Scripture Verse

Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation. Hebrews 9:28

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: Phi­lip P. Bliss, in The Hour of Praise, ed­it­ed by George F. Root (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio & Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: John Church & George F. Root, 1872) (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Philip Bliss (1838–1876)

Origin of the Hymn

One day in 1872 Mr. Bliss heard a con­ver­sa­tion be­tween two of his friends, who were speak­ing on the sub­ject of the re­turn of our Lord.

One of the la­dies quot­ed a line from a work of An­na Ship­ton, This may be the day of His com­ing, and spoke of the joy and com­fort the thought gave her.

Mr. Bliss was much im­pressed, more deep­ly than ev­er be­fore, as to the re­al­ity of this sub­ject; and a few days af­ter as he was com­ing down­stairs from his room, still oc­cu­pied with the thought of looking for Christ’s ap­pear­ing, he comm­enced singing, Down life’s dark vale we wan­der, the words and music com­ing to him as he took the suc­cess­ive steps down the stairs.

He at once wrote it down just as we have it to-day in “Gos­pel Hymns.”

Sankey, p. 301

Lyrics

Down death’s dark vale we wan­der,
Till Je­sus comes;
We watch and wait and won­der,
Till Je­sus comes.

Refrain

All joy His loved ones bring­ing,
When Je­sus comes;
All praise through Hea­ven ring­ing,
When Je­sus comes.
All beau­ty bright and ver­nal,
When Je­sus comes;
All glo­ry, grand, eter­nal,
When Je­sus comes.

Oh, let my lamp be burn­ing
When Je­sus comes;
For Him my soul be yearn­ing
When Je­sus comes.

Refrain

No more heart pangs nor sad­ness,
When Je­sus comes;
All peace and joy and glad­ness,
When Je­sus comes.

Refrain

All doubts and fears will van­ish,
When Je­sus comes;
All gloom His face will ban­ish,
When Je­sus comes.

Refrain

He’ll know the way was drea­ry,
When Je­sus comes;
He’ll know the feet grew wea­ry,
When Je­sus comes.

Refrain

He’ll know what griefs op­pressed me,
When Je­sus comes;
Oh, how His arms will rest me!
When Je­sus comes.

Refrain