“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.
“I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“’Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.’
“After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened.” Revelation 15:1-5
Vision after vision, the Lord revealed to John what was to come. The contrast and combat between the beasts and the blesseds was certain and ferocious, and his glimpse of heaven revealed the triumph to come. The tangle of the world would be undone, the fierce tenor resolved. The beauty of sight and sound met his senses with a glorious glimpse that all would be well. (Revelation 13:11-18; 14:8-12)
It takes looking, wondering, acceding my preconceptions, and worshipping to grasp what heaven will be like. In the mire of here and now, when injustice, vitriol, and hopelessness spread like fog to hide heaven’s delights, the Scriptures beckon us to rise above it and behold. These signs in heaven serve to instill confident, substantial hope that fortifies our faith and renews joy day to day.
Do we actually believe that God’s wrath now being outpoured will one day be complete? Can we hear through the dissonance of this madding world the joyous strains of Moses’ songs? Are we complacently settling for mundane, banal, and ugly when our spirits can soar and sing within the Lord’s promises? (Exodus 15:1-18; Deuteronomy 31:30-32:43; Romans 1:18)
If we’re weighed down with earthly cares, would we ask God to lift our eyes to His heavenly hope? If we’re unsettled and fretting, would we grip His assurances? When we brood that all is dark, would we ingest His light? What difference is heavenly hope making in my outlook and plans? (Psalm 27:1; 119:105)
“I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
‘Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.’
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught a joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
I want to scale the utmost height,
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
‘Lord, lead me on to higher ground.’
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith, on heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” ~John Oatman, Jr. (1856-1922)
Lord, may heaven’s sure hope compel my living and infuse my praise.
As the rain and snow 