📅 February 21 – The Resurrection of the Righteous and the Transformation of the Living

Monthly Theme: The Great Controversy – The Conflict Between Good and Evil
Yearly Theme 2026: “Soon the King Is Coming – Hope Beyond the End”

📖 Central Bible Text for the Day

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.
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 thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

🌅 Devotional for the Day

The day of Christ’s return will not only mark the end of suffering,
but the beginning of life in its perfect form.
It is the day
when the dead in Christ will rise
and the living will be transformed.

This double revelation of Christ’s power
is the triumph over death and the grave,
the final answer to the weeping of the ages.

“I am the resurrection and the life;
he who believes in Me shall live,
even though he dies.”
— John 11:25

Ellen G. White wrote:

“The resurrection of the righteous is the most glorious spectacle
ever beheld by human eyes.
The voice of the Son of God calls the sleepers,
and they come forth, glorified, immortal,
never again subject to death.”
(The Great Controversy, p. 645)

✨ The Resurrection of the Righteous

Since Abel, believers have rested in the earth,
waiting for the voice of their Redeemer.
Their sleep is not consciousness,
but rest in hope.

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake, some to everlasting life.”
— Daniel 12:2

This resurrection is the work of Christ Himself.
He who conquered death
speaks the word — and life begins.

“He will transform our lowly body
that it may be conformed to His glorious body.”
— Philippians 3:21

Ellen White explains:

“Christ Himself calls the sleeping saints from their graves.
His voice penetrates the tomb,
and they come forth,
glorified with the immortality of life.”
(Maranatha, p. 320)

No grave can hold them,
no stone can bind them.
The power that once called Lazarus
will shake the whole earth.

🌿 The Transformation of the Living

Not all believers will see death.
A faithful people will be alive
when Jesus returns.
They will not die,
but in a moment be transformed.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery:
We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Mortality is laid aside,
immortality is put on.
Wrinkles, suffering, frailty — all pass away.
New life begins,
pure, eternal, perfect.

Ellen White describes this moment:

“The living righteous are changed in a moment,
and together with the resurrected saints
receive immortality.
Then is fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory!’”
(The Great Controversy, p. 645)

🔥 The Meeting with the Lord

After the resurrection and transformation,
the redeemed are caught up,
to meet the Lord in the clouds.
What a sight!
The entire family of the redeemed,
united in one upward movement toward heaven.

“And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:17

No words can describe the joy
when children find their parents again,
when friends embrace one another,
when the voice of Jesus welcomes them home.

Ellen White wrote:

“On the clouds of heaven angels bring the redeemed to Christ.
What a reunion! What a triumph!
Every eye rests upon the face of the King,
and every heart cries, ‘This is our God!’”
(The Great Controversy, p. 646)

🌄 The Victory Over Death and the Grave

Death, the enemy of all ages,
is now defeated — forever.

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your sting?
O grave, where is your victory?”
— 1 Corinthians 15:54–55

This is the moment
for which every tear, every grave, every prayer has waited.
The redeemed will realize:
what they believed
has now become visible.

Ellen White wrote:

“Before the astonished eyes of the redeemed,
death is destroyed,
and the life that was hidden in Christ
fills the whole earth with glory.”
(Maranatha, p. 322)

🙏 Prayer

Lord Jesus,
thank You for the hope of the resurrection.

Give me the faith
to hold firmly to Your promise,
even when the grave seems dark.

Teach me to live each day
in such a way
that I am ready to see You when You come.

Transform me even now
through Your Spirit,
that I may live eternally with You.

Amen.

💭 Thought for the Day

“The resurrection of the righteous is the completion of redemption.
Whoever lives in Christ now
will then rise or be transformed in Christ.”
— Ellen G. White, Maranatha, p. 321

💡 Personal Application

1. Read 1 Corinthians 15:50–58 and John 11:23–26.
   Reflect on what it means that Christ is your life — now and forever.

2. Pray: “Lord, strengthen my faith in Your power over death.”

3. Practical step:
   Visit or call someone today
   who is grieving a loss,
   and share the hope of the resurrection.

🌺 Closing Verse

“For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:22