Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) ‎#321

321. 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.

Text Information

• First Line: Great God, what do I see and hear
• Title: Great God, What Do I See and Hear!
• Author (st. 1): Anonymous (1802)
• Author (stanzas 2-4): William B. Collyer (1812)
• Alterer: Thomas Cotterill (1820)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.8.7.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1990
• Scripture:
  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
• Topic: Watchfulness; Danger of Delay; Resurrection of Believers; Resurrection of All; Jesus Christ: His Second Coming and Judgment

Tune Information

• Name: LUTHER'S HYMN
• Composer: Martin Luther, 1483-1546
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.8.7.
• Key: G Major
• Source: Arr. in Klug's Geistliche Lieder, 1535