This page is provided so that you can hear the tunes of items which we use in church. Mostly they are written by the vicar. Please note that they are copyright - we are very happy to give permission to you to use them, but we would like to hear about it. Please include any use on your Christian Copyright Licence returns.
Down this page:
- the words,
- the story,
- the sheet music,
- media player.
The heavenly vision
I caught a vision
I caught a vision of a city
that came from heaven to earth,
adorned as a bride for her husband
to a world of brand new birth.
And I heard from the throne a voice announcing:
"Now God will dwell with men.
He will be their God and they will be his people
for evermore, Amen!"
And in my vision there was beauty:
the earth and heaven were new,
the city was the new Jerusalem
with space for me and you.
And I heard from the throne a voice pronouncing:
"Now God will wipe their tears.
There'll be no more death or crying, pain or sadness,
for gone are mortal years."
Then in my vision was the throne room,
The Man from heaven who came:
the Beginning and the End, the Overcomer,
with eyes of fiery flame.
And I heard from the throne his invitation:
"To him who thirsts I'll give
living water without money from my fountain,
so come and drink and live.
And in my vision were the people,
before the throne were books.
The records of the actions of the lifetimes:
the good, the fair, the crooks.
And I heard from the throne the voice of judgement:
"Call me while you have breath,
for the ones whose names are written in the book of life
escape the second death."
And in my vision I cried: "Jesus,
I thirst, I hear your word.
O come and save me from the darkness,
you died for me, my Lord!"
Then I heard from the throne the words of welcome:
"Yes, you have overcome,
you've believed in me and so you've found salvation:
I'm God, and you're my son."
Copyright © John Hartley 2005.
Story behind the song
Christian Songwriters Network held a challenge in Spring 2005. Entrants were invited to write lyrics (words only - no music at this stage) based on one of three bible texts: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Hebrews 11, or Revelation 21:1-7. This one is on the last of these.
I wanted to capture something of John's sense of wonder and awe in this vision, but also something of the personal challenge which he would have felt under and which is expressed in other parts of the book. In particular, 21:1-7 is immediately preceded by the vision of "the lake of fire, which is the second death for those whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life", and I wanted to include the note of judgement which is necessary to understanding the wonderful opportunity held out to us in this part of the bible.
The words of Rev 21:1-7 are often used on Remembrance Sunday, and I'm wondering whether this item could be included at Eccelshill at our church services on that day?
John Hartley
Windows Media Player. When you click the left-hand "play" button your computer should have started to play the tune. If it didn't, you might be able to get the tune by clicking here, or by right-clicking the link, choosing "save target as", saving it onto your computer, and then opening it with a music-playing program.
Please remember that a midi file of a tune isn't supposed to be a state-of-the-art musical arrangement - it is only supposed to give a basic idea of how the tune goes. Any reasonable organist / keyboard player / music group could make it sound far better.