In 1752 the Moravian preacher and minister John Cennick wrote a hymn called 'Lo he comes with countless trumpets' based on Revelation 1:7, referring to Jesus coming with the clouds in such a way that every eye will see Him.
Six years later in 1758, Charles Wesley, the prolific composer of over 6500 hymns, substantially revised the piece to make it what it remains to this day: one of the best loved and most anointed of all Anglican hymns, cram full of Biblical references. It was first published that same year in John and Charles Wesley's 'Hymns of Intercession for all Mankind', a publication that sought to honour Paul's command in 1 Timothy 2:1: ‘I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men’.
Amongst the forty hymns in that volume can be found hymns for monarchs (George II and Frederick the Great), institutions (courts, parliament, the army and navy, universities), childbirth, young children, prisoners and captives, widows, ‘our Enemies, Persecutors and Slanderers’, and ‘our unconverted Relations’ - as well as praying for those caught up in theological tangle, such as ‘Arians, Socianians (Unitarians), Deists and Pelagians.' for some of those we can substitute modern heresies!
This exultant rendering led into an extended improvisation that became a beautiful and intimate worship song without words, including a remembrance of 'When I survey the wondrous cross,' and a cello solo that Jo Garcia played, just a couple of weeks before she went to join the Lord in glory.
This is the full version of the words.
Lo! he comes with clouds descending,
once for favoured sinners slain;
thousand thousand saints attending
hail the King who comes again.
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
God appears, on earth to reign.
2. Every eye shall now behold him,
robed in awesome majesty;
those who mocked, despised and sold him,
pierced and nailed him to the tree,
deeply wailing,
deeply wailing,
deeply wailing,
shall the true Messiah see.
3. Those deep wounds of cross and passion
still his dazzling body bears,
cause of endless exultation
to his ransomed worshippers:
with what wonder,
with what wonder,
with what wonder,
we shall see those glorious scars!
4. Now redemption, long expected,
see with solemn joy appear:
saints, whose faith this world rejected,
meet their Saviour in the air.
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
See the day of God appear.
5. Yes, Amen! let all adore you
high on your eternal throne!
Saviour, take the power and glory,
claim the kingdom for your own.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Everlasting God, come down!
Enjoy and worship the coming King! 👑
