Why So Many Denominations? - CBF250029

So glad you've joined us for Countdown. Back to the future. We're looking at the remnant and the 144,000. And answering the question, how come? Why are there so many denominations in the world? A very, very important topic in our series, as you can appreciate. You know, There are over 1000 Christian denominations in the world today. It leads us to ask this very important question, does God actually have a church today with all of those 1,000 denominations? And another question is, well, does it really matter anyway? Because don't all roads lead to heaven anyway? So it doesn't matter, just different courses for different horses, so to speak. Why are there so many denominations? That's a very good question and we're going to answer that question as we proceed. And another vital question is this one, Does God actually have a church today or does it really, as we said, doesn't really matter. Well, let's begin with 144,000, because that's a very important issue on many people's minds. This number, this strange number in the book of Revelation, There are actually two portraits, two pictures of the 144,000. They're found in Revelation chapter 7 and Revelation chapter 14. The first portrait, they are the survivors, the survivors of the end time cataclysmic crisis. John sees the four horsemen and the seven seals. And remember, in this vision of these four horsemen and these seven seals, it ends with a question, who can stand before the throne of God and the Lamb? Who can be ready for Jesus to come? We've seen that a number of times before in this series. And the answer given is the 144,000 Israelites who have God's end time mark or seal in their forehead. These are the ones who are saved when Jesus returns. Because that's the question, who can stand before the throne of God and the Lamb? Well, let's pick up now on the 144,000 Israelites. Now, you remember that in the book of Revelation there are many symbols and they're interpreted by the Bible itself. Now, we've seen that the Israelites means Jews and non Jews who are in Jesus Christ. We took a presentation on that when we looked at new beginnings. That's what Israelites means, Jews and non Jews in Jesus. What about God's end times seal? What is that? Outward evidence of that is keeping of God's seventh day Sabbath. That's the outward sign of God's seal, that we belong to God, that we're committed to God, that we love God, that we worship him as Creator. It's God's seventh day Sabbath. Something outward that says, that's true for these people. So now we need to understand this bit. What about the 144,000? How do we understand that? Does it mean only 144,000 Israelites? Is that what it means? Not much hope for many of us, is there? If that's the case, when Jesus comes, who can stand the 144,000 Israelites? Well, here's something that we haven't looked at yet, but it's a great tip to understanding Revelation. Notice what happens in the Book of Revelation. What we see is John hears something, and when he gets the explanation, the explanation comes in what he sees. So he hears something, and when he looks, that's the explanation to what he's heard. Let me give you a couple of examples of that. Here's one. First page of the Book of Revelation. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, he says, and I heard behind me a loud voice. So he heard something as of a trumpet. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned, I saw one like the Son of man. So he heard a voice like a trumpet. When he looked, he saw, this is Jesus, the Son of man, among the candlesticks. Here's another one in chapter five. This time the Bible says, one of the elders said to me, so I heard what this elder said. I heard, in other words, don't weep. Behold the line of the tribe of Judah. The root of David has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seals. Then he says, and I looked, I saw, I heard about this lion of the tribe of Judah. But then I looked, and what did he see? He said, and I saw. Behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb as though it had been slain. Do you see? He heard about a lion of a tribe of Judah. When he looked, he saw a lamb, Jesus, the crucified one. Now we come to the 144,000. And John does the same thing. He hears about the 144,000. How many are sealed? Let's notice it. Then I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. Next, however, when he looks, what does he do? He sees them in heaven. And what does he see in in heaven? When he looks, after he's heard, what does he see? The Bible says, after these things, I looked and behold a great multitude which no one could number of all the nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb. These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, the end time plagues. In other words, they've washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God. What was the question? Who can stand before the throne of God and the Lamb? What does John see when he looks? He sees a countless multitude of Christ's followers, Jews and non Jews in Jesus, that's what he says. A great multitude which no one could number of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues. This is not just ethnic Jews. These are people of all different nations. Cause they've accepted Jesus, so they become part of the Israel of God. So what was the question? Who can stand? Who can stand before the throne of God and the lamb? He saw 144,000. Or I should say, he heard 144,000. But when he looked, what did