Poems and Short Features

Beyond the Veil

I can see my bridegroom waiting at the end of my way.
    With the crown of life he’s promised me, if faithful I’d stay.
He will joyfully embrace me, hold me with his strong, loving arms,
    and assure me I’ll be part of his glorious bride.

And nearby him shall be standing, in the garden of the Lord,
    All the brethren who have gone before to receive their reward.
Fellowshipping with each other, rejoicing in his love.
    Looking forward to their marriage to the worthy Lamb.

Then shall come that blessed moment we’ve awaited for so long,
    When in purity and righteousness we’re presented by our Lord.
To our tender heavenly Father. In adoration we’ll bow low.
    With the Hallelujah chorus ringing in our ears.

All the angels will be singing, and with our harps we shall proclaim
the matchless joy of being in the presence of the King of Kings.

—In The Dawning

 

The Church in Glory

An intriguing possible portrayal of the church in glory is found in Job 38:31, in the Creator’s challenging words to Job: “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of .Pleiades?”

The Pleiades is a particularly beautiful star cluster located in the constellation Taurus, the Bull, one of the twelve signs of the Zodiac. On a clear night, a good pair of eyes can distinguish six or seven stars; otherwise, they will appear as a small silvery cloud. Yet there are no less than 250 suns in the Pleiades group, closely associated together and unsurpassed in beauty and loveliness.

Most stars within a grouping only appear to be together because they happen to be in our line of sight; in reality they are traveling in diverse directions at different rates of speed. But not so with the Pleiades—all of its stars are actually moving together in space, in a fixed, unalterable relationship. Thus our great God was revealing to Job 3,500 years ago that he had performed this miracle of the heavens, in binding the Pleiades group together. We believe it was for a grand purpose: to portray the church in glory.

The King James rendering, “the sweet influences of the Pleiades,” conforms to the Hebrew original and seems best to convey the thought of this pleasant, delightful association of the body members in the kingdom work and beyond. “Pleiades,” from the Septuagint rendering of the Hebrew kiymah, means “the congregation of the judge or ruler.” What a lovely way for the Creator to portray these truths, by fixing the Pleiades cluster in the pageantry of the heavens to be seen throughout all eternity!

—Charles Redeker

 

Psalm 23

My Shepherd is the Lord Most High,
    And all my wants shall be supplied:
In pastures green he makes me lie,
    And leads by streams which gently glide.

He in his mercy doth restore
    My soul when sinking in distress;
For his name’s sake he evermore
    Leads me in paths of righteousness.

Yea, though I walk through death’s dark vale,
    Ev’n there no evil will I fear,

Because thy presence shall not fail
    Thy rod and staff my soul shall cheer.

For me a table thou hast spread,
    Prepared before the face of foes;
With oil thou dost anoint my head;
    My cup is filled and overflows.

Goodness and mercy shall not cease
    Through all my days to follow me;
And in God’s house my dwelling place
    With him forevermore shall be.


—The Psalms of David in Metre

Many Pictures: One True Church
Scattered throughout the Old Testament
  And frequently used in the New
Are symbols and types of a called-out class:
  The Church that is holy and true.

Just as the FIRSTBORN OF ISRAEL
  Were spared on that Passover night,
The Church of the Firstborn, through Jesus’ blood,
  Are justified now in God’s sight.

These are called saints—they are sanctified
  And under the Husbandman’s care.
From Christ comes their sustenance; he’s the Vine.
  As BRANCHES, rich fruitage they bear.

Likened to SHEEP, they most willingly
  Respond to the Shepherd’s clear voice.
Protected and nourished, they flock to him.
  Wherever he leads, they rejoice.

Pictured as JEWELS, they are valuable.
  With skill does the Father refine:
Through loss, persecution and other trials,
  Their steadfast Christ-likeness will shine.

CALEB stepped out on God’s promises.
  He counseled: Possess the good Land!
As saints view their foes through the eye of faith,
  They likewise find rest as God planned.

Bullock and GOAT were both sacrificed
  In yearly atonement for sin.
Thus Christ and his Church bear reproach and loss
  Before the world’s blessings begin.

WHEAT well portrays their humility.
  The ripening grain will bend low.
True saints have been blessed with a glimpse of God;
  Thanksgiving and praise overflow!

Purity, love and fidelity
  Abound in both Bridegroom and BRIDE.
The Church, not defiled with the things of earth,
  Seeks always with Christ to abide.

Saints are portrayed in their fellowship.
  Like EAGLES, their vision is keen;
They feast on the Truths that their Lord supplies
  At Harvest, while still he’s unseen.

Small was the ARMY OF GIDEON,
  But fearless and girded to win.
Well trained and triumphant, the Church here shown
  Will vanquish the strongholds of sin.

Pictured on high as the PLEIADES,
  The glorified Church will remain
United forever in serving God
  As sons on the Heavenly plane!

—Elaine L. Redeker