1) Petra is a Christia… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:
1) Petra is a Christian Rock band formed in 1972 by Bob Hartman, Bill Glover, John DeGroff, and Greg Hough. "Petra" means "rock" in NT Greek, making the band name a triple pun. Rising from the Jesus music movement, and initially signed to [recordlabel]Myrrh Records[/recordlabel], they fought to gain acceptance and recognition in a church culture that at the time believed rock music to be off-limits. Over time they eventually won over most of their critics, thanks to a steady approach and some solid adult contemporary airplay hits like "The Coloring Song," outside of their usual rock fare. By the mid-80's, when lead singer Greg X. Volz left the band and was replaced by John Schlitt, Petra had solidified their place as the foremost Christian rock band in the industry with a string of hit albums and singles and strong touring. The release of Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out marked a turn towards modern-sounding worship music that would soon explode into the modern worship movement.
Petra was nominated for and won numerous Grammy and Dove Awards. In 1991, after the release of their acclaimed Beyond Belief record, Petra became the first rock band ever to win for Group of the Year at the Dove Awards. They were also the first Christian rock band to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
For three decades Petra continued to produce albums despite changes in their line-up as well as the genre and market. On May 24th, 2005 Petra announced their retirement after 33 years of ministry. They recorded one of their final performances in Franklin, Tennessee to release it as their last album, Farewell. Their last performance finished in the early hours of January 1, 2006 in Murphy, North Carolina. Bob Hartman and John Schlitt continue to tour under the moniker II Guys From Petra.
Lineups through the years:
Early 80's Captured in Time & Space lineup: Bob Hartman, Greg X. Volz, John Slick, Mark Kelly, Louie Weaver, John Lawry
Late 80's "Beyond Belief dream team" lineup: Bob Hartman, John Schlitt, John Lawry, Louie Weaver, Ronny Cates
Late 90's Petra Praise 2 - We Need Jesus lineup: John Schlitt, Louie Weaver, Lonnie Chapin, Pete Orta, Kevin Brandow
Farewell CD lineup: John Schlitt, Bob Hartman, Greg Bailey, Paul Simmons, with special appearances by Greg X. Volz and John Lawry
More members: Rob Frazier, Jim Cooper, David Lichens, Trent Thomason, Bryce Bell, Quinton Gibson, Justin Johnson
See also http://www.petraband.com/
The Invitation
Petra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And He sent out His servants to invite the chosen ones
But they would not receive them and they all refused to come
So He sent them to the highways inviting everyone
They came from every direction
They entered into the gates of the One
The One who called them and gave them the right to sit next to His Son
Do you see...
It's your invitation
Your presence is requested at the marriage of the Lamb
It's your invitation
To be the guest of honor at the wedding of the Great I Am
They'll come from every nation, tribe, and tongue
All those with ears to hear Him knocking
There will be rich and poor alike
There will be old and young
He stands outside of the door
Not all will hear Him but there will be some
They'll hear the voice of the Bride and the voice of the Spirit
say, "come"
Do you hear...
Oh, He's God's worthy Lamb
We'll drink from the Water of Life
In garments of white
With no end in sight
Did you know...
The lyrics of Petra's song "The Invitation" refer to the parable of the wedding banquet found in Matthew 22:1-14. The King in the song represents God and the wedding represents the ultimate union between Christ and his Church. In the parable, the invited guests refuse the invitation to the wedding banquet, which results in the King inviting anyone and everyone to attend. This symbolizes the way in which God invites all people to accept his invitation of salvation through Christ. In the song, the guests come from every direction, representing the fact that God's invitation is available to all people, regardless of their background, race, or social status.
The lyrics also emphasize the theme of hearing the voice of God and responding to his call. The song mentions that not all will hear him, but there will be some who respond to the invitation. This draws on the Biblical concept of "he who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15), which means that those who are open and receptive to God's message will understand and respond to it.
Overall, "The Invitation" is a song that encourages listeners to accept God's invitation of salvation and respond to his call to be part of his Kingdom.
Line by Line Meaning
The King has planned the supper for the wedding of His Son
The King has gone to great lengths to organize a lavish banquet in celebration of the wedding of His beloved Son.
