The New Century Dictionary defines the word remnant as, "That which remains or is left after a part has been taken away; the remainder or rest; a part, quantity, or number, usually small, remaining or left." It seems that a remnant has played an important role in God's plans. both in creation and in redemption. After billions of years of creative activity, God's final act of creation was the completion of a plan which He had from the beginning, the creation of a race of beings like unto Himself, man, and the molding of a suitable habitation for him. Thus, you might say that man is the remnant of the great creative process.
Throughout earth's history there are many examples of significant remnants; Noah and his family were a remnant of only eight saved out of a world population that has been estimated at several billion at the time of the Flood; the few hundreds of Israelites who returned to their homeland after the Babylonian captivity were a pitiful remnant of the once powerful nation; in Elijah's day there was only a remnant of seven thousand who remained faithful; in Gideon's day there remained only three hundred soldiers out of an army of several thousand; even Paul had to admit that there was only a remnant of believers (see text).
And so, down through the ages God has used a remnant to accomplish His purposes, to fulfil His plan, to complete the gospel commission. Following the great apostasy and falling away in the first thousand years of church history, in spite of great persecution, there still remained a remnant faithful to the true light of the gospel; the church in the wilderness and reformers such as Luther, Huss, Calvin, and others carried the torch of freedom from Papal domination.
Today, God has a remnant who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. This last generation He has chosen to carry the everlasting gospel to all the world. Then, during the terrible time of trouble such as has never been seen before, there will be 144,000 who will be able to stand and triumphantly endure as the "final remnant."
