, I commit this message of mercy. It is to be given to Israel first, and then to all nations, tongues, and peoples. It is to be given to Jews and Gentiles. All who believe are to be gathered into one church.”2

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:15, 16). “The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. . . . Its mission is to carry the gospel to the world”3

“[God] will purify His church even as He purified the temple at the beginning and close of His ministry on earth. All that He brings upon the church in test and trial comes that His people may gain deeper piety and more strength to carry the triumphs of the cross to all parts of the world.”4

The Lord chose the Jewish people to be His church and gave them the command, “If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Exodus 19:5, 6). Throughout the many years that followed, they were familiar with the precious promises made to them, but they failed to fulfill the conditions.

At the beginning of the Christian period, the Jewish people claimed to be awaiting the coming of the Messiah, and they expected Him to come and free them from all bondage under the Roman rule and establish His earthly kingdom. Though they declared themselves to be the only true church, the Jewish nation was rejected for living inconsistently in their relation to the coming of the Messiah which they taught so diligently.

Before them was the gift of God; but they did not regard any warnings. They refused to be rebuked or reproved, and finally their hatred of the Son of God became so great that they crucified Him. Their proud declaration was, “His blood be on us, and on our children” (Matthew 27:25). Only a remnant accepted Him.

In the New Testament, the idea of the remnant is extended to include Gentiles who come to have faith in Christ. The apostle Paul speaks of this in Romans chapters 9–11. “At this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace” (Romans 11:5). This remnant is not based on ethnic lineage but on faith in Jesus Christ.

The remnant emphasizes that God’s promises to Israel are not abolished by their unbelief but rather are fulfilled through a small, faithful remnant to include Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ Jesus.

In Revelation 12:17, the remnant people of the last days are presented to us, “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.”

At the present time, God’s people are entrusted with the truth of the heavenly sanctuary, the commandments of God, especially the Sabbath commandment, and the faith of Jesus. They are blessed with the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy and the light of the three angels’ messages. With such light, there can be no doubt that they are a chosen of God. But sad to say, the same is with them as was with the Jews. They failed to meet the conditions that were demanded; they do not have the characteristics which identify the chosen people of God.

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years?  was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:14–19).

“We do not know what great interests may be at stake in the proving of God. There is no safety except in strict obedience to the word of God. All His promises are made upon condition of faith and obedience, and a failure to comply with His commands cuts off the fulfillment to us of the rich provisions of the Scriptures. We should not follow impulse, nor rely on the judgment of men; we should look to the revealed will of God and walk according to His definite commandment, no matter what circumstances may surround us. God will take care of the results; by faithfulness to His word we may in time of trial prove before men and angels that the Lord can trust us in difficult places to carry out His will, honor His name, and bless His people.”5

John describes the seven churches in Revelation which cover the era from Christ’s ascension to His second coming. We are living in the seventh period of the Christian church, the period of Laodicea. As there was a remnant from each of the other preceding churches, there is to be a remnant of this church, too. Prophecy reveals that a faithful remnant is to be saved, for not all professed believers in the Laodicean era will be saved. (See Isaiah 10:20–22.)

The Advent movement is prophetic. It is spiritual Israel as well as the remnant of the Philadelphian church which preceded it, following Christ into the holy of holies of the heavenly sanctuary after the great disappointment in 1844. They are not to be content to abide in a Laodicean state or backslidden condition, increased with goods and in need of nothing. But the Laodicean condition is perpetuated in the unconverted heart. Instead of upholding the spirit of brotherly love, the spirit of lukewarmness and indifference permeates the soul until there is no hope for Laodicea. But Jesus does not forsake the sincere seekers after truth in this present age, for He says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

This call for reformation is not to lead us out of the seventh period into the eighth period, but rather to come out of the Laodicean state and become a part of the true remnant in the spirit of unselfish love. The Lord’s messenger warns:

“I saw that the remnant was not prepared for what is coming upon the earth. Stupidity, like lethargy, seemed to hang upon the minds of most of those who profess to believe that we are having the last message. My accompanying angel cried out with awful solemnity, ‘Get ready! get ready! get ready! for the fierce anger of the Lord is soon to come. His wrath is to be poured out, unmixed with mercy, and ye are not ready. Rend the heart, and not the garment. A great work must be done for the remnant. Many of them are dwelling upon little trials.’ Said the angel, ‘Legions of evil angels are around you, and are trying to press in their awful darkness, that ye may be ensnared and taken.’ ‘‘6

To this remnant in the Laodicean period is entrusted the message for a work of thorough reformation and to give the message to Laodicea. These will fulfil the verse, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people: that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,” (1 Peter 2:9).

In Revelation 14:12, John describes this remnant which is to be awaiting the coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. They are 144,000 in number, overcomers (Revelation 3:21), following the Lamb wherever He goes. In their lives they will have been examples in the principles of Christian character, having shown by their fruits that they are with Jesus. In their mouth is no guile.

