When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder

This hymn has long been a favorite across much of the American Evangelical world since it was written in the early part of the 20th Century.

Recently, however, I found out that this beloved hymn has been translated into a variety of other languages including Russian.

Thank you, Simon Khorolskiy, for presenting this hymn in all of its Russian-ness yet with a distinctively American flavor!

I explored the Russian words and found that they were not exactly what was in my English-language hymnal.  Small surprise.  However, it was close in ideas.  And looking at the exact word-for-word translation yielded a richer appreciation for the hymn.  Thus I took it upon myself to re-translate back from Russian, the words and ideas within Simon's Russian version.

On the Heav’nly Roll up Yonder

At the hour when the trumpet of the Lord o’er earth will sound,

And the ever bright’ning glorious dawn will come,

Then the names of all He saved in heav’nly roll call will repeat;

There by Grace alone and God’s great Love I’ll be!

   Chorus

   On the Heav’nly roll up yonder,

   On the Heav’nly roll up yonder,

   On the Heav’nly roll up yonder,

   There by Grace alone and God’s great Love I’ll be!

On the Day of Resurrection for each soul who died in Christ,

He presents them faultless there before the King,

As the saints now washed and sanctified by blood shed on the cross—

He will call and at that summons will I sing!

   Chorus

We will work for You, O Lord our God, in love of all who serve,

From the early morning till the sun has set;

When You tell me then to lay down all my earthly work and rest,

Then upon the heav’nly roll I shall appear!

   Chorus

I present both the Russian hymn version and then the English hymn version based on the Russian for your edification.

And now in English:

Filmed in the Palouse Hills of SE Washington State.

Another version— a cappella, from Tambov Church in Russia

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Peter's Admonition

I always will remind you then, dear friends,
   These are the Truth, I know you know them well.
   Be rooted in them to the very end.
   It's right that I should stress and warn as well,
   As long as I on earth by Christ do dwell;
   For soon I know I'll put this tent aside,
   As Christ Himself so long ago did tell.
   I'll work so that these Truths are deep inside;
So after my departure, in them still abide!

- D. Benning


In anticipation of our Pastor preaching from 2 Peter 1:12 - 15.

In Honor of Lewis Caroll

Behold the Lewis Caroll Sonnet Poem:
The well-turned twist and aptly made-up word,
Play o'er the lips as treasure from a tome
That printed was before the press was heard.
Look on his rhymes, his Jabberwocky tales:
So brillig, mimsy in its uffish state;
Midst vorpish logic twisted through the veils,
He paints a picture in the mind so great
That actual meanings to his words don't mind
A casual inexactness to their key.
The tales then race along to find
The ending of his tale through tulgey tree!
   The master wordsmith—logic bent in peril—
   Must honor Master Wordsmith, Lewis Caroll.

- D. Benning

Creation

The Father spoke; creation sprang with joy,
   To do His bidding and to win delight!
   Light sprang then forth—against the dark deployed—
   The cosmos formed through Son and His foresight:
   By Him, for Him, creation leaped to sight;
   The Father loved Him, gave to Him as won,
   And showed much greater things to herald His might.
   Creation earned the Father's joy once done,
Then rested He from work and gloried in His Son.

- D. Benning

The Sentinel

Artwork by Alterworld Art, Christopher Story

 
As darkness closes in, don't fear the night!
   The cold and vicious claws of doubt and dread
   Shall not touch you nor spread their wasting blight.
   For there above you and around your head
   With shimmering wing and power round you spread,
   Though hardly seen nor touched—intangible!
   Your night is safe, he guards you on your bed.
   This angel on your watch—dependable!
God gives him charge to guard: your heav'nly sentinel.

D. Benning ©2018