Visions in Revelation

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 NASB

In 1966 Olivier Messiaen, the French mystic, composer, and musician, grappled to express what the Bible taught about the world to come. The result was a work called And I Await the Resurrection of the Dead.

Messiaen, who called himself a theological musician, sought to transport listeners into an environment where they could try to escape the limits of their normal experience and catch a glimpse of eternity. He designed this powerful, harmonically expansive work to be performed in large spaces: churches, cathedrals, and even among mountains.

Although purely instrumental music, each of the five movements was given a scriptural reference. In the last movement, based on Revelation 19:6, Messiaen used gongs, cymbals, and wind instruments in a chorale in which he sought to provide an enormous impact.

In Revelation, John, too, tried to express in words the vision he was given about the world to come. This vision was overwhelming. In the end, neither words nor music can adequately express the grandeur and glory of Heaven.

Do not just think about the normal activities of your daily life with your temporary concerns. Ask God to give you a vision of eternal things. Remember, He has prepared a home for you. You will live forever with Him! May that thought give you peace. Allow your heart to be filled with praise. Cry out with the angels, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!”

Reflection Question: Reflect on what you think Heaven will be like.