"Holy Forever" - Good or Bad Song?

Here is another very popular song. In fact, according to Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI), this was the number two song that was sung as followers of Jesus gathered together for the week of August 10, 2026. That means if you gathered with other followers of Jesus over the past several weeks, you probably sang this song. This song is different than the other two songs we have looked at over the past several weeks. How is this song different? The focus seems to be on who God is, verses what types of “benefits” we get when we praise the Lord. I would encourage you to read through the lyrics and then we will analyze if this extremely popular song is good or bad. Let me be clear as to what my definition of good has been over the last several weeks looking at these songs. I am calling a song good, if the message is in alignment with the clear teaching of God's Word, the Bible. Where as a bad song is a song whose message goes against the clear teaching of the Bible. As followers of Jesus we must filter everything through the lense of God's Word, the Bible.

"Holy Forever"

Verse 1

A thousand generations falling down in worship

To sing the song of ages to the Lamb

And all who've gone before us

And all who will believe

Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb

Pre-Chorus

(Jesus) Your name is the highest

Your name is the greatest

Your name stands above them all

All thrones and dominions

All powers and positions

Your name stands above them all

Chorus 1

And the angels cry Holy

All creation cries Holy

You are lifted high Holy

Holy forever

Verse 2

If you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed

Sing the song forever to the Lamb

If you walk in freedom and if you bear His name

Sing the song forever to the Lamb

We'll sing the song forever and amen

Chorus 2

Hear Your people sing Holy

To the King of Kings Holy

You will always be Holy

Holy forever

Tag

You will always be Holy

Holy forever

As this song begins, it talks about a thousand generations falling down in worship before the Lamb. The scene that the writers of this song are referring to is in Revelation 5 and Revelation 7. After John sees Jesus and gives His message to the seven churches, in Revelation 4, we see the throne room of God. God is on His throne and we see the beauty and majesty of it all. After we read Revelation 4, our response should be one of speechlessness as we stand in awe of God. God is the King of kings and the Lord of lords and Revelation 4 gives us a picture of how great and powerful God truly is.

When we come to Revelation 5, we read about a problem in heaven and how no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth is worthy of opening the scroll or looking in it. John begins to weep, but the angel tells him to stop weeping, because the Lamb is worthy. The Lamb, referring to Jesus, is worthy because He was slain and purchased for God people from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9-10). That’s the Lamb the writers are referring to.

Another scene that helps us understand the phrase “song of the Lamb” is Revelation 7:9-12. In this scene, we have a great multitude from every tribe, nation, people and language standing before the throne of God and the Lamb praising them by saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” This then causes all the angels around God’s throne, the elders and the four living beings to fall on their face and worship God by saying, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” What an amazing picture this is!

The song writers remind us in the pre-chorus that the Lamb’s name, Jesus, is the highest and the greatest name above everything and everyone. Why? For that we must turn to Philippians 2:6-11. Modern day Bible scholars believe this section of Philippians is a hymn or creed of the early church and it probably didn’t originate from Paul. If this is the case, then the early church wrote some very deep, theologically sound songs about Jesus. This section of Philippians explains to us why Jesus’ name is the greatest, the highest, and the most powerful name in the world. Paul says:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,    

did not consider equality with God something to be used

to his own advantage;

⁷ rather, he made himself nothing    

by taking the very nature of a servant,    

being made in human likeness.

⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,    

he humbled himself    

by becoming obedient to death—        

even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place    

and gave him the name that is above every name,

¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,    

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,    

to the glory of God the Father.

Why is Jesus’ name above all other names? Because of what He did; He was obedient to death, even to a criminals' death upon a cross. God then raised Him up and exalted Him above everything and everyone, including Satan and his demons. This is why Satan and the demons can be cast out through Jesus. Jesus is greater and more powerful than Satan and the demons will ever be because of who Jesus is and what He has done upon the cross.

“Salvation belongs to our God and the Lamb who sits on the throne.” That’s the "song of ages" to the Lamb. Because it is only through the blood of Jesus that we can gather around the throne of God and join in with the rest of heaven calling out, “Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8). Or joining the twenty-four

elders who are falling down before the throne calling out, “Worthy is, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, because you created all things, and because of your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11). Or calling out with the seraphim saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).

What a day that will be, when believers from all ages will gather around the throne of God and bow down before Him, giving Him the praise and honor He deserves. What a day that will be when believers from all ages will join with the angels and bow down before the throne of God, giving Him all the praise and honor He deserves. I don’t know about you, but I cannot wait for that day. As I get older and as I experience pain and suffering in my own life, my heart echoes John’s cry at the end of the book of Revelation. As Revelation comes to the end, Jesus says, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’” (Revelation 22:20). John then says, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” That is becoming my prayer more and more. And the reason why I can have hope, the reason why I can yearn for that day being gathered by the throne of God with thousands of generations is because my faith and trust is in the Lamb. I have washed my robe and made it white by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus’ death on the cross.

So, is the song “Holy Forever” a good song? Yes. This song reminds me of my hope in Jesus. How I will gather with all the other saints throughout all the generations and bow down before the King of kings and give Him the praise and the honor He deserves. How I will be part of that mighty chorus in heaven declaring "Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come." What a day that will be! Come Lord Jesus!