These lines are supposed to be the utterance of the saints at the blessed moment when they are actually ascending to meet the Lord in the air, as described in 1 Corinthians 15: 51-57; and 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18.
“O Death! where is thy sting? O Grave! where is thy victory?”—1 Corinthians 15: 55.
Hark to the trump! behold it breaks
The sleep of ages now:
And lo! the light of glory shines
On many an aching brow.
Changed in a moment-raised to life,
The quick, the dead, arise,
Responsive to the angel’s voice,
That calls us to the skies.
Ascending through the crowded air,
On eagles’ wings we soar,
To dwell in the full joy of love,
And sorrow there no more.
Undazzled by the glorious light
Of that beloved brow,
We see, without a single cloud,
We see the Savior now!
O Lord, the bright and blessed hope
That cheer’d us through the past,
Of full eternal rest in thee,
Is all fulfill’d at last.
The cry of sorrow here is hush’d,
The voice of prayer is o’er;
Tis needless now-for, Lord, we crave
Thy gracious help no more,
Praise, endless praise, alone becomes
This bright and blessed place,
Where every eye beholds unveil’d
The mysteries of thy grace.
Past conflict here, O Lord, ‘tis ours,
Through everlasting days,
To sing our song of victory now,
And only live to praise.