he see standing before the throne of God? After these things, I looked. And behold a great multitude which no one could count, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Do you see, my friend? The 144,000 stands for a countless multitude of Christ's followers. So the first thing I want you to know is this. There's plenty of room for you. God's not going to get to 144,001 and say, sorry, you miss out because you're not. You don't come into the 144,000. You're won over. No, it's not like that. Now, why do these people survive? Why do these 144,000 survive? So that they can stand before the throne of God and the Lamb when everybody else is calling for the rocks and the mountains to fall on them. Which is what happens. Why is that? And why the number? Why that strange number? Why does it say that? Well, that brings us to the second portrait where these people are not just the survivors, but they are the faithful. And this is found in the final battle for global worship or allegiance that we're looking at. Remember these three beasts, the dragon, the sea beast and the land beast. They seek global worship, your allegiance and mine. And sadly, most people will worship or give their allegiance to Satan. Why? Because they follow the beast. All the world marveled and they followed the beast. So says John. They worshiped the dragon, Satan, who gave authority to the beast? Not quite all. All except John says, except 144,000. Why, these are the faithful to God. They are not the unfaithful who follow the dragon. They are the faithful and that's why John sees this picture. Now notice what he says. Then I looked after he sees everybody following the beast and following the dragon. He says, then I looked, and there before me was the lamb standing on Mount Zion. And with him the 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. Now you see, my friend, God's name and God's seal. This is a sign of belonging and faithfulness to the God whose name we take to the God whom we belong. We saw it before. But let me share with you that text again. Nevertheless, says Paul, the solid foundation of God stands having this seal. And what does the seal mean? The Lord knows those who are his who belong to him. And he says, let everyone who names the name of Christ, who takes his name, who says, I'm his follower, let everyone depart from iniquity, turn away from sin. In other words, be faithful. They belong and they're faithful. And that's why John sees these people. They're not following the dragon, they're not following the beast. What are they following? These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed. That's why they follow the Lamb. He's redeemed them. It's amazing. Now to follow the Lamb is to obey the Lamb. Notice what it says in the Book of Kings about King Hezekiah. For he, Hezekiah held fast to the Lord. He stayed with God. He did not depart from following him. But what did he do? He kept his commandments. That's what it means to follow the Lamb. We just keep following whatever he says. We keep his commandments. So there it is, the final battle for global worship or allegiance. This battle, this final battle for global worship is between two bookend texts. Now we see, we've mentioned this before. The battle begins with this bookend text. Or I should say it ends with this bookend text. Here is the patience of the saints. That means here is the endurance of God's people. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus because of their faith in Jesus. They are faithful to Jesus, in other words. And these are called the remnant. The Bible says, beginning text of this great battle. Look how it begins. The dragon was wroth with the woman. He went to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God. And they have the testimony of Jesus. Do you see there it is sandwiched between two bookend like texts. These people keep the commandments of God. They are faithful to God. That's what it's telling us. That's what these people stand for. Now the question is, why the number? Why that strange number? Because it means not all Israel, only part of Israel. Not all Christians, only faithful Christians. A remnant of Christians is what he's telling us. Because not all people who claim to be followers of Christ are actually Christians. Right? You know that. I know that. Just to claim to be a follower doesn't make us a follower. We have to be faithful. So a remnant of Christians, you see, that number is code for remnant in the Book of Revelation. Not all, but only a part. Only the faithful. These survive because they are faithful. These are the survivors and they survive because they're faithful. Now that brings us to this word, the remnant. Remember we said the remnant and the 144,000. Because that's what remnant means in the Bible. It means those two things. The remnant, first of all, are the survivors of God's wrath. Look what it says in the Book of Isaiah, talking about the remnant that survived. Notice what it says. Except the Lord of Hosts had left unto us a very small remnant. We should have been like Sodom, we should have been like Gomorrah, those cities which were destroyed by the wrath of God. But God left us a remnant, survivors. But the remnant is also called the faithful in the Bible. Notice what happens when we go to the Book of Romans and Paul is talking to his friends. He says, but talking of Elijah, the prophet. Elijah was a runaway prophet at this stage. He was scared stiff of Queen Jezebel. And God caught up with him in a cave and said, what