LDS Hymn #66

Hymn #66 - Rejoice, the Lord is King!

The Praising section of the hymnbook is one of my favorites, as my favorite way to praise my Heavenly Father and my Savior is with song. And these songs allow me to do so in great fervor and spirit and joy--with all of me in the one talent I am (for now) best at. This particular hymn is sung often--in Conferences, in regular Sunday meetings. Quite often, for which I am glad. It really stands out for the measures when the music is written in unison, unifying the singers together in two ways instead of just one. But when the parts split, they just drive the message home more. And then the chorus is perfect with the words "Lift up your heart! Lift up your voice!" as it slowly ascends. Even with its dotted rhythms and accidentals (luckily in the key of C!), this is one that I have enjoyed playing and don't have too much difficulty in playing. So for me, this song excels in its composition, text, spirit, musicality, ease of play, and feeling.

From the history book
Based on the scripture Philippians 4:4. The tune was written in 1894 for these words and was given the name JUBILATE, which means "rejoice" in Latin. She also points out how perfectly suited the tune is to the text. Other hymnals have another verse: "Rejoice in glorious hope! Our Lord the Judge shall come, And take his servants up To their eternal home." Many other denominations use a different tune called DARWALL, which is what the current LDS hymnal uses for Hymn #265 ("Arise O God and Shine"), with a word change in line two to match syllables and notes. DARWALL also has an upward movement which words for the words.

Nothing said about Charles Wesley, the lyricist. According to Wikipedia, he was an English leader of the Methodist movement who wrote more than 6,000 hymns. This is the 1st of 6 of his hymns that we have in our hymnal, though I already wrote about one of the Christmas ones, and one of the the "New Year's ones" which I haven't written about yet but which my ward choir is working on right now. He writes some good rejoicing music for singers!

Lyrics

1. 1. Rejoice, the Lord is King!
   Your Lord and King adore!
   Mortals, give thanks and sing
   And triumph evermore.
2. (Chorus)
   Lift up your heart! Lift up your voice!
   Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
   Lift up your heart! Lift up your voice!
   Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
3. 2. The Lord, the Savior, reigns,
   The God of truth and love.
   When he had purged our stains,
   He took his seat above.
4. 3. His kingdom cannot fail;
   He rules o'er earth and heav'n.
   The keys of death and hell
   To Christ the Lord are giv'n.
5. Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
   Music: Horatio Parker, 1863-1919

LDS Hymn #60

Hymn #60 - Battle Hymn of the Republic

 When have I not known this hymn? Not originally an LDS hymn, this is one I can join many of other faiths and sing with gusto and faith about our great Lord. I know from my experiences with this hymn that it was "made popular" because it was sung so much in the U.S. Civil War. Those men--both sides--were fighting for what they believed were their rights and freedom. Rights to live free, basically. And many on both sides probably felt their cause was just and that God would guide them in their fight. I am very grateful that the Lord did eventually bless us to keep our country together. If we can only continue to do so today when so much internal contention is tearing us apart.

I grew up with recordings of this hymn, mostly sung by MoTab, and of course being THE recording. My favorite arrangement. So I was thrilled when I toured Europe with the band and choir that this was one of the numbers we did together. Up till then it had always been a boisterous, wahoo-our-Lord-is-wonderful kind of song. Another one looking forward to His coming (thus still a Second Coming song). But it was not until I sang it in a cathedral in Paris, where my view took in a statue of my Savior on the cross that the last verse truly struck home with how spiritual the song can be to those who open up to its message of healing, strength, Atonement, and courage. I have never been able to sing this song the same since!

(Except for perhaps the time our visiting Nauvoo group sang it on one of our travels and the chorister led it SOOOOO slowly that we all believed that army was never going to make it.)

From the history book
The author of this hymn, Julia Ward Howe, just before the Civil War began, heard this familiar tune--often sung to words comic or satirical--being sung with words about John Brown's body. (Having studied West Virginia history, I was familiar with that version as well.) Her former pastor was visiting from Boston and encouraged her to write more uplifting words. She woke one morning with a poem in her mind, and hurried up to write it before she forgot. It was first published in 1862 and spread rapidly. It was originally written as a battle cry for the North side of the Civil War. But as the book says, "its meaning far transcends the original purpose." Other hymnals have 2 other verses, one concerning the Civil War background (which is in the version that is close to my heart) and one about the Second Coming:

I have seen him in the watchfires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read his righteous sentence in the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave;
He is wisdom to the mighty, he is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be his footstool, and the soul or wrong his slave.
Our God is marching on.

