the gentiles will replace gods people at the sunday law
The principle of divine selection is based on faithfulness rather than lineage or position. Historically, when the Jewish nation rejected Christ, the kingdom was taken from them and given to the Gentiles (14MR 102.1). This same principle applies to any branch of God's work; if a body of people proves unfaithful to the Word of the Lord, regardless of how sacred their calling may be, they can no longer serve as His representatives, and others are chosen to bear those responsibilities (14MR 102.1). In the final conflict involving the law of God, a specific remnant is identified as those who remain loyal to the Sabbath (5MR 53.2).
While many in the professing Christian world follow human traditions and exalt a false sabbath, God maintains a company that bears His sign and proclaims the holiness of His original institution (5MR 53.2). This group acts as "repairers of the breach," restoring the divine law that has been trampled upon by the world (SS 351.4). The gathering of the Gentiles is a significant theme in the closing work of the gospel. Many who were once considered outside the covenant will recognize Christ and be numbered among the children of God (AA 174.1).
This ingathering includes not only Gentiles but also many from the Jewish faith who will be converted and proclaim the immutability of God's law with great power (Ev 578.1). These individuals join the "little company" that stands as a rebuke to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord (PK 605.2). Ultimately, the distinction is made between those who follow worldly policy and those who adhere to practical godliness and purity (5MR 53.2).
Just as the common people heard Christ gladly while the religious leaders rejected Him, many in the end times will leave worldly projects to embrace the message of truth (SSW January 1, 1895, par. 4). Those who were "not My people" become the "sons of the living God" by choosing obedience and faith (3SP 356.2).
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Verified Source Texts
“The Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the Prince of life, He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work. When a church proves unfaithful to the word of the Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities. But if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action; if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them, and, unless they repent, will remove them from their place and make them a reproach. 14MR 102.1”
“God has a remnant people in the world—a people who are not following worldly policy. Of them we read in the Scripture, “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ”.... The Christian world has cast aside the Seventh-day Sabbath, and has exalted the false sabbath. But God has a people who will be loyal to Him. His work is to be carried forward. Churches are to be established as memorials of the people who bear His sign. These houses of worship, however humble, will continually proclaim the treason of Satan and the holiness of the Sabbath that was instituted when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.... Satan is presenting worldly attractions. The churches are teaching for doctrine the commandments of men. Ministers are crying, “There is no law,” failing to see that if there is no law, there is no transgression. It is time for us to show that we have a message from the Lord, a message of no human invention. Workers who will present the truth in its simplicity are greatly needed. The last message of warning is to be given to the world. As God's people bring the truths of His message into the daily life, practical godliness, purity, and holiness will be seen.— Manuscript 99, 1902, 1, 7, 10 . (“Fragments,” typed July 12, 1902.) 5MR 53.2”
“A breach has been made in God's law—the wall that He placed around His chosen ones for their protection, and obedience to whose precepts of justice, truth, and purity is to be their perpetual safeguard. The prophet points out the specific work of this remnant people who built the wall: “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth.” Isaiah 58:13, 14 , RSV. SS 351.3 In the time of the end every divine institution is to be restored. The breach made in the law at the time the Sabbath was changed by man is to be repaired. God's remnant people are to show that the law of God is the foundation of all enduring reform. In clear, distinct lines they are to present the necessity of obedience to all the precepts of the Decalogue. Constrained by the love of Christ, they are to cooperate with Him in building up the waste places. They are to be repairers of the breach, restorers of paths to dwell in. SS 351.4”
““When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” They rejoiced exceedingly that Christ recognized them as the children of God, and with grateful hearts they listened to the word preached. Those who believed were zealous in communicating the gospel message to others, and thus “the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” AA 173.4 Centuries before, the pen of inspiration had traced this ingathering of the Gentiles; but those prophetic utterances had been but dimly understood. Hosea had said: “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” And again: “I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” Hosea 1:10 ; 2:23 . AA 174.1”
“Many Will Come to the Light —There is a mighty work to be done in our world. The Lord has declared that the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and not the Gentiles only, but the Jews. There are among the Jews many who will be converted, and through whom we shall see the salvation of God go forth as a lamp that burneth. There are Jews everywhere, and to them the light of present truth is to be brought. There are among them many who will come to the light, and who will proclaim the immutability of the law of God with wonderful power. The Lord God will work. He will do wonderful things in righteousness.— Manuscript 87, 1907 . Ev 578.1”
“The decree that will finally go forth against the remnant people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews. Today the enemies of the true church see in the little company keeping the Sabbath commandment, a Mordecai at the gate. The reverence of God's people for His law is a constant rebuke to those who have cast off the fear of the Lord and are trampling on His Sabbath. PK 605.2”
“This gathering in of the Gentiles to the church of God had been traced by the pen of inspiration, but had been but faintly understood. Hosea had said, “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” And again, “I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” 3SP 356.2”
“The Jews claimed to believe the law, but they broke every principle of the decalogue by their spirit of stubborn rebellion against Christ. The professed Christian world are manifesting the same spirit. The so-called Christian nations claim superiority over all others, yet they are not doers of the words of Christ any more than were the Jews. But, though the priests and rulers rejected Christ, “the common people heard him gladly.” Those who are fully engrossed in their own temporal, ambitious expectations and desires, who are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof, have no relish for the words spoken by the great Teacher, for his words do not encourage their worldly projects, and are not agreeable to their worldly, self-bound souls. SSW January 1, 1895, par. 4”
Ellen Chat