When All God’s Singers Get Home (Rev. 5:8-14)

When All God’s Singers Get Home
Revelation 5:8-14
INTRODUCTION
These words were written by Luther Presley in 1937. Do you remember what was going on in 1937?

THE RANSOMED – vs 1
A song of delight awaits us in that city so bright.
It will be heard under the dome of heaven.
The ransomed will raise happy songs in the praise of God.

How much are you worth? The Sound of Medicine website estimates the human body to worth about $45 million. About.com website estimates about $5 and that’s if you sell your skin at the going rate of cattle hide at $0.25 per square foot.

God’s people gave a “ransom” for themselves, for the support of the tabernacle, in effect a tax per person (Exodus 30:12) of ½ a shekel. That was not much.

Listen to the words of the psalmist – Psalm 49:7-8 “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice.” Verse 15 says: “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me.”

The prophet Hosea asked the question: “Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes” (13:14).

Jesus came to give His life as a ransom for many – Matthew 20:28.

1 Peter 1:17-19: “Conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” Family, we have been redeemed from our sins by the blood of Jesus and that provides us the hope of a home in heaven…

Revelation 5:8-14.

Those are God’s singers.

THE RAPTURE – vs 2
The songs of mirth we sing here on earth are just a foretaste of what is to come. Think with me, for a few minutes, about some songs we sing about heaven and the “rapture” we’ll experience in the presence of God…

#1. We sing the song, “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere” - Praise for the Lord, #69.
Somewhere, the sun is shining; somewhere, the songbirds dwell. Hush, then, thy sad repining. God lives and all is well. Somewhere, the day is longer; somewhere, the task is done. Somewhere, the heart is stronger and somewhere, the guerdon (reward) is won. Somewhere, the load is lifted; somewhere, the clouds are rifted; somewhere, the angels wait.

#2. “Beulah Land” - The word “beulah” (KJV) is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for “married woman.” The word is used five times, three of those times are found in Isaiah. It pictures God’s people as a woman married to God, her husband. Of course, the NT picture of that is the church which is married to Christ (Eph. 5:28-32; Rev. 19:7-8).
We’ve reached the land of love divine. All its riches freely mine. The blissful day shines undimmed. The night has passed away. My Savior comes and walks with me. We have sweet communion. He leads me gently by His hand. This is heaven’s borderland. The zephyrs (soft, gentle breeze) float, sweet sounds of a heavenly melody. Angels amid the throng robed in white singing the sweet Redemption song.

#3. “Don’t you Want to Go”
There’s nothing but love in that land, nothing but joy, peace in that land. My Savior is in that land. Can you imagine the rapture we’ll experience when we see that land?

Because we anticipate enjoying the rapture in that land, we sing…

#4. “Earth Holds no Treasures” - #225
There are no perishable treasures in heaven. Loved ones are waiting and watching my coming on the hills of that wonderful country. In that home o’er the sea, millions are singing the wonderful story. Heaven holds all to me.

#5. “Everybody will be Happy”
We’ll share a glory over there. The souls of men will live forevermore. The ransomed of all ages will be singing around the throne. There will be no cares over there. Christians of all nations will join in the triumph song. There, we’ll meet the one who saved us, who kept us by His grace, who brought us to that land, bright and fair. We will praise His name forever as we look on His face.

#6. “Home of the Soul” - #243
Rest to our souls will be given on the eternal shore. There we shall rest, never to roam, free from all care, happy and bright. Jesus is there. He is the light. Beautiful home of the ransomed beside the crystal sea. A sweet rest is remaining for the true children of God. There will be no complaining and no discipline.

#7. “Mansion Over the Hilltop” - #829
There’s a mansion of gold with a lining of silver. There, we’ll never grow old. Along with that mansion come a robe and a crown.

#8. “No Tears in Heaven” - #456
No tears. No sorrows. All will be glory. No sadness, all will be gladness. Glory is waiting. There, it will be an endless day. We’ll be with our Savior forever. There, we’ll stop pondering the things in this life. All will be more clear and all will be made new.

#9. “This World is Not my Home” - #684
The saints on every hand are shouting victory. Their song of sweet praise drifts back from heaven’s shore. If heaven’s not my home, what will I do? This world is not my home.

#10. “To Canaan’s Land” - #694
There the soul of man never dies. The darkest night we experience in this light will become day. A rose is blooming there for me, where we will spend eternity. There, there will be no sad farewells, no tear-dimmed eyes. All is peace, joy and love.

All of these songs are just a foretaste of the rapture to come.
Our joy here on earth, wherever it might be, cannot compare to the glory up there.
There’ll be no place like heaven my home.

THE REWARD – vs 3
Heaven is for those who have overcome sin.
When we get to heaven, we’ll sing “hallelujah, amen!”
Then and there – “every heart will be light and each face will be bright!”

The reward? It is “great”, Jesus says in Matthew 5:12. Jesus talked about a “righteous person’s” reward in Matt. 10:41.

Paul says our “reward” is our inheritance in Colossians 3:24.

Revelation 21:10-22:5.
That’s the reward when all of God’s singers get home.

Take home message: In the stress and bustle of life, don’t forget the reward waiting for the ransomed, when we’ll sing with rapture.