March 7, 2025 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Ted N.C. Wilson, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Greetings, friends! In our previous video we spoke about what it will be like when Jesus comes again. We focused on the joy of the righteous as they see their Redeemer coming in the clouds with thousands upon thousands of angels—just as He said He would.
But what about those who are not saved? What will happen to them? The answer is found in Revelation 6:15-17—
“And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (NKJV)
The day that brings unimaginable joy to the hearts of those who have chosen to follow Jesus will be a day of abject terror to those who have refused to listen to His voice. In The Great Controversy, Ellen White describes the terrible scene when the wicked recognize God’s voice calling forth His sleeping saints from their graves. She writes:
“The derisive jests have ceased. Lying lips are hushed into silence. . . . That voice which penetrates the ear of the dead, they know. How often have its plaintive, tender tones called them to repentance. How often has it been heard in the touching entreaties of a friend, a brother, a Redeemer” (p. 642).
They have heard the Savior’s voice pleading, “Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die?” (Ezk. 33:11).
“That voice,” writes Ellen White, “awakens memories which they would fain blot out—warnings despised, invitations refused, privileges slighted.”
And not only will the living wicked hear that voice, but in this special resurrection will be those who mocked Christ during His trial and while He hung on the cross. We read:
“Those who derided His claim to be the Son of God are speechless now. There is the haughty Herod who jeered at His royal title and bade the mocking soldiers crown Him king. . . . the men who smote and spit upon the Prince of life now turn from His piercing gaze . . . those who drove the nails through His hands and feet, the soldier who pierced His side, behold these marks with terror and remorse.
“With awful distinctness do priests and rulers recall the events of Calvary. With shuddering horror they remember how, wagging their heads in satanic exultation, they exclaimed: ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save’. . . And now there rises a cry of mortal agony…the awful, despairing wail, ‘He is the Son of God! He is the true Messiah!’” (The Great Controversy, pp. 643, 644).
Compare these wails with the jubilant shout of the saved: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us!” (Is. 25:9, NKJV)
Oh, my dear friends, on that day, there will be just two groups—the saved, and the lost. Those who are saved claimed the blood of the Lamb and determined, through His power, to follow wherever He would lead.
Sadly, the lost have repeatedly turned away from that pleading voice, determined to go their own way and reject the only One who can save them.
My friends, now is the day of salvation. If you hear His voice, don’t turn away. Say, “Yes, Lord. I am yours.” “Take my heart for I cannot give it. . . Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 159).
Friends, let’s pray together just now.
Father in heaven, thank you for providing a constant voice, drawing us and wooing us toward the salvation, bringing us to the foot of the cross, bringing us to Christ where we can find grace and salvation. Thank you for the moving of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts, to draw us closer to the Lord and to complete truth. Help us never to turn away for one day. Lord, we want to be with you. We want to be with you in the holy city. We want to be with you in heaven and not outside. Lord, save us through your power. In Jesus name, Amen.