Scripture Verse

These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39–40

Introduction

Words: Asa Hill, in Cha­pel Me­lo­dies‎, ed­it­ed by Si­las Vail & Ro­bert Low­ry (New York: Big­low & Main, 1868), page 17.

Music: Bur­bank Si­las J. Vail, 1868 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Hill or Vail (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

On the other shore they’re waiting,
’Till the last believer comes;
In expectancy they’re waiting,
In their bright celestial homes.
They are waiting—yes, they’re waiting,
In their bright celestial homes.
In expectancy they’re waiting,
In their bright celestial homes.

Waiting thro’ the dim long ages,
With increasing joy and love,
Holy prophets, Chris­tian sages,
In their blessèd homes above.
They are waiting—yes, they’re waiting,
In their bright celestial homes.
Holy prophets, Chris­tian sages,
In their blessèd homes above.

Waiting for the new creation,
And the coronation day,
For the final consummation,
And the universal sway.
They are waiting—yes, they’re waiting,
In their bright celestial homes,
For the final consummation,
And the universal sway.

O, what rapture—O, what singing!
When these blissful spirits meet,
As most tenderly they’re clinging,
To the dear Re­deem­er’s feet.
They are waiting—yes, they’re waiting,
In their bright celestial homes,
As most tenderly they’re clinging,
To the dear Re­deem­er’s feet.