The Remnant and Its Mission Honor

Missionary Activities - Bible Studies

Requirements

1. Know the prophecy in which the apostle Paul announces the apostasy of the Church. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

   Answer: In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Paul warns that before the return of Jesus the apostasy will come, with the manifestation of the man of lawlessness who sits in the temple of God proclaiming himself to be God. — Paul wrote to correct the Thessalonians, who thought that Jesus was already returning. He stated that first a great organized apostasy would come. Reformers such as Luther and Calvin interpreted this text as a reference to the Roman papal system.

2. Understand which factors led the Church to depart from the truths about God. (Revelation 2:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

   Answer: The Church departed through the loss of its first love (Rev 2:4), the influence of human traditions, the union between Church and State in the 4th century, and the acceptance of pagan philosophies. In 2 Thess 2:9-12, Paul cites Satan's deception and the love of falsehood as the main drivers. — Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in AD 313 with the Edict of Milan, guaranteeing religious freedom and opening the way to syncretism with pagan practices such as worship on Sunday and the cult of saints (Christianity only became the official religion of the Empire in AD 380, under Theodosius I). Revelation 2:4 is addressed to the church of Ephesus for the loss of its first love.

3. Know what the characteristics are of the Christians faithful to the truth in all ages. (Revelation 12:17; 14:12)

   Answer: Revelation 12:17 and 14:12 describe the faithful remnant as those who keep the commandments of God, have the faith of Jesus, and bear witness. They obey out of love, keep the doctrine pure, and persevere in the face of the pressures of the world and general apostasy. — The expression 'patience of the saints' in Revelation 14:12 translates the Greek hupomonē, which means active, not passive, perseverance. Adventists identify themselves as this remnant because they keep the Sabbath and the commandments together with faith in Jesus.

4. Explain what the mission of God's remnant people in the last days is. (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 14:6)

   Answer: The mission is to preach the everlasting gospel to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people (Rev 14:6) and to announce the kingdom before the end (Matt 24:14). The remnant people proclaim the three angels' messages and prepare people for the second coming of Jesus Christ. — The Seventh-day Adventist Church understands that its mission is to proclaim the three angels' messages of Revelation 14:6-12 globally. Today there are more than 22 million members in more than 200 countries, taking this message to diverse cultures and languages.

5. Define what the sign or seal of God is that identifies the true Church in the last days. (Revelation 7:2; Ezekiel 20:20)

   Answer: The seal of God is the seventh-day Sabbath, according to Ezekiel 20:20, which calls the Sabbath a sign between God and his people. Revelation 7:2 shows that this seal is placed on the foreheads of God's servants before the time of the end. — Ezekiel 20:12 and 20:20 explicitly declare that the Sabbath is a sign between God and Israel forever. Adventists keep the Sabbath from Friday at sunset until Saturday at sunset, identifying themselves with the remnant of Revelation 7.

6. Memorize and recite Matthew 28:19.

   Answer: Matthew 28:19: 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.' You must memorize and recite it by heart, ideally in the version used in Adventist churches. — This text is called the 'Great Commission' and was spoken by Jesus in Galilee after the resurrection. It is the biblical basis for Christian missionary work and explicitly cites the Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — in a single baptismal formula.

7. Share with a friend what the mission of everyone who believes in Jesus is. (Mark 16:15-16)

   Answer: You must talk with a friend about Mark 16:15-16, which says: 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.' The mission is to proclaim Jesus to all people and invite them to faith and baptism. — This text is in the last words of Jesus according to the Gospel of Mark. It establishes two actions: to preach (proclaim) and to baptize (consolidate). Baptism by immersion is an Adventist practice based on this and other passages of the New Testament.