Scripture Verse

We will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Introduction

Words: Da­ni­el Tur­ner, Di­vine Songs, Hymns and Oth­er Po­ems (Lon­don & Read­ing, Eng­land: A. Ward & S. Black­man, 1747), pages 6–7, alt.

Music: Ware­ham Will­iam Knapp, 1738 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Turner (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Knapp,

portrait
William Knapp (1698–1768)

Lyrics

The pow­er­ful Word that reared the skies,
Calls thro’ the world, Ye dead, arise;
The op­en­ing graves that Word ob­ey,
And death and hell re­sign their prey.

Sinners with hor­ror and am­aze,
Feel wrath di­vine up­on them seize;
The saints with joy­ful looks ap­pear,
And forms and smiles ce­les­tial wear.

Grace in them now tri­umph­ant reigns,
Freed from temp­ta­tions, sins, and pains,
As an­gels pure, as cher­ubs gay,
Dressed in im­mor­tal light as they.

O could I say Je­sus is mine,
Hope thus to rise, and thus to shine!
Death would no hor­rid as­pect have,
Nor dark­ness then be­gloom the grave.

In hopes of that il­lus­tri­ous day,
That pow­er and grace to change my clay;
Cheer­ful I’d lay me down to rest,
In that cold bed my Sav­ior blest.