In the current age of the Church, we are witnessing a disturbing trend—many who claim the name of Christ are drifting away from sound doctrine, replacing biblical truth with teachings that are either watered down or outright false. This reality points us to a profound biblical concept often overlooked: the remnant church. Scripture reveals that the true body of Christ, especially in the end times, will be much smaller than many assume.
This article will explore what Scripture teaches about the remnant church, how false doctrines and a turning away from support for Israel are clear signs of the end times, and why the remnant is smaller than most people think. The remnant church is not defined by denominations, size, or popularity but by unwavering adherence to biblical truth, even in the face of mounting persecution and deception.
The Concept of the Remnant
The idea of a remnant is not new. Throughout Scripture, God has always preserved a faithful few who hold to His truth when the majority fall away. This theme is first introduced in the Old Testament and continues into the New Testament, especially in the context of the Church.
In Romans 11:5, the Apostle Paul refers to the concept of the remnant:
“In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice” (Romans 11:5).
Paul’s use of the word “remnant” is a reference to the faithful Israelites in Elijah’s day (Romans 11:4) who had not bowed to Baal. Just as there was a faithful remnant then, so too, there is a faithful remnant in every generation, including today.
This concept of the remnant is critical in understanding the Church’s role in the end times. Jesus Himself warned that not everyone who claims to follow Him truly belongs to Him. In Matthew 7:21-23, He declares:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
This passage starkly reveals that many who profess to be Christians will be shocked to find they were never truly part of Christ’s body. The remnant church is composed of those who not only profess faith but also live in obedience to God’s Word.
The Narrow Road and Apostasy
Jesus emphasized the narrowness of the true path to salvation. In Matthew 7:13-14, He said:
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
This is perhaps one of the most sobering truths in Scripture. The way that leads to eternal life is not popular, nor is it easy. As the last days approach, the divide between the remnant church and the apostate church will only widen. The remnant will be those who stay on the narrow path, while the broad road will attract a majority who will embrace false teachings and practices.
The Apostle Paul foretold of a widespread departure from the faith in the last days, known as “the apostasy.” In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, he writes:
“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.”
Before the Antichrist is revealed, Paul warns that there will be a great falling away. Many churches today are promoting false gospels, embracing worldly ideologies, and rejecting essential biblical truths. This is part of the apostasy that Paul foresaw.
The Hatred of Israel as a Marker of Apostasy
One of the clear indicators of false doctrine within the professing Church today is the increasing hatred or indifference toward Israel. The Bible teaches that Israel holds a unique place in God’s redemptive plan. God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3; 17:7-8), and Israel plays a central role in end-times prophecy.
Yet, many churches today embrace replacement theology, the false doctrine that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. This doctrine undermines the literal promises made to Israel and feeds into a broader antisemitism that is growing within certain Christian circles. The remnant church, however, understands the importance of Israel in God’s prophetic timeline.
Paul makes it clear in Romans 11:25-26 that Israel has not been abandoned:
“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.’”
The remnant church stands with Israel and recognizes that God’s covenant with them remains intact. Those who reject Israel’s place in God’s plan have strayed from sound doctrine and have aligned themselves with the false teachings that will characterize the apostate church.
False Teachers and Doctrines in the Last Days
The remnant church is often identified not only by what it believes but also by what it rejects. One of the marks of the end times is the rise of false teachers and false doctrines. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 24:11, where He says,
“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.”
Paul echoes this warning in 1 Timothy 4:1-2:
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.”
The apostate church, which is large and influential, embraces doctrines that align with the world rather than the Word. These doctrines often downplay or deny essential biblical truths such as the inerrancy of Scripture, the exclusivity of Christ for salvation, and the reality of eternal judgment.
False gospels, such as the prosperity gospel, the social justice gospel, and universalism, have infiltrated many churches. These teachings are attractive because they appeal to the desires of the flesh, but they are devoid of the true power of the Gospel. The remnant church, however, holds fast to sound doctrine, even when it is unpopular.
Paul urges Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3-4:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”
The remnant church rejects ear-tickling messages and remains faithful to the whole counsel of God’s Word, even when it is countercultural. Don't bend to the will of the culture, be culture-proof.
The Pretribulation Rapture and the Remnant
One of the key doctrines that distinguishes the remnant church, in my opinion, is the belief in the pretribulation rapture. The pretribulation rapture teaching holds that Jesus will return for His church before the tribulation period begins, sparing them from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 describes this event:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
The remnant church eagerly awaits this event, known as the blessed hope, as described in Titus 2:13:
“Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
This blessed hope is a source of comfort and encouragement for the remnant, knowing that they will be spared from the judgment that will come upon the world during the tribulation.
However, many churches today either reject the doctrine of the rapture altogether or spiritualize it, failing to take the biblical text literally. This is another indicator that the remnant is smaller than many think. The faithful remnant holds to the literal, grammatical, historical interpretation of Scripture, which includes a belief in the pretribulation rapture.
The Remnant in Revelation
The book of Revelation provides a glimpse into the end times and the role of the remnant church. In Revelation 3:10, Jesus makes a promise to the church in Philadelphia, one of the seven churches representing different types of churches throughout history:
“Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
The faithful remnant, represented by the church in Philadelphia, is promised deliverance from the tribulation period. This promise aligns with the doctrine of the pretribulation rapture.
Conversely, the church in Laodicea represents the apostate church. In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus rebukes them:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.”
The Laodicean church is characterized by complacency, self-sufficiency, and a lack of true faith. This church, though large in number, is not part of the remnant and will face judgment.
Conclusion
The remnant church is a small but faithful group of believers who remain true to God’s Word in the midst of widespread apostasy. They uphold sound doctrine, support Israel, and eagerly await the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In contrast, the apostate church embraces false doctrines, rejects Israel, and aligns itself with the world.
The Bible makes it clear that as we approach the end times, the remnant will be much smaller than most people think. Jesus warned that few would find the narrow path to life, and Paul foretold of a great falling away before the Antichrist is revealed. Yet, the remnant church can take comfort in knowing that they are part of God’s plan, preserved by His grace until the end.
As believers, we must examine ourselves to ensure that we are part of the remnant, holding fast to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3) and eagerly looking for the blessed hope of Christ’s return.