Trinity Hymnal ‎#240

240. Great God, what do I see and hear!

1 Great God, what do I see and hear!
The end of things created!
The Judge of mankind doth appear
On clouds of glory seated!
The trumpet sounds; the graves restore
The dead which they contained before:
Prepare, my soul, to meet him.

2 The dead in Christ shall first arise,
At the last trumpet's sounding,
Caught up to meet him in the skies,
With joy their Lord surrounding;
No gloomy fears their souls dismay;
His presence sheds eternal day
On those prepared to meet him.

3 But sinners, filled with guilty fears,
Behold his wrath prevailing;
For they shall rise, and find their tears
And sighs are unavailing:
The day of grace is past and gone;
Trembling they stand before the throne,
All unprepared to meet him.

4 Great God, what do I see and hear!
The end of things created!
The Judge of mankind doth appear
On clouds of glory seated!
Beneath his cross I view the day
When heav'n and earth shall pass away,
And thus prepare to meet him.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Great God, what do I see and hear!
• Adapter: Thomas Cotterill (1820)
• Author (st. 1): Anon. (1802)
• Author (st. 2-4): William B. Collyer (1812)
• Meter: 8. 7. 8. 7. 8. 8. 7.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1961
• Scripture:
  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
• Topic: Christ, The Lord Jesus; Christ: Second Coming and Judgment of; Danger of Delay; Resurrection of Believers; Resurrection of All Men; Watchfulness

Tune Information

• Name: LUTHER'S HYMN
• Composer: Martin Luther, 1483-1548
• Meter: 8. 7. 8. 7. 8. 8. 7.
• Key: G Major
• Source: Geistliche Lieder, Wittenberg, 1835