Revelation 19:1 The Great Acclamation Mark
Just like the Holy Bible has many authors, the classic hymn “How Great Thou Art” does too. Unlike the Holy Bible, which took thousands and thousands of years to complete, How Great Thou Art took over or under 65 to finish. Just like God’s word is written in a few different languages, How Great Thy Art was likewise as it was developing. Carl Boberg was a Swedish minister and poet. One afternoon after church service, he and other members relaxed at his home. The church bells were still ringing, and a mighty power thunderstorm began. Carl’s household was so frightened by the intense rolling thunder and lightning they lowered themselves to the floor. The summer storm was over almost as soon as it started. The ringing church bells reminded Carl Boberg how great the merciful God is. So he wrote the poem “O Store Gud,” which means in English (O Great God). The song was later translated into English by E. Gustav Johnson and re-titled O Mighty God. Stuart K. Hine was a British Methodist missionary doing the Lord’s work in Russia when he heard the hymn sung in German. Therefore the hymn is titled “How Great thy Art.” Standing outside a Christian house, they heard praise and repenting within the home. Stuart listened to testimony from within the house and felt moved to write down what he heard. That person’s testimony became some lyrics in the How Great Thou Art hymn;” And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.” After WWII, Stuart listened to the testimony of a Polish man who was separated from his wife during the war. His wife was a Christian, but he was not. The husband had converted and still desperately wanted to see his wife again. He didn’t think he would see her again on this earth but took comfort in the coming of Christ. His faith in God gave him great acclamation; he could share eternal life with his wife at home in heaven. From this conversation, this was Stuart wrote this lyric to the hymn. ‘How Great Thou Art’: “When Christ shall come with a shout of acclamation to take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then we shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, My God How Great Thou Art!” Some Christians I know have told me they don’t read the book of Revelation because they are afraid to read the events and predictions. But it is a part of the Holy Bible, just like the chorus and the bridge complete the whole song. We Christians are like the angelic choir of heaven. We Christians and the heavenly host will sing “Hallelujah! The entire world sees when the Lord reveals how great He was and will forever be. Are you believing and singing how great thou art, the Lord God is? Or will you be among those who kneel, confess with their tongues that Jesus is Lord? The believers receive everlasting life, and the rest receive the eternal rolling thunder of hell. Decide and heart what you believe in your heart and sing with your mouth. God bless you all; the Great I Am loves you, and so do I. His humble bondservant, Samuel Jerry Head.