are you doing here, Elijah? And he gave some excuse. He said, I'm the only one. Notice what it said. But what does the divine response say to Elijah when he said, I'm the only one left? God says, I have reserved for myself 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal, who have not been unfaithful, who have been faithful. Even so, says Paul. Even so. Then at the present time, in Paul's time, there is a remnant to, according to the election of grace, the remnant. Just like there was a remnant in Elijah's day who were faithful. So Paul says there's a remnant now in his day, these were the faithful people who did not crucify Christ or who asked for forgiveness if they had done that, who changed their ways. So the New Testament church is called a remnant of Israel, a remnant, a faithful people that came. So when it says the 144,000 Israelites, it's just simply saying this is God's end Time Remnant church, His remnant church of Bible prophecy, His end time prophetic movement which we saw is made up of people who came from all denominations. And we're going to see that even more clearly in a moment. Now we need to go to the second question. We now understand the good news of the 144,000. They are the survivors of who are faithful to God. Now, of course, relatively speaking, it's a small group because the road to destruction, God said, is narrow. Sorry, it was broad, I should say the road to destruction, the road to God's kingdom is narrow and few go that way. Most go the Broadway. So relatively speaking, yes, of course it's not a huge group compared to the rest, but it's not just a literal number of 144,000. Now this question we need to answer. Why are there so many denominations? How come? Well, let's now go to the Bible and look at the church in the Bible. Let's see what the New Testament says about the Church of God. Number one in the Bible. In the New Testament, there was one organized New Testament church. Now I say organized because many people think the church is just a bunch of people. Well, it is people, of course, but they are people organized for mission. Jesus was the first to start to organize the people. He chose apostles. When the church got started, they had a central council in Jerusalem. It meant they chose deacons, they chose elders. It was a very organized thing. The Church of God for a mission. Do you think God's not organized? Have a look out in space. You can plot your course on the seas. Because the stars are so organized by God. Right? An organized church. The New Testament. The Bible says one body, one church, one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. So there was one organized church. There was one new one belief system in the New Testament church. They didn't have lots of different ideas. They all had the same, the same teachings. In the New Testament times, the Bible says one faith. We often use that word, one faith. We ask, what's your faith? We mean, what do you believe in? Right. That's how we use it. And the New Testament uses it that way too. The Bible says, earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Bible is very clear. One New Testament belief system. Number three, There was God's plan for one united church. God's intention was never to have a thousand denominations. That wasn't his original plan by a long shot because the Bible says that they may be one. This is Jesus prayer. As you Father are in me and I am in you. And Paul wrote these words to his friends in Corinth that there should be no schism, no division in in the body. That's the Church. In the New Testament, the body of Christ. Now number four. The Bible however, predicted that there would be a departure from New Testament belief. New Testament faith, New Testament truth. The Bible saw that coming and predicted it. So when it happened, God's people would see. Yes, God knows the end from the beginning and we can trust him. Notice what the Bible says. Paul is talking, he's predicting what's going to happen. He says now the Spirit expressly says, speaks expressly that in the latter times, in the days to come, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and what the doctrines of demons. They'll change their doctrines and follow the doctrines of demons. Satan's teachings. No question. The New Testament predicted this would happen. So now let's go to University History of Christianity and we're going to see how come we have so many denominations today and what our great God has been up to in this process. It's amazing. Now you remember Constantine was the first Christian Roman Emperor, at least in name. He becomes a Christian eventually and he makes Rome. That makes the Church the official religion of the Roman Roman Empire. Now you recall that because the Church's headquarters now are in Rome. Pagan beliefs entered the Christian Church because it's surrounded by paganism in the days of Constantine and before. And the Church quickly fell away from truth as time progressed down through the ages. For example, one of the first things to be changed was the Sabbath. It was changed from the Saturday or what we call the seventh day to Sunday, the first day, one of the first things. Then came the worship of Mary in 381 A.D. it wasn't there in the New Testament times. You never read about that in the New Testament. It's not in the Bible. Then comes infant baptism. 416 AD in the Bible it's believer's baptism. You have to be taught, you have to repent and you need to believe. Babies can't do it. But this moved into the Christian church. Then came the worship of images and saints. 