On Zion's Glorious Summit

1. On Zion's Glorious Summit “On Zion’s glorious summit stood A numerous host redeemed by blood! They hymned their King in strains divine; I heard the song, and strove to join. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts, on high adored! Who like me Thy praise should sing, O Almighty King!” “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts, on high adored! Holy, holy, holy.” Text: Rev. 15:1-4

2. The battle of Good Versus Evil has already been won, and • the outcome already decided • Heb. 2:14-15: Jesus already won over Satan, and broke his power (hold) over death! • Saints have to endure through the battles of life to enjoy the victor’s rest from the war. • I Thess. 4:16-18: The beginning of eternal rest begins with Christ’s triumphant 2nd return, and saints are to be comforted with these things! • (I Jn. 5:4: Faith overcomes the world) There is a hymn we sing that “comforts” us with these words and uses the figurative language and imagery from the book of Revelation to speak about the victory found in our faith! Intro On Zion's Glorious Summit

3. John Kent (1766-1843): • “On Zion's Glorious Summit” (1803) • He was a shipwright by trade with little education, but went on to write numerous hymns. • He published his first hymnal in 1803: Collection of Original Gospel Hymns • It was so popular that it was still being published after his death, and in 1861 was in its 10th printing and included a work by the author and a biography written by his son. • Not much is known about the melody composer, Robert Skene (circa 19th century), but that the melody (Skene, or St. Louis) 1st appeared in a hymnal in 1872. • The Sanctus, for which this hymn has become popular for, remains a mystery as to its origins! • It appeared partially in 1872 and as the full Sanctus we sing today in 1873 with no credit given to its author, so to this day it remains a mystery! Intro This hymn reminds us that through faith in God we shall have victory and eternal rest! On Zion's Glorious Summit

4. “On Zion’s glorious summit stood A numerous host redeemed by blood! They hymned their King in strains divine; I heard the song, and strove to join.” • Zion: • II Sam. 5:6-7; I Kings 8:1: Physically, Zion referred to Jerusalem, or “the city of David.” • Is. 2:3: Throughout the O.T., Zion prophetically refers to the Messianic kingdom (Lk. 24:46-49; Acts 2:1: Fulfillment of Is. 2:3; Heb. 12:22-24) • Heb. 12:22-24; Rev. 14:1: But Zion can also be understood to find its final fulfillment in the heavenly kingdom! A Numerous Host Redeemed by Blood Rev. 14:1 1. Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. On Zion's Glorious Summit

5. “On Zion’s glorious summit stood A numerous host redeemed by blood! They hymned their King in strains divine; I heard the song, and strove to join.” • The numerous host refers to those who washed their • robes in the blood of the Lamb: • Rev. 7:9-17: The white robes indicate purity (Rev. 19:8) – these are saints whose sins have been forgiven! • Rev. 1:5 (NKJ): Our sins are “washed” (NAS: “released”) away! • Rev. 12:10-11: Saints who are “faithful till death” (Rev. 2:10) will not love their lives more than God, and will overcome, having white robes! Rev. 1:5 (NKJ) 5. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, • These will forever “hymn • their King in strains divine”: • Rev. 5:8-14 (Vs. 10 – I Pet. 2:9); 14:1-5; 15:1-4 A Numerous Host Redeemed by Blood The visions John saw was of the saints (the Redeemed), having overcome the world and sin, singing God’s praises before His throne! On Zion's Glorious Summit

6. “Here all who suffered sword or flame For truth, or Jesus’ lovely name, Shout victory now and hail the Lamb, And bow before the great I AM.” • Those who suffered sword or flame: • Rev. 6:9-11: In the book of Revelation they are described as those martyrs who had been slain for the word of God and their testimony. • I Pet. 4:12-16: Saints will be persecuted (II Tim. 3:12), but if we suffer for being a Christian, it is in that name we are to glorify God! Rev. 6:9-11 9. When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10. and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11. And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. • Those who suffered for • “Jesus’ lovely name”: • Mt. 5:10-12; II Tim. 3:12; I Pet. 4:1-5, 12-16: This will include all who have suffered persecution for righteousness’ sake (Rev. 15:2). Victory in Death Through Faith On Zion's Glorious Summit

7. “Here all who suffered sword or flame For truth, or Jesus’ lovely name, Shout victory now and hail the Lamb, And bow before the great I AM.” • They will shout victory, having overcome all evil, and “hail • the Lamb”: • Rev. 5:11-13; 15:1-3: The angels, the 24 elders, the saints, and every created thing sang praises to God and to the Lamb! • Bow before the great I AM • (Ex. 3:14; Jn. 8:58): • Phil. 2:9-11; Rom. 14:10-12: All people will bow before God and confess Christ as Lord and give an account of their deeds. Victory in Death Through Faith These visions show the ultimate triumph of the saints who put their trust in the Lamb! On Zion's Glorious Summit

8. “While everlasting ages roll, Eternal love shall feast their soul, And scenes of bliss, forever new, Rise in succession to their view.” • In this world to come Jesus promises His followers • everlasting life: • Mt. 19:29, 25:34, 46: The reward for living faithful lives to God! (I Jn. 2:25) I Jn. 2:25 25. This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. • The same eternal love will feast their soul which washed • them from their sins and made them “kings and priests to • God”: • Rev. 1:4-6: It was His love for man that caused God to give His Son to be sacrifice for our sins so that we could ever live with Him (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8). • I Cor. 13:13: Love will abide forever! • When we dwell with Him for eternity, there will no longer be any need for faith (Heb. 11:1; I Jn. 3:2) and hope (Rom. 8:24-25; I Jn. 3:2)! Eternal Bliss On Zion's Glorious Summit

9. “While everlasting ages roll, Eternal love shall feast their soul, And scenes of bliss, forever new, Rise in succession to their view.” • The scenes of bliss will be the new heavens and new earth • where all will be new forever and ever: • Rev. 21:1-7: The promise of eternal life and all things new comes to fruition, where God wipes away all tears for those “who overcome!” Eternal Bliss These visions provide a glimpse into the reward of eternal life, the saint’s hope! On Zion's Glorious Summit

10. The Sanctus concludes by offering praise to the great I AM who gives us our victory! (“Holy! Holy! Holy!”) It is the hope of every Christian someday to praise the God of hosts with the redeemed of all ages and the heavenly choir as we stand “On Zion’s Glorious Summit!” Conclusion On Zion's Glorious Summit

11. Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)