And He sent out His servants to invite the chosen ones
To ensure that His Son's wedding is well-attended, the King has dispatched His loyal servants to invite a select group of guests - those whom He has deemed worthy and deserving of sharing in the celebration.
But they would not receive them and they all refused to come
Despite being chosen and invited to the wedding, many of the guests have chosen to reject the King's gracious offer and refuse to attend.
So He sent them to the highways inviting everyone
Undeterred by the rejection of the chosen guests, the King has issued a new invitation - this time to anyone and everyone who will accept it - to come and join in the celebration.
They came from every direction
Without discrimination or exclusivity, guests of all kinds and from all walks of life have eagerly made their way to the wedding celebration.
They entered into the gates of the One
With great joy and anticipation, the guests have now entered through the gates of the divine presence - to be in the company of the One who called them and whom they have been called to celebrate.
The One who called them and gave them the right to sit next to His Son
With great mercy and grace, the One has extended an invitation and a privilege to these guests - to be seated beside His beloved Son and to enjoy the fullness of His glory.
Do you see...
Have you fully grasped the significance and beauty of this invitation and this celebration?
It's your invitation
This invitation, extended to all who would accept it, is for you as much as it is for anyone else.
Your presence is requested at the marriage of the Lamb
The One who loves you and values you deeply desires that you would be present and participate in this momentous occasion - the marriage of the Lamb.
To be the guest of honor at the wedding of the Great I Am
You are not merely invited, but have been deliberately singled out to be a guest of honor at the wedding banquet of the One who is great and infinitely worthy - the Great I Am.
They'll come from every nation, tribe, and tongue
An event of such grandeur and significance will call forth guests from every corner of the earth and from every imaginable context and background.
All those with ears to hear Him knocking
The One continues to knock at the door of hearts and minds, inviting and urging all who will hear Him to come and participate in this great celebration.
There will be rich and poor alike
Irrespective of worldly wealth or socio-economic status, all guests at this celebration will be equal in the eyes of the One who has invited them.
There will be old and young
Age is also no barrier to participation in this wedding banquet, as guests of all generations will be welcomed.
He stands outside of the door
The One, who has extended this gracious invitation, stands at the threshold of every heart and awaits our response.
Not all will hear Him but there will be some
While not everyone will be receptive to the invitation, many will hear and respond to His call, and will be blessed as a result.
They'll hear the voice of the Bride and the voice of the Spirit say, 'come'
As we heed the call to join in this wedding celebration, we will hear the voices of both the church and the Holy Spirit, beckoning us onward: 'Come!'.
Do you hear...
Have you opened your heart to hear the call of the Bride and the Spirit, urging you to join this celebration?
Oh, He's God's worthy Lamb
The focal point of the wedding celebration is none other than the Lamb of God - the One who is infinitely worthy of all praise and honor.
We'll drink from the Water of Life
Guests at the wedding banquet will partake of pure and life-giving water, symbolizing the spiritual nourishment and fulfillment that the One has in store for them.
In garments of white
All those who have accepted the invitation and become part of this great celebration will be adorned in pure and radiant garments, signifying the purity and holiness that the One has imparted to them.
With no end in sight
This celebration of the Lamb's wedding, and the communion and fellowship it represents, will extend on into eternity - with no limitations or end in sight.
Did you know...
Have you fully realized the wonder and joy of what it means to be invited into the presence of the One and to be part of this great celebration?
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRONISLAW KAPER, PAUL WEBSTER, PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marcos Leonel Castro
Me animo a decir que es la mejor canción de Petra.
rykardo trujillo
De mis favoritas
Ruth Cruz
La mejor...
Osae
The whole album is great. This was a great song to end it on :]
Rosie Palacios
Ya era tiempo, que la postearan! Una de las mejores, del CD God fixation.
Joel Garcia
Todo el album me encanta, pero esta es una rolaza
Joel Garcia
Fue el primer CD que compré con mi dinero, ya que era adolescente y desde allí empecé a comprar más álbumes de ellos.
SIN DUDA ALGUNA ES EL MEJOR ÁLBUM PARA MI DE ELLOS.
Chad Rasmussen
This song is about heaven it's beautiful
WordOf God
Mathew 22:1-14
Lavenderrose73
I only know this song, but I absolutely love it and have since I first learned of it! The words "Your presence is requested at the marriage of the Lamb" are soooooo comforting and reassuring!