Yes, the number of true believers is small today, and it is getting smaller.
Les Feldick teaches that throughout history, from the days of Elijah to Christ's earthly ministry and the present Church Age, only a small remnant of genuine believers has existed. Many people follow Christ or join churches for what they can receive—like healing, food, or social benefits—rather than out of genuine faith, and false teaching increasingly draws people away.
Acts 1:15 — This verse records that only about 120 believers gathered in Jerusalem after Christ's three years of earthly ministry, demonstrating how few true believers were there.
In the Old Testament, the Bible shows that even among the nation of Israel, only a small remnant remained true to God. In I Kings 19, God tells Elijah that He has reserved seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal (I Kings 19:18, as cited in Romans 11:4). This demonstrates that even in a nation of millions, true believers were a tiny minority. After the Lord's three years of earthly ministry, the book of Acts records that the believers in the area of Jerusalem numbered about 120 (Acts 1:15). These were the ones who gathered in the upper room, showing that the vast majority of Israel had rejected Jesus as their Messiah. The Bible also speaks of a 'mixed multitude' that came out of Egypt with Israel (Exodus 12:38, referenced by Les Feldick). These were people who were not true believers but simply hung on to the people of God for their own reasons, a pattern that continues in the church today.
Les Feldick teaches that the number of true believers has always been small. He points to Elijah's day, when God told Elijah that He had seven thousand men who had not bowed to Baal—out of a population of six or seven million, that is only about one percent. Even during Christ's earthly ministry, after three years of miracles, teaching, and healing, only 120 believers gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem (Acts 1:15). Les explains that many people followed Jesus for what they could get—healing, food, or other benefits—rather than because they genuinely believed in Him. He compares these followers to the mixed multitude that came out of Egypt with Israel: people who are 'hangers on,' wanting the social environment of the church, the music, and the good things, but who have never experienced salvation. Today, Les says, genuine believers are getting fewer every week because of the massive amount of false teaching coming in. People flock to false teaching more readily than to the truth. He also notes that many church members have never had a true salvation experience; they are part of the church but remain false professors rather than genuine born-again believers.
According to Acts 1:15, after Christ's three years of earthly ministry, the believers in the area of Jerusalem numbered about 120. Les Feldick emphasizes that this is a shocking figure. There may have been a few believers up in the Galilee, but in the area of Jerusalem there must not have been any more than these 120. The majority of Israel had still said that He was an imposter.
Les Feldick explains that many of the multitudes who followed Jesus during His earthly ministry were similar to the mixed multitude that followed Israel out of Egypt. They were not true believers but were hanging on to see what would happen. They wanted to be part of the social environment, enjoy the music, and receive the benefits (such as healing and food), but when it came to the nitty-gritty of true faith and self-denial, they fell away.
Les Feldick teaches that today genuine believers are getting fewer every week because of the flood of false teaching coming in. People are flocking to false teaching rather than to the truth. The true believing element is under attack from every direction. Many church members have never experienced salvation; they are like the mixed multitude, hanging on to the church for social or emotional reasons but not truly born again.
Les Feldick emphasizes that God has always kept a remnant. In Elijah's day, God had reserved seven thousand men who had not bowed the knee to Baal—about 14,000 to 20,000 Jews including families, out of a population of millions. This pattern of a small remnant continues through history. Even today, although believers are fewer, God still has His remnant everywhere.
A Small Remnant in Israel
Les explains that from Elijah's day to Christ's first advent, only a small remnant of true believers existed in Israel; many were merely religious but had no spiritual life.
120 Believers in Jerusalem
Les points to Acts 1:15, showing that after three years of Christ's ministry only 120 believers gathered in the upper room in the Jerusalem area, proving the majority rejected Him.
Shocking Lack of Believers
Les repeats the shocking reality that only 120 Jewish believers were in Jerusalem after Christ's ministry, illustrating how few true believers there were even then.
Precious Few in Old Testament
Les teaches that in the Old Testament, precious few were true believers among the whole population, but the Church Age has been the main harvest.
Mixed Multitude and False Professors
Les compares church members who have never experienced salvation to the mixed multitude that followed Israel out of Egypt—unbelievers just hanging on for social benefits.
Fewer Genuine Believers Today
Les says that genuine believers today are getting fewer every week because false teaching is abundant and people flock to falsehood rather than the truth.
God Always Keeps a Remnant
Les explains that God has always kept a remnant, as with the seven thousand in Elijah's day, and that believers still exist today even though they are fewer.
Revelation vs. Instruction: How Paul Received the Gospel
In other words, this called out group of Jewish believers who had believed who Jesus really was. And they were still within the confines of Judaism. They were still practicing the law. They were still worshiping at the temple. But they were also a set-aside group who had recognized their Messiah and put their faith in Him.
Acts 1:15: And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
This verse shows the total number of believers gathered in Jerusalem after Christ's ministry, demonstrating the small size of the true remnant.
I Kings 19:18: Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
God's declaration to Elijah that seven thousand had not bowed to Baal shows that only a small remnant of true believers existed in Israel.
Romans 11:4: But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Paul rehearses the Elijah account to show that God has always preserved a remnant, a principle Les applies to the present day.
Exodus 12:38: And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
Les references the mixed multitude as a type of false professors who follow the people of God without genuine faith.
According to Acts 1:15, there were about 120 believers gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem after Christ's three years of ministry. Les Feldick notes that this was shocking, showing how few truly believed in Him.
Yes, Les Feldick teaches that God has always kept a remnant, as He did with 7,000 in Elijah's day. Even though true believers are getting fewer, they can still be found in various places.
Les Feldick explains that people will always flock for the false before they will for the truth. Many are like the mixed multitude that followed Israel—they hang on for social or material benefits rather than genuine faith.
Watch the Teaching: Why Did Israel Miss the Messiah? Romans 9:25-33 Explained