“Shine Like a Star in the Morning”

Description

John hears a voice, "I am Alpha Omega, the first and last/To conquer death in Hell did cast." Terrified, he sees Jesus crucified, falling into Hell, rising again. Chorus: "Shine, shine, shine like a star in the morning... All around the throne of God"

Long description

John is standing alone when a voice tells him, "I am Alpha Omega, the first and last/To conquer death in Hell did cast." Terrified, he has a vision of Jesus crucified, falling into Hell, then rising up again; he says, "God gonna take me from that earthly 'bode." Chorus: "Shine, shine, shine like a star in the morning...All around the throne of God"

Notes

Most of this is, of course, taken from the Revelation to John (e.g. the reference to the Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, occurs several times in that book, starting with 1:8).

An exception is the concept of the descent into Hell. Though firmly rooted in Catholic tradition, and mentioned in the traditional form of the Apostles' Creed (which is not Apostolic), there is no scriptural reference to such an event (unless you count Ephesians 4:9-11, which I would regard as a reference to the Incarnation, or other passages such as 1 Pet. 3:19, which may refer to proclamations of salvation to the damned). - RBW

Recordings

• Joe Lee, "Shine Like a Star in the Morning" (AFS 745 B4, 1936; on LC10)