The Remnant Paradox — Prophetic Identity as Growth Driver or Barrier

Executive summary

The Seventh-day Adventist Church's self-identification as the end-time "remnant" of Revelation 12:17—called to proclaim the three angels' messages to every nation—is perhaps its most distinctive and consequential theological commitment. This identity simultaneously functions as a powerful growth driver (providing urgency, distinctiveness, and narrative coherence that attracts seekers) and a significant growth barrier (creating perceptions of exclusivity and cultural distance that can challenge e...