👑 The King is coming soon – Hope beyond the end
📅 February 20 – The Glorious Return of Christ
Monthly Theme: The Great Controversy – The Conflict Between Good and Evil
Year Theme 2026: “Soon the King Is Coming – Hope Beyond the End”
📖 Central Bible Verse of the Day
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven;
and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn,
and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.”
— Matthew 24:30
🌅 Devotional of the Day
For thousands of years, believers have looked to heaven with hope
and awaited the greatest of all moments —
the return of Jesus Christ.
This event is the climax of salvation history,
the triumph of righteousness,
the answer to every prayer and every tear.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God; believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many rooms …
I will come again and take you to myself,
that where I am you may be also.”
— John 14:1–3
Ellen G. White wrote:
“The return of Christ is the blessed hope of His people,
the goal of history,
the fulfillment of every longing.
It means the end of the rule of sin
and the beginning of the eternal kingdom of peace.”
(The Great Controversy, p. 640)
✨ The Visible Coming of the King
The return of Christ will not be secret,
but a visible and mighty event.
Every cloud in heaven will shine with His glory.
“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west,
so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
— Matthew 24:27
The heavens open,
angels surround Christ in radiant splendor,
and millions of redeemed voices rejoice:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
The trumpet of God sounds (1 Thessalonians 4:16),
and the earth trembles with holy power.
Ellen White describes:
“Soon there appears in the east a small dark cloud,
about half the size of a man’s hand.
It is the cloud that surrounds the Savior.
As it comes nearer, it grows brighter and more glorious,
until it appears in indescribable splendor.”
(The Great Controversy, p. 640)
🌿 Humanity’s Response
For the redeemed, this event is joy and deliverance;
for the wicked — fear and despair.
“And the kings of the earth, the great men and the rich …
hid themselves in the caves of the mountains and said:
Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him
who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!”
— Revelation 6:15–16
Those who rejected God’s warnings
will realize that their decision is eternal.
But the faithful lift up their heads.
“When these things begin to happen,
stand up and lift up your heads,
because your redemption is drawing near!”
— Luke 21:28
Ellen White wrote:
“While the wicked cry out and flee,
the righteous sing songs of praise.
The glory of heaven shines on their faces,
and they cry: ‘Behold, this is our God, whom we have waited for!’”
(The Great Controversy, p. 641)
🔥 The Resurrection of the Righteous
At the return of Jesus, the greatest miracle in history occurs:
the resurrection of the saints.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven
with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God;
and the dead in Christ will rise first.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16
From the dust of the earth arise countless redeemed —
from Abel to the last martyr.
Their faces shine with the glory of heaven.
They cry out: “Death, where is your sting?
Grave, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)
Ellen White describes:
“The graves are opened,
and the righteous come forth,
clothed with immortality.
All cry together:
‘Victory over death!’”
(The Great Controversy, p. 645)
🌄 The Rapture and the Reunion
The resurrected unite with the living,
who are transformed.
“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 so we will always be with the Lord.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:17
What a moment!
Families separated by death
will meet again —
tears turning into laughter,
sorrow into everlasting joy.
Ellen White wrote:
“Friends long separated
will meet again, never to part.
All voices unite in one song of victory and love.”
(The Great Controversy, p. 646)
🕊️ The Beginning of the Eternal Kingdom
When Christ leads His people home,
the kingdom of glory begins.
The righteous are welcomed into heaven
to live with their Redeemer.
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death,
nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain,
for the former things have passed away.”
— Revelation 21:4
This is the goal of all hope,
the end of the great conflict
and the beginning of eternity.
Ellen White:
“Soon we shall see the face of Him
whom our soul loves.
Soon the night of conflict will be over
and the eternal day will begin.”
(Maranatha, p. 318)
🙏 Prayer
Lord Jesus,
I long for Your coming.Prepare my heart
so that I may respond with joy to Your voice.Help me remain faithful through the night,
so that I may see the light of the eternal morning.Strengthen my faith
so that I hold firmly to the blessed hope.Amen.
💭 Thought for the Day
“For those who love Christ,
His return will not be terror,
but the most beautiful moment of eternity.”
— Ellen G. White, Maranatha, p. 319
💡 Personal Application
-
Read Matthew 24:27–31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 19:11–16.
Meditate on the glory of the returning King. -
Pray: “Lord, keep my heart awake and ready for Your coming.”
-
Practical step:
Encourage someone today who is tired — remind them of the blessed hope:
“Jesus is coming soon!”
🌺 Closing Verse
“Behold, He is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him;
and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.
Yes, Amen!”
— Revelation 1:7
