Gaither Vocal Band - This Are They Lyrics
Lyrics
The oceans give up
All the dead that are in them,
The graves open wide
To set captives free
And those who are roaming the earth
Rise to meet them,
Abraham's seed as the sands of the sea
These are they who have come
Out of great tribulation
They have washed their robes
In the blood of the Lamb,
They have gone through much sorrow
Into great jubilation,
They're redeemed by the blood of the Lamb
Like a strong, mighty army
Their voices are ringing
The great cloud of witnesses
Sings freedom's song
As they enter the country
Built by their own Father,
The promised homeland
They've looked for so long
And all the pilgrims and all the strangers
Will be no longer strangers
All the tired and the weary wanderers,
They will wander no more
The table is spread for the great celebration,
And the "Welcome Home" banner
Flies over the door
Video
Bill & Gloria Gaither - These Are They [Live] ft. Gaither Vocal Band
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on September 28, 2012, as part of Bill & Gloria Gaither's live presentations, "These Are They" by the Gaither Vocal Band offers a profoundly stirring and biblically rich contemplation of the ultimate victory awaiting believers. This song transcends mere musical performance, serving as a powerful sermon in lyric, painting a vivid prophetic tapestry of the end times, the resurrection, and the joyous culmination of faith. It’s a composition that resonates deeply with those who find their hope anchored in the promises of Scripture, translating ancient prophecies into an accessible and inspiring narrative for today.
The song begins with a grand vision of the resurrection, declaring that "The oceans give up / All the dead that are in them, / The graves open wide / To set captives free." This opening stanza immediately draws the mind to prophetic passages like Revelation 20:13, where John witnesses the sea surrendering its dead, and John 5:28-29, where Jesus speaks of all who are in the tombs hearing His voice and coming out. The imagery evokes the unparalleled power of God to reclaim His own from every corner of existence. The description of "Abraham's seed as the sands of the sea" reinforces the countless multitude of the redeemed, a direct echo of God's ancient promise to Abraham in Genesis 22:17, signifying the vastness of the faithful who will partake in this glorious awakening.
The heart of the song's meaning is unveiled in the second stanza, directly referencing the profound vision from Revelation 7. The lyrics, "These are they who have come / Out of great tribulation / They have washed their robes / In the blood of the Lamb," are a direct, powerful echo of Revelation 7:14. This crucial passage identifies the redeemed as those who have endured earthly struggles and found purification and salvation through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. It speaks to the transformative power of grace, where earthly sorrow gives way to eternal "great jubilation," all made possible because they are "redeemed by the blood of the Lamb," a truth foundational to the Christian faith as expressed in Ephesians 1:7 and 1 Peter 1:18-19. The song underscores that redemption isn't a passive gift but an active cleansing, making one fit for the presence of God.
Moving into the third stanza, the redeemed are pictured as "Like a strong, mighty army," their collective "voices are ringing" in triumph. This isn't a call to earthly warfare but a depiction of a unified, victorious host of God's people. The mention of "The great cloud of witnesses" instantly calls to mind Hebrews 12:1, portraying the saints of old and those who have gone before us as a cheering multitude. Their "freedom's song" is a celebration of deliverance from sin, death, and tribulation, as they "enter the country / Built by their own Father." This "promised homeland" is undoubtedly heaven, the New Jerusalem, the eternal dwelling place prepared by Christ as promised in John 14:2, a place that generations of believers, described in Hebrews 11:16, have "looked for so long."
The final stanza brings a deeply personal and comforting conclusion to this eschatological journey. The identification of believers as "pilgrims and all the strangers" on earth, as echoed in 1 Peter 2:11 and Hebrews 11:13, acknowledges the temporary and often challenging nature of life apart from heaven. Yet, in the end, they "will be no longer strangers," and the "tired and the weary wanderers" will "wander no more." This signifies an end to spiritual longing, physical weariness, and the sense of alienation often felt in this world. The imagery of "The table is spread for the great celebration" unmistakably refers to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19:9, the ultimate feast of communion and joy. The crowning touch, the "Welcome Home' banner / Flies over the door," encapsulates the warmth, acceptance, and profound belonging that awaits every believer in the presence of their heavenly Father. It's a promise of eternal peace, rest, and joyous reunion, assuring us that our ultimate destination is not merely a place, but a loving embrace.