GHS 176 - Christ Returneth + Lyrics

/ madenn10
This hymn first appeared in 1878, but we know nothing about the author. Likely he was a contemporary of McGranahan’s, and the Cyber Hymnal says he was a co-editor of a songbook called Crowning Jewels No. 4.
Notice that the Cyber Hymnal follows some early publications of this hymn in putting “His own” in quotation marks in each stanza. Not all books do this, but it’s a way of emphasizing that believers belong to Christ, as His special treasure. He loves “His own” (Jn. 13:1). We have other examples of the Bible using this phrase. We are:
¤ “His own elect [chosen ones]” (Lk. 18:7)
¤ “His own sheep” (Jn. 10:3-4)
¤ “His own special people” (Tit. 2:14; I Pet. 2:9)
¤ “His own house [dwelling place]” (Heb. 3:6)
As such, it’s not surprising that the Lord Jesus expresses the desire that we be with Him for all eternity. Jesus said: “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:3). And to God the Father: “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory” (Jn. 17:24). In beholding His heavenly glory, we will be led to worship and praise Him, and have the privilege of fellowship with Him, and of serving Him (Rev. 22:3).
As to the hymn itself, the first two stanzas seem to take their inspiration from a parable in Matthew 24:36-44). However, it is well to keep in mind that these words were spoken to a Jewish audience, and they concern the Lord’s coming in judgment to sweep away unbelievers. This can be seen in the comparison made to the flood of Noah’s day (vs. 37-39).
This is the climax of the Tribulation period described in Revelation chapters 6-18. However, I believe the church will be raptured seven years prior to this end-time judgment. If you’d like to see some of the evidence for a pretribulation rapture of the church, check out my article on Pretribulationism.
Even though this seems to be the basis for Turner’s imagery in the first two stanzas, it remains true that the catching away of the church could occur unexpectedly, at any moment, morning (CH-1), noon, or night (CH-2).
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