Left Over | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 7, 1869

“Left Over.”

UNTO what? “To the coming of the Lord.” Such is the literal rendering in 1 Thess, iv, 15. Who are the “left over?” “We, the living,” i. e., somebody will live to see Him come. Somebody will never fall asleep—never taste of death. Somebody will escape death-bed, shroud, coffin, and the grave. Somebody will never be mourned for, or their names carved upon the marble tomb. Somebody will experience that last mysterious rapture into the air. Somebody will clasp angel hands, and cut from living homes, not open graves, will be caught up, up, to join the celestial escort, and see the King of kings. Lost to the world—lost in the glorified bands, lost in the ambrosial, sun-bright sky, lost heavenward. Who ever heard of such a thing? Oh, yes! one of old went up in a chariot skyward, and men on earth saw him no more—type of the living left over unto His epiphany. And the same chariots are waiting to carry up the saints of God to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Then will the happy union be complete. “So shall we ever be with the Lord.” We were separated from the object of our love—Jesus. Descending with him to the rejoicing hills of Palestine, we shall evermore share in the joys and glory of his blessed reign on earth. O ye weary, and worn, and sad, cheer up. Ye sick and suffering and bruised, be of good comfort. Ye who wrestle in agony, hold on a little while and the victory is yours forever. A few more sighs, struggles, tears, temptations, trials, with “stormy waiting,” and then if “left over,” there cometh the unspeakable glory and the everlasting rest. I beseech you not to cease to WATCH.—Sel.