Remnant Within a Remnant

The concept of the Remnant is found all throughout the Scriptures. In fact, the word “Remnant” is found 92 times within the King James Version of the Bible. The Hebrew words She’eriyth and She’ar are translated as the Remnant in the Bible and can be defined as “rest, residue, or remainder.” However, it should be noted that there is a greater prophetic meaning for the concept of the Remnant (especially in the last days). There are two basic definitions that I see God revealing regarding the Remnant. The Remnant is comprised of those that have a true heart for God and a deep desire to be faithful to Him alone – regardless of the cost. There will be an accelerated growth in the Remnant that: (1) will produce a mature and balanced understanding of the Word of God that has great depth, (2) will enable them to accurately hear the voice of God with a proven track record, and (3) will allow them to become highly proficient in prayer and declaration of the Word of God. The remnant as “a group within God’s people” whose purpose is to call God’s people back to faithfulness. We see example of this in the OT. Is there a need for a smaller group, symbolized by the 144,000, among the larger multitude from every nation, kindred, tongue and people? Could there be a remnant within the remnant such as the Elect, manifested Sons of God, 144,000, Joel’s Army etc.? A remnant is a left-over amount from a larger portion or piece, whether it is food, material from which a garment is fashioned, or even a group of people. Although remnants could be looked upon as worthless scraps, God assigned high value to those of His people whom He had set aside for holy purposes, those He labels as “remnants” in several places in the Bible. “In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God” Is.10:20-21. 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. (Gen. 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 “whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him. (1 Kings 19) During the days of the Prophet Isaiah, God gave Isaiah a vision of Israel. The vision was told by Isaiah in Isaiah 1:1-9. Isaiah said the nation had become “a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.’ Isaiah went onto say in verse 9, “Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a SMALL REMNANT, we should have been as Sodom and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.” Remember also, Gideon’s army. Judges 7:1-8The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. 4 And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, everyone who kneels down to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 7 And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” 8 So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. Summary of OT Examples: • Noah – Noah’s family was a faithful remnant supernaturally preserved through a divine cataclysm on the basis of divine grace (Gen. 7:23). • Abraham – From out of all the nations God sovereignly and graciously chose Abraham with whom to make an unprecedented covenant (Gen. 12:1-3). • Lot – Lot’s family was a faithful remnant supernaturally preserved through a divine cataclysm on the basis of divine grace (Gen. 19:29). • Isaac – Abraham had two sons, but only one was sovereignly and graciously chosen as a child of promise (Gen. 17:19). • Jacob – Isaac had twin sons, but only one was sovereignly and graciously chosen as a child of promise (Gen. 28:13-15). • Joseph – Joseph was sovereignly and graciously chosen in order to save the family of Israel from disaster (Gen. 45:7). • A remnant of Israel was sovereignly preserved from divine judgment following the young nation’s apostasy at Sinai (Ex. 32). • Caleb and Joshua were the only members of the Exodus generation to enter the land of promise, following divine judgment (Num. 14:38). • Moses prophesies to Israel that when following eventual divine judgment, a remnant will be sovereignly and graciously preserved and will return to the land (Deut. 30:1-10). • Elijah was reminded that the Lord had sovereignly and graciously preserved 7,000 Israelites who had not apostasized (1 Kings 19:18). • Upon the divine judgment of Assyrian conquest of Israel, the Lord sovereignly and graciously preserved a remnant from the northern tribes (Ezek. 37:19). • Upon the divine judgment of Babylonian exile, the Lord sovereignly and graciously preserved a remnant from the southern tribes and oversaw their return to their land (Zech. 8:5). • God has sovereignly and graciously called a remnant from Israel to receive salvation through the Messiah (Rom. 11:5). • God has sovereignly and graciously called a remnant from the nations as His people to receive salvation through the Messiah (Acts 15:14). • Upon the divine judgment of the Roman dispersion, the Lord sovereignly and graciously preserved a remnant of Jews. • During the divine cataclysmic judgment of the Tribulation, the Lord will sovereignly and graciously preserve a remnant (Rev. 7:4). Others that “qualify" as being part of the remnant, the "sold out" ones, those ones who are selected and set-apart-out-from others in special situations: 1. As for the OT, would you consider Abraham's wife Sarah as part of the remnant? (I find I am bit of an advocate for the spouse of ministers or those who hold an office or are mentioned because they can easily be overlooked when they are also very much in heart and life doing what their spouse is doing.) 