Soon and Very Soon
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King,
"Soon and Very Soon" is a song of pure eschatological hope, structured around the biblical promise of the beatific vision — the seeing of God face to face — and the cessation of all suffering in the consummated kingdom. The refrain "we are going to see the King" echoes the Matthean beatitude ("Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God," Matt. 5:8) and the Johannine promise of the new creation where God will dwell with his people (Rev. 21:3–4). The progressive movement of the stanzas — from anticipation, through the negation of crying and dying, back to anticipation — creates a theological arc that moves from longing through consolation to confident expectation. The triple repetition of each affirmation within the stanza functions as a kind of liturgical insistence, the refusal to let hope remain merely intellectual. From a Lutheran theological perspective, the song operates squarely within the tradition's strong eschatological current. Luther's own hymnody and catechetical writings are saturated with the hope of resurrection and the coming kingdom, and the Lutheran confessions ground the Christian life in the promised future of bodily resurrection and the vision of God. "Soon and Very Soon" gives voice to what the Small Catechism's explanation of the Third Article of the Creed calls the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting — not as abstract doctrine but as urgent, embodied, communal hope. The "we" of the text is theologically significant: this is not private piety but the whole people of God moving together toward their King. The song also carries the theological weight of the African American suffering tradition, and Lutheran preachers and worship planners should be attentive to this dimension. The negation stanzas — "no more crying," "no more dying" — are not merely sentimental comfort; they are theological protest against the present order and proclamation that this order will not have the last word. This is the Gospel in its most consolatory mode: the announcement that the powers of grief, death, and loss are already overcome in Christ's resurrection, and that their complete defeat is certain. In Lutheran worship, the song functions as a powerful post-communion or sending hymn, as a funeral song of resurrection confidence, and as an Advent hymn of watchful hope for the coming of the Lord.
History & Background
"Soon and Very Soon" was written and composed by Andraé Crouch in 1976 and first published through Lexicon Music. The song draws deeply on the eschatological hope embedded in African American sacred song tradition, echoing the anticipatory language of Negro spirituals such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "When the Saints Go Marching In," while channeling that tradition through the lens of 1970s gospel renewal. Crouch reportedly composed the song rapidly, with the melody and text arriving together in the spontaneous manner characteristic of his compositional style. The repeated three-fold declaration of each stanza mirrors both the rhetorical patterns of Black preaching tradition and ancient liturgical triple affirmations. The song entered ecumenical and mainline worship with remarkable speed given its gospel origins. Its inclusion in the Lutheran Book of Worship supplements and subsequently in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW, 2006) marked a significant moment of cross-cultural appropriation and affirmation within Lutheran hymnody. It was embraced by United Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Reformed communities throughout the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in nearly every major mainline denominational hymnal published after 1990. Its accessibility — a narrow melodic range, strongly repetitive structure, and emotionally resonant text — made it particularly suitable for congregations with varying musical literacy. The text's liturgical home has proven remarkably versatile. While its eschatological content makes it a natural fit for Advent and the reign of Christ Sunday, its consolatory power has made it the single most frequently sung gospel song at Christian funerals across American denominations. Its use at the funeral of Nelson Mandela and in numerous high-profile memorial services in the United States cemented its place as a cross-cultural anthem of Christian hope. The song also gained international traction through Crouch's extensive touring and recording ministry, appearing in translation and adaptation in Christian communities across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 439
- Gather 4th Edition — 941
- Glory to God — 384
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 483
- United Methodist Hymnal — 706
- Voices Together — 260
- With One Voice — 744
Bulletin Note
Written in 1976 by Andraé Crouch (1942–2015), gospel composer and pastor, this song draws on African American spiritual tradition to proclaim the Christian hope of resurrection and the coming reign of Christ. It is sung at funerals, in Advent, and whenever the church needs to rehearse its confidence in God's promised future.
Preaching Connection
When the congregation sings "No more dying there," they are not engaging in wishful thinking — they are reciting the Gospel verdict already rendered in the empty tomb, proclaiming that Christ's resurrection has already undone death's claim on those who belong to him. This song is a sermon in miniature: it announces the coming King and invites the assembly to stake their lives on that announcement.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Third Article (Concerning Sanctification) Small Catechism — The Apostles' Creed
Themes
eschatology resurrection hope second coming of Christ comfort and consolation beatific vision no more death no more sorrow anticipatory joy African American gospel tradition funeral and burial Advent hope the reign of Christ communal hope