This is one of those situations where, we could try to update the language and blow the whole poetry of it, or we could find out what each of the words meant back then and appreciate the beauty of the text for what it is.

Indeed, “with what rapture” doesn’t mean some people will be disappearing from their cars!

Between all of that is the phrase, “Those dear tokens of His passion.” It seems the word “token” is lost on me. I think of bus tokens, tokens of appreciation, and how a dollar used to get you four tokens at the arcade. These are hardly ways to describe the wounds of our Lord. After all, He was pierced for our transgressions; bruised for our iniquity.

The first entries over at dictionary.com are nothing at all like the token in my head. The second definition seems most appropriate.

2. a characteristic indication or mark of something; evidence or proof: Malnutrition is a token of poverty.

Evidence or proof. Those tokens, those wounds, are evidence that Christ was crucified and will be evidence of His return. Among all the other signs (descending with clouds, every eye beholding Him, etc.) Jesus will still have wounds. We will see them with our own eyes, believers and unbelievers alike. Some will be wail deeply; some will gaze with rapture.

Rapture is a particularly unusual word. Charles Wesley did not teach of the “rapture” and the thousand year reign. This rapture is about amazing awe and reverence at the sight of the Messiah’s return. For the Christian, the second coming is not to be feared; we wait with anticipation for this moment. Our tears will be joyful tears and not sorrowful ones.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Thou shalt reign and Thou alone!