For All The Saints - All Saints Day 2020

This classic hymn was written in 1864 by William Walsham How.
1 For all the saints who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
2 You were their rock, their fortress, and their might;
You were their captain in the well-fought fight;
and in the darkness drear, You were their one true light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
3 O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia!
4 O blest communion, fellowship divine,
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
5 And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia!
6 The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon to faithful warrior comes their rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
7 But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia!
8 From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Often hymns both old and new speak of going to heaven when you die as though heaven is our final home. There is real comfort in knowing that when we die we enter the presence of King Jesus but we should think that paradise is our final home. Scripture tells us something far different. It speaks of our life being a seed that, when planted in the ground, waits patiently for the day when it will rise again. What springs forth isn’t the same thing that went in the ground and yet it really does spring forth. It goes into the ground a kernel and rises a beautiful plant. What rises is totally unlike the seed and yet totally connected with the kernel that came before it. One cannot have the beautiful plant without the death and burial of the seed. In this analogy those who have gone to be with Jesus are the kernel in the ground. Their spirits are in the presence of Christ and to them just as Paul promise it is gain. But they too are looking forward to the day when their own natural body will, just like that kernel, rise out of the ground and be resurrected and glorified. This coincides with the Return of Christ and with His return heaven and earth will be united and the gospel will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. This hymn beautifully encapsulates this eschatological glory.
The tune and recording were done by Joe Stout and the pictures are many different saints who have gone on to Paradise and are resting with Jesus until Jesus comes again, the resurrection occurs, and the last enemy is defeated, death itself. Alleluia!
The song is discussed in greater detail during this episode of the Anno Domini Podcast: joestout.org/2...

[@laradubuque1055]

I have been searching for days, the very absolute best rendition of this wonderful hymn. Thank you so much!!

[@danerachaelgustafson5941]

Joe,
Thank you for singing this beautiful hymn, it is so encouraging to me, especially when coupled with the images of saints that have been planted as you describe. The images of Albert Randall Duckworth 1981 - 2020 and all his kids really hit me hard. Would like to talk to you more about these people, as I have never met them, but look forward to meeting them one day. God bless you Brother!

[@meldtoys5154]

What happened to the Reformation Bible quote?