2. When the spies went into The Promise Land they came back and told Joshua and Caleb about the woman who was going to help them. She is a possibility to me. 3. King Darius in the book of Daniel had a great conversion and made adjustments to the law in favor of God. 4. It seems easy to overlook "women" in the bible. What about Deborah and Esther in the OT? 5. The women that joined Jesus and disciples. Luke speaks of them going with them wherever they went and provided for Jesus and what He did "out of their own means." Luke 8:3 In the film, The Gospel of Luke that is narrated practically word for word and has really good artistic reenactment, shows women who were with Jesus. Some were delivered from demons, but they were living the "sold out" life with him. Also, Mary, who Jesus spoke to on the morning of the Resurrection. Jesus' mother, Mary is also one who comes to mind. 6. Paul mentions many people who he highly recommends as those who, you could say are "sold out" and committed to God in purity and spreading the love of Christ. *See attachments. 7. Nicodemus, the Pharisee, seemed to have realized who Christ is in John 3 He was definitely one that was emphasized out of the Pharisees. 8. The prophet who saw baby Jesus in the temple. He was promised to see the Messiah before he died. I include him in this as a probability because he was one the Spirit mentions and seems to stand out from among others who may be living normal lives where he seems different. (On fire, waiting.....his lamp is full and his light is lit.) Luke chapter 2 9. The woman who fasted and prayed continually in the temple that is mentioned when baby Jesus was brought and the man who was waiting to see the baby Messiah before he passed. I add her to this because not many were so committed to this sort of thing, at least that is mentioned. The Spirit must have had a reason to mention her. Luke chapter 2 10. John the Baptist We who believe in Jesus Christ, Yeshua Ha’Masaich as our Lord and Savior can, with great peace, rest in the fact that we belong to the “remnant.” The New Testament tells us in Romans 11:5, “Even so then, at this present time, there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” Again, what is a remnant? • God’s remnant are those who acknowledge God in all their ways. • God’s remnant are those who know they are righteous because all things have been given to them that pertain to life and godliness. 2 Pet. 1:3 • God’s remnant are those who are blessed beyond measure. They are blessed because they are pleasing to God because of their faith. • God’s remnant are those who stand on God’s word and not the word of man, politicians, the media and hirelings. • God's remnant are keenly aware that they are saved by grace and not by any merit in themselves. Other Examples of a Remnant: • God has sovereignly and graciously called a remnant from Israel to receive salvation through the Messiah (Rom. 11:5). • God has sovereignly and graciously called a remnant from the nations as His people to receive salvation through the Messiah (Acts 15:14). • Upon the divine judgment of the Roman dispersion, the Lord sovereignly and graciously preserved a remnant of Jews. • During the divine cataclysmic judgment of the Tribulation, the Lord will sovereignly and graciously preserve a remnant (Rev. 7:4). (Dispensational View) So, I submit to you that there is a remnant, but there is a remnant within a remnant and perhaps a remnant, within a remnant, with a remnant. The Church is the Bride of Christ. Yet, the Bride will arise from the Church as a firstfruits. Christ and the Body of believers is known as the Church. The Church is comprised of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and have received eternal life. Christ, the Bridegroom has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His Bride. Eph. 5:25-27. Look at the story of Jesus’/Yeshua’s disciples There were 12: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was replaced by Matthias. His inner circle was: Peter, James and John. John was the disciple who laid his head of Jesus’/Yeshua’s breast. John received the Revelation of Christ. We have studied and taught that: The Church is a remnant of believers in contrast to the world system. Bride is the remnant and they can only attend the wedding if it has been granted “to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright,” which is ultimately the righteousness of Christ (2nd Cor 5:21). The Bride makes herself ready. Rev. 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” So, is the Bride of Christ a remnant within a remnant. What about the 144,000, the Elect, the Manchild or Manifested sons of God, Overcomers, Joel’s Army and the sheep/goats and wheat/tares ? Are these a remnant within a remnant or even a remnant within a remnant and a remnant within a remnant within a remnant. 144,oo0- Views: Dispensational View- One understanding is that the 144,000 are recently converted Jewish evangelists sent out to bring sinners to Jesus Christ during the seven year tribulation period. Preterists believe they are Jewish Christians, sealed for deliverance from the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Some believe the 144,000 (which they consider to be synonymous with the "little flock" of Luke 12:32) will serve with Christ as king-priests for a thousand years, while all other people accepted by God (the "other sheep" of John 10:16, composed of "the great crowd" of Revelation 7:9,14 and the resurrected "righteous.” Symbolic View-144,000 –The Redeemed from Among Men These 144,000 are the Elect, God's Israel according to faith. (This is a symbolic number containing 12x12x1000. Remember the 24 elders, representing Old and New Testament saints and the cattle on 1000 hills, meaning