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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

Christ comes quickly for His Bride

Hope of Glory Preparing for Christ’s Return

English1304
1
Christ comes quickly for His Bride,
Wedding feast He will provide,
Garments bright and pure supplied—
Dress in time!
Taking Christ as life she’s dressed,
By much suffering stitched and pressed;
Righteous acts are thus possessed—
Dress in time!
 
Be in time! Be in time!
For the marriage feast of Jesus
Be in time!
If your soul life you deny
And the Spirit you apply,
Then you’ll fully qualify—
Be in time!
2
Virgins Christ comes quickly for,
Those with oil an extra store,
Not the fools who oil ignore—
Buy in time!
For the oil a price we pay,
Deal with self without delay,
Fill your vessels every day—
Buy in time!
3
For His servants Christ will come
And reward each faithful one;
Slothful ones will be undone—
Serve in time!
Make your single talent count,
All self’s problems now surmount,
Serve with Christ, the living fount—
Serve in time!
4
Christ comes quickly for His grain,
Ripened firstfruits to obtain;
Unripe harvest will remain—
Ripen now!
From earth’s water grain must dry,
From the world your soul deny;
To mature the self must die—
Ripen now!
5
Overcomers Christ will take,
Those who all for Him forsake,
Those who of first love partake—
Win in time!
All the deadness overcome,
With the living Christ be one,
Toward the goal now swiftly run—
Win in time!
6
Christ comes for His kingdom too;
Heav’nly reign we must pursue,
Let His rule our self subdue—
Yield in time!
Rebel self must be dethroned,
Lessons must not be postponed,
Quickly yield to Christ enthroned—
Yield in time!

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Nathan David Reilly

Abbotsford, BC, Canada

Aug 9, 2026

Praise the Lord. I am following the Lord.

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Frank Scavo

Irvine, CA, United States

Aug 27, 2025

I am preparing for a memorial service coming up in September for Bill and Barbara Mallon, so I was looking for hymns that Bill had written. I was so glad to see this one preserved here, which Bill wrote. I am not sure what year it was.

Anyone that knew Bill and has heard him preach will recognize his style in this hymn. It is so well structured around the thought of preparing "in time" for the Lord's return. The entire hymn is based on this sense of urgency throughout the New Testament: We must dress in time, buy oil in time, serve with our talents in time, ripen like grain in time, win (run the race) in time, and yield to Christ over us in time.

Knowing Bill, it would not surprise me if he gave a message on this structure and then wrote this hymn afterwards.

Rest in the Lord's presence, dear brother Bill.

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Maria L

Fremont, California, United States

Jul 26, 2024

Gain Your bride, Lord! Gain Your counterpart! Grow in us unto maturity that we may be perfected and matured to be Your Bride. Make us Your overcomers, dear Lord, who hasten Your return and enter with You at the wedding feast. 🙏

Oh Lord Jesus we love you ❤️

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Christopher Condon

Romford, Essex, United Kingdom

Apr 15, 2023

WN said that the difference between the two groups of virgins was not that one of the groups had no oil in their vessels. Matthew 25 says that all had oil in their vessels. But the foolish ones didn't have that oil in time. He said this is why we need to redeem the time. We don't know when the Bridegroom will come for us. We have today. Lord, we give ourselves to buy oil today and not be those who say, our Master delays. We have NOW!

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Maurice Ward

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Oct 23, 2022

Acts 1:11 ... why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus... will come.

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Tara

Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Jul 21, 2021

Keep your lamps lit family, our bridegroom is coming. trim your lamps, wake up O sleeper. Praise the LORD the enemy is almost out of time. Christ will come and destroy him with brightness of his coming.

Come Lord Jesus Yeshua. king of kings.

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Ennie

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Feb 27, 2020

This song Reminds us of the Christian race. We need to pursue to gain the kingdom. “Rebel self must be dethroned, lessons not postponed, quickly yield to Christ enthroned (within us), yield in time”. Gain us for Your kingdom dear Lord Jesus.

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Jeff Hall

Sterling/Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Aug 10, 2019

Be Ye ready to be found in Christ when you least expect, and you will be eternally blessed. Get to the meetings!!!

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Rishie

Glen Innes, NSW, Australia

Jan 25, 2013

Very powerful! Very sobering. reading this has lead to a good time of confession and prayer. Thank You Lord for songs like that which remind us of spiritual realities we so quickly close our eyes to. Amen.

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Ted Evans

San Diego, CA, United States

Jan 28, 2012

WOW. I love this song. Praise the Lord.

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