The King Shall Come

“The King Shall Come” is a majestic Advent hymn by John Brownlie that proclaims the coming of Christ in glory and righteousness. Written in the early twentieth century, the hymn stands out for its strong biblical imagery and confident tone. Rather than focusing primarily on Christ’s first coming in humility, Brownlie directs attention to the royal, victorious return of the Lord as Judge and King, calling the church to joyful expectation.

The hymn draws deeply from the language of the Old Testament prophets, especially the psalms that announce the Lord’s coming to judge the earth in righteousness and truth (Psalm 96:10-13, KJV). Christ is presented as the rightful ruler whose reign brings justice, peace, and restoration. This prophetic vision is fulfilled in the New Testament portrayal of Christ returning in glory, seated upon His throne, and gathering His people to Himself (Matthew 25:31-34, KJV).

A key theme of the hymn is certainty. The coming of the King is not described as a possibility, but as a sure and decisive event in history. Brownlie emphasizes that Christ’s return will be visible, authoritative, and triumphant. This aligns with the biblical testimony that the Messiah comes not only as Savior, but as reigning Lord, exercising dominion over all nations (Revelation 19:11-16, KJV). The hymn therefore strengthens faith by anchoring hope in God’s unchanging promise.

The hymn also balances majesty with comfort. While Christ comes as Judge, His coming is good news for the faithful. The reign of the King brings deliverance, healing, and joy for those who belong to Him. This echoes the prophetic announcement that the King comes gentle yet powerful, establishing peace and righteousness that endure forever (Zechariah 9:9-10, KJV).

“The King Shall Come” remains a powerful hymn for the Advent season and beyond. It lifts the eyes of the church from present uncertainty to future certainty, reminding believers that history is moving toward the visible reign of Christ. With confidence and reverence, the hymn calls the church to wait, worship, and rejoice, for the King shall surely come.