In Revelation, we learn about a group of people who will be faithful to God when all others have fallen away. The last of the faithful, they are called the remnant. They are given some important identifying marks, by which we can know what kind of people they are, and even more importantly, how we can make certain that we are among them.
“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.” Revelation 12:17. The two great characteristics of the remnant are that they keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. At the very center of their existence as God’s chosen people, as those whom Satan most chooses to target, is their obedience to God.
“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads….These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth….And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:1-5.
In John’s portrayal of the 144,000, the final generation of that faithful remnant who will live to see Jesus come and experience translation to heaven, we see a central characteristic of this group, again, is obedience: they “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” Further, “they are without fault.” Not a partial obedience is here portrayed, but full obedience. This is full obedience to all the commands of God.
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. The saints, the faithful remnant of God, are identified by their strict obedience to God’s commandments. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14. The gates of the Holy City will be opened only for those who have obeyed God’s commandments. Disobedience, sin, cannot enter there.
The whole law, and the writings of the prophets, said Jesus, hang on two great principles: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” and, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40. Thus, in fulfilling from the heart “the commandments of God,” the saints of Revelation 14:12 have come to love the Lord with all their hearts. They have come to love their neighbors as themselves. Every command given us by God leads us toward these two great goals.
As Jesus pointed out, not only do the Ten Commandments lead us to love God with all the heart and our neighbor as ourselves, but so do “the prophets.” Thus, in order to come up fully to the point God has for them, the remnant must obey not only “the commandments of God,” but also “the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17. And “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10. It is the gift of prophecy, the inspired messages given by God to His church through the voice of His divinely inspired chosen messengers. As Seventh-day Adventists, we believe that Ellen White was entrusted with the gift of prophecy, one of the spiritual gifts which is needed for the church to come to perfection.
“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-15.
God’s commands are given in His Law and in the messages He inspired prophets to write. Both are equally inspired. Both are equally authoritative. Both will be gladly obeyed by the remnant.
Especially in the writings of Ellen White, God has given us many directions which, if followed, will lead us to love God with all of the heart, and our neighbor as ourselves. These directions are often specific in nature. The remnant, as the last faithful ones, must come up to every point of God’s will. In addition to this, the fact that we live in the most demoralized period of earth’s history means that our perceptions of right and wrong are likely to be clouded by the influence of the culture in which we live. Thus, God has seen fit to leave no important principle to our own judgment, but rather to make very clear what He requires of us.
In seeking to come up to every point of God’s will, we must rely on His directions for that work. It is not up to our judgment to decide what pleases Him or does not please Him. It is not for us to decide what actions or practices would keep us from loving Him with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength. Only through His inspired writings can we arrive at an understanding of the way He wants us to live so that He will truly be the Lord of our lives.
None need err. None need wonder what is sin or what is righteousness, or with what actions and practices we can be admitted to heaven. He has shown us His will in regard to our use of time and money, our care of our health, our family life and the raising of our children, our dress and appearance, the food with which we fill our minds, our leisure enjoyments, and our interactions with those around us.
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” 1 Peter 2:9.
A Plain Path 