What exists at the present time?...

A remnant according to the election of Divine grace (Divine calling working in terms of foreknowledge and sovereign choice).

The remnant consists of both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 9:24) who have been called, justified, and glorified, so the eternal purpose of God in Christ may be accomplished.

The doctrine of the remnant is important throughout the Scriptures.

The name Sardis means remnant, or they who have escaped. Even in Sardis there was a small fraction of the mass of believers who knew the Lord Jesus and were following Him.

The concept of a remnant, of a Gideon’s army drawn from God’s elect, appears in the writings of the Prophets of Israel, and also in the New Testament. The idea is that of an "Elijah" company—those who serve God with a perfect heart during a period when the people of the Lord are cold and backslidden.

And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem (Isaiah 4:3).

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God (Isaiah 10:20,21).

And it shall come to pass, that whoever 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 2:32).

Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved (Romans 9:27).

Speaking of Elijah, of the remnant, and of election, Paul states:

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace (Romans 11:5).

The "remnant" are the persons, either Jewish or Gentile by natural birth, whom God has called—as Elijah—to stand against the remainder of the household of God as the representatives of His Person, will and ways. The remnant have "escaped" the demonic oppression and spiritual coldness that characterize the Lord’s people.

The remainder of natural Israel has been given by the Lord "the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear" (Romans 11:8).

The remainder of the Gentiles, who have not been elected to the remnant, continue in spiritual ignorance and death. Over every prophet is a prophet who rebukes him. Over that superior prophet is a higher prophet who rebukes the superior prophet. Over the higher prophet is an even more superior prophet who rebukes the higher prophet. And so on and on until we reach the Lord, who rebukes all the prophets.

This was the case when the Levites (Exodus, Chapter 32) came out from the remainder of the Israelites and killed their brothers with the sword. So it will be true when the Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints to judge the sinners in the churches.

From the days of Elijah to the present there has been a godly remnant that stands as a rebuke to the household of God.

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