This hymn was sung in early hymnody, but not in the 1950 hymnal. It was brought back in 1985, to which I am very grateful. I do love this song.

Lyrics

1. 1. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
   He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
   He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible, swift sword;
   His truth is marching on.
2. (Chorus)
   Glory, glory, hallelujah!
   Glory, glory, hallelujah!
   Glory, glory, hallelujah!
   His truth is marching on.
3. 2. He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
   He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat.
   Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer him; be jubilant my feet!
   Our God is marching on.
4. 3. In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea,
   With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me.
   As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free,
   While God is marching on.
5. Text: Julia Ward Howe, 1819-1910
   Music: Anon., ca. 1861

(Here is the actual recording of SOA singing the song--right after the exact experience that it forever touched my heart: )

 

LDS Hymn #59

Hymn #59 - Come, O Thou King of Kings

This is such a fun hymn to sing! Lots of movement. Fun to play on the piano, but much harder on the organ when you have to make it legato. Then you have the echoing tenor and bass on the third line--always love those. I have sung this song so many times, and knew we were singing about our desire for the Lord to come. Somehow I never put it together that it was singing about the Second Coming and Millennium. Last song of that in its section. Not sure why I never quite connected. But it is still wonderful!

Favorite lines:
*With healing in thy wings
*With songs of joy, a happier strain
*The wide expanse of heaven fill
*And ev'ry tongue sounds praise to thee

From the history book
Our wonderful Parley P. Pratt had this hymn published in 1840. They're not sure the story behind his writing it, but Brother George Pyper feels it was probably written amidst the trial in Missouri when the Saints would most especially be looking forward to the Savior coming again and taking way the pain, leaving behind joy and rejoicing. Even if not written during those trials, the memory of them likely remained freshly. The 1950 hymnal had the last two verses printed below the hymn and rarely sung, so they put them up with the other hymns to be sung more. Ironic that even then they knew about congregations' bad habit of not singing all verses, particularly ones printed below the music. Yet the current hymnal still has hymns printed that way and the verses are sadly neglected.

Lyrics

1. 1. Come, O thou King of Kings!
   We've waited long for thee,
   With healing in thy wings,
   To set thy people free.
   Come, thou desire of nations, come;
   Let Israel now be gathered home.
2. 2. Come, make an end to sin,
   And cleanse the earth by fire,
   And righteousness bring in,
   That Saints may tune the lyre
   With songs of joy, a happier strain,
   To welcome in thy peaceful reign.
3. 3. Hosannas now shall sound
   From all the ransomed throng,
   And glory echo round
   A new triumphal song;
   The wide expanse of heaven fill
   With anthems sweet from Zion's hill.
4. 4. Hail! Prince of life and peace!
   Thrice welcome to thy throne!
   While all the chosen race
   Their Lord and Savior own,
   The heathen nations bow the knee,
   And ev'ry tongue sounds praise to thee.
5. Text: Parley P. Pratt, 1807-1857
   Music: Anon., ca. 1889

LDS Hymn #58

Hymn #58 - Come, Ye Children of the Lord

This is one of the hymns that has reached into various aspects of my life. It is often sung in our congregations and as the Choir & Congregation hymn in General Conferences. So, by 6th grade, when band expectations were crushed and I looked forward to days of choirs in Junior High, I was fairly familiar with this hymn. It became more profound to me when my sister who made it into the prestigious PHS a cappella choir was singing the school alma mater--and it was to this hymn's tune. But my brothers told me it was the Junior High alma mater's tune as well. I made it into 7th grade choir and it was the first song we learned. So then when it would come up in church, Kiersten would quietly sing the words to the high school alma mater and I would quietly sing the junior high's. It was in no disrespect to the hymn. It was because we had taken to that fabulous tune and loved that it intersected in our spiritual and secular lives.

By 10th grade, I had made it into the prestigious a cappella choir and learned those words. I suppose something about memorizing the Jr High alma mater, and then the High School alma mater, within a year or so I had also memorized the hymn as well. What was another set of words? So this was one of the first hymns that I was consciously aware that I knew by memory. (Also one of the first I could play out of the regular hymnal.) Sometime by the end of high school or early college days, I paid attention to those words I had memorized--and they have come very close to my heart. A lover of temples and temple ordinances, verse 3 especially resonated. But a song about singing? And rejoicing? And our Savior coming again when we can "live in love and peace?" All sung to a tune that is all about praising, joy, and exultation--which tune had also come to have a meaning of honor, begun by my alma mater singing. I would have to say that this is one of my favorites. Even though it became one of the "oversung" in college, I chose instead of being annoyed to glory in the words I knew by heart and letting their meaning sink even more into my singing praises.

