Heavenly Visions

THE REMNANT CHURCH

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

OF the church waiting for Christ’s second coming, we read in Revelation: “And the dragon [the devil] was wroth with the woman [the church], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17. Here, then, is the last of the church in her probationary state, two features being prominent in her work-the keeping of all the commandments of God, and having the spirit of prophecy. HEVI 25.4

That we are right in applying the “remnant” to the last phase of the church is apparent from the words found in Joel’s prophecy. When speaking of the end, the prophet says: “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” Joel 2:30-32. So the “remnant” church, the church called out, and fitted for the Lord’s coming, will be keeping all the commandments of God, and the gift, or spirit, of prophecy will be with them to “confirm” them to the end. HEVI 25.5

In the prophecy of Isaiah we have a testimony concerning this same people, and a statement respecting the opposition of their work. The prophet says: “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever [“the latter day,” margin, Heb.]: that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not bear the law of the Lord: which say to the seers, See not: and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits; get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” Isaiah 30:8-11. HEVI 25.6

Here is presented what is to be found in the last days, a people teaching the law of God, and the gift of prophecy as connected with their work, which work is the exalting of the Holy One of Israel, and making plain his pathway of light and truth. Those opposing them desire an easier path, and “smooth things,” consequently they reject the law of God and the teachings of his Holy Spirit through the gift of prophecy. HEVI 25.7

That it is this gift that is here spoken of, and not teachers in the ordinary sense, is evident from the word here used to designate them. They “say to the seers, See not.” What is a “seer”? In the book of Samuel is given an account of Saul and his father’s servants seeking for lost animals. In their journey they came to the town where Samuel the prophet lived, “and as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here? (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)” 1 Samuel 9:11, 9. A “seer,” then, was one who communicated knowledge from God to the people; for when they went to him, they went to inquire of God. In the light, then, of the testimony of Isaiah, such a prophetic gift is to be connected with the proclamation of the law of God in the latter days. The Review and Herald, July 4, 1899 HEVI 26.1