THE REMNANT
[p. 113] THE REMNANT
The point in the verses before us is to see what the remnant is, and what characterises the remnant. The scriptural idea of a remnant is quite different from the human idea. In man’s mind the remnant means an old, worn-out part, or simply what is left of the original; but in Scripture we see that the remnant is always characterised by the very brightest traits of the original. The remnant is really the tithe, or tenth, and is the conquerors’ portion (see Genesis 14; Isaiah 6, etc.). God is the Conqueror through Christ. The remnant is peculiarly Christ’s, and all that is of Him characterises it.
Look at Simeon and Anna. They present to us two prominent features found in the remnant. They were not all the remnant of that day, but, being two, they present a competent testimony as to the whole remnant as seen of God. The woman sets forth the truth of a condition, and the man the energy of the condition - the man the strength, the woman the affection, of the remnant. How brightly those two shine out in the dark day; and it was a dark day indeed, on man’s side, in which their lot was cast. Simeon took Christ in his arms and blessed God (beautiful picture of the worshipper inside with God); Anna spake of Christ to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem (beautiful picture of the worker outside with man). This shows us what occupied them - Christ, before God and before men. We must know what it is to go in to God before we can come forth from God to be here for God.
Now what is the first mark of the remnant? What characterises them here in Revelation 3: 8? They have “a little power”; that is a trait of the original;
[p. 114] only at the beginning it was great power. Three things are said commendatory of them: (1) They have a little power; (2) they have kept His word; (3) they have not denied His name. All this might not appear to be much in man’s estimation, but, at such a time, it is everything in His estimation. The power of the Holy Spirit surmounts every difficulty; that is what we now have to learn. Under the Jewish order difficulties were removed for the people of God. Now they remain, and power is manifested in overcoming - surmounting the special obstacle that lies in our path. “He .. . set him on his own beast”, Luke 10: 34.
What is a Philadelphian? One who does not fail in the day of adversity; he has a little power. It is a solemn thing, though. There are five or six companies now claiming to have the Lord’s presence: there can be only one right. If I were to come as a stranger to M - and ask to be guided to the company where God is, where would I find myself? Where is the company that is known and characterised by God dwelling among them of a truth? It is not what we say but what we are that carries weight. We have in these verses - what the Lord is; what He has; what He does; and the great point for us is that we should be in correspondence to Him. He is the holy, the true; holiness and truth should mark us: He has the keys of the King; we should seek His kingdom; He opens the door and none can shut it; we are to use the privileges that are ours. There will be imitation, opposition, difficulty; we are to overcome - and hold fast.