Poems and Short Features

Revelation: A Coded Message,
A Special Blessing

In reading through the Book of Revelation
How seemingly very little it reveals—
With angels, churches, stars that fall from heaven,
And candlesticks, trumpets, beasts, and woes and seals.

Plus horses, scorpions, locusts, plagues and lightnings,
A dragon, a Lamb, a throne, beheaded souls:
Its symbols paint some mystifying pictures
As vision by vision swiftly it unfolds.

Its author, God, designed to give His servants,
Who earnestly seek His will to know and do,
An understanding rich and full of meaning.
The message is coded; meant for just the few.

Its contents guide their steps and give them courage
To faithfully follow Jesus, come what may.
Their hearts are firmly set on things of heaven;
No worldly allurements draw them from the way.

The book sets forth, in visions strong and vivid,
The course of the church throughout the Gospel Age.
As each successive era comes in focus,
Related events of history cross its stage.

The early church, with doctrines pure and holy,
Were zealous to spread God’s truth both far and near.
The world’s reproach and hatred could not stop them;
The Master’s return and kingdom were so dear.

As time went on and errors gained a foothold,
The nominal church increased in wealth and might.
Though few, there still remained some worthy Christians
Who patiently walked in ways of truth and light.

Their pattern, Jesus, trod the path before them.
His faithfulness led to death on Calvary’s cross.
His saints sought God’s acclaim, not worldly honor,
Rejoicing to serve in toil and pain and loss.

The precious truths grew dim and almost perished;
A counterfeit system reigned with brutal power.
In every era God brought forth a spokesman
To fearlessly give the message for the hour.

The Reformation came, and then the Harvest:
This seventh and final stage is well along.
The end is near; true saints are ever watchful.
The struggle goes on; temptations still are strong.

The book holds forth a blessing now and future
To those who take heed and keep its precepts true.
They’ll gain the grand reward and reign with Jesus,
Mankind to uplift when all things are made new.

—Elaine Redeker

 The Christian's Commission

Art thou down-hearted child of God?
If thou would’st courage seek,
Forget thyself—go forth and tell
Glad tidings to the meek.

Is thy heart sad because of loss?
Go forth and take this token,
Tell all that mourn, that soon our God
Will death’s great prison open.

For ashes, beauty—oil of joy,
And praise as garments strong,
Instead of hearts of heaviness,
Their souls shall fill with song.

While God today his vengeance shows,
On nations great and small,
Teach them to pray “Thy Kingdom come”—
God’s blessings on them all.

This then is thy commission now,
Go forth and do thy part,
And thou wilt find the greatest joy
Lies deep within thy heart.

—Alice M. Ripper, Poems of the Way

Christ's Glorious Kingdom

A glorious time is coming, the morning promised long,
When truth and right with holy might, shall overthrow the wrong
When Christ the Lord and rightful king, empowered from on high
Will stretch his hand throughout the land, with justice by and by.

The boast of haughty tyrants no more shall fill the air,
But age and youth will love the truth, and speed it everywhere,
No more from want and sorrow shall come the hopeless cry,
But war shall cease and perfect peace will flourish by and by.

A glorious time is coming, the time of Jubilee,
With shout and song `twill sweep along like billows of the sea,
The joyfulness of nations shall ring through earth and sky,
This day of grace draws on apace—O happy by and by!

The glories of Christ’s kingdom we gladly watch and pray,
Till o’er the height the morning light shall drive the gloom away,
For when the balm of healing shall reach mankind from high,
They’ll turn toward their precious Lord and love Him by and by.

—Gertrude Siebert, Comforted by God, p. 27