all hills!) Yes, the remnant of the Jews are there with the converted Gentiles! The Bride of Christ! All are made one in Christ Jesus. These are the wise virgins of Matthew 25. This true Israel is not defiled with the woman called Mystery Babylon (World System). We shall stand on Zion with Christ as his faithful Israel, the Israel of God. "But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels." (Hebrews 12:22) This 144,000 is a symbolic number representing the complete Church (not the Christian religious system) – the ekklesia (called out ones) in divine order -- marked or sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, the Perfect Man of Eph. 4:13, the new Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, the Corporate Christ with Jesus as the Head and believers as the Body, manifesting the nature of God – the image and the likeness of God fully restored, operating in the fullness of the Spirit. The Elect: Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifies. Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Manchild or Manifested Sons of God ( Rev. 12) Like as a woman with child, that draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and cries out in her pangs; so have we been in your sight, O LORD. Is. 26:17-18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were been brought forth……. Ephesians 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, The Manchild is the manifested sons of God. It is the overcoming remnant church. Some call it the Elect, and the Bride of Christ. Rev. 12 Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. The opposite of the manifested sons is people bound by religion who don’t know who they are. All creation groans for this. Romans 8:22-23 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. Joel’s Army The Army of the Lord (Joel’s army), sons being brought into the kingdom; these are sold-out, manifested sons of God. Joel 2:1-11 Overcomers The word overcomer in the Greek is Nike- Victory! John 16:33These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you [a]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 1 John 5:4whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Rev. 12:11“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Separation of the Sheep/Goats, Wheat/Tares Matt.25:31-46 The Sheep and the Goats 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Jesus separated the sheep from the goats., the wheat from the tares. In the passage, Jesus CLEARLY says He is talking about the separation of NATIONS, not individuals. (Mt. 25:32) We also see a remnant within a remnant in the last day churches. As we are today in the 3rd Day, we are seeing a separation of the True Church and the harlot Church. Rev.17 The Philadelphia Church and the Laodicean Church represent the culmination of the Church Age of Grace. The Philadelphia Church (brotherly love) shows the path the Elect/Bride will take. The Laodicean Church (carnal church) shows the path that leads to the harlot Church. The Laodician Church (harlot)will go into perdition (destruction) because the authority of the true church will not be removed. To the Laodicean Church Jesus Christ says: (Rev 3:18) I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be clothed, and so that the shame of your nakedness does not appear. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, so that you may see. Thus, the Laodician Church, once clothed with the glory of Christ until she shone like a radiant star in her righteousness, was now waning as the light of the moon when the shadow of the earth passes over it. Forsaking the poor, she embraced the rich and powerful, boasting that she was rich and increased with goods and has need of nothing, but knowing not that she wretched and miserable, poor and blind and naked. (Rev. Ch 3 :17). The Philadelphia Church was and is a church of brotherly love. This is the only church of the 7 churches that Jesus speaks to that He has nothing against. The primary reason is that they have learned the greatest commandment. (Mat 22:37 NKJV) Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. The Elect/Bride will come out of this, be separated like the parable of the wheat and the tares; they will become pure gold tried by fire. They will truly shine as they leave the old dead, glory departed church. What the Lord is showing me about the Remnant Church, the Philadelphia Church, that God is raising up in these last days. In Micah 4:6-7 the Word says: 6 “In that day,” says the LORD, “I will assemble the lame, I will gather the outcast And those whom have been afflicted; 7 I will make the lame a remnant, And the outcast a strong nation; So the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion From now on, even forever. In the last days in the world, there are those who walk after the flesh and allow the cares of this world to take precedence in their lives, and there are those who walk in the Spirit with a heart of integrity toward God. You’ve wondered what have I been going through, it’s a process of shaking, separating and fine tuning you and me. The separating has begun in the body of Christ, separating the wheat from the tares, the dross from pure gold, the sheep from the goats, the hot from the cold. In this hour God is spewing the lukewarm out of His mouth. THERE HAS BEEN A SEPARATING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME Judah, praise, again is coming forth, coming into Zion. Ps. 50:2, 76:2, Ps. 87, Obadiah 17, Hebrews 12:22. We are Mt. Zion the praise of the Lord. God said I am stirring up my people all over the world today, rebuilding the