783 A.D. as we go through time, notice what's happening. New teachings are coming in to the church. 1100s A.D. thereabouts, 1100 A.D. baptism by immersion ceases. And we saw some of the baptisteries that had been used before this time by the church for centuries. 1123 A.D. celibacy of the priests. This is a surprising one because Peter, who's said to be the first bishop of Rome by the Church of Rome. He was a married man, the Bible says. So he took his wife with him. The Bible says. Then 1215 AD confession to priests comes into the Christian Church. Instead of going straight direct to God through Jesus, the one Mediator, the Bible says people were now going via priests. 1229 A.D. bible reading is forbidden. You couldn't believe that. Hardly could you. But it's forbidden. By the time we get to 1545, we have the Church saying that tradition is above the Bible. The Bible is not the number one thing. This is underneath the Church's traditions. Very few New Testament teachings and beliefs remained intact by the time we come to this time period. The Bible said, however, all authority has been given to me in heaven and earth. Make disciples baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. That's what I like about the Church of Rome. While they lost so many teachings, they maintain this one, that Jesus is God. The Holy Spirit is God. The Father, of course, is God. That's what I like about our Catholic friends. They've maintained that teaching. Thank God for that. But then you remember the Bishop of Rome becomes the head over all the bishops, the head of the Churches, so to speak. Thanks to the Emperor Justinian538 AD and what we find the Dark Ages begin things not going so good. Now there occurred by the year 1054, the great schism. The Church in the east and the Church in the West. You see, the Eastern Churches rejected the teaching of Papal supremacy that the Bishop of Rome was the number one bishop of all the churches. They rejected that idea. They believed that Christ was the head of the Church, not any person. They found this in the Bible. It says, for Christ is the head of the Church. And they also taught that the Vicar or the representative of Christ is not not a man. It's the Holy Spirit. Because the Bible says very clearly, Jesus is talking. I will pray the Father and he will give you another helper. The Spirit of truth whom you know. For he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you through the Holy Spirit. And so the Orthodox Churches came into existence formerly with this grand teaching. Christ is the head of the Church and the Vicar of Christ is the Holy Spirit. And that's what I like about our Orthodox friends. They maintained and kept that teaching in the Church. Jesus is the head of the Church and the Holy Spirit is the representative. Now there were Calls for reformation in the Western church down through time. Big calls, big godly priests, godly bishops called the church back to the Bible. But sadly, their voices were silenced by religious persecution. The Bible was banned, it was burned. It was forbidden to be translated into the languages of the people. The reason being, of course, people would then see, hey, the Church has strayed from the Bible. We need to get back to God's word. But the Church banned the Bible to be into the languages of the people. The Bible puts it this way, way back in time. Then the dragon persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she has a place prepared by God that they should feed her there. 1,260 days and we've seen already in this series, one prophetic day represents one literal year in time. The 1260 days are 1260 literal years. And persecution raged through the centuries. It began and continued. And the Dark Ages came to the world. The light went out, so to speak. But finally, down in the 1500s, a match was struck. Someone lit a candle, so to speak. His name was Martin Luther, a godly preacher in the church of Rome. As he began to study the Bible there, in Wittenberg, he discovered this grand teaching that the Bible alone is the sole rule of faith and practice. He found it in the Bible itself. All scripture is inspired by God. It comes from him. And then in Isaiah, Isaiah had said to the law and to the testimony to the Scriptures to God's commandments and all of his words. If they do not speak according to this word, it's because there's no light in them. This is the standard for practice and truth, the Bible. As he studied the Bible, he came across this grand teaching that we are saved by grace alone, through faith in Jesus, plus nothing else. For by grace are you saved through faith. There is the text that Martin Luther rediscovered as he studied the Bible. For by grace you have been saved through faith, the sheer, undeserved, merited favour of God. It is the gift of God, a gift you don't earn. Not of works, not of human effort, so that no one can boast. And so the Lutheran Church came into existence thanks to those two great teachings that Luther discovered. The Bible alone as the sole prophecy, rule of faith and practice and grace alone. And that's what I like about our Lutheran friends, the Lutheran Church. They brought these teachings back to the attention of the Christian church way back then, in the time of Martin Luther. But God had more light yet to break out of his word. I like the way The Bible puts it here in the book of Proverbs. