Hymnbook Eschatology
by Brandon Vallorani
1/26/2007

One of my favorite hymns, Onward Christian Soldiers, was written and composed by Arthur S. Sullivan in 1871. Arthur was born in London in 1842 to a musically gifted family. By the time he was eight years old he was already composing music. By the age of 10 he had mastered all of the wind instruments in his father's band. Receiving scholarships for his talent, Arthur received formal training. He went on to lead a distinguished career and become the leading composer of his day composing several major choral works. From 1871 to 1896 he collaborated wtih W.S. Gilbert to produce over 14 comic operas, including Trial by Jury (1875), The Pirates of Penzance (1879), and others. He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1883. Despite his excursion into comic work, however, Arthur believed his best work was serious music.

Inspired by Psalm 72:8, "His dominion shall be also from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the land," Arthur composed another powerful hymn in 1871. The hymn was appropriately called Christ Shall Have Dominion (#439 in the Trinity Hymnal). I have included the four verses of this hymn because, like many hymns, the words are potent with Kingdom language:

Christ shall have dominion, over land and sea,
Earth’s remotest regions shall His empire be;
They that wilds inhabit shall their worship bring,
Kings shall render tribute, nations serve our King.
Christ shall have dominion, over land and sea,
Earth’s remotest regions shall His empire be.

When the needy seek Him, He will mercy show;
Yea, the weak and helpless shall His pity know;
He will surely save them from oppression’s might,
For their lives are precious in His holy sight.
Christ shall have dominion, over land and sea,
Earth’s remotest regions shall His empire be.

Ever and forever shall His Name endure;
Long as suns continue it shall stand secure;
And in Him forever all men shall be blest,
And all nations hail Him King of kings confessed.
Christ shall have dominion, over land and sea,
Earth’s remotest regions shall His empire be.

Unto God Almighty joyful Zion sings;
He alone is glorious, doing wondrous things.
Evermore, ye people, bless His glorious Name,
His eternal glory through the earth proclaim.
Christ shall have dominion, over land and sea,
Earth’s remotest regions shall His empire be.

The words of this hymn would probably offend a large number of Christians today. Words like "empire," and "dominion," express a type of robust Christianity that is foreign to modern and emasculated evangelical ears. That's because many Christians are too caught up in self-help theology or because they are waiting for the Antichrist and the end of human history as we know it. Dispensationalism, the theological system that believes Christianity will shrink from the earth until the "Rapture," is mostly to blame for this condition. Standing in stark contrast to contemporary theology, the words of Arthur's hymn glorify Christ and ascribe power and majesty to him on heaven AND on earth. Arthur recognized the culture-transforming power of the Gospel and how it affects the future of civilization.

Have you ever noticed that Dispensationalism cannot be found in the pages of the hymnbook? We shouldn't be surprised because it cannot be found in the Scripture either! Dispensationalism does not inspire the Church to greatness. Neither does it inspire great hymns. Even in the most dispensational churches you'll find hymns which speak of the advancement of the Gospel and the Kingdom of Christ on the earth.

You can bet that at least two of Sullivan's hymns, Onward Christian Soldiers and Christ Shall Have Dominion, will be sung at our Worldview Super Conference in May. I trust you will be there to join with the Church in celebrating His advancing Kingdom on this earth. "His dominion shall be also from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the land." (Psalm 72:8 — 1599 Geneva Bible).