Hosts of light in ceaseless splendor
Sound the notes of love and praise
Humbly all their homage render
Anthems new and old to raise
Orbs and systems, law-abiding
Mark their timeless, cosmic course
Heaven’s fiat, ever guiding
Beckons life’s eternal Source
Yet a distant, dark disorder
Haunts the joyous, radiant throng
Far removed from Heaven’s border
Marred throughout by pain and wrong
See the calendar of ages
Shine its ray beyond the now
Light from worn prophetic pages
Causes hearts and knees to bow
Weeks of years, their pace advancing
Guide to history’s focal point
Love incarnate, all-entrancing
Boundless grace will soon anoint
Angels mark the moments passing
Till the Lord of peace descends
Heaven’s host, its strength amassing
Yearns for when the conflict ends
Yet before the crown of glory
Must intrude the cross of shame
Not for them the saving story
Till the price that sin should claim
Then at once, while praise ascending
Sounds a still more sacred tone
Heaven’s host, their God attending
Now behold an empty throne
Michael’s legions pause to wonder
At the mystery now impearled
God eternal, torn asunder
To redeem a rebel world
Bound within His zygote prison
Heaven’s sovereign takes abode
Till the words, “The Lord is risen!”
Through the astral depths explode
When at last, His triumph sealed
God the Son is called above
Sinless beings their homage yield
To the Source of boundless love
Yet for ceaseless ages yonder
Will the mystery stand alone
O what wond’rous grace to ponder!
O what price the empty throne!
Pastor Kevin Paulson holds a Bachelor’s degree in theology from Pacific Union College, a Master of Arts in systematic theology from Loma Linda University, and a Master of Divinity from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He served the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for ten years as a Bible instructor, evangelist, and local pastor. He writes regularly for Liberty magazine and does script writing for various evangelistic ministries within the denomination. He continues to hold evangelistic and revival meetings throughout the North American Division and beyond, and is a sought-after seminar speaker relative to current issues in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He presently resides in Berrien Springs, Michigan