Its clear from the Bible that there will be an end time remnant of believers faithful to God. Traditionally the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been understood to be a catalyst for the formation of this group, or as roughly equivalent to the group. This is not a claim that Adventists are the only one who will be saved, but that they have been specially entrusted by God with a message for the end times. This assertion is implied in the 13th fundamental teaching of the church, "Remnant and Its Mission" and this interpretation is based primarily upon Revelation 12:17. In this final verse of Revelation 12 we find Gods true church emerging from its 'wilderness' experience; and there comes to view a 'remnant' people the 'remnant of her seed' identified by two characteristics:

1. They keep the commandments of God, all ten of them, including the fourth, or Sabbath commandment, and
2. They possess the 'testimony of Jesus' which in Revelation 19:10 is defined as the 'Spirit of prophecy' a renewed bestowal of the divinely-inspired gift.

Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

While several other churches keep the seventh-day Sabbath [ Seventh Day Baptists, Church of God (Seventh Day), etc.], not one of them fits both identifying characteristics given here: that of keeping the commandments, all ten of them; and of having a renewal of the genuine gift of prophecy in their midst. On the other hand, there are some churches who claim to have the gift of prophecy in their midst, but they do not keep Gods Law written with His finger, all ten of the commandments.

Revelation 12:17
And 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 Adventist church holds to and teaches Gods Commandments and lay claim to have the Testimony of Jesus Christ. It clear from Gods Word that only those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ will be part of the Remnant at the end, so those that do not hold on to this or accept it, cannot be the Remnant. A remnant looks like the original, so a remnant must teach what the original taught, and we see this comparing the true early church which Christ and the apostles left. You go to church of Christ and the apostles, and you will see they teach exactly the same as the Seventh-day Adventist Church today. Study the Reformation and you will find the same points and reform from error as those taught in the Spirit of Prophecy. The reformers may not have had the full picture, but they had the same principles as the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to unveil the prophecies of the end time and search for truth in Gods Word and return of Christ as their redeemer.

We look at history and we see how the early church began to falter as it let pagan Greek and Roman philosophy and even Gnostic doctrine into its beliefs and manuscripts to say nothing about the corruption creeping in as the whole system of pagan worship was let in and began to take over the church. The Dark Age came over the people and the church until finally the Protestant Reformers brought back Gods Word and its truth to the people and the light shined on them and faith rebounded and understanding of Gods Word increased. But then the Reformers passed on and their followers chose to lock on to the men themselves instead of continue unveiling the truths contained in Gods Word and solidified their march to truth. So then it took all these brethren coming together through the power of God as the Great Awakening stirred them to look deeper into Gods Word and see what further truths and prophecy would be unveiled, and the Adventist movement was born.

The Adventist movement was the beneficiary of all the work of the Reformers, and the faithful safeguarding of Gods Word by true believers as the haters of God persecuted them and tried to destroy any of the true text of Gods Word by burning every writing or manuscript, they could lay hold of. They could burn the books holding Gods truth and destroy the body but the light of truth to say nothing of the faith of the true believers never went out, and Gods church was kept through the Dark Ages and from its enemies and Gods truth was safeguarded for the end times.

The Seventh-Day Adventist church was given and benefited from all these truths it came into and the prophecies that were being studied and unveiled for what then and today is a remnant people, to bring Gods message for the Last Days to those who love him and for the world to hear.

We can look and compare what Adventist hold as beliefs and doctrines, against the Early Church as shaped by the teachings of Jesus, and written by the apostolic witnesses, and its spread from the missionary journeys of Paul and others.

Well, to begin with you have the Sabbath as held by the Early Church, no one can deny that as scripture is clear.

Then you have the Early Church belief that Jesus was the promised Messiah, fulfilling the prophecies of the Scriptures and proclaimed by the Apostles.

The belief of the resurrection and gift of eternal life, as the Early Church clearly held to belief in the resurrection of Jesus and the life eternal gift He had for those who believed.

Adventist believe in Salvation through Faith in Christ and the Early Church clearly taught that salvation was available through faith in Jesus Christ.

