The doctrine of the remnant is the biblical pattern that God works through a small believing minority rather than the majority, especially within the nation of Israel.
Les Feldick emphasizes that throughout Israel's history God never got 100% from the nation; only a few truly believed. The prophetic word went out to the whole nation (Jacob), but only the believing element responded, and Paul makes this point in Romans 9:6. Zechariah 13 confirms the same pattern, showing that only a third of Israel will be refined and saved.
Romans 9:6 — Paul's distinction that not all physical Israel are true Israel is the core of the remnant doctrine.
Romans 9:27 — Paul quotes Isaiah to show that a remnant will be saved out of Israel's vast numbers.
Zechariah 13:8-9 — The prophet reveals that only one-third of Israel will be left and refined, showing the remnant pattern in Israel's final deliverance.
Romans 11:26 — This verse's promise that 'all Israel shall be saved' is explained by Les as referring to the believing remnant, not every Israelite.
The Bible demonstrates the remnant pattern through several passages. Paul writes in Romans 9:6, 'Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.' Then he quotes Isaiah: 'Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved' (Romans 9:27). In Zechariah 13:8-9, the Lord says that in all the land, two parts shall be cut off and die, but the third shall be left. That third part will be brought through the fire, refined as silver and gold, and they shall call on His name. Romans 11:26 adds, 'And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.' Read together, these passages show that God's saving work has always centered on a believing remnant rather than the whole visible nation.
Les Feldick teaches that throughout Israel's history God never received a 100% response from the nation. The answer to the question 'Did God ever get 100%?' is always the same word: remnant, a few. The prophets spoke to the whole nation of Jacob, but only the believing, enlightened element responded by faith, and that element is called Israel. He applies this directly to Romans 9:6, where Paul says 'they are not all Israel, which are of Israel' — meaning Israel also has a believing remnant. Les also explains the apparent contradiction between the remnant and Romans 11:26's statement that 'all Israel shall be saved.' He is convinced that 'all Israel' speaks to a remnant, not the total number of Israelites living on the planet. Zechariah 13:8-9 is the biblical explanation: only a third of the nation will be left, refined through the fire, and saved. Looking at the Tribulation, Les describes the remnant of Israel as a protected group that will flee to the mountains at the midpoint. At Christ's second coming, they become believers and become the seed stock of the nation of Israel in the Kingdom. He connects them to the remnant that keeps the commandments of God and has the testimony of Jesus Christ, and he notes that the 144,000 had already been proclaiming that the King is coming.
Paul draws a line between the physical nation and true, believing Israel in Romans 9:6. Les explains that God's prophetic word went out to the whole nation, called Jacob, but only the believing, enlightened element responded by faith — and that group was always a small remnant. In this sense, Israel also has a believing remnant.
Les is convinced that the phrase 'all Israel' in Romans speaks to a remnant, not the total number of Israelites living on the planet at the time. He points back to Zechariah 13:8-9 as the biblical explanation: two parts of the land will be cut off and die, and only the third part will be left and refined. Throughout Israel's history, God never got 100% — the answer is always a remnant.
Les teaches that at the midpoint of the Tribulation, the remnant of Israel flees to the mountains in the east and is protected by God for three and a half years. At Christ's second coming, they become believers and serve as the seed stock of the nation of Israel in the Kingdom. He connects this escaping remnant to the remnant that keeps the commandments of God and has the testimony of Jesus Christ, noting that the 144,000 have already been proclaiming that the King is coming.
Les observes that the vast masses of humanity can hear the Gospel and even understand it, but only a small percentage actually believes. He says this is the way it has always been, including within the nation of Israel itself, so the remnant pattern is still present today.
Why Did Israel Miss the Messiah? Romans 9:25-33 Explained
after a calling out of a people for his name, I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down, and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up." Now here the conclusion was made then, that yes, God is going to call out of the Gentiles a people for His name.
Israel's History: Always a Remnant
Les points to Zechariah's 'only a third' and asks whether God ever got 100% from Israel; the answer is always a remnant, which sets up the meaning of 'all Israel shall be saved.'
The Word Went to Jacob, but Only the Remnant Believed
Les shows that the prophetic word went to the whole nation (Jacob), but only the believing element — a small remnant — responded by faith, just as few believe today.
Tribulation Remnant Saved at the Second Coming
Les describes the remnant of Israel protected during the Tribulation; at Christ's second coming they believe and become the seed stock of the nation.
Romans 9:6 — Israel Has a Believing Remnant
Les draws on Romans 9:6 to show Paul's distinction: not everyone physically born of Israel belongs to true, believing Israel.
The Escaping Remnant at the Midpoint
Les identifies the remnant of Israel heading to the mountains at the midpoint of the Tribulation, saved when they see Christ at His second coming.
'All Israel' in Romans Refers to a Remnant
Les explains that the phrase 'all Israel' speaks to a remnant, not every Israelite alive, as Zechariah 13:8-9 confirms.
What Triggers the Rapture? Romans 11:25 Explained Verse by Verse
And when He divided to the nations, plural, all the nations of the world, their inheritance, and when He separated the sons or the offspring of Adam, He set the bounds or the boundaries, their national boundaries, of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
Romans 9:6: Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
This is the foundational verse for the remnant doctrine — it distinguishes physical Israel from true, believing Israel.
Romans 9:27: Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
Paul applies Isaiah's 'remnant shall be saved' promise directly to Israel.
Romans 11:26: And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
This is the 'all Israel shall be saved' promise that Les explains speaks to a remnant.
Zechariah 13:8: And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
It shows how catastrophic the refining of Israel will be — only a third is left.
Zechariah 13:9: And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
The third part is brought through the fire, refined, and calls on the Lord's name.
Les describes the remnant as the small believing few. He points out that throughout Israel's history God never got 100% from the nation; only a few responded in faith. The prophetic word went out to the whole nation of Jacob, but only the enlightened, believing element was the remnant.
No. Les teaches that the phrase 'all Israel' in Romans refers to a remnant, not the total number of Israelites living on the planet. Zechariah 13:8-9 confirms the pattern, showing that only a third of the nation will be brought through the fire and saved.
Les teaches that the remnant of Israel will be protected in the mountains in the east at the midpoint of the Tribulation for three and a half years. At Christ's second coming, they finally become believers and become the seed stock of the nation of Israel in the Kingdom.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Israel Miss the Messiah? Romans 9:25-33 Explained