"The Day is Surely Drawing Near"
                   by Bartholomaeus Ringwaldt, 1532-c. 1600
                   Translated by Philip A. Peter, 1832-1917
                                  Text From:
                              THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
                 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



        1. The day is surely drawing near
        When God's Son, the Anointed,
        Shall with great majesty appear
        As Judge of all appointed.
        All mirth and laughter then shall cease
        When flames on flames will still increase,
        As Scripture truly teacheth.

        2. A trumpet loud shall then resound
        And all the earth be shaken.
        Then all who in their graves are found
        Shall from their sleep awaken;
        But all that live shall in that hour
        By the Almighty's boundless pow'r
        Be changed at His commanding.

        3. A book is opened then to all,
        A record truly telling
        What each hath done, both great and small,
        When he on earth was dwelling;
        And ev'ry heart be clearly seen,
        And all be known as they have been
        In tho'ts and words and actions.

        4. Then woe to those who scorned the Lord
        And sought but carnal pleasures,
        Who here despised His precious Word
        And loved their earthly treasures!
        With shame and trembling they will stand
        And at the Judge's stern command
        To Satan be delivered.

        5. O Jesus, who my debt didst pay
        And for my sin wast smitten,
        Within the Book of Life, oh, may
        My name be also written!
        I will not doubt; I trust in Thee,
        From Satan Thou hast made me free
        And from all condemnation.

        6. Therefore my Intercessor be
        And for Thy blood and merit
        Declare my name from judgment free
        With all who life inherit,
        That I may see Thee face to face
        With all Thy saints in that blest place
        Which Thou for us hast purchased.

        7. O Jesus Christ, do not delay,
        But hasten our salvation;
        We often tremble on our way
        In fear and tribulation.
        Then hear us when we cry to Thee;
        Come, mighty Judge, and make us free
        From every evil! Amen.

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        Notes:
        Hymn #611 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Luke 21:25-36
        Author: Bartholomaeus Ringwaldt, 1586, ad.
        Translated by: Philip A. Peter, 1880, alt.
        Titled: "Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit"
        Composer: Wittenberg, 1835
        Tune: "Es ist gewisslich"
        1st Published in: _Geistliche Lieder_
        Wittenberg, 1535
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
          by Marilyn F. Gardner and is in the public domain. You may
         freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any
            comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the
              Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

                          E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu

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