Ancient Gates

Brooke Ligertwood's “Ancient Gates” starts with a scene of heavenly worship. “There is singing at the ancient gates, there's a melody of ceaseless praise, age to age the sound is only growing stronger.” The second verse moves to the throne under “the Name of Names,” where one is seated who reigns, and a Kingdom “now is here and getting closer.”

The pre-chorus connects heaven to the present. “Praise Him like we're there in glory, here and now He's just as holy.” The next verse describes everlasting light, where “on heaven's streets there is no night” and “every tear is wiped away.” The chorus is the invitation: “Worship Him with joyful sound, sing until your voice gives out, no matter where or who's around.” The bridge gives a title for God that sums up the time frame, “the one who was, the one who is, the one who is to come,” and mentions every “prayer soaked lyric” as an offering he loves to hear.

The never-ending night and open gates follow Revelation 21:25. The one who was, is and is to come echoes Revelation 4:8, and tears wiped away is Revelation 21:4.