From the history book
I love this line: "What response other than song could so well reflect the emotions and gratitude of the followers of Jesus Christ?" Agreed!! The tune is a Spanish folk melody which many Christian denominations used in their hymnals. (Thus now surprising that m 2 alma maters were set to this tune; even more so when one knows that my Jr High choir director who wrote that alma mater was LDS for some years.) The tune was already well known when the text was written by Brother Wallis, first printed in 1884.

Lyrics

1. 1. Come, ye children of the Lord,
   Let us sing with one accord.
   Let us raise a joyful strain
   To our Lord who soon will reign
   On this earth when it shall be
   Cleansed from all iniquity,
   When all men from sin will cease,
   And will live in love and peace.
2. 2. Oh, how joyful it will be
   When our Savior we shall see!
   When in splendor he'll descend,
   Then all wickedness will end.
   Oh, what songs we then will sing
   To our Savior, Lord, and King!
   Oh, what love will then bear sway
   When our fears shall flee away!
3. 3. All arrayed in spotless white,
   We will dwell 'mid truth and light.
   We will sing the songs of praise;
   We will shout in joyous lays.
   Earth shall then be cleansed from sin.
   Ev'ry living thing therein
   Shall in love and beauty dwell;
   Then with joy each heart will swell.Text: James H. Wallis, 1861-1940
4. Music: Spanish melody; arr. by Benjamin Carr, 1768-1831
5. 
   

And for those curious about my alma mater words.
PHS:

(And yes, the student body ALWAYS joined in on that last part like that. Even when we would "sing" it at church, our whole family liked to sing that line. And it is true. I will forever love PHS even if I only had one year. It was one of the best years of my life.)

JJHS:
Jackson Junior may you grow
For as we reap we needs must sow.
Jackson Junior proud and true
Your students love to strive for you.
So here we pledge our loyalty
Forever singing young and free
Jackson will make history
What e'er you ask
We give to thee!

LDS Hymn #57

Hymn #57 - We're Not Ashamed to Own Our Lord

This was another that came to my notice as current ward choir director. One of my more musically inclined brothers--familiar with more of the lesser known hymns than others--mentioned this as a possibility to be sung. So we did. A simple arrangement of a hymn not well know. The tune is very simple, with some movement for the tenors and basses. And the text is about the Millennium (since we are still in that section). But I like that the first verse is our commitment to the Lord--which is required for the other 3 verses to be possible for us.

Favorite line: When he comes down from heav'n to earth...we hope with him to stand

From the history book
Written by our Brother Phelps, this was also included in Emma's first hymnal in 1835. He was influenced by the talented Isaac Watts with his first line, as well as the fourth verse. After 1835, the first 2 lines of verse 2 were revised because they were awkward to sing, as was the first line of verse 3. The tune in the 1950 hymnal was too difficult, even for many choirs. "Only very experienced pianists and organists could play it." So our lovely organist John Longhurst (I kind of miss hearing him play) was invited to write the one that we don't sing today. ;-) The brand of one of the small pipe organs that the Tabernacle organists practice on is called the Austin, and Brother Longhurst composed this tune one day while at that organ.

Lyrics

1. 1. We're not ashamed to own our Lord
   And worship him on earth.
   We love to learn his holy word
   And know what souls are worth.
2. 2. When Jesus comes in burning flame
   To recompense the just,
   The world will know the only name
   In which the Saints can trust.
3. 3. When he comes down from heav'n to earth
   With all his holy band,
   Before creation's second birth,
   We hope with him to stand.
4. 4. He then will give us a new name,
   With robes of righteousness,
   And, in the New Jerusalem,
   Eternal happiness.
5. Text: William W. Phelps, 1792-1872, alt. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.
   Music: John Longhurst, b. 1940. (c) 1985 IRI

LDS Hymn #55

Hymn #55 - Lo, the Mighty God Appearing!

