“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? . . . Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:54–57).

The final verse of the stirring song, “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne,” looks to the future when all that has gone before will come to culmination.

Christ’s birth, life, and death will find full and final expression in ultimate and eternal victory.

When the heavens shall ring And the angels sing At thy coming to victory, Let thy voice call me home, Saying, “Yet there is room, There is room at My side for thee.”

As we noted in verse two, the angelic hosts proclaimed His first coming to the startled shepherds in the field. At His second coming, this “innumerable company of angels” will be joined by “the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, . . . and the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:22,23), all gathered around the throne of God.

Together we will thank Him and serve Him and sing His praises forever.

There is no but in this final verse of the hymn, “for all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (II Corinthians 1:20).

Notice, instead, the precious reminder that while God’s attention envelops all of redeemed mankind, yet He still focuses on each individual. When the time comes, He will personally welcome each of us to His side. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John 10:27,28).

“My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, when thou comest and callest for me!” JDM