The Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
Words: H. L. Frisbie, in Hymns of the Second Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ, edited by Bailie Brown & Peter Bilhorn (Chicago, Illinois: Bilhorn Brothers, 1911), number 25, alt.
Music: Peter P. Bilhorn (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know Frisbie’s full name, or where to get a good photo of him (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Have you heard about a meeting
That is coming very soon?
It may be at dawn or midnight,
Or in glory of the noon;
Jesus will be there majestic,
With Him nothing can compare;
For this meeting are you ready?
Say, will you be there?
Refrain
Say, will you be there,
And the crowning glory share?
If the trumpet sounds at midnight,
Say will you be there?
Yes, will you be there,
With the legions in the air?
Are you ready to be caught up?
Say, will you be there?
Have you heard about this meeting
Of a vast, uncounted throng
Who will gather when the trumpet
Rolls its golden notes along?
There’ll be David, God’s sweet singer,
Leading bands of harpers fair;
Old Elijah and Elisha—
But will you be there?
Refrain
There will be the Hebrew children,
Who withstood the fiery test;
And the dearly loved disciple
Who reclined on Jesus’ breast;
And the Marys with the Marthas,
Who brought spices rich and rare
To anoint His broken body—
But, will you be there?
Refrain
All the saints of countless ages
Will awaken from their sleep,
And the living will be gathered
As a shepherd herds his sheep:
And this long expected meeting
Will be held up in the air—
Are you ready to be caught up?
Say, will you be there?
Refrain