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn and shining ever brighter to the full light of day. The church had been in the dark for centuries. Bit like you go into a cave and it's pitch black. When you come out into the sunlight, it blinds you almost. So God did not bring all the truth in one hit. He began to parcel it out little by little as they could take it. There came a man by the name of John Calvin. He was a devout member of the church of Rome, a great theologian. As this man, this godly man in the church of Rome, studied the Bible. He discovered this great teaching, the sovereignty of God, that God is in control. Texts like this one here, found in the book of Daniel. He, God changes the times and the season. He removes kings and raises them up. He gives wisdom and knowledge. God is in control, even though sometimes it looks like no one's in control. Behind the scene, behind the play and counter play of human beings, God steadily is guiding this planet, his people on this planet. Texts like this one in the book of Romans. On a personal level, not just a political level, a grand global level, but a personal level, we know that all things work together for good. To those who love God, not all things are good, but God will bring good out of every bad situation for his people to those who are the called according to his purpose. And so that grand teaching of the sovereignty of God. But Calvin had another one that he discovered the security and the assurance of salvation in Jesus when I come to him. He found texts like this, no doubt, he who has the Son has life. These things I've written, says John, that you may know, not that you may hope, but that you may know that you have eternal life. And so the Reformed churches came into existence thanks to John Calvin and his friends. With the sovereignty of God, that great teaching coming back to the attention of the church and the assurance and security of salvation in Jesus. And that's what I like about our Presbyterian and Reformed church friends. They brought that teaching back to the attention of God's people. But more light was yet to come back to God's church from his word. John Smith was an Anglican. John Smith went to Holland from England. And in 1607 that's when he left. And Smith over there in Holland discovered that baptism in the Bible was by immersion, just like Jesus was baptized. And so in 1608 he was baptized. And so he set up the First Baptist Church in 1612 with this grand teaching from the Bible, buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. And so the Baptist church came into existence with believers, baptism by immersion. And that's what I like about our Baptist friends. That Baptist Church brought those teachings, that teaching back to the attention of God's people. But there was still more light to come out of God's word. Because the church had been in the dark for centuries. God raised up another instrument. This man was an Anglican priest. His name was John Wesley. I mentioned him in a previous presentation. But John Wesley, once he found Christ as he studied the Scripture, he discovered this grand teaching, living like Christ Jesus, living his life in us. Text like this one from the book of Galatians. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but it's Christ. It's Jesus who lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me and for you. And so the Methodist Church came into existence thanks to John Wesley with that grand teaching, living like Christ, his life in us, because he lives in us. And that's what I like about our Methodist and our Wesleyan friends. Their church brought those things back to the attention of the Christian Church. Do you notice what's going on through the ages? Truth is being gradually restored piece by piece. They went into a dark age tunnel. In 538 AD, one church, basically 1260 years later, in 1798, there emerged a mortal multitude of churches. And that's how many of them began bringing light out of God's word back to the attention of the church. Now each group you notice has some Bible truth, but no group has all of it. It's scattered like gems all over the place. And then comes the year 1798, the end of the 1260 years. Remember 1798, God's prophetic clock struck strike the hour that time of the end began. And people began to study in that very year the book of Daniel, especially the 2, 300 day prophecy which was said to be sealed. Gabriel said, till the time of the end. Lock it up. Daniel not going to understand till we get to the time of the end. It's sealed till that particular time. Then when 1798 came along, what happens? Many different denominations, they began to study this great prophecy of the 2,300 days. Daniel began to be unsealed right on time. God's prophetic clock had struck the hour. Many denominations, as we saw, began to study the 2,300 day prophecy. Roman Catholic Jesuit priest Manuel de Lacunza. All the different denominations across the spectrum began to study this great prophecy of Daniel, chapter 8, verse 14. Many of them said, we're not sure what's going to happen in 1843, 1844, something's going to happen. That was the end point. They all discovered 1843, 1844. What's going to happen? We don't have a clue, some said, but one man in particular, remember we saw a Baptist farmer by the name of William Miller. He said, no, Jesus is going to come. But Jesus didn't come. Jesus didn't show up on October 22, 1844. And the next morning they experienced that bitter what is known as the great disappointment. It was an interdenominational group, remember, people of all different denominations