Fredrick Arvid Blom

Born: May 21, 1867, near Enköpking, Sweden.

Died: May 24, 1927, Uddevalla, Sweden.

    After emigrating to America in the 1890’s, Blom joined the Salvation Army in Chicago, Illinois. Afterwards, he attended North Park College and Seminary, then served as a minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church. However, he fell away from the Gospel, and ended up in prison:

I drifted from God, and became embittered with myself and the world.

    After leaving prison, Blom underwent a spiritual revival, and wrote the He the Pearly Gates Will Open to describe his rebirth. He went on to serve as pastor at a Swedish Congregational Church in Pennsylvania before returning to his native Swe­en in 1921.

Hymns

1. He the Pearly Gates Will Open