And he [Elijah] said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”…… Yet I [God] have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:14,18 NKJV

Yes, Elijah was living during a time of severe apostasy from truth, but he was not the only one left who was true to God. Elijah thought he had to run from Israel because of the apostasy, while God assured him He had 7,000 faithful people who had not run away from Israel.

For several years now, I have heard people in the church complain that they are the only ones still preaching the three angels’ message, while on the other hand, I have heard many preachers preaching the three angels’ message. There are also many authors in the church still writing about our special message. As with Elijah, it is tempting, while many are apostatizing from the truth, to think we are the only faithful ones left. However, just as John predicted in Revelation 14:6-12, the three angels’ message is being proclaimed to every creature on earth. God does have a people who are faithful to Him and keep His commandments.  So, why are so many tempted to think they are the only true worshipers left? Why do some preachers and teachers even suggest they are the last ones still teaching this special truth? 

1. Like Elijah, they may be very discouraged by the apostasy, and feeling isolated, but they need to be encouraged as Elijah was, that God still has thousands in the church, who remain faithful and are not running away.

2. Or they could be on an ego trip and wanting to put themselves in an elite group or class of the “remnant of the remnant,” thus elevating themselves above everyone else. Years ago, I was at a men’s ministry retreat where the speaker kept reiterating, over several discourses, how men everywhere were falling into sin and immorality, and in each illustration he was the only man in the story doing the right thing. After several of his presentations, a group of us men were on a walk, when it started being discussed that this speaker was presenting himself as “the last good man left on earth.” None of us were buying it, and sadly, a couple of years later, this man was caught having an affair. He was clearly not the last good man left!

3. Satan will create conflicts, trying to work things to where God’s faithful people will have personality issues with each other, and isolate from each other. Is it possible Elijah was aware of the other 7,000, but just did not get along with them? Nothing in Scripture indicates that this was or was not the case. It is something for us to consider in our own personal cases, when we feel isolated for the sake of truth.

Remember, it was Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12-14 who wanted to isolate himself into a class all his own. It is God who tells us there are 7,000 more for every one of us who thinks he is alone. It is God who told John the Revelator,  in Revelation 7, that there is a faithful multitude which cannot even be numbered .

During times of widespread apostasy, Satan wants to discourage God’s people by making them feel alone, or send them on an ego trip by making them feel they are in a special class by themselves. Yes, in the last days, we are facing widespread apostasy, but let’s not neutralize the power of the everlasting gospel given by the first angel, by trying to make it look like we are the last ones preaching truth, and are in a special class all by ourselves. During apostasy, we need unity more than ever. Let’s not put ourselves in a special class above the 7,000 faithful who do not run away from the church. Let’s not isolate ourselves from the multitude of faithful who are way beyond number. Let’s all keep faithfully and humbly preaching Bible Truth, and pray for and encourage God’s faithful people in our church and around the world.

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.