“Look!  He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him.  And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him.  This is certain.  Amen” (Rev. 1:7 HCSB).

“…the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 HCSB).

Why Study the Book of Revelation?  Why study the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ?  The following quote from John Calvin’s little book, A Guide To Christian Living, helps to answer these questions.

When Christ Comes; Vindication and Victory

“The fact of the matter is this: all believers, as long as they live in this world, are as sheep destined for slaughter, so that they might be made like Jesus Christ their Head (Rom. 8:36).  They would therefore be desperately unhappy if they did not lift their minds above all that is around them and look beyond the present (1 Cor. 15:19).

Thus, once their minds have risen above earthly things, when they see the wicked loaded with wealth and honours, enjoying sweet rest and living to their heart’s content in luxury and pleasure – all that, while they themselves endure cruel insults, material loss and injury of every sort – nevertheless, amid such evils, they will readily take heart.  For before them is the prospect of that last day when, they know, the Lord will gather his faithful people into his kingdom of peace.  There he will wipe the tears from their eyes, crown them with glory, clothe them with gladness, satisfy them with the endless sