All the King
Petra Lyrics


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It's an age-old score that's got to be settled
It's an age-old debt that's got to be paid
When the King breaks through in all of His glory
To claim His throne and the world that He made
The nations wait with their armies gathered
With Jerusalem firmly under their thumbs
There will be no peace in Armageddon valley
Till the trumpet sounds and the cavalry comes
When He arrives He will conquer them all
Take back the ground given after the fall

All the King's horses and all the King's men
Gonna ride down from heaven from where they've been
All the King's horses and all the King's men
Gonna put this world back together again
Gonna put this world back together

On a great white horse the King will come riding
He's the One they call Faithful and True
With His eyes of fire and blood dipped clothing
He had a name nobody else knew

And by His side ride the armies of heaven
Dressed in linen clean and white as the snow
Riding down to earth with a vengeance so holy
For a one-day battle that will trample their foe
And when the dust and the smoke disappears
The King will reign for a thousand years

When the lion lays down with the lamb
There'll be peace in the land of Abraham




They will beat their swords into plows
When every tongue declares and every knee bows

Overall Meaning

Petra's song "All the King's Horses" speaks about the age-old score that has to be settled and the age-old debt that has to be paid. It is about the second coming of Jesus Christ, who will arrive on a great white horse with the armies of heaven by His side. When the King breaks through in all of His glory, He will conquer them all and take back the ground given after the fall. The lyrics mention the waiting of the nations with their armies gathered and Jerusalem being under their thumbs. There will be no peace in Armageddon valley until the trumpet sounds and the cavalry comes.


The song speaks of a one-day battle against the foe, and when the dust and the smoke disappear, the King will reign for a thousand years. The lyrics speak of the lion laying down with the lamb and there being peace in the land of Abraham. The swords will be beaten into plows, and every tongue will declare, and every knee will bow. The song's meaning lies in its interpretation of the second coming of Christ and hope for a better future.


Line by Line Meaning

It's an age-old score that's got to be settled
There is a longstanding issue that needs to be resolved


It's an age-old debt that's got to be paid
There is a longstanding obligation that must be met


When the King breaks through in all of His glory
When the King appears in his full majesty


To claim His throne and the world that He made
To rightfully take control of both his kingdom and the earth


The nations wait with their armies gathered
Countries are preparing for battle


With Jerusalem firmly under their thumbs
Controlling the city of Jerusalem


There will be no peace in Armageddon valley
There will be conflict and violence in the valley of Armageddon


Till the trumpet sounds and the cavalry comes
Until the moment that signals the arrival of a group of soldiers on horseback


When He arrives He will conquer them all
The King will defeat all of his enemies upon arrival


Take back the ground given after the fall
Regain control of the land that was lost due to the fall of man


All the King's horses and all the King's men
The entire army of the King


Gonna ride down from heaven from where they've been
They will descend from heaven to the earth


Gonna put this world back together again
They will restore order to the world


On a great white horse the King will come riding
The King will arrive on a powerful white steed


He's the One they call Faithful and True
The King's virtues are unwavering and genuine


With His eyes of fire and blood dipped clothing
The King is fierce and dressed for battle


He had a name nobody else knew
The King has a unique and special name


And by His side ride the armies of heaven
The King is accompanied by his heavenly army


Dressed in linen clean and white as the snow
His army is pure and spotless


Riding down to earth with a vengeance so holy
Coming to earth with a righteous rage


For a one-day battle that will trample their foe
This is a decisive battle that the enemy will lose


And when the dust and the smoke disappears
After the conflict is over


The King will reign for a thousand years
The King will be in power for a lengthy period of time


When the lion lays down with the lamb
When predators and prey get along


There'll be peace in the land of Abraham
The land of Abraham will experience peace


They will beat their swords into plows
Weapons will be transformed into tools for production


When every tongue declares and every knee bows
When everyone acknowledges the King's authority and genuflects




Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: BOB HARTMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Justice7x3

Petra – Rock Revelation Lyrics

Whoa, sleeping the night away.
Darkness enclosing the world so desperate for day. We’re under the spell of dis-unity. When will this giant awake and stand and be free.

Now the hour has come to awaken and redeem the time given to the night. Curse this darkness and stand in the light.

Can you hear the alarm echo down the hall. The sleeping giant gets a wake-up call. Awake from your sleep ‘cause it’s time to stand tall. The sleeping giant gets a wake-up call. The sleeping giant gets a wake-up call.

It’s an age-old score that’s got to be settled. It’s an age-old debt that’s got to be paid. When the King breaks through in all of His glory. To claim His throne and the world that He made.

The nations wait with their armies gathered. With Jerusalem firmly under their thumbs. There will be no peace in Armageddon Valley. ‘Til the trumpet sounds and the cavalry comes.

When He arrives He will conquer them all. Take back the ground given after the fall.

All the King’s horses and all the King’s men, gonna ride down from heaven from where they’ve been. All the King’s horses and all the King’s men, gonna put this world back together again. Gonna put this world back together…

I’ve waited patiently for your reply. You say you’ll come around by and by. I’ve tried to show the way into the light. But I just won’t let you go without a fight.

