There's A Great Day Coming

“There’s a Great Day Coming” is a solemn gospel hymn written by Will L. Thompson in 1886, known for its stirring warning about the coming day of judgment. Thompson, remembered also for hymns such as “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling,” was a gifted songwriter who combined simple, heartfelt words with compelling melodies that could easily be remembered and sung in revival meetings.

This hymn paints a vivid picture of the final judgment, emphasizing both the joy of the saved and the dread of the unprepared. The refrain, “Are you ready for that day to come?” presses the listener with a direct and personal question, leaving no room for indifference. The hymn reflects the biblical teaching that every soul must stand before God to give an account, and it urges men and women to be ready through faith in Christ.

“There’s a Great Day Coming” was widely used in revival preaching and camp meetings, where its message cut to the heart of hearers. While it carries a tone of warning, it also carries hope for those who are in Christ, pointing to the gladness of those who will rejoice at His coming. Its enduring legacy is its clear and uncompromising reminder of eternity, and its urgent appeal continues to call sinners to repentance and believers to watchfulness.