Adventist believe in the Holy Spirit and its work and we see the Early Church believed in the active presence of the Holy Spirit, who guided and empowered believers.

Adventist hold to coming together to worship on the seventh day and the early Church believed in gathering on the seventh day for worship, prayer ant thanksgiving.

Adventist hold to Baptism by Immersion and we see the Early Church believed in Baptism by Immersion as Christ gave as an example at the river Jordan, and it was a significant rite of initiation into the Christian community, symbolizing the believer's identification with Christ's death and resurrection.

Adventist hold to the literal return of Christ as the Early Church held waiting for Christ Second Coming to take the saints to the heavenly kingdom.

Adventist hold to the possibility of a believer stumbling and falling from grace and must deny self and follow Christ as the Early Church and Christ and the Apostles and Paul and others clearly taught.

Adventist hold to the need for repentance, and confession for the remission of sins as the Early Church held and as Christ and the Apostles clearly taught.

Adventist hold to the biblical state of the dead as the Early Church that the dead know nothing and lay silent in the grave turning to dust awaiting the resurrection at the last day.

If you look in history you find even more of what the Early Church held as core beliefs that are found in Adventism. Aristides, a converted Athenian philosopher, wrote one of our earliest Christian apologies to the Roman emperor Hadrian around 125 A.D. He summarizes what Christians believe..

"The Christians, then, trace the beginning of their religion from Jesus the Messiah; and he is named the Son of God Most High. And it is said that God came down from heaven, and from a Hebrew virgin assumed and clothed himself with flesh; and the Son of God lived in a daughter of man. This is taught in the gospel, as it is called, which a short time was preached among them; and you also if you will read therein, may perceive the power which belongs to it. This Jesus, then, was born of the race of the Hebrews; and he had twelve disciples in order that the purpose of his incarnation might in time be accomplished. But he himself was pierced by the Jews, and he died and was buried; and they say that after three days he rose and ascended to heaven (Apol. 2, Syriac)." One of the Earliest (and Clearest) Summaries of Early Christian Beliefs - Canon Fodder

Aristides makes it clear that Christians affirm a number of key truths:

1. The divinity of Jesus: ?God came down from heaven?? In the mind of Aristides, Jesus is not an angel, or a semi-divine being, but the very God of heaven itself.

2. The incarnation: ?clothed himself with flesh.? In very vivid language, the author affirms that Jesus is God enfleshed; he took upon himself a real human body (contra the Docetists).

3. The virgin birth: ?from a Hebrew virgin.? This doctrine flows naturally from the prior two. If Jesus is God, and he took on human flesh, then his conception would be distinctive from other human beings.

4. The authority of the Gospels: ?taught in the gospel?and you also if you read therein, may perceive the power which belongs to it.? Notice for Aristides, there are books called a ?gospel? which you can ?read? to learn more about the person of Jesus. Moreover, these gospels contain a certain ?power? which the reader can discern.

5. The authority of the apostles: ?and he had twelve disciples.? Aristides recognizes that Jesus had an authority structure through the twelve that was necessary ?so that the purpose of his incarnation might in time be accomplished.?

6. His death on the cross: ?pierced by the Jews.? This is a clear reference to Jesus? crucifixion under Pontius Pilate at the request of the Jewish leadership.

7. His resurrection: ?after three days he rose.? Jesus did not stay in the grave but was raised from the dead.

8. His ascension: ?ascended into heaven.? Jesus returned to his former heavenly home, in a position of power and glory.

The Early Church had Gods truth that Christ left it and we must study what the Early Church believe and held before corruption and apostasy came in, We see what Paul says in his second letter to the Thessalonians, he foretold the great apostasy which would come into the church. He declared that before the return of Christ would, "come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who exalted himself above all that is called God;" Even at that early date he saw, creeping into the church, errors in belief that would prepare the way for the false teachings to come in.