tabernacle of David upon spiritual Mount Zion. A full inheritance of the true believer in My Son, Jesus has arrived. This Holy Remnant is being separated out of the Church at large, in the same way I separated out Peter, James, and John for a different walk and a different relationship with Me. These are the people who will dwell in Zion, are behind the veil, beholding and seeking My Face. They are baptized with fire and being conformed to Me. They are worshipping Me in spirit and truth. They minister to Me within the Holy of Holies because they have surrendered, yielded, and died. Ministry will naturally flow out of them for they are ministering out of the Glory out of the Holy of Holies. There is a process for those who want to be the remnant. For everything that can be shaken will be shaken, and that which remains cannot be shaken. These are the ones I can use. I am again calling forth MY remnant. Heed My call, join My ranks, be willing to pay the price, great reward is yours. Heed the warnings of the Scriptures. In Noah's day, despite 120 years of preaching and warning, eight people were saved (Gen. 6-8). The entire history of Israel is one long litany of general apostasy with a sometimes almost invisible "very small remnant" of true believers. Isaiah 1:9. Elijah thought he was alone, but God revealed that He had 7000 left who had not bowed the knee to Baal (I Kings 19:13-18). See also Isaiah 46:3, 10:20-22, 56:8, 65:8-10. In Judges 7 Gideon was commanded to bring about change, to bring a people out of bondage to freedom. Only 300 were seen “fit” out of 32,000. The purposes of God were hidden in the 300. Jesus plainly taught the same thing. In Matthew 7:13-14, "many" enter the wide gate, but "few" the narrow one. In 4. Luke 12:32, Jesus referred to His followers as a "LITTLE flock" to whom it was the Father's good pleasure to give the kingdom. In Luke 13:23, the disciples, perhaps having begun to grasp this truth, asked Jesus directly, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" Jesus' answer (verses 24-30) makes it rather plain that while MANY will be religious -- that is, they will "seek to enter in" -- they will find themselves shut out as "workers of iniquity." The true entrance to the Kingdom is a "strait," or narrow gate. In Heb. 9:28 the writer says that Christ's coming is "to them that look for him.” Paul's "brethren," on the other hand, are "called," "chosen to salvation." God is preparing a special group of people in these last days, a people that love Him and are willing to live by faith. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him, who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." I Peter 2:9 Our faith during these times of suffering is not in vain. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." The remnant is made up of people of all denominations. Some are not even in a church building. God is calling a people from everywhere ,a people who are hungry for the truth. A people who are willing to go, be and do all that He asks. We must keep the faith in spite of all the trials that we may face. " God is raising up His church. The remnant will be bold, willing to stand up for their faith at all costs. OBEDIENCE IS THE KEY I have often wondered about who is the Lord was talking about in Matthew 7:21-23 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.22 “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ In this day the Lord will qualify a people who know him intimately. As Paul’s prayer was. “I want to know you (Lord) in the beauty of Your Holiness.” It’s a people who know God that will do great exploits. Daniel 11:32 32 “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. There will be the Philadelphia Church, the Church of agape, unconditional love, and the Laodicean Church on the earth at the same time and at the time Jesus returns. Whether we are raptured out of here are whether we walk into the kingdom, it really doesn’t matter. I like what Prophet Young said, “we are to work like He’s coming 100 years from now and be ready if He comes today.” This is a whole new race of people so to speak, the regenerated sons of God; the pure, holy , without spot or wrinkle Church. Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Christ is being formed in us. Revival/ the Move of God is here. Christ is being manifested in His people, the remnant. Let us live the perfect life, which is already in us. Let us work together as the sons and daughters of God lifting up Jesus to the world. For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea. Hab. 2:14 There are 5 principles the Lord gave me that typifies the Remnant Generation. The Remnant Generation as little to do with numbers, it’s quality, not quantity. 1. This is a people who will represent the King, bring about the Kingdom, give honor to the Lord. They will be completely sold out to Him. 2. They have a sense of community, unity in the spirit. They will come from all denominations and churches. Some are not even in church right now. 3. They have the power to endure, they’ve survived the desert, the wilderness, and have triumphed over the wiles of the enemy. 4. They are somewhat “rebels’ in the mainline tradition church’s eyes. They have come out of religious Babylon. They will call black, black and white, white. 5. They have these qualities: humility, obedience, and faithfulness As many of you know old mentalities are being shaken, reformation in the Church is upon us. There is a holy war between the old and the new. This new core, new race I’m talking about will bring change. I want to be a part of this, what about you?