Introduction:

According to a recent handbook of American churches, there are more than 250 major religious

groups in the United States. In addition, there are hundreds of smaller independent churches,

sects, and religious groups. Each one professes to represent God. Each one claims to be teaching

truth. At the same time, each group is different from the others. Teachings of one church or

group often vary significantly from another. Obviously all these churches with their conflicting

teachings cannot be right.

The average person is confused by this bewildering array of churches. Some people have even

concluded that the discovery of truth is extremely personal. They argue that truth is a matter of

opinion. You have your truth and I have mine, they say. You look at it your way and I will

look at it mine.
This leads us to some important questions.
Is finding truth a matter of chance? Does God have a true church today? Does it make any

difference which church I attend? If God has a true church, how can I find it?

Body:

Colossians 3: 15 - There can be only one true church of God. Jesus is the head of the body, the

church Colossians 1: 18. TO

Matthew 7: 21 23 Jesus said many will come inHE
his name. But they dont belong to him.
LP
There can be only one true Christian church.
Ephesians 4: 5 - There can be only one true faith. TH
A continuous pattern in the scriptures. E
God has a special group of people AU
Satan corrupts them through sin and disobedience
DI apostasy.

ON
God calls out a remnant from them and establishes them as his chosen people.
EN
During the antediluvian period in the book of Genesis:
CE
Gods special group is termed sons of God Genesis 6: 1 2.

E
Satan corrupts the holy line through marriages with the daughters of men. Genesis

6: 2 3.
God finds a remnant in the family of Noah Genesis 6: 9 11
After the flood:
Family of Noah Genesis 10.
The family of Noah had corrupted themselves and had even established a one world

empire in opposition to God Genesis 11.

God calls Abraham out and promises to make a special nation out of him Genesis 12: 1

3.
The Patriarchs and the nations of Israel:
Israel is called out of Egypt and God establishes them in the land of Canaan.
The nation of Israel splits into two because of apostasy. Judah was taken into captivity.
 Judah is called out to return from the exile in Babylon, but only a few heeded Gods call.
The Jewish nation
During the time of Ezra, Nehemiah and Zerubabel the city walls were built up again and

the temple was rebuilt.

Jesus the Messiah is born but he was rejected by the majority of the people and the

leaders of the nation John 1:10-13.

Christ spoke about the rejection of the Jewish nation in the parable of the Lords

vineyard Matthew 21:43.

The Apostolic Church begins and all the promises to literal Israel find a fulfillment in

Spiritual Israel which was made up primarily of the gentile believers Acts 13: 46-48;

15:13-16; 28:28
Does God have a remnant today?
Revelation 12: 1 A women clothed sun and moon under her feet, and had crown of twelve

stars.
Woman As we already studied, women represents church Jeremiah 6: 2; Isaiah 51:

16.
This woman represents both the OT church and the NT church because this

woman exists before the child was born.

Sun is the greater light it represents Jesus and his righteousness Psalms 84: 11;

Malachi 4: 1.
Moon is the lesser light the lesser light is the Bible which gives witness to Jesus

John 5: 35, 59, 46, 47.

The twelve stars represent the patriarchs of the Old Testament (12 sons of Jacob) and

the New Testament church (12 apostles).

Revelation 12: 2 The women was pregnant and the child was not yet born. The seed has not

been born at this point so the woman must represent the church of the Old Testament.
Revelation 12: 3, 4 The dragon appears in to the scene and the dragon seeks to kill the

womans child, the womans seed. Satan is represented as the dragon and he tried to kill Jesus

through the pagan Rome at that point of time.

Revelation 12: 5, 6 Jesus lived a victorious life and was taken up to heaven. This also occurred

during the time of Roman Empire. What happens to the woman? She fled into the wilderness

for 1,260 years. Why?

Revelation 12: 13 15 Satan seeks to persecute the woman that brought forth the man child.
The water may possible mean the means Satan used to persecute Gods people, false

doctrines and persecution.

Revelation 12: 16 the earth helped the women and the women escaped. Without going into

much details, God protected the women. What was Satan's reaction?
 Revelation 12: 17 Now, the only prey for Satan was the remnant of her seed. There are two

distinctive characteristics of the remnant presented in her word, it kept the commandments of

God and have the testimony of Jesus. Remnant means remaining ones. Gods church has a last

phase. There are four identifying marks that we can find from chapter 12.
The remnant doesnt exist as an official organization between A.D. 538 and 1798.
It would arise after 1798.
It keeps all the commandments of God.
It has the testimony of Jesus.
Revelation 14: 6 12 Gods church will preach the three Angels message globally.
The five identifying marks are
The remnant doesnt exist as an official organization between A.D. 538 and 1798.
Many churches came forth during this time. But the true church of God will not

be an organized body during this time according to the prophecy.

It would arise after 1798.
The true church of God will be an organized body only after 1798.
It keeps all the commandments of God.
It will keep the commandments of God. Not partially, but all the commandments

of God, every single one of them, including the Sabbath which is mostly forgotten.
It has the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19: 10).
It will have the gift of prophecy. It will also not disregard the writings of the Bible

but will follow them in every single way possible.

Its a global movement that teaches Gods three final warning to the world.
It is a universal church which will have its members in almost every part of the

world, preaching the everlasting gospel.

There are five distinctive marks in identifying the end time church of God. He has given us

specific not vague marks.

The Adventist church is the only church which fits all of these identifying marks.
It was formed in 1840s.
It arose after 1798.
It teaches all the commandments of God and keeps the Sabbath.
It teaches the Bible correctly and has the gift of prophecy.
It is a worldwide missionary church, working in over 200 countries and teaches the

everlasting gospel.
Now that we have identified Gods church what does God want you to do?
John 10: 16 God has other sheep, other sincere followers in other fold, when they hear Gods

call through his remnant church they will come.

Revelation 18: 4 God calls his people out of Babylon, he calls those who dont know that they

are lost.
1 Corinthians 12: 13 We are united into this body by baptism.
Conclusion:

Being much concerned about the rise of denominations in the church, John Wesley tells of a

dream he had. In the dream, he was ushered to the gates of Hell. There he asked, Are there

any Presbyterians here? Yes!, came the answer. Then he asked, Are there any Baptists? Any

Episcopalians? Any Methodists? The answer was Yes! each time. Much distressed, Wesley was

then ushered to the gates of Heaven. There he asked the same question, and the answer was

No! No? To this, Wesley asked, Who then is inside? The answer came back, There are only

Christians here. (1 Cor. 1:10-17)i

Only true Christians will enter into heaven. You may ask but my grandparents didnt know this

and will God let them burn in hell. No! If they were true to their conscience God will raise them

up when he comes the second time. But if you want to meet them, you have to make a decision

now.
Now that Gods has given you this light, he wants you to walk in this light.
Appeal Standing Do you want to join Gods end time church? Do you want to obey God at all

costs and to enter into his fellowship? Do you want to say with me God, for these many days

Ive been living in darkness, now I have understood youre marvellous light, Lord I want to

follow you, Is that your prayer?

i https://bible.org/illustration/john-wesley-0