CHRISTIAN LIFE >> Watchfulness
SDAH 600
Sweet promise is given to all who believe–
“Behold I come quickly, Mine own to receive;
Hold fast till I come; the danger is great;
Sleep not as do others; be watchful, and wait.”
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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.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
This hymn appears in Hymns and Tunes, 1886, both words and music being composed by Franklin Edson Belden (1858-1945; see Biographies). The words are a composite of Bible texts or portions, the theme being the solemn injunction to the church of Philadelphia to endure to the end: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev. 3:11).
The tune, unnamed as with many of Belden’s compositions, has simple harmony, but the melody is sufficiently singable to carry the solemn words.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
12 Hymns by F.E. Belden & Their Biblical Connections
When the 1886 hymnal was released, it was described as the “largest and most comprehensive hymnbook ever published by the Church”. It has 1,413 hymns, most printed as two staves with one verse in the score and the remaining text and other hymns in the same meter being printed below. The hymnal committee comprised of George Butler, Uriah Smith, J.H. Waggoner, A.R. Henry and Edwin Barnes. In it’s preface included that “The hymns will be found generally of a high order of literary merit, and strictly in harmony with the teachings of the Scriptures.”
RELATED POSTS
Text
1
Sweet promise is given to all who believe–
“Behold I come quickly, Mine own to receive;
Hold fast till I come; the danger is great;
Sleep not as do others; be watchful, and wait.”
Refrain
“Hold fast till I come,” sweet promise of heaven–
“The kingdom restored, to you shall be given.”
“Come, enter My joy, sit down on the throne;
Bright crowns are in waiting; hold fast till I come.”
2
We’ll “watch unto prayer” with lamps burning bright;
He comes to all others a “thief in the night.”
We know He is near, but know not the day–
As spring shows that summer is not far away.
3
Yes! this is our hope, ’tis built on His word–
The glorious appearing of Jesus, our Lord;
Of promises all, it stands as the sum:
“Behold I come quickly; hold fast till I come.”
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Rev 3:11; 1 Thess 5:1 (b) Matt 26:41; 1 Thess 5:2; Matt 24:36, 32 (d) Tit 2:13; Rev 2:25; Matt 25:21; Rev 3:21
Author
Franklin E. Belden (1858-1945)
Year Published
1886
Metrical Number
10.11.10.11.Ref.
Composer
F.E. Belden
Year Composed
1886
