THE GLORY TO COME by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 21, 1877

THE GLORY TO COME.

By Uriah Smith

Peter says, “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ that was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:10–12. The apostle shows by this language that the great theme of Christ’s sufferings and the glory that should follow is one which has called forth the most diligent search and inquiry of the prophets, and that even the angels have desired to look into these things. They did not stop with the sufferings of Christ, but went forward till the wonderful work closed with the glory to follow. And then their eyes rested upon such heights of glory that they could not comprehend it, and such boundless visions of triumph that they were unable to scan it. How should the theme that can thus interest angels be regarded by men?

But an interesting thought for us in the matter is that the first part of this picture is already nearly, if not quite, completed. May we not say that Christ has accomplished that which is called his sufferings? He has died upon the cross, he has about finished his long period of pleading before his Father for sinful man and filled up the measure of sufferings which he endures in sympathy with his followers here below. This work is about ended. And what succeeds? The glory, the brightness and majesty of which cause even the angels to veil their faces. With the coming of Christ comes this glory. With the coming of Christ comes the salvation that is to be revealed in the last time, for which we are to hope to the end, and which is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Verses 5, 13. What then is before us? Salvation and glory. How near? At the doors. The suffering, the humiliation, the warfare, the labor, the cross, the burden of mortality, are about ended. The next to come is the glory, the exaltation, the victory, the rest, the crown, the thrill of immortality. Do we not well to look up and lift up our heads, our redemption being so near, and we so soon to enter upon this glory that is to follow? U. S.