Showing posts with label Two Jewish Remnants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Two Jewish Remnants. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

XIV. THE DOUBLE: “TWO JEWISH REMNANTS”


So evident is it that believers in Christ are contemplated as those who shall use the warnings connected with the manifest appearing of our Lord, that many who clung tenaciously to the opinion of a secret advent and a secret rapture, and who styled everything of an opposite teaching in Scripture “Jewish”, extended their theory by some remarkable additions. For a considerable time they were content to apply indefinitely to “the Jewish remnant” those parts of the New Testament which do not consist with the supposition that our Lord may come at any moment; but at length they saw that “the Jewish remnant” seemed to be, in some passages especially of the Old Testament, persons who do not own Jesus as the Christ until they see Him in glory; and that some other passages which they would not admit to be applicable to the Church, incontestably set forth persons who own the Lord Jesus before His coming in glory.

Hence arose a theory of two Jewish remnants: but neither of them part of “the Church”, at least not the Church of this dispensation. It was said that after the secret rapture of the Church, a certain testimony would go forth to Israel; that by this many would be converted; some said to full faith in Christ, and others said to partial; and that this remnant would go through the unequalled tribulation, and would use the Scriptures which bear on it. It was said by those who held that this remnant would be true believers, that at the manifestation of Christ they would be taken up to a place of heavenly blessedness, whilst those of them who had been cut off by persecution would be raised from the dead: that this raised and changed body of persons should share in the full glory of “the Church” was afterwards denied by those who divided the saved into classes, making the Church, as such, to extend only from Pentecost (or as some said from the martyrdom of Stephen) until the secret rapture.

Such was “the remnant” to whom these teachers applied (with various modifications) the Scriptures which speak of the glory of Christ being seen by some of His at His public coming.

“The unbelieving remnant” were those who in the purpose of God were to be preserved for earthly blessing, being converted by the manifest appearing of Jesus.

Now, it is quite true that the Scripture does speak of two remnants in Israel: First, “The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob unto the mighty God” (Isaiah 10:21). This remnant that shall return is the spared of Israel who, after the judgments of the Lord, shall be the earthly people. Second, “At this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace” (Romans 11:5). This remnant of Israel according to the election of grace, is that portion who, during this dispensation, believe in Christ; but in the Church they form no separate body; believing Jew and believing Gentile are one in Christ; and every Israelite led by the Holy Ghost to the blood of atonement now, is an integral part of the church of the first-born. Thus, believing Jews who pass through the tribulation, and wait for the Lord's appearing, are in no sense separated from those who have gone before them.

It has been asked, If the saints come with Christ, must they not have been taken away before? and may not the interval be a long one, perhaps a whole age?

The Scripture says that they are raised, and changed, and caught up to meet the Lord in the air, as He comes, and when He comes; and thus having met Him, they come with Him. If such a questioning as this were allowed to set aside plain testimonies, nothing in Scripture, however definite, would be certain.


It is in vain to imagine any “remnant according to the election of grace”, except as part of the present Church.