The Wall

-
Image
“What a dear old wall that is that runs along by the river there! I never pass it without feeling better for the sight of it. Such a mellow, bright, sweet old wall; what a charming picture it would make, with the lichen creeping here, and the moss growing there, a shy young vine peeping over the top at this spot, to see what is going on upon the busy river, and the sober old ivy clustering a little farther down! There are fifty shades and tints and hues in every ten yards of that old wall. . . . It looks so peaceful and so quiet, and it is such a dear old place to ramble round in the early morning before many people are about.” Jerome K. Jerome, “Three Men In A Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)” Ch. 6 (1889)

Another look at "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder."

-
James M. Black published "When The Roll is Called up Yonder" in 1894.  This song has been sung often by many churches through the years.  I have a few questions for your consideration, at the end:

Stanza 1:
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.


REFRAIN:
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Stanza 2:
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

(REFRAIN)

Stanza 3:
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there."
 
A few questions for your consideration:
 
1) Do you believe that at the sound of the trump the dead in Christ will rise, the church will be raptured, there will be seven years of tribulation, then the Lord will return?
2) Do you believe what the song says? 
 
If you answered "yes," to #1 and "yes," to #2, then please continue:
 
3) After the trump of the Lord sounds, "what" shall be no more, and what kind of morning breaks (see Stanza 1)? 
4) How does one fit seven years of tribulation between trump and time that is no more, when all of life is over?
5) The Bible speaks of the tribulations faced by Christians, and the tribulations experienced by unbelievers: which one do we mean?
5) If with the sound of the trump time ends and eternity begins and "all of life is over," (see Stanza 3) and the the saved of earth are "on the other shore" along with the dead in Christ (see Stanza 2), how does this song support pre-tribulational rapture?
6) How many resurrections are there (see Matt 22:23; John 5:28-29, 6:39, 44, 54; 11:24; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:23-24)?
7) Care to make any comments?

Popular posts from this blog

Rock Me, Epictetus!

-
Image
“Keep constant guard over your perceptions, for it is no small thing you are protecting, but your respect, trustworthiness and steadiness, peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?” EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.3.6 b –8 
Read more

The Smooth-flowing Life

-
Image
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel...
Read more