Recently, The Battle Hymn of the Republic was sung in my church. Like so many familiar hymns, we sing the words without considering their meaning. As we sang, it struck me that this song, associated with the Civil War, is really about the Coming of the Lord Jesus. Look at the words, and related Scripture.

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; (Isaiah 29:5-6)
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; (Jeremiah 25:30)
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword: (Revelation 19:15)
His truth is marching on.

“I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; (Genesis 12:7)
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps: (Romans 2:5)
His day is marching on.

“He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; (First Thessalonians 4:16)
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat: (Revelation 20:11-15)
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet! (Habakkuk 3:19)
Our God is marching on.

“In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, (Matthew 2:1)
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me. (First Corinthians 15:51)
As He died to make men holy, (Colossians 1:22) let us die to make men free, (John 15:13)
While God is marching on.

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, (James 1:5) He is Succour to the brave, (Hebrews 2:18)
So the world shall be His footstool, (Psalm 110:1) and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.

(Chorus) “Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! (Revelation 19:1)
Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on. (John 14:6)

Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that this is a patriotic song and was associated with the United States government. Pray for America! May we, as a nation, glorify God again. And may the Lord Jesus come quickly!