A story of the hymn/chorus, “The King is Coming,” by William Petersen

For Bill and Gloria Gaither, this is a different kind of song. Many of their songs are sing-along types, but this one is more of an anthem expressing praise and gladness about Christ’s return. Bill and Gloria loved to write songs of personal testimony and happy songs that brought together the family of God. 

Gloria had heard an evangelist speak on the joy of the second coming of Christ. “Previously,” she said, “I had tended to think of the end of the world as a time of judgment.” But after hearing the sermon, she began to think “of Jesus as the Master of Restoration—of marriages He had put back together, relationships His hand had mended, and generation gaps His Spirit had bridged. I saw an image of the coronation of a King, who walked down the corridor of history; I could see lining the corridor throngs of witnesses to His redeeming grace.” 

She wrote the words for “The King Is Coming” and gave them to her husband to supply the music. The result is a hymn combining simplicity and power, looking ahead to a time of rejoicing with the King of glory.

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 3:16-17; Revelation 5:9-13; Revelation 22:20 
Themes: Second Coming, Victory, Assurance 

Lyrics of the Hymn/Chorus:
O the King is coming, the King is coming!
I just heard the trumpets sounding, and now His face I see;
O the King is coming, the King is coming!
[Praise God] He’s coming for me!
By CHARLES MILLHUFF (B. 1942) © 1970 William J. Gaither, Inc. All rights controlled by Gaither Copyright Management. Used by permission.

Reference for the Hymn/Chorus: 
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 456-457). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.