Phil Wickham - People of Heaven Lyrics

Phil Wickham - People of Heaven (Official Audio)

People of Heaven Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration

"People of Heaven" by Phil Wickham featuring Brandon Lake, released on July 28, 2023, is an anthemic and uplifting declaration of Christian identity and future hope. The song immediately establishes a tone of joyful anticipation and collective celebration, inviting listeners to participate actively in praise. It positions believers as the "People of Heaven," called to express their gratitude for the salvation and new life they have received. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of transformation, describing how individuals are "saved and set apart," turned from "ashes into art," and recognized as "Children of the King." This speaks to the profound change wrought by faith, taking what was broken and making it beautiful through divine intervention. The emphasis on "Every promise kept" highlights God's faithfulness as the foundation for the believer's hope.

The song continues by encouraging believers to lift their "eyes up" and "rise up," suggesting a call to action, both in spiritual perspective and potentially in demonstrating their faith to the world. It powerfully recounts key aspects of Christian belief: Christ "rolled that stone away," signifying the resurrection, and believers are "Called us from the grave," representing spiritual rebirth and freedom from the power of sin and death. This new life is characterized by the absence of fear, a state of being "Risen and reborn," with "All our joy restored." The freedom experienced in Christ is celebrated as their "song." This section reinforces the security and new identity found through faith in the resurrected Christ.

Central to the song's message is the repeated, powerful declaration, "We're gonna live, live forever." This phrase anchors the song in the eternal hope promised to believers. The lyrics elaborate on this future, describing it as "bright in paradise," where they will be "dancing in the streets." This imagery evokes a sense of unbridled joy, celebration, and eternal life in God's presence, free from suffering and limitations. The repetition of the core message about living forever builds momentum and reinforces the certainty of this promised future.

The themes presented throughout the song resonate deeply with various biblical concepts. The idea of believers as "People of Heaven" aligns with scriptures that describe believers as citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20). The transformation from "ashes into art" echoes themes of restoration and beauty from brokenness found in passages like Isaiah 61:3. Being "Children of the King" reflects the concept of adoption into God's family through faith (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:4-7). The reference to the stone being rolled away directly points to the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:2, Mark 16:4). Being "called... from the grave," "risen and reborn" speaks to spiritual new life and rebirth given by God (Ephesians 2:4-6, John 3:3-7, 1 Peter 1:3). The promise of living forever and a future "bright in paradise" where believers will be "dancing" reflects the hope of eternal life and the joyous celebration depicted in descriptions of the new creation and heavenly dwelling (John 3:16, 1 John 2:25, Revelation 21-22, Psalm 30:11). Overall, the song serves as a powerful reminder of the identity, redemption, and glorious eternal future promised to those who follow Christ.