Firstpublished:1805 in Ingalls' The Christian Harmony, p. 84 Description: Words by an unknown author; Steel and Hulan (2010) report that John Leland was suggested in an 1803 book. A popular book of the time, The History of Cosmopolite (first published 1813), credited the whole hymn to Lorenzo Dow, 1777-1834.
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Original text and translations
English text
1. That glorious day is drawing nigh,
When Zion's light shall come;
She shall arise and shine on high,
Bright as the rising sun;
The north and south their sons resign,
And earth's foundations bend,
Dressed as a bride, Jerusalem
All glorious shall descend.
2. The king who wears the glorious crown.
The azure flaming bow,
The holy city shall bring down,
To bless the church below;
When Zion's bleeding conquering king.
Shall sin and death destroy,
The morning stars shall together sing,
And Zion shout for joy.
3. The holy bright musician band,
Who sing on harps of gold,
Just by the course along they stand,
Their gentle numbers roll,
Descending with such melting strains,
Jehovah they adore,
Shouts through earth's extensive plains,
Were never heard before.
4. Let Satan rage and boast no more,
Nor think his reign is long;
Though saints are feeble, weak and poor,
Their great Redeemer's strong;
In storms he is our hiding place,
A covert from the wind;
A stream from rock in wilderness,
Runs through this weary land.
5. This crystal stream runs down from heaven,
It issues from the throne:
The floods of strife away are driven,
The church becomes as one;
That peaceful union she shall know,
And live upon his love;
And shout and sing his name below,
As angels do above.
6. A thousand years shall roll around,
The church shall be complete;
Called by the glorious trumpet's sound,
Their Savior for to meet:
They rise with joy and mount on high,
They fly to Jesus' arms;
And gaze with wonder and delight,
On their beloved's charms.
7. Like apples fair his beauties are,
To feed and cheer the mind;
No earthly fruit doth so recruit,
Nor flagons full of wine.
Their troubles o'er they'll grieve no more,
But sing in streams of joy;
In raptures sweet and bliss complete,
They'll feast and never cloy.
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From Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians (1803)
English text