Great God, what do I see and hear:
the end of things created!
Behold the Judge of all 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 that 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 brings eternal day
for those prepared to meet him.
3. But sinners filled with guilty fears
shall see his wrath prevailing;
for they shall rise, and find their tears
are wholly unavailing:
the day of grace is past and gone;
they trembling stand before the throne
all unprepared to meet him.
4. Great God, what do I see and hear:
the end of things created!
Behold the Judge of all appear
on clouds of glory seated!
Low at his cross I view the day
when heaven and earth shall pass away,
and thus prepare to meet him.