The Lord Is Ris’n; and Death’s Dark Judgment Flood

The Lord Is Ris’n; and Death’s Dark Judgment Flood is a triumphant resurrection hymn written by William Paton MacKay, a 19th-century Scottish minister and hymn writer remembered for his stirring evangelical hymns. In this text, MacKay celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the decisive victory over death and judgment. The hymn’s opening line evokes a powerful image of the “dark judgment flood,” a poetic reference to the power of death and divine justice, which Christ has conquered through His rising from the dead.

The hymn draws its theological strength from the apostolic teaching found in passages such as 1 Corinthians 15:20–22: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” By rising from the grave, Christ broke through the flood of judgment that had engulfed humanity since the fall, opening a way of life for all who believe.

MacKay also reflects the truths of Romans 6:9, which proclaims, “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him,” and Revelation 1:18, where Christ declares, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.” These verses anchor the hymn’s message of assurance. Death is no longer the final word for believers because the risen Lord reigns with absolute authority.

The hymn’s language is both poetic and declarative, calling believers to rejoice in the triumph of Christ over sin and death. Historically, it was used during Easter and resurrection-themed services, emphasizing not merely the fact of the resurrection but its doctrinal and personal implications. MacKay urges worshippers to lift their eyes from the shadow of judgment to the light of the risen Christ, whose victory guarantees the believer’s future resurrection and eternal security.

William Paton MacKay’s conversion story and his later ministry were marked by strong gospel conviction, and this hymn reflects that same tone of bold proclamation. It is a hymn that stirs faith, strengthens hope, and exalts the Lord Jesus as the risen conqueror.