The Power Which He Has
“Our commonwealth has its existence in the heavens, from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, who shall change our body of humiliation into conformity to His body of glory, according to the working of the power which He has, even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21, N.Tr.).
We await Him from the heavens—Jesus Christ the Lord!
There our everlasting treasures with Himself are stored:
We expect Him from the heavens—from the throne on high!
There our true and vital interests wait beyond the sky:
Comes He soon to take us upward, as the sun the dew,
By the power which He possesses all things to subdue
For redemption’s day of glory to Himself.
Yea, He comes! He came the first time all out sins to bear,
And on the cross in suffering He made atonement there;
Christ our Saviour then revealing love and righteousness
Glorified our God and Father and redeemed us.
Raised, enthroned, returning quickly, Jesus fills the view
By the power which He possesses all things to subdue
For redemption’s day of glory to Himself.
Now the Man of resurrection—seen, heard, handled here,
Sits upon the throne of greatness, radiant and fair;
Pierced once, His holy body bears the scars on high—
Honour, favour shine upon Him far above the sky.
And He comes to form our bodies like His own anew
By the power which He possesses all things to subdue
For redemption’s day of glory to Himself.
From the earth a cloud received Him when He went away!
In the clouds we rise to meet Him on that coming day!
With a shout,—God’s trump attending and the archangel’s voice,—
He will call His blood-redeemed ones up to share His joys:
In the air we then shall greet Him, finding all is true,
By the power which He possesses all things to subdue
For redemption’s day of glory to Himself.
Still He’s waiting in the heavens for the joyous hour,
When as Saviour He transforms us by His quickening power:
In the heavens the throne, the brightness, immortality,
Beauty, blessing, crowning splendours tell His majesty,
And though waiting, what He promised quickly He will do
By the power which He possesses all things to subdue
For redemption’s day of glory to Himself.
Come then, Saviour, from the heavens! Come! O Lord, we pray;
Take Thy loved ones! change their bodies! Home Thy bride convey!
Oh, the rapture, when, beholding that loved form once scarred,
Thy dear face we see, and worship—that dear face once marred.
Love transcendent! grace resplendent! shine in heavenly hue
By the power which He possesses all things to subdue
For redemption’s day of glory to Himself.