Revelation 21:2
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Southern Gospel can only be fully understood in light of the Great Depression. Though it traces its roots earlier, it came of age during the Great Depression. The generation of singers who grew up during the Great Depression and World War II were the greatest generation of Southern Gospel singers. The peak years of the genre roughly coincide with the peak years of its singers and fans—from after World War II to about the turn of the century.
Critics from more prosperous decades since have said there are too many Southern Gospel songs about Heaven. And there are quite a few, including a remarkable percentage of the songs listed below. But if one truly understands how bleak things were during the Great Depression, the genre’s focus on Heaven makes sense! And it’s why songs like this one are so beloved by its audiences.
Revelation 21:2-6
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Michael Card’s perspective on the same passage is a little more restrained, and by comparison, almost elegant. But it has a vigor and power of its own, carried by the lyric even more than the delivery.
Revelation 21:25
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
This triumphant anthem draws from surrounding verses, but draws its key idea from this verse.
Expository Songs
Jerusalem the golden (Revelation 21:1-2)
John Mason Neale, Bernard of Cluny
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Lo What A Glorious Sight Appears (Revelation 21:1-4) (1719)
Isaac Watts | Popularized by The Psalms of David (1719)
Lyrics | Sheet Music
New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-4) (2012)
Popularized by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
John Saw the Heaven and Earth Made New (Revelation 21:1-5)
Louise Lapp
Lyrics | Sheet Music
One Day (When We All Get to Heaven) (Revelation 21:1-5) (2017)
Popularized by Matt Redman
YouTube | Amazon
Lo! what a glorious sight appears (Revelation 21:1-9)
Lyrics
Behold, Behold (Revelation) (Revelation 21:1-24) (2017)
Popularized by Caroline Cobb (featuring Sean Carter)
YouTube | Amazon
No More Sea (Revelation 21:1)
Sheryl Farris | Popularized by The McKameys
YouTube
I See a City (Revelation 21:2-5) (2005)
Popularized by The Hoskins Family
YouTube | Amazon
New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2-6)
Michael Card, Scott Brasher | Popularized by Michael Card
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
God Shall Wipe All Tears Away (Revelation 21:4)
Ulysses Phillips
Lyrics
No More (Revelation 21:4)
Daniel Whittle
Lyrics | Sheet Music
When the Savior Wipes The Tears From Our Eyes (Revelation 21:4) (2003)
Popularized by The Hoskins Family
YouTube | Amazon
See Where the Great Incarnate God (Revelation 21:5-8)
Isaac Watts
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Jesus the water of life has given (Revelation 21:6)
Fanny Crosby
Lyrics | Sheet Music
The Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9)
J. C. Fisher
Lyrics | Sheet Music
O mother dear, Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10-27)
F.B.P., David Dickson
Lyrics | Sheet Music
No Night There (Revelation 21:16-25)
John R. Clements
Lyrics | Sheet Music
The Glory of the Lamb (Revelation 21:23) (2002)
Mark Altrogge | Popularized by Sovereign Grace Music
Lyrics | Sheet Music
No More Night (Revelation 21:25) (1986)
Walter Harrah | Popularized by David Phelps
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Nor eye has seen, nor ear has heard (Revelation 21:27) (1709)
Isaac Watts | Popularized by Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707-09)
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Other References
Away with our sorrow and fear! (Revelation 21:1-4)
Charles Wesley
Lyrics | Sheet Music
High and Lifted Up (Revelation 21:2)
Dianne Wilkinson | Popularized by The Cathedrals
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Holy Shore (Revelation 21:2)
Kyla Rowland | Popularized by The Perrys
YouTube | Amazon
Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2)
Paula Stefanovich | Popularized by The Hoppers
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
John Saw (Revelation 21:2)
Sandy Knight | Popularized by Gold City
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2)
Joe Hatfield | Popularized by The Rambos
YouTube
New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2)
Lois Arvin | Popularized by The Bishops
Amazon
New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2)
Popularized by Gold City
YouTube
New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2)
Popularized by Liberty Quartet
YouTube | Amazon
New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2)
Popularized by The Inspirations
YouTube
New Jerusalem Coming Down (Revelation 21:2)
Popularized by Calvary Echoes
YouTube
Story Untold (Revelation 21:2)
Michael Frost | Popularized by The McKameys
YouTube | Amazon
The Holy City (Revelation 21:2)
Frederick Weatherley, Stephen Adams | Popularized by Blackwood Brothers
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Alpha and Omega (Revelation 21:3-6)
Robbie Trice | Popularized by Gaither Vocal Band
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
A Higher Throne (Revelation 21:4) (2003)
Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty | Popularized by Keith and Kristyn Getty
Lyrics | Sheet Music | YouTube | Amazon
No More Pain (Revelation 21:4)
David Turner | Popularized by The Bishops
Amazon
When I Am Bowed With Grief (Revelation 21:4)
Eben E. Rexford
Lyrics | Sheet Music
When I Can Read My Title Clear (Revelation 21:4) (1709)
Isaac Watts | Popularized by Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707-09)
Lyrics | Sheet Music | YouTube
Where You Gonna Hide (Revelation 21:4)
Fred Woodruff | Popularized by The Cathedrals
Amazon
When favour’d John beheld (Revelation 21:5-6)
James Relly
Lyrics
All Things New (Revelation 21:5)
Steven Curtis Chapman | Popularized by Steven Curtis Chapman
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
All Things New (Revelation 21:5) (2014)
Popularized by Hillsong Worship
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
All Things New (Revelation 21:5) (2009)
Popularized by Sidewalk Prophets
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Artist Of My Soul (Revelation 21:5) (1997)
Popularized by Sandi Patty
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Cry No More (Revelation 21:5) (2015)
Jason Cox, LaVerne Tripp | Popularized by The Perrys
YouTube | Amazon
New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9) (1975)
Popularized by Jamie Owens-Collins
YouTube | Amazon
I, John (Revelation 21:12)
Popularized by Wilburn and Wilburn
YouTube | Amazon
Streets of Gold (Revelation 21:21)
Jeff Stice | Popularized by Triumphant Quartet
YouTube | Amazon
The Streets of Gold (Revelation 21:21)
Bob Thacker | Popularized by The Cathedrals
YouTube | Amazon
The Streets of Gold (Revelation 21:21)
Popularized by Blue Ridge Quartet
YouTube
When I Walk on Streets of Gold (Revelation 21:21)
Hale Reeves | Popularized by The Inspirations
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
In the City Where the Lamb is the Light (Revelation 21:23)
Herbert Buffum | Popularized by The Stamps Quartet
Lyrics
When the Lamb Becomes the Light (Revelation 21:23)
Joel Lindsey, Regie Hamm | Popularized by Gold City
YouTube
There Is a City Bright (Revelation 21:27)
Mary A. S. Deck
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Quotes
Heaven – Revelation 21:1-4 (Revelation 21:1-4) (2008)
Popularized by Sherri Youngward
YouTube | Amazon