and faiths studying the same prophecy. Some of them came together. What went wrong? How come Jesus didn't come? So they studied the cleansing of the sanctuary because it said, After 2,300 days, then the sanctuary will be cleansed. They realized at that point that this meant that God's judgment began in 1844, just as Revelation said, the judgment begins before Jesus returns. We saw that in a previous presentation. So they saw this is what would happen. The judgment had begun in heaven's temple. This was at an interdenominational group, remember? They start to study the Bible together. They, as it were, compare notes. Someone says, don't you know that baptism is by immersion? No, we thought it was by sprinkling. Well, what does the Bible say? And so they're able to share that teaching that had come from the Bible. Someone else says, don't you know that death is asleep? No, we thought you'd go straight to heaven, straight to hell, at death, depending on whether you're good or bad. Well, what does the Bible say There they discover death is asleep. Someone says, don't you know that the seventh day is the Sabbath, the Saturday in their countries? No, we're Sunday worshipers here. We worship on the first day. Well, what does the Bible say? And so they studied and shared these gems that had been scattered all over the place. And that's how the Seventh Day Adventist Church came into existence in the 1850s. People of different denominations coming together, sharing what they had discovered. Over 1,000 denominations, remember? And which is God's church among all that? Does it really matter? Well, the Bible says it matters. The Bible says there will be one flock, there will be one shepherd. That's future, you see, it's always God's aim to have one church. There'll be one body, one church, one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. God's end time church in the Bible is called the remnant. We saw that plainly in our last presentation. What does the Bible say? The dragon was angry with the woman and we went to make war with the remnant of her seed. The remnant of her seed? Who's the seed of the woman in this Revelation chapter 12 prophecy? Her seed is Jesus. She's carrying the baby. It's caught up to God and his throne. So in other words, this is the remnant of Jesus. But Jesus just doesn't come along in his person. Remember Paul's on the road to Damascus. He's persecuting the church, it says. And Jesus meets him and he says, saul, why do you persecute me? Well, I'm not. Yes you are. You're persecuting my church. That's my body. So this is the remnant of his body. It's the remnant church of Bible prophecy. That's what it's saying here. It's the prophetic end time movement of God. That's what's called his remnant church in the Book of Revelation. So which is God's remnant church? Over a thousand denominations. Do we need to go to each one personally and try to question and quiz, find out is this the remnant church might have God's people, but is it the remnant church? Well, fortunately God has given us a way so that we can know very simply from the Bible very clearly. You see, in the Book of Revelation, God gives us five identifying characteristics of the remnant church of Bible prophecy. Just like he gave six or seven characteristics of the sea beast, so we know who that is. And the land beast, five characteristics so we can see it for ourselves. So he gives us five identifying characteristics. Here they are. Number one, they keep the commandments of God. The Bible is very plain. In the end times it says the dragon went to make war with the remnant of her seed who keep the commandments of God, who follow God's commandments. That includes the seventh day Sabbath, of course. That's what it must include. So immediately you can ask, does this church here that I'm looking at keep the Sabbath as well? If it doesn't, then it may have God's people, of course among them, but it's not the remnant church of Bible prophecy. That means 95% of the denominations can be immediately put to one side because they don't keep God's seventh day Sabbath. So now we can concentrate our efforts on what's left? You see? So we continue this movement. The remnant people has the faith of Jesus. What does that mean? Let's notice first. Here is the patience of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and they have the faith of Jesus. What does the faith of Jesus mean? It means they have faith in Jesus number one, for forgiveness of sin. They have faith in Jesus for salvation. They have faith in Jesus for a new life. They have faith in Jesus for victory over Satan and sin. That's what it means. That's what it teaches in the Bible. It comes by faith. But it means more than that. It means they have the teachings or the doctrines of Jesus. The faith of Jesus that was once delivered to the saints. And what is the faith of Jesus? What are the teachings of Jesus? Well, here are some of them. Very quickly, baptism by immersion. He taught that. So you need to ask, does this group practice baptism by immersion? Number two, does it believe that death is asleep? Or do they teach death? At death you go to heaven or hell. No, death is asleep, according to Jesus. That's what he taught. Jesus believed in a visible return. If they're teaching a secret rapture, then, you know, maybe God's children are there. But this is not the remnant church. It must teach a visible return of Jesus for his people. Jesus kept the seventh day, Sabbath. So again, does it keep the Sabbath? And finally, what