Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending is another Charles Wesley set of lyrics that does not seem to have returned to great prominence among the Advent rediscovering movement. The themes of the second coming, judgement, and the recognition of Jesus’ crucified form may not be attractive to modern interpreters. I don’t know.
Here’s Jamie Brown and Falls Church Anglican providing a rendition to the tune HElMSLEY.
The lyrics:
1
Lo, he comes, with clouds descending,
once for our salvation slain;
thousand thousand saints attending
swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ the Lord returns to reign.
2
Ev’ry eye shall now behold him
Robed in glorious majesty;
Those who ridiculed and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, Deeply wailing, Deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.
3
Those dear tokens of his passion
still his dazzling body bears,
cause of endless exultation
to his ransomed worshipers;
with what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture
gaze we on those glorious scars!
4
Yea, amen! let all adore thee,
high on thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the power and glory,
claim the kingdom as thine own:
O come quickly! O come quickly! O come quickly!
Thou shalt reign, and thou alone.
