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Church has a lot of different meanings. The historical Visible and Invisible church are a pretty good way to look at things. The Visible Protestant church is next on the chopping block. So, back to the remnant. Who the remnant are is God’s domain. If we are part of the remnant, what is the proper response? I have often wondered what the individual responses were when the Prophet stood up and said, “you are going to be captured and carried away.”

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side; And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof . And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. (Ezekiel 9:3-6)

We have in the writings from ancient pious "fathers" evidence of an accretion of errors, of traditions of men which are not manifest in the the only wholly inspired substantive authoritative record of what the NT church believed (including how they understood the OT and gospels), while today both doctrinal and moral errors are widespread.

So, back to the remnant. Who the remnant are is God’s domain. If we are part of the remnant, what is the proper response?

The remnant are those who "sigh and that cry for all the abominations" seen in the church and the world, and use the sword of the Spirit against such, but who begin with themselves and seek to practically to be what they positionally are by faith in the Lord Jesus to save by His sinless shed blood. I have a long ways to go in all that.

I have often wondered what the individual responses were when the Prophet stood up and said, “you are going to be captured and carried away.”

But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:32-39)