about healthful living? Jesus taught that his body was the temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus believed in healthful living. That's why he went around healing people when he was here. All right, now let's notice something else. Now, this remnant must proclaim the three angels messages, because the Bible says that, doesn't it? Revelation 10. What did the angel, the mighty angel tell these people to do? You, he said to them, you must prophesy again to many peoples, nations, tongues and kings. What would they prophesy or proclaim? Well, they would proclaim the three angels message, because right there it says the hour of God's judgment has come. That's what they're to proclaim. Then number four, the remnant must be a global movement. It must be going everywhere around the world, because that's what the Bible says. John says, having the everlasting gospel to proclaim to every nation, tribe, tongue and person. And finally, the remnant must emerge after 1798, because that's what the Bible says happens. The remnant is seen after that, 12, 60 years. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, that they should feed her there with 12, 60 days. And what emerges after 1798. That's when John sees the remnant. There the dragon was angry with the woman, so now he goes to make war with the remnant of her seed. That is the prophetic end time movement of God after 1798. The remnant church of Bible prophecy. So there are the five identifying characteristics that you and I can apply to every denomination. Does it fulfill those criteria? Does it keep all of God's commandments, including the Sabbath? Does it have the faith of Jesus, his beliefs, as well as trust in Jesus? Does it proclaim the three angels messages? Or does it not even mention those things? That's how we know which is the remnant. Is it a global movement or is it just in one or two parts of the world? And finally, when did it emerge? Did it emerge after 1798? So which is God's remnant church of Bible prophecy? How would we know? Well, let me take you to Nablus before we talk about that for a moment. Here in Nablus is this well where one day Jesus met a woman at the well. A famous story. Notice what Jesus said. He said, you worship what you do not know. We know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews. Now Jesus wasn't saying the Jews are the only ones going to be saved, but he was saying they had the message of salvation. But the hour is coming and now is when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Both are important. Now was Christ being arrogant to this woman when he said, you don't know what you're doing lady, but we do know what we're doing? No, Jesus wasn't being arrogant, of course not. He was simply telling the truth to the Jews had been entrusted the teachings of the Bible that were to prepare people for his return, for his first coming and for his second coming. Both in, in the Old and New Testaments they had that. So which is God's remnant church? There is only one church that fits all of those criteria that we've been through those five points. Only one church fits. Now I have looked at this myself. You'll have to do that for your own self. But as I've looked at them, there's only one church that fits those criteria and it's the Seventh. Seventh Day Adventist Church. Now this doesn't mean that every person in the Seventh Day Adventist Church is the remnant people, but the church is the remnant church of Bible prophecy because sadly there are some people who don't love Jesus with all their heart. So we're not talking about this is the only people God has his kids Scattered everywhere. But this church is the remnant church of Bible prophecy. Does it keep God's ten Commandments? Well, of course it keeps the Sabbath. We've shared that in this series of programs that you've been watching. Does it believe in the faith of Jesus for forgiveness and for salvation, for a new life and for a powerful life of victory over Satan and sin? Well, we've been sharing that again, haven't we, in this series? Every time we've been talking about that. Does it have the faith or the teachings of Jesus as well? Yes, of course. The Seventh Day Adventist Church believes in baptism by immersion. It believes that death is asleep. We had a whole presentation on what Jesus and the Bible taught on that. Does it believe in the visible return of Jesus and not coming secretly? The very visible return? We've shared that. Does it teach that the seventh day is the Sabbath? Of course we've been through that. And does it believe in healthful living? We took a whole program on how we can look after our health to bring glory to our great God. Does it proclaim the three angels messages? Well, that's what this whole series has been about. We've looked at the first, the second, and we're soon going to look. Sorry, we're soon going to look at the second angels message. In our next presentation. We've looked at these great three angels messages. And is it a global church? Yes. In fact, there are only two truly global churches in the world today. They are the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the Church of Rome. Both are in almost every country of the world. Now, it's not the biggest church, but it has been entrusted with a message for the planet to help people to get home to God. In the New York, New York. On one occasion in the American Bible Society, there was a graph with all the different Protestant denominations and where they were working around the world. The