• Features
  • News
  • Print
  • Home
  • Features
  • Perspectives
  • News
  • Lifestyle
  • Gallery
  • Family
    • Weddings
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Share a story
  • Contact us
  • Sign in

Latest News

  • Small Group Ministry Training Is Ready for Launch

    January 05, 2026, by NW Adventists Team
  • A Vocal Music Performance

    Never Alone: Finding Courage Amid Fear

    December 29, 2025, by Isabella Millen
  • Close up dreamy face of pretty little child girl with xmas lights bokeh.

    Christmas, Children and the Clash of Kingdoms

    December 22, 2025, by Alister Hunt et al.

Print magazine

Image Credit: Brooke Kisser

The Great Controversy

By Abby Kisser, December 11, 2024

Editor's Note: Abby Kisser is an eighth-grade student at Skagit Adventist Academy. She wrote this poem as part of her Bible class. Filled with insight and imagery, Jan Fautheree, her teacher, encouraged her to publish her work.

The Great Controversy

Heaven was serene,
Everything was exact,
Perfection in place.

Great songs of joy were sung,
The Father was exalted.
Heaven was flawless.

Then a dragon began to form.
Slowly pride was recognized,
One by one, scales grew.

Lies and deception,
More scales were formed.
Slowly, darkness became visible.

Patience was dealt,
And slowly some went back,
A few disintegrated scales.

Then slowly the tail was formed,
Sweeping one-third of the angels away,
To join the forces of dark dismay.

Battle raged,
A full-fledged dragon was formed.
Then it changed.

It had crossed the line,
No more could be done.
The scales could not be broken.

A fallen dragon.
Fallen friends.
All lost to a world without sin.

And so it started,
A perfect beginning.
Yet The Beginning of the End.

But all was not lost,
A plan had been formed.
A Savior was to come.

A Star was born,
With plans in place,
To save the human race.

The Star was wounded,
But the promise fulfilled,
The dragon's head crushed.

One day the trumpets will blast,
The dead will rise,
10,000 years, then perfection will rise.

Print Friendly and PDF

Author

Abby Kisser

Skagit Adventist Academy student
Section
Washington Conference
Tags
Youth

You may also like

  • SAGE Builders Carry on Legacy in Queets

    December 09, 2025, by Rick Serns
  • Healthy Heart Habits Lead to Super Bowl Surprise for KSDA Student

    December 09, 2025, by Laurie Yoshihara
  • WISE Turns Classrooms Into Mission Fields

    December 05, 2025, by Enoc Garcia
  • Journey to Wholeness Training Equips Leaders to Bring Healing and Hope

    December 03, 2025, by Enoc Garcia
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit
  • Reprint/Repost Request
  • Style Guide
  • Change of Address
  • Subscriptions
  • Sunset
  • RSS
  • Contributor Login
  • Contact

The Gleaner is a gathering place with news and inspiration for Seventh-day Adventist members and friends throughout the northwestern United States. It is an important communication channel for the North Pacific Union Conference — the regional church support headquarters for Adventist ministry throughout Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The original printed Gleaner was first published in 1906, and has since expanded to a full magazine with a monthly circulation of more than 40,000. Through its extended online and social media presence, the Gleaner also provides valuable content and connections for interested individuals around the world.

Copyright 2026, North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. All rights reserved. Legal disclaimer & privacy policy.