Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending

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Composer: Ellen Koehler

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Lead Sheet

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Sheet Music Category:

Available Arrangements:

  • Season of Light
  • Lead Sheet
  • Piano and Voice

Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending

Lo, He comes with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending
Swell the triumph of His train.
Alleluia! Alleluia! God appears on earth to reign.

Every eye shall now behold Him,
Robed in dreadful majesty!
Those who set at naught and sold Him,
Pierced and nailed Him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.

Now the Savior, long-expected,
See in solemn pomp appear.
All His saints, by man rejected,
Now shall meet Him in the air.
Alleluia! Alleluia! See the day of God appear.

Yes, amen! Let all adore Thee,
High on Thine eternal throne.
Savior, take the pow’r and glory;
Claim the kingdom for Thine own.
O come quickly! O come quickly!
Everlasting God, come down!
O come quickly! O come quickly!
Everlasting God, come down!
 

Setting: Ellen Koehler. Copyright ©2011 Ellen Koehler.
All rights reserved.
Words: Charles Wesley and Martin Madan;
based on John Cennick, 1752.
Hymn Tune: Regent Square, Henry T. Smart, 1867.

 

Commentary -

Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending is likely not among the first hymns we think of when choosing Advent music. When we look closely, we find that the text speaks both of Christ’s first coming and of the hope, expectation and glory of His second coming. As did the ancient church, in this Advent season we joyfully remember the first coming of Jesus to His earth, and at the same time look forward with joyful anticipation to His coming again in power and majesty to claim the kingdom as His own. As we worship, we ponder with great thanksgiving our life now, “in the meantime,” and celebrate that He has called us into His story.

The joyful proclamation, “Yes, amen! Let all adore Thee,” and the longing prayer, “O, come quickly,” make this a wonderful hymn of Sending. You may want to reprise the fourth verse at the close of the service if the hymn has been sung earlier in the worship service.

Liturgical Season:
This hymn is appropriate throughout the Christian year, but especially meaningful during Advent, and on All Saints’ and Christ the King Sundays.

Liturgical Uses:
Gathering hymn; Offering; Sending

Key: F (verses 1 and 2), with modulations to G (verse 3) and A (verse 4)

 

Sample arrangements are not for reproduction.
Copyright ©2016 Ellen Koehler.  All Rights Reserved.