Divisions In Seventh-day Adventist theology, there will be an end time remnant of believers who are faithful to God.
The remnant church is a visible, historical, organized body characterized by obedience to the commandments of God and the possession of a unique end-time gospel proclamation.
This remnant announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through Christ, and heralds the approach of His second advent.
)The Mission Statement of the church declares: The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to proclaim to all peoples the everlasting gospel of God’s love in the context of the three angels' messages of Revelation 14:6–12, and as revealed in the life, death, resurrection, and Godly ministry of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6,7), leading them to accept Jesus as personal Saviour and Lord and to unite with His remnant church; and to nurture believers as disciples in preparation for His soon return.
"[4]The Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual[5] contains a "summary of doctrinal beliefs" in its appendix that is designed especially for use in the instruction of candidates for baptism.
In accordance with God’s uniform dealing with mankind, warning them of coming events that will vitally affect their destiny, He has sent forth a proclamation of the approaching return of Christ.
This has brought forth the remnant, or Seventh-day Adventist Church, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
The final question of the traditional longer vow (question 13) asks the candidate: Do you accept and believe that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the remnant church of Bible prophecy and that people of every nation, race and language are invited and accepted into its fellowship?
In addition, Revelation 19:10 equates "the testimony of Jesus" to the "Spirit of prophecy", which Adventists believe is a reference to the ministry and writings of Ellen G. White.
This mission is to proclaim the "everlasting gospel" to humanity, to call true believers out of false religion (represented by Babylon) and to prepare the world for the final end-time crisis.
Ellen White wrote, "Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness, and alienation from God, that exist in the churches which constitute Babylon, the great body of Christ's true followers are still to be found in their communion.
"[12]At a time, known technically as the "close of probation", shortly before the second coming of Jesus, humanity will be polarized into two distinct groups.
At the same time, there will be numerous Christian believers from non-Adventist churches who will join the eschatological remnant and receive salvation.
Questions on Doctrine acknowledged the Adventist church as "the visible organization through which God is proclaiming this last special message to the world".
[18] Ángel Manuel Rodríguez criticizes Daily's position, claiming that "The level of discontinuity with traditional Adventism is so drastic that it is difficult to incorporate it into any meaningful dialogue.
Rodriguez again rejects such interpretations, asserting that they set aside "the biblical understanding of the remnant as fundamentally a religious entity".
Raymond Cottrell, writing about the challenges of producing the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, claimed that the remnant doctrine is not supported by the traditional prooftexts.
Calvinist theologian Anthony Hoekema argued that the doctrine of the remnant church is indefensible on both exegetical and theological grounds.
Hoekema alleges that the Adventist concept of the remnant resembles the error of schismatic movements such as Montanism, Novatianism and Donatism.
However, because Adventists acknowledge that it is possible for non-Adventist Christians to be saved, Hoekema concedes they manifest the "cultist trait" in a "somewhat ambivalent manner" when compared to religions who teach that salvation cannot be found outside their organisations.