second one was in 88 countries. The first one was in over 200 countries and that was the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Because God wants us to go global with these three angels messages. The whole world must know. And yes, the Seventh Day Adventist Church did emerge after 1798. It was officially founded in 1863 by name. Its purpose is not for itself. Its purpose is to bring my children home. That's what its purpose is for. God loves everybody and God has raised up a movement. It was an interdenominational movement. That's how it started and that's how it's going to finish as God brings his people from all different isms so that people can be ready for the coming of Jesus Christ. Then I look, says John, and there before me was a lamb standing on Mount Zion. And with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written in their foreheads. God's name, my friend, is his character. That's what his name stands for, what he's like as a being. And what is God like? We hear God's name. When Moses met God on Mount Sinai, he wanted to see God. And God said, I will proclaim my name. Notice what happens there on Mount Sinai. The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him, that's with Moses, and proclaimed the name. That's the character you're going to see of God. The name of the Lord and the Lord passed by before and proclaim the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering and abundant in goodness. That's kindness and truth and faithfulness, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. And it will by no means clear the guilty. Visiting the iniquity, that means visiting those who cling to sin and hold onto it. He will have to punish that of the fathers upon the children and upon the children's children unto the third and fourth generations. I want to say to my friends who may be Seventh Day Adventists for a moment, just because you have been baptized as a Seventh Day Adventist Christian doesn't make you the remnant. Do you have God's name? In other words, do you have the character of God? Are you merciful? Are you gracious? Are you kind? Are you loving? Are you that sort of a person? Cause that's what the 144,000 have God's name. They have his character. These are the nicest people on the planet. They're like God. Do you love Jesus? Let me tell you, my friend, if you don't love Jesus, you will give up this thing about the Sabbath. You will give up this when the crunch times comes because you want to buy and sell rather than refuse the mark of the beast. And my friends who belong to other churches, you love God. You're one of his children. God is calling us to be part of this end time movement, that's for sure. Notice what Jesus said as we close here. Jesus said, I'm the good shepherd and I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. I lay down my life for the sheep. Oh, thank God for that other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring. And what's going to happen? They will hear my voice. There'll Be one flock and there will be one shepherd. My friend, if you belong to one of those other denominations or other isms, God is speaking to you too. He's saying, listen, I want one flock and one shepherd. It's called the Remnant. In the end of time, I'm calling you. I love you. You know my voice. You care about me. Won't you follow me? Won't you come and be part of this great prophetic movement thing that I'm doing? It's not, not what people are doing, it's what God's doing. His prophetic clock has struck the hour. My friend, you need to follow Jesus too. That's why God is calling you. You're not hearing these, these presentations by accident. God knew you were ready to hear this, otherwise he wouldn't let you hear it. He knows your time has come so that you too can make a stand for Jesus. Let's bow together in prayer as we close. Father, I want to thank you so much for the clarity of the Bible. I want to thank you Lord, that you have no favorites. Your children are scattered everywhere on this planet. You love them, they're in the different isms of this world, even non Christian religions. You'll call them to yourself. They are your children and you call them in your time, in your place, in your way. They're in the different denominations, Lord, but we must, we must follow the voice of the good Shepherd. I pray that you will help those, Lord who are hearing this presentation to say, lord, I want to be part of your end time remnant. I want to truly be a remnant person. I want to have the character of Jesus reproduced in my life. I want to have that mercy, that grace. I want your name written on my forehead, so to speak. Lord, help those hearing right now to say yes to Jesus, to say, lord, I'll follow you, my Saviour, wherever you lead. Lord, thank you for hearing our heartfelt cry. It's hard for us to do that which is difficult. But Lord, you'll give us the strength because you're the good Shepherd. So bless us now in Jesus name. We thank you. Amen. Well, we're so glad that you have been listening to this presentation and watching this presentation in our Countdown Back to the Future series. Whatever you do, you must cancel all things to make sure you watch this next presentation. We're going to look at Babylon rising demonic dimensions and a night cry. A cry in the night. Whatever you do, don't miss that presentation. Invite a friend to watch it with you. Maybe send them a link, tell them to watch 3abn in this countdown Back to the Future series. We look forward to seeing you then.