You think my hands are tied. But you will never hide, no. I’ve got you in my sight day and night.

I’ve got a secret weapon. I’ll pray for you. I’ve got a secret weapon. Gonna get through. I really care about you. I’ll pray for you.

The fearless giant faced a brave young shepherd boy. He said, “Your God is dead and your nation soon destroyed.” But the son of Jesse proved what God can do in the heart of a hero.

Three men refused to bow to the idol made of gold. They knew they could burn for not doing what they’re told. They’d rather face the fire than to kneel to a god made by hands.

It takes a heart of a hero. To stand for what’s right. It takes a heart of a hero. To lay down your life.

I was just a young man. With a burning fuse. Headed in the wrong way. ‘Til I heard the news. ‘Bout a substitution. Blood shed for me. ‘Bout a grace so amazing it can make a man free.

Now I’m rescued, pulled from the mud. It’s all behind me, under the blood.

Underneath the blood. Through the cleansing flood. Guilt is left behind. Never brought to mind. I’m an innocent man. Underneath the blood.

I’ve been to the party and I left alone. And I’ve danced with a few that I’d be better off on my own.

I’ve been to the altar and I know I kneeled. But I ended up dancing in the grass of another field.

Then someone told me, I heard someone say.

Dance with the one who brung ya. Dance with the one you know who got you there. Dance with the one who brung ya. Don’t change hats, you know it’s the one you wear.

Time is a gift on loan. Fate’s already known.

It’s your destiny to make it to the end. It’s your destiny to go against the trend. Heavenly destiny, whoa... Destiny. Destiny.

It used to be a distant call. Thought to be for some but never all. Now our wounded lay on every side. Now this call to arms can’t be denied.

The enemy will tremble. As young and old assemble. A mighty army up in arms.

Armed and dangerous. God’s enemies will scatter. Armed and dangerous. We’ll see the darkness shatter.

His armor is worth its weight. No weapon can penetrate. Armed and dangerous. We’re ready to storm the gate.

The Earth is shaking. It’s like a bad dream. This world is crumbling. Coming apart at the seam. But I am on the Rock, I am on the Rock.

Everywhere I’m turning. It’s only bad news. This bomb is ticking. And we’re getting to the end of the fuse. But I am on the Rock, I am on the Rock.

Are you ready?

I am on the Rock, the sure foundation. I am on the Rock, on the Rock. I am on the Rock, His revelation. I am on the Rock.

Though the winds may blow. And though the floods may grow. I shall not be moved, cause I am on the Rock.

When the lion lays down with the lamb. There’ll be peace in the land of Abraham. They will beat their swords into plows. When every tongue declares and every knee bows.

All the King’s horses and all the King’s men, gonna ride down from heaven from where they’ve been. All the King’s horses and all the King’s men, gonna put this world back together again. Gonna put this world back together again.

All the King’s horses and all the King’s men, gonna ride down from heaven from where they’ve been. All the King’s horses and all the King’s men, gonna put this world back together again. Gonna put this world back together again.



@marauder08901

Does anyone find this song and its underlying eschatology troubling now in ways they didn’t back in the 1980s?

The book of Revelation uses imagery of a battle between the Lamb and the Dragon, but it’s just that: imagery. This song, like the eschatology behind it, portrays that battle literally, even though it’s fundamentally at odds with the revelation of Jesus in the gospels, and even John’s depiction of the Lamb of God.

It’s not meant to be understood as pulse-pounding violence — not even as “redemptive violence” — but as the triumph of God’s ways over the ways of humanity.

I’m bothered now even by the idea of the lion lying down with the lamb. Isaiah presents that as an idyllic, pastoral scene. Petra describes it as a post-conquest arrangement by force and violence.

Rather than a change of nature, it reminds me of Woody Allen: “The lion will lie down with the lamb, but the lamb won’t get much sleep.”



All comments from YouTube:

@michaelbrowning4294

Heard Petra for the first time when I was 19 years old. I'm 54 years old now. Petra is still my favorite. If the band members ever see these comments, I wanna say thanks guys. No matter where I was, you were there. Bright light in some dark days.

@georgepeters4111

19? That's how old I was when I first heard Petra!!!

@karendally1

Same here!!! They are my ultimate favorite! I’m also54, I started listening at about 16😊

@michaelbrowning4294

@@karendally1 Saw them in concert when they were on their Beyond Belief tour at the Macon Coliseum in Macon Ga. I was in the second row just left of center. Awesome seats and awesome concert.

@Debi-id7jx

I was 18, and now I'm 52. Lol😂❤

@Debi-id7jx

​@@michaelbrowning4294I loved that concert! I was 19. ❤

3 More Replies...

@mickkruger

To all the members of Petra...I cannot thank you enough for your ministry and how your music changed my life

@mickkruger

When the King breaks through in all of HIS glory to claim HIS throne and the world HE made!!

@chadrasmussen1154

Amen

@herethere8817

maranatha 🌏🎺🕊

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