This section of songs is definitely one of my personal lesser-sung hymns. Apparently I have played this in my early organ lesson days. Looking over the tune, I know I have heard MoTab sing this a few times as well. SUCH a fun tune. I may have even sung it a couple of times growing up. But for such a fun hymn, we don't sing this nearly enough. (And that moving bass part in the last line! What poor bass would pass up that chance?!) I am not very familiar with the words. Should definitely memorize this. Too fun not to. Looking over the lyrics, it has great, poetic descriptions of the Lord coming and the world and the people of the world's reactions to it. They are very majestic descriptions as well as full of excitement, and that matches the tune perfectly.

From the history book
The author of the hymn based it on the first 6 verses of Psalm 50. The 1950 hymnal had this as a choir hymn. She said it is not one of our easiest hymns. Really?! There may be a lot of moving parts, but it doesn't seem as hard as some others I have seen. But for the current hymnal they did put it in a lower register and added in soprano and alto parts that weren't in a part of it. The 1950 hymnal had a another verse: "Gather first my saints around me, Those who to my covenants stood--Those who humbly sought and found me Through the dying Savior's blood. Blest Redeemer, Dearest Sacrifice to God." I like those! And, this hymn was included in Emma's 1841 hymnal, and in the 1889 Psalmody this was paired with the present tune, by our fabulous Evan Stephens.

Lyrics

1. 1. Lo, the mighty God appearing!
   From on high Jehovah speaks!
   Eastern lands the summons hearing,
   O'er the west his thunder breaks.
   Earth behold him! Earth behold him!
   Universal nature shakes.
   Earth behold him! Earth behold him!
   Universal nature shakes.
2. 2. Zion, all its light unfolding,
   God in glory shall display.
   Lo! he comes! nor silence holding;
   Fire and clouds prepare his way.
   Tempests round him! Tempests round him!
   Hasten on the dreadful day.
   Tempests round him! Tempests round him!
   Hasten on the dreadful day.
3. 3. To the heav'ns his voice ascending,
   To the earth beneath he cries.
   Souls immortal, now descending,
   Let their sleeping dust arise!
   Rise to judgment! Rise to judgment!
   Let thy throne adorn the skies.
   Rise to judgment! Rise to judgment!
   Let thy throne adorn the skies.
4. 4. Now the heav'ns on high adore him
   And his righteousness declare.
   Sinners perish from before him,
   But his Saints his mercies share.
   Just his judgments! Just his judgments!
   God, himself the judge, is there.
   Just his judgments! Just his judgments!
   God, himself the judge, is there.
5. Text: William Goode, 1762-1816
   Music: Evan Stephens, 1854-1930

LDS Hymn #51

Hymn #51 - Sons of Michael, He Approaches

Definitely a hymn I did not know until recently. About 2 years ago, I asked my ward choir for songs they would like to try to sing. One of my loyal tenors mentioned this one, as it is his favorite hymn. So we did a simple arrangement of it a few months later. In that time or shortly after, I suggested it be one of the ones I try on the organ (before she was insisting that everything I try to do with the pedal). Thus I got to know the tune very well, and the lyrics a bit. The tune moves and is full of accidentals. Helps to stand out in one's mind. The lyrics are a bit more "old-fashioned." Written in the 1800s, they have that Victorian-esque flair. Which means it takes my mind a bit more effort to break it down and understand its meaning. But overall I get it as a rejoicing hymn--declaring to all (particularly the sons of Michael, whom I assume that means Priesthood holders???) that the Savior is coming and to be prepared for the gloriousness that will accompany and the humility and rejoicing we will/should be filled with because of this great, longed-for event.

Favorite lines:
*Raise aloft your voices millions In a torrent pow'r of song.
*Hail our head with music soft! Raise sweet melodies aloft!

From the history book
I knew that Michael referred to Adam. The book says that "sons of Michael" refer to all human beings, since we are all his descendants. Verse 3's Mother refers to Eve, showing that she is at Adam or Michael's side in this. The hymn is also referring to the grand council that Joseph Smith prophesied about, referencing Daniel 7. So what I majorly missed in the text is that the hymn is very much about Michael and Eve. We are singing about the grand council that Michael will preside at. The 1985 hymnal wanted to distinguish that, so they went with the (now mostly used) format of capitalizing the words when referring to Deity and leaving them lowercase when referring to Michael (Father vs father).

The hymn was first published in 1861 and part of the 1950 hymnal. Its original tune was apparently so hard that only choirs could attempt it. (Their choirs must have been magnificently skilled in music back then!) So Brother Wolford wrote a more singable tune, which actually helped him come to love the text which he didn't beforehand. He said that the hymn sounds wonderful in unison, but as an organist "wrote a setting that has a melodic bass line--one that feels good to the feet!" And those bass rarely ever get such fun parts to sing. So by all means, let them sing it!

