I didn’t understand, when I was in Sunday school, that the imagery of the second verse (“all the saints adore thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea”) comes directly from the Book of Revelation. The rest of the lyrics also arise from the Bible.
I used to think this was just one of those tedious hymns adults liked to sing when they were showing off.
Now I know better; and as this hymn has been playing itself in my mind these past few days, I thought I’d like to share it with you.