Arise, O God and Shine {verse 2}

When Jesus comes again to claim His people and establish His kingdom forever, the Bible tells us that nations will come to His light. Distant nations will be brought near to sing His glorious praise.

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." Isaiah 60:1-3

That day can't come quick enough, can it? Can you even imagine it? Distant nations - countries that are far from each other (think relationally - fighting, wars, conflict of every kind) and far from God will come together to the light of the Lord.

They will come together to sing His glorious praise, for this is the Savior that purchased men from every nation!

And they sang a new song, saying,“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation." Revelation 5:9

In that day, all the nations that are far off will cry out together in a loud voice, for they will finally hear and know His holy ways.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10

What can we do until that day?

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14

We must work to ensure that the gospel can be preached to all the nations - to the whole world. Jesus tells us that when that is accomplished, the end will come. Let's work together to hasten that day!

Not all of us are called to go to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) but we can make disciples of those who live in our nation, who we interact with regularly. We can bring distant people near to sing His glorious praise. We can also support those who go to distant nations - financially and with prayer. We can, and must, pray that God will raise up people to preach His glorious gospel to all so that Jesus will come back, and quickly!

Join me in praying that many nations would come near, that soon we would hear the glorious sound of many tribes and tongues singing, "Our God Reigns!"

Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns." Revelation 19:6

Arise, O God, and Shine
Words by William Hurn

Arise, O God and Shine
In all Thy saving might,
And prosper each design
To spread Thy glorious light;
Let healing streams of mercy flow
That all the earth Thy truth may know.

Bring distant nations near
To sing Thy glorious praise;
Let every people hear
And learn Thy holy ways.
Reign, mighty God, assert Thy cause
And govern by Thy righteous laws.

Put forth Thy glorious power
That Gentiles all may see
And earth present her store
In converts born to Thee.
God, our own God, His Church will bless
And fill the world with righteousness.

To God, the only wise,
The one immortal king,
Let hallelujahs rise
From every living thing;
Let all that breathe, on every coast
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.