Lyrics

1. 1. Sons of Michael, he approaches!
   Rise, the ancient father greet.
   Bow, ye thousands, low before him;
   Minister before his feet.
   Hail the patriarch's glad reign,
   Spreading over sea and main.
2. 2. Sons of Michael, 'tis his chariot
   Rolls its burning wheels along!
   Raise aloft your voices million
   In a torrent pow'r of song.
   Hail our head with music soft!
   Raise sweet melodies aloft!
3. 3. Mother of our generations,
   Glorious by great Michael's side,
   Take thy children's adoration;
   Endless with thy seed abide.
   Lo! to greet thee now advance
   Thousands in the glorious dance!
4. 4. Raise a chorus, sons of Michael,
   Like old ocean's roaring swell,
   Till the mighty acclamation
   Thru rebounding space doth tell
   That the ancient one doth reign
   In his Father's house again!
5. Text: Elias L. T. Harrison, 1830-1900, alt.
   Music: Darwin K. Wolford, b. 1936. (c) 1985 IRI

LDS Hymn #50

Hymn #50 - Come, Thou Glorious Day of Promise

Not sure how I became familiar with this hymn. I know the tune fairly well. First two lines are exactly the same. The third line is a women's duet (and you know I love those show-off times for parts!). I don't know the lyrics as well. And leading this is a beast! Something about 2/2 time throws me off so much. Looking over the text, I like the looking forward to the "glorious day of promise"--I like to see that as the time when Israel is gathered (mentioned in 1st verse) and what we know to be the Millennium. It can also be looked at when we can go on to a peaceful rest with our loved ones in the next life. But I also like the references to the Old Testament. Not my favorite book of scripture, but many stories and lessons that I love from that work. Especially thinking on those people who so long ago looked forward to their coming Messiah, as we do today in awaiting His Second Coming. So I can connect with the sentiments shared in the hymn.

From the history book
Alexander Neibaur was reported to be the first Jewish convert to the LDS religion. He joined the Church in Preston, England. This hymn was sent by Bro. Neibaur to the Millennial Star for publication in 1840. There was confusion believing that Bro Neibaur wrote the hymn. But the hymn was a slightly altered version from one that appears in a Psalmody from 1831 (not an LDS publication). In that Psalmody, it was credited to "Pratt's Collection." So Brother Neibaur was not the author, but was the original contributor to the LDS hymn publications.

Lyrics

1. 1. Come, thou glorious day of promise;
   Come and spread thy cheerful ray,
   When the scattered sheep of Israel
   Shall no longer go astray,
   When hosannas,
   When hosannas
   With united voice they'll cry.
2. 2. Lord, how long wilt thou be angry?
   Shall thy wrath forever burn?
   Rise, redeem thine ancient people;
   Their transgressions from them turn.
   King of Israel,
   King of Israel,
   Come and set thy people free.
3. 3. Oh, that soon thou wouldst to Jacob
   Thy enliv'ning Spirit send!
   Of their unbelief and misery
   Make, O Lord, a speedy end.
   Lord, Messiah!
   Lord, Messiah!
   Prince of Peace o'er Israel reign.
4. Text: From Pratt's Collection, ca. 1830, alt.
   Music: A. C. Smyth, 1840-1909

LDS Hymn #39

Hymn #39 - O Saints of Zion

This is not one I could call the tune to mind if asked. But looking at the hymn, I can figure it out. It has some fun running parts for the women. The text is to all the Saints of Zion (meaning all the Church). It is a pleading to all of us of what to do because of the great blessings and reasons we haev to rejoice with the Gospel being restored in our day.

From the history book
It mentions that 2 parables are referenced in the hymn. That would explain the familiarity of some of the text. The text was in existence when the tune composer provided the musical setting, giving it a bit of a march quality. The hymn used to be called "O Sons of Zion," which likely got mistaken to be a Priesthood hymn, so it was not sung as much. Thus the change for the 1985 hymnal.

