On Zion’s Glorious Summit

1. Read: Revelation 5:11-14

2. About the Text:

1) The Revelation records several places where the saints worship God around the throne.

2) The song “On Zion’s Glorious Summit,” contemplates these heavenly scenes.

3) Zion was the mountain on which the temple was built.

4) It is the place where God is worshipped.

5) In Christianity, that place is now in heaven around His heavenly throne (Hebrews 8:1-2).

6) This song was written by John Kent (1766-1843) c.1800.

7) He was a shipbuilder.

8) The song contemplates the worship of the saints in heaven.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “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.”

2. There are several scenes of worship around the throne in Revelation.

1) Revelation 4 and 5.

2) Revelation 7:9-17

3) Revelation 14:1-5

4) Revelation 15:2-4

5) Revelation 19:1-10

3. These are pictures of the saints worshipping God in eternity.

1) Glory, honor, thanks – Revelation 4:9.

2) Cast their crowns – Revelation 4:10.

3) Worthiness – Revelation 4:11.

4) Falling down to worship – Revelation 4:10; 5:8, 14; 7:11; 19:4.

5) Singing – Revelation 5:9; 14:3; 15:3.

6) Praise – Revelation 4:8, 11; 5:9-10, 13-14; 7:12; 15:3-4; 19:1-3, 5-6.

4. “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘?“Blessing and honor and glory and power ??Be to Him who sits on the throne, ??And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13-14).

5. Everyone will praise God and Christ one day whether they want to or not; will we now?

1. “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.”

2. This verse references those who were martyred for Christ.

1) “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed” (Revelation 6:9-11).

2) “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Revelation 12:11).

3) “And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God” (Revelation 15:2).

4) “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

3. There is great victory for the saints.

1. “While everlasting ages roll, / Eternal love shall feast their soul, / And scenes of bliss, for ever new, / Rise in succession to their view.”

2. This verse contemplates eternal life.

1) Eternal life.

2) Eternal love.

3) Eternal bliss.

4) Eternal novelty.

3. What of eternity?

1) “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful’” (Revelation 21:3-5).

2) “And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.[fn] 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes[fn] an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:26-27)

3) “There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5).

4. An eternity serving God and loving one another will be wonderful!

1. “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.”

2. Many song books label this part of the song the “sanctus.”

1) The word is Latin for “holy.”

2) It is the part of the song in which we sing “Holy, holy, holy.”

3. God’s holiness is the key thought here.

1) Separate

2) Pure

4. This part of the song references several scriptures.

1) “Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said:??’Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; ??The whole earth is full of His glory!’” (Isaiah 6:2-3).

2) “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘?“Holy, holy, holy, ??Lord God Almighty, ??Who was and is and is to come!’” (Revelation 4:8).

3) “They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!’” (Revelation 15:3).

5. Do we appreciate and love the holiness of God?

1. Some great thoughts about …

1) Worship

2) Victory

3) Eternity

4) Holiness

2. Invitation