JESUS CHRIST >> SECOND ADVENT
SDAH 205
The golden morning is fast approaching;
Jesus soon will come
To take his faithful and happy children
to their promised home
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For Worship Leaders
Make each hymn more meaningful with these helpful tools: Short, ready-to-use hymn introductions for church bulletins, multiple ways to introduce a hymn based on your worship theme and in-depth history and insights to enrich your song service.
Hymn Spotlight: Gleams of the Golden Morning
Little is known about S. J. Graham, the author and composer of this hymn, but his simple and stirring song has endured as a favorite Adventist anthem. With only two harmonizing chords, its strength lies in its message and melody. It pictures the joyful dawn of Christ’s return with clear, heartfelt language. May its gleams brighten our hearts as we await the golden morning.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
Both words and music of this gospel song of the Second Advent were written by S. J. Graham about whom we have no information. The song was first printed in Gates of Praise, Dayton, Ohio, 1880, and was included in the SDA Hymns and Tune, 1886. This tune, unnamed, consists, with one solitary exception, of two chords and their inversions only.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Stanza:
1 – Matthew 25:21
3 – Matthew 24:14
Matthew 25:5
Matthew 24:31
4 – Revelation 21:4
Isaiah 61:1
Text
1
The golden morning is fast approaching;
Jesus soon will come
To take His faithful and happy children
To their promised home
Refrain
O, we see the gleams of the golden morning
piercing thro’ this night of gloom!
O, see the gleams of the golden morning
that will burst the tomb.
2
The gospel summons will soon be carried
To the nations round;
The Bridegroom then will cease to tarry
And the trumpet sound.
3
Attended by all the shining angels,
Down the flaming sky
The Judge will come, and will take His people
Where they will not die.
4
There those loved ones who have long been parted,
Will all meet that day;
The tears of those who are broken hearted
will be wiped away.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Matt 25:21 (c) Matt 24:14; 25:5; 24:31 (d) Rev 21:4; Isa 61:1
Author
S.J. Graham
Metrical Number
10.5.10.5.Ref.
Composer
S.J. Graham
Recommended Reading
There are three things I can say about “Gleams of the Golden Morning.” That is, it’s one of those obscure oldie-but-goody kind of hymn. Why do I say that? Here’s why.
I say it’s an oldie because it was written and published way back in the 1880s.
It first appeared in a hymnal called Gates of Praise: for the Sabbath-School, praise service, prayer-meeting, etc. compiled by United Brethren ministers Isaiah Baltzell and Edmund Lorenz in 1880. It was one of the four hymns included under the category “Second Advent.”