Lyrics

1. 1. O Saints of Zion, hear the voice
   Of Him from courts on high.
   Prepare the pathway of the Lord;
   His reign on earth is nigh.
   Prepare the supper of the Lamb;
   Invite the world to dine.
   Behold, the mighty Bridegroom comes
   In majesty divine.
2. 2. Entreat the Lord in humble prayer
   That all the sons of men
   His righteous kingdom will receive
   And shout the glad "amen."
   The sacred keys are now restored;
   Declare the gospel plan.
   Make known the wondrous words of truth
   Revealed again to man.
3. 3. Behold, the glory of the Lord
   Sets Zion's mount aglow,
   For Zion is an ensign pure;
   All nations to her flow.
   O Saints of Zion, tread the paths
   Your faithful fathers trod.
   Lift up your hearts in gratitude
   And serve the living God!
4. Text: Ed M. Rowe, 1878-1951. (c) 1948 IRI
   Music: Robert P. Manookin, 1918-1997. (c) 1948 IRI

LDS Hymn #7

Hymn #7 - Israel, Israel, God is Calling

I think this song stood out more in my mind as I grew up because I liked the tune. The words are, of course, great, and about when the Lord will come again. Calling people (or Israel) to repentance so they can be there when He comes again...or at least return to Him one day if they are not on earth for the Second Coming. My favorite lines are actually the 3rd (which is repeated in the 4th):

And within her walls rejoice
For your coming Lord is nigh
Zion's walls shall ring with praise

For the girl who has spent many years (and literally hundreds of blog entries on this blog as well as my journal blog!) trying to find happiness, joy, and reasons to rejoice, I absolutely adore lines in song about joy and rejoicing!

From the history book
It talks about how it is not just a symbolic invitation of Zion (the pure in heart), but for the author it was a literal invitation, one he issued on the 3 missions he served (all of them in Great Britain and Ireland) where he encouraged them to join the Saints in America.

I did not know this about the tune. Apparently this was a very popular tune for the early LDS and sang many songs to it (including "O My Father" [292] and "What Was Witnessed in the Heavens" [11]). Even more so, I had no idea that other denominations sing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" to this. I have only ever known the first line of that song--and never connected that it is the same tune as the first line of this hymn! But it is nice to know I was in very good company by liking the tune so much as I grew up.'

Lyrics

1. 1. Israel, Israel, God is calling,
   Calling thee from lands of woe.
   Babylon the great is falling;
   God shall all her tow'rs o'erthrow.
   Come to Zion, come to Zion
   Ere his floods of anger flow.
   Come to Zion, come to Zion
   Ere his floods of anger flow.
2. 2. Israel, Israel, God is speaking.
   Hear your great Deliv'rer's voice!
   Now a glorious morn is breaking
   For the people of his choice.
   Come to Zion, come to Zion,
   And within her walls rejoice.
   Come to Zion, come to Zion,
   And within her walls rejoice.
3. 3. Israel, angels are descending
   From celestial worlds on high,
   And to man their pow'r extending,
   That the Saints may homeward fly.
   Come to Zion, come to Zion,
   For your coming Lord is nigh.
   Come to Zion, come to Zion,
   For your coming Lord is nigh.
4. 4. Israel! Israel! Canst thou linger
   Still in error's gloomy ways?
   Mark how judgment's pointing finger
   Justifies no vain delays.
   Come to Zion, come to Zion!
   Zion's walls shall ring with praise.
   Come to Zion, come to Zion!
   Zion's walls shall ring with praise.
5. Text: Richard Smyth, 1838-1914
   Music: Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918

Gospel Message Day 337

Signs of the Second Timing, Part 3

Just looking over the scriptures that mention the signs, I noticed some that I can't believe I forgot to mention yesterday. Oh well. Here for your benefit or interest or, well, yeah, are scriptures listing what some of the signs of Christ's Second Coming are:

Matthew 24. Basically the whole chapter.

 1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

 3 ¶And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

 16 Then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains:

 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

 25 Behold, I have told you before.

 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

 29 ¶Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

 36 ¶But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

 42 ¶Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

 49 And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

2 Peter 3:10. 

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

For those who wonder why we believe Christ will come again, it was proclaimed by an angel, and recorded in the New Testament. Acts 1:11: 

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

You know, I know there are more scriptures than that. I was going by what I found under the topic of Christ's Second Coming. But I know there is much more than this. Still, Matthew 24. I love that there is a chapter of scripture accepted by Christian faiths which can declares to them some of the signs. Because the Lord wanted to tell as many as He could through a way available to Him. But He couldn't tell everyone that way. There had to be another way for the Lord to tell each of Father's children, to give them time to prepare themselves. And that way is us--those who believe and live His Gospel.