He Is Coming Again

HE IS COMING AGAIN (Camp)

“This same Jesus…shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11)

      INTRO.:  A song which looks forward to that time when Jesus shall so come in the same way as the apostles saw Him go into heaven is “He Is Coming Again” or “Lift Up Your Heads, Pilgrims A-Weary.”  The text was written and the tune (Camp) was composed both by Mabel Johnston Camp, who was born on November 25, 1871, at Chanute, Kansas, the daughter of a banker.  A gifted pianist and accomplished contralto singer, Mabel went to a girls’ school in Steubenville, Ohio, and in 1896 became the wife of a promising young lawyer in Chicago, IL, named Norman Harvey Camp (1867–1952).  They had one son, Horace J. Camp (1897–1956). 

     The Camps became Christians together at one of Dwight Moody’s Bible Union classes taught by William R. Newell, author of the hymn “At Calvary.”  Norman had first begun attending the classes where he found Christ as Savior and then brought his wife with him who was also converted.  Mabel and Norman were members of the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago.  Mrs. Camp supported her husband in his evangelistic teaching ministry, while she herself was active in raising money on Chicago’s “Gold Coast” to benefit the “Fresh Air Camp” for under-privileged children. 

     Mabel had many physical problems which caused her to be bedridden for months at a time.  Cyber Hymnal, citing Donald Paul Hustad’s Dictionary-Handbook to Hymns for the Living Church, lists 14 first lines of hymns which she is said to have written, as well as links to other hymns using three tunes which she composed.  “He Is Coming Again,” probably her best-known song, was first published in The Voice of Thanksgiving, edited by Daniel B. Towner (composer of the tune for “At Calvary”) for Fleming H. Revell in 1913.  Mabel J. Camp died on May 25, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois.

     So far as I know, “He Is Coming Again” has never been found in any hymnbook published by members of the Lord’s church for use in Churches of Christ.  Among other hymnals in my collection, the song was included in the 1961 Trinity Hymnal published by Great Commission Publications, the 1969 Favorite Hymns of Praise published by Tabernacle Publishing Company, and the 1974 Hymns for the Living Church published by Hope Publishing Company, as well as several others.

     The song encourages us to be prepared for the second coming of Christ.

I. The first stanza says that we await the Beloved

Lift up your heads, pilgrims a-weary,

See day’s approach now crimson the sky;

Night shadows flee, and your Belovèd,

Awaited with longing, at last draweth nigh.

 A. We need to remember that we are but pilgrims on this earth: 1 Pet. 2:11

 B. Night or darkness is often used to represent the sinfulness of the world: Jn. 3:19-21

 C. Some might flinch at the phrase “at last draweth nigh” because ever since the promise was made in the first century, the Lord’s return has been drawing nigh:  Jas. 5:8 (KJV)

II. The second stanza explains why we await the Beloved

Dark was the night, sin warred against us;

Heavy the load of sorrow we bore;

But now we see signs of His coming;

Our hearts glow within us, joy’s cup runneth o’er!

 A. As long as we live on this earth, sin wars against us: Rom. 7:23

 B. Non-millennialists would have trouble with this stanza because while Jesus gave many signs for the destruction of Jerusalem so that the disciples could escape it, there will be no signs of His second coming because no one knows when: Matt. 24:35-36

 C. But even though there are no signs of Christ’s coming and no one knows when, Christians still know that it will happen someday and joyfully prepare for it: 1 Thess. 5:2-9

III. The third stanza indicates the result of His coming

O blessèd hope! O blissful promise!

Filling our hearts with rapture divine;

O day of days! Hail Thy appearing!

Thy transcendent glory forever shall shine.

 A. Our blessed hope is the glorious appearance of our Savior: Tit. 2:13-14

 B. “Rapture” here has nothing to do with Premillennial doctrine but simply refers to extreme joy and happiness at His coming: 1 Thess. 2:19

 C. Then we shall see His glory: 1 Pet. 4:13

 IV. The fourth stanza expresses the desire for His coming

Even so, come, precious Lord Jesus;

Creation waits redemption to see;

Caught up in clouds, soon we shall meet Thee;

O blessèd assurance, forever with Thee!

 A. Like John, we pray for His coming: Rev. 22:20

 B. All creation looks forward to this final redemption: Rom. 8:19-22

 C. Then we shall be caught up in the clouds to meet Him: 1 Thess. 4:13-17

     CONCL.:  The chorus points out that it is the same Jesus rejected of men at His first coming for whom we look.

He is coming again, He is coming again,

The very same Jesus, rejected of men;

He is coming again, He is coming again,

With power and great glory, He is coming again!

While we should be careful not to be caught up in false doctrine about the second coming of Christ, we do need to remember and prepare for the fact that “He Is Coming Again.”