February 27, 2025 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Ted N.C. Wilson, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Hello, friends! If you have been watching this series on The Great Controversy, you know that Jesus is coming soon! What an amazing day that will be!
In the chapter, titled “God’s People Delivered” we read this marvelous description of that incredible moment:
“Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man’s hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Saviour and which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man. In solemn silence they gaze upon it as it draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter and more glorious, until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire, and above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror.”
What an amazing sight this will be! And then, as Jesus draws closer, He cries out, “Awake! Awake! Arise from the dead” (Eph. 5:14, NKJV). That voice pierces the graves of all the ages, “and many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2, NKJV).
Imagine what that will be like—millions of all ages coming out of their graves, some to everlasting life, and sadly, others who will be lost forever. And there will be those who are living who will witness this incredible event.
We read about it in one of the most magnificent passages of Scripture, found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (NKJV).
Hallelujah! Jesus is coming again! We will be reunited with our precious dear ones who have died in the Lord, and we will ascend together to meet Jesus in the air. We will never have to say goodbye again. What a glorious, magnificent day that will be! What a wonderful hope we have that burns within our hearts—hope in the coming of the Lord!
But what about those who are not saved? What will happen to them? This is a very important question, and one that we will address in our next video, when we continue going through the last few chapters of The Great Controversy. And let me remind you that it is not too late for you to get your free copy of this marvelous book, available in multiple languages at thegreatcontroversyproject.org [Insert:thegreatcontroversyproject.org]. Download your free copy today!
Friends, now is the time to get ready for Christ’s soon return. Now is the time to choose to be on the Lord’s side, asking Him to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He is willing and ready to answer our prayers.
Let’s pray to Him just now.
Father in heaven, thank you that if we confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Now, Lord, we ask that you will guide us as we step into the future, as we head towards that climactic event of the end of Earth’s history and into in even the darkest hours of Earth’s history. But we can lean completely upon you, recognizing that you are in control and then we will see the glorious return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Help each one who is watching, listening, to place themselves on your side, completely accepting you as their personal Savior. Thank you for hearing us in this prayer. In Jesus name we ask it. Amen.