The Celestial Army

1 Whence came the armies of the sky,
John saw in vision bright?
Whence came their crowns, their robes, their palms,
Too pure for mortal sight?

Chorus:
They looked like men in uniform,
They looked like men of war;
They all were clad in armor bright,
And conquering palms they bore.

2 Were these tried soldiers of the cross
Victorious in the fight?
Were these the trophies they had won,
Reserved in worlds of light? [Chorus]

3 Once they were mourners here below,
And poured out cries and tears;
They wrestled hard, as we do now,
With sins, and doubts, and fears. [Chorus]

4 They saw the star of Bethlehem
Arise in splendor bright;
They followed long its guiding ray,
Till beamed a clearer light. [Chorus]

5 From desert waste, and cities full,
From dungeons dark, they've come,
And now they claim their mansion fair,
They've found their long-sought home. [Chorus]

Source: The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book: for use in divine worship #995