You and I are a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. I feel it intrinsically, an energy coursing through my body and making a home in the form of awe and wonder inside my mind. This song reminds me of the reality of eternal worship that we get a glimpse of in Revelation, and it elicits a powerful emotion as the knowledge in my head collides with the passion in my heart.
It’s easy to think of heaven and eternity as an intangible, far-off reality that we only read about and can’t experience in the here and now. It’s easy to not think about it at all even; to let Revelation be that final book of the Bible that’s just a little too confusing and scary to read or consider in day to day living. I’m totally guilty of this mindset.
But what if eternity is not just something we will get to one day in the future? What if God’s eternal kingdom is part of our current reality?
Mark 1:14-15 says, “...Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’”
Jesus brought the kingdom of God to earth when he descended from His divine throne in order to redeem us permanently and irrevocably. Every single person who acknowledges Him as Savior enters the eternal kingdom in the present tense. Jesus isn’t a ticket for future admittance in human form. He is the gateway, the portal, the portkey (for all you Harry Potter fans) through whom we are immediately transferred to a new kingdom. The kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, the kingdom of light eternal.
Revelation 4 tells us what is happening in the heavenly realms in this kingdom:
“And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying. ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’”
Giving glory, honor, and thanks.
Bowing before Him.
Worshipping Him.
Telling Him how great He is.
This is what we do when we gather as a church. This is what we do when we sing together. We participate and acknowledge our place with the angels and heavenly beings in the eternal kingdom when we worship corporately.
It is my prayer that our community develops a deeper love for the kingdom of God and a broader understanding of our current place in it as we make this song a part of our theology.
Lyrics
Gathered at the highest throne
Welcomed by a melody
An anthem I have always known
A song that’s always been in me
All glory and honor
Dominion and power to You
A million angels fall, face down on the floor
All to echo holy is the Lord
My heart can’t help but sing, with all of heaven roar
Forever echo holy is the Lord
Oh, oh, forever echo holy is the Lord
Memorized by every heart
Written in eternity
Every lifted voice a part
Joining in the symphony
All glory and honor
Dominion and power to You
Oh, all wisdom and wonder
Belong to no other but You
A million angels fall, face down on the floor
All to echo holy is the Lord
My heart can’t help but sing, with all of heaven roar
Forever echo holy is the Lord
Oh, oh, forever echo holy is the Lord
Standing at the end of time
There before the throne of grace
Majesty before my eyes
Let it take my breath away
A million angels fall, face down on the floor
All to echo holy is the Lord
My heart can’t help but sing, with all of heaven roar
Forever echo holy is the Lord
Oh, oh, forever echo holy is the Lord