“The remnant church will be brought into great trial and distress. Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts. Satan numbers the world as his subjects, he has gained control of the apostate churches; but here is a little company that is resisting his supremacy. If he could blot them from the earth, his triumph would be complete. As he influenced the heathen nations to destroy Israel, so in the near future he will stir up the wicked powers of earth to destroy the people of God. All will be required to render obedience to human edicts in violation of the divine law. Those who will be true to God and to duty will be menaced, denounced, and proscribed. They will be betrayed ‘both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends.’ Luke 21:16.”7

With rapid steps we are approaching the time when professedly Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power in sustaining a false religion, for opposing which their ancestors endured the fiercest persecution, then will the papal Sabbath be enforced by the combined authority of church and state. There will be a national apostasy, which will end only in national ruin.

Since 1844, light from the heaven of heavens has beamed from the open door of the temple of God. But it is to be remembered that the greater the light bestowed, the greater the delusion and darkness of those who reject the Word of God and accept fables, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.

Satan will excite the indignation of apostate Christendom against the humble remnant who conscientiously refuse to accept false customs and traditions.

The decree which is to go forth against the people of God in the near future is in some respects similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews in the time of Esther. The Persian edict sprang from the malice of Haman against Mordecai. Not that Mordecai had done Haman harm, but he had refused to flatter his vanity by showing him the reverence which is due only to God. The king’s decision against the Jews was secured under false pretenses. Satan instigated this scheme to rid the earth of those who preserved a knowledge of the true God. But his plots were defeated by a counter-power that reigns among the children of men. Angels who excel in strength were commissioned to protect the people of God, and the plots of their adversaries returned upon their own heads.

History repeats itself. The same masterful mind that plotted against the faithful in ages past is now at work to gain control of the professed Christian world, that through them he may condemn and put to death all who will not worship the idol sabbath. We have not to battle with man, as it may appear. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. But if the people of God will put their trust in Him, and by faith rely upon His power, the devices of Satan will be defeated in our time as signally as in the days of Mordecai.

Christ never purchased peace and friendship by compromise with evil. Though His heart overflowed with love toward the human race, He could not be indulgent to their sins. Because He loved men and women, He was a stern reprover of their vices. His life of suffering, the humiliation to which He was subjected by a perverse nation, show His followers that there must be no sacrifice of principle.

We are to live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18) yet there is a point beyond which it is impossible to maintain union and harmony without the sacrifice of principle. Separation then becomes an absolute duty.

“Christ’s true disciples follow Him through sore confl?icts, enduring self-denial and experiencing bitter disappointment; but this teaches them the guilt and woe of sin, and they are led to look upon it with abhorrence. Partakers of Christ’s sufferings, they are destined to be partakers of His glory. In holy vision the prophet saw the ultimate triumph of God’s remnant church.”8

As members of God’s remnant church, we must pray with firm faith for the gift of the grace of love. Love is the fulfilling of the law and is manifested altogether too little among those upon whom has been shining great light. Genuine religion is life and light to every believer. Christian dress and deportment are graces given not as ornaments to win admiration, but as talents to be used in accomplishing a work for God.

In this trying time, to promote mental clarity and physical vigor, it is for their own good that the Lord counsels the remnant church to discard the use of alcohol, tobacco, flesh meats, tea, and coffee, and other harmful substances. There are plenty of other things on which we can subsist that are good.

We now come to the meaning of the bruise that is brought upon “her seed” in Genesis 3:15. He is prophesied to bruise Jesus’ heel, meaning the greatest penalty he would inflict on God’s Son would only be a temporary “wound” that would be healed. The devil would be allowed to tempt the Lord to sin and to arrange his physical death but nothing more. God heals the bruise he causes by resurrecting his Son from the dead.

Christ, on the other hand, was foretold to bruise Satan’s head. He has completed the first breakthrough in this goal by destroying the works of the devil through his life and death (1 John 3:8, Hebrews 2:14, Revelation 20:10).

The next step in this plan is Jesus’ return to earth that will forcibly free humans from the kingdom of evil (Revelation 19 and 20). Satan’s head (influence), after the Millennium, will be completely bruised (or crushed) when he is executed in the lake of fire. “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20, first part).

All who will cooperate with the Redeemer in bruising the head of the serpent will be doing the work which the Lord has appointed them.

“When Christ hung in agony upon the cross, while evil spirits rejoiced and evil men reviled, then indeed His heel was bruised by Satan. But that very act was crushing the serpent’s head. Through death He destroyed ‘him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.’ Hebrews 2:14. This act decided the destiny of the rebel chief, and made forever sure the plan of salvation.”9

“The serpent’s head will soon be bruised and crushed. The glorious memorial of God’s wonderful power is soon to be restored to its rightful place. Then paradise lost will be paradise restored.”10

It is my prayer, my beloved, that as the remnant strives to come out of affliction a glorious and triumphant church, ready to meet the glorious appearing of our Lord Christ Jesus, we shall also triumph with her. Amen.