SDA Sabbath School Lesson 11

Friday December 13, 1996

Further Study: Read Zechariah 3 and the chapter "Joshua and the Angel" in Prophets and Kings, pp. 582-592. Learn from Joshua's experience how you can be victorious over sin and fruitful in God's service.

To understand better the role of Ellen White in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, read "The Remnant Church and the Spirit of Prophecy" in Symposium on Revelation, book 2, pp. 295-333, published by the Biblical Research Institute, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Occasionally, some have taken the position that the Holy Spirit calls the remnant to depart from the Seventh-day Adventist Church and form a separate, "pure" organization, wholly committed to the straight testimony. But consider the following statement by Ellen White:

"God has not given them any such burden of labor. They would tear down that which God would restore by the Laodicean message....

The Lord lays upon no man a message that will discourage and dishearten the church. He reproves, He rebukes, He chastens; but it is only that He may restore and approve at last." - Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 22, 23.

Discussion Questions:

1. Read 2 Chronicles 30:1-13, Isaiah 10:22, Romans 9:27-29, and Romans 11:2-5. Reflect on the lessons we, as God's last-day remnant, can learn from these texts.
2. Read Isaiah 37:31, 32. Discuss the meaning of the phrase "the zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this" (NIV). What part does God's zeal play In our redemption? (See also Isa. 9:7.)
3. As a member of God's last-day remnant, what gives you hope and courage? How can you pass on this spirit of hope and courage to your fellow church members and to your unbelieving neighbors and friends?

Summary: The remnant are God's faithful people who love Him and therefore obey Him. Under Satan's instigation, the whole world will seek to destroy God's remnant people in the last days. But under the anointing of God's Spirit, this embattled group of believers will arise to proclaim the everlasting gospel with purity, power, courage, and love. When this occurs, many in the enemy camp will separate from Babylon to join them, thus becoming part of the remnant.