p. 10 | The Great Translation by Rev. W. Preston

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 9, 1902

The Great Translation

By Rev. W. Preston

“THE Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17.

Things that are to come to pass may well engage our thoughts. They should be regarded not as subjects of mere curiosity, but their reality should be considered. A prediction given nineteen centuries ago may now receive its fulfillment sooner than anticipated. We refer to the coming of our Lord. This promised return is not a question of controversy or of speculation. It is certain. The only thing uncertain in connection with it is the period when. That is beyond our knowledge. The latter is not revealed, so we cannot be wise above what is written. The former is fully revealed: therefore there need be no doubt in our minds on the subject. It is one we do well to consider; for it involves great and lasting results.

The “signs of the times” are significant enough, so that he who runs may read. Voices from many quarters proclaim forcibly, “The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Our Lord has informed

us of signs antecedent to his advent, and which would be indicative of its nearing. Famines, pestilences, earthquakes, wars and rumors of wars; increasing godlessness, skepticism, and efforts to undermine men's faith; the love of many waxing cold, and the cynical inquiry, “Where is the promise of his coming? for . . . all things continue as they were.” Respecting what is coming, it is not theories of our own which we are to build, but humbly to hear “what saith the Scriptures.”

Well, Paul gives an insight to what approaches. He was anxious to assuage the grief of his Thessalonian brethren to us for their deceased—“them which are asleep.” In time they would rise and again be associated with, and be fully recognized. The period when this should be is pointed out, and the order of events then fully set forth.

When the Lord descends, “the dead in Christ” (note the expression) “shall rise first.” Then, those having arisen, “we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thess. 4: 17. When he comes, his true people, his true church—some sleeping in death, others here, belonging to the church militant on earth—will meet the great Captain of their salvation “in the air.” His descent will be for those who, like Simeon of old, wait “for the consolation of Israel.” And the happy consummation of all this will be—“So shall we ever be with the Lord.”

All this is to be in reality. We follow no “cunningly devised fables” in believing it. In its contemplation there is much to make the Christian rejoice. The comforting promise and gladsome prediction are as much for us to-day as for those of old. If we be in Christ, we have naught to fear. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,” is the assurance.—Rev. W. Preston, in The Quiver.