Now after what is The Investigative Judgment or Pre-Advent Judgement comes a point where the Probation closes and we can see why. We find the concept of the ?intermediary" for man is clearly in the Bible, and we also see who He is.
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

There will come a point when He will finish His work as intercessor and come down at the Second Coming.
Romans 9:28
For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

At this point probation will clearly close for those on earth, the opportunity to repent and accept salvation is no longer available, and one?s eternal fate is sealed. We can see it in the Parable of the Ten Virgins...

Matthew 25:1-12
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

In this parable of the ten virgins we see the foolish virgins closed their probation by neglecting or refusing to make the choice to have the oil of the Holy Spirit during the time there was an opportunity to get more, and when the bridegroom showed up and they tried to enter the wedding banquet they were denied entrance because their probation had closed.

Now probation will close a short time before Christ comes as the judgement of the house of God ends when Christ finishes His work as intermediary and stands up to go to earth in the Second Coming. At this point probations is closed and we see who made the choice whether living or waiting for Christ in the grave who are sealed and Gods people in Ephesians 4:30.
Ephesians 4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

And in we see also what it says in Revelation 7:3
Revelation 7:3
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

God?s people receive the seal of God or have it if they are in the grave, while those who reject God receive the Mark of the Beast. We see the events of Revelation 16, where the seven last plagues are poured out on those who receive the Mark of the Beast. We clearly see it in the second verse.
Revelation 16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

This says that the first plague was poured out ?on the people who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.? and we see more from Revelation 16..
Revelation 16:3-8
3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

Here we see where Revelation 16:5-9 inform us that these people have been judged worthy of receiving these plagues because they refused to repent. This suggests that their probation has closed and they have chosen the adversary rather than Christ. Then we see their choice as they repent not no matter what comes from the wrath of God...
Revelation 16:9-15
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Then the events right before His coming in the final verses.
Revelation 16:16-17
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

Probation has closed and clearly the investigative judgement happens as we know on the house of God first..
1 Peter 4:17
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?

And then we see where the wicked appear afterwards for judgement at the Great White Throne Judgement...
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

John 8:53-58
8:53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? who do you make yourself to be?
8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honours me; whom you say, that he is your God:
8:55 Yet you have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, You art not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?
8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I Am.

John gives considerable detail to this debate between the Pharisees and Jesus. The main theme concerns Jesus' identity and His relationship with His Father.
The very fact this encounter is given in so much detail makes it very important for us today. Who is Jesus to you? Many today wrestle with understanding who Jesus is and the authority He holds in their lives

What are some of the things Jesus revealed about Himself thus far in the chapter?

8:12 I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life
8:14 My record is true: for I know where I came, and hither I go;

8:16 If I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
8:18 the Father that sent me bears witness of me.
8:19 You neither know me, nor my Father: if you had known me, you should have known my Father also.
8:23 I am from above: ...; I am not of this world.
8:24 if you believe not that I am [he], you shall die in your sins.
8:28 When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.
8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have seen with your father.
8:42 I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
8:45 I tell [you] the truth
8:49 I honour my Father...I seek not mine own glory.
8:51 If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
8:54 it is my Father that honours me. Yet you have not known him; but I know him
8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

With solemn dignity Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM."

Silence fell upon the vast assembly. The name of God, given to Moses to express the idea of the eternal presence, had been claimed as
His own by this Galilean Rabbi. He had announced Himself to be the self-existent One, He who had been promised to Israel, "whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity." Micah 5:2, margin. {DA 469.5}


Emmanuel, God with us, stood before them. The Light was shining in darkness; but "the darkness apprehended it not." John 1:5, R. V.

.

So how do the saints receive the gift and be cleansed by the blood of the lamb and be perfect as required..
Romans 3:25
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We see that we need to confess our sins, recognize what is pending if we dont give them up and place them with Christ for a pardon, as at the Second Coming He comes with our reward.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

God is currently reviewing the lives of every person who has ever lived to determine their ultimate fate, to see who are the sheep versus the goats when Christ returns. So we see that the Investigative Judgment, what must happen before the saints receive their reward, is in the Bible. We see that God will judge every person who has ever lived to determine who will be saved and who will be lost, the church first before the Second Coming and then those with sin.