The King of Glory Comes

About This Song

The King of Glory Comes joins Psalm 24’s ancient summons—“Lift up your heads, you gates”—to the New Testament vision of Jesus as the faithful and true King. Its gates, drums, and low declarations create the sound of a royal arrival, but the song defines Christ’s triumph through the cross and empty tomb. The King who reigns is also the Lamb who bore shame and guilt. His victory is not driven by hatred or pride; it is the victory of sacrificial love, resurrection power, and truth over darkness.

Devotional

“Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty” (Psalm 24:8).

Psalm 24 calls the gates to open because the King is coming. For followers of Jesus, that royal image finds its fullest meaning in Christ: the Lamb who suffered, the Son who rose, and the Lord before whom every knee will bow. His strength is not cruelty, and His authority is not pride. The scars of the cross forever reveal what kind of King He is.

The song asks every wall and stronghold to fall. That invitation begins within us. We can sing loudly about Christ’s reign while still guarding rooms of our lives from His rule. To make way for the King is to welcome His truth, mercy, and command of love into every part of the heart.

Reflect: Which gate in your life remains closed to Christ’s reign? Lift it today—not in fear of a tyrant, but in trust of the King who gave Himself for you.

Lyrics

[Intro — Very Low Male Chant]

Lift up the gates
Prepare the way
Lift up the gates
Christ comes to reign

[Verse 1]

The heavens break, the thunders ring
The white horse bears the righteous King
His eyes are fire, His word is flame
And Faithful, True, remains His name

He rides in truth, He judges right
Before His face must flee the night
Upon His robe the words proclaim
The King of kings, the highest Name

[Pre-Chorus]

Let every wall and stronghold fall
The risen Christ is Lord of all
Lift every gate and sound the drums
The mighty King of Glory comes

[Chorus]

Lift up the gates, lift up the gates
And let the praises ring
Lift up the gates, lift up the gates
Make way for Christ the King

Strong and mighty, robed in light
He broke the grave’s dark sting
Lift up the gates, lift up the gates
Make way for Christ the King

[Post-Chorus — Deep Male Chant]

Christ the King
Christ the King
Strong and mighty
Christ the King

[Verse 2]

Upon the cross He bore our shame
And took our guilt, endured our blame
The stone was sealed with guarded care
But dawn revealed the tomb laid bare

The chains were torn, the debt was paid
Death lost the claim that it had made
The Lion rose, God’s holy Son
The war with death was fought and won

[Pre-Chorus]

Let every wall and stronghold fall
The risen Christ is Lord of all
Lift every gate and sound the drums
The mighty King of Glory comes

[Chorus]

Lift up the gates, lift up the gates
And let the praises ring
Lift up the gates, lift up the gates
Make way for Christ the King

Strong and mighty, robed in light
He broke the grave’s dark sting
Lift up the gates, lift up the gates
Make way for Christ the King

[Bridge — Slow, Heavy Chant]

Every knee will bow the same
Every tongue confess His name
Heaven above and earth below
Jesus reigns, and all shall know

Not by hatred, not by pride
But by the Lamb who bled and died
Raised in power and crowned in light
Christ alone has crushed the night

[Breakdown — Extremely Low Bass]

Christ alone upon the throne
Christ alone, our cornerstone
Christ the Lamb who bore our shame
Christ the King above all names

[Final Chorus]

Lift up the gates, lift up the gates
And let the praises ring
Lift up the gates, lift up the gates
Make way for Christ the King

Strong and mighty, robed in light
He broke the grave’s dark sting
Lift up the gates, lift up the gates
Make way for Christ the King

[Outro — Low A Cappella Ensemble]

Lift up the gates
Let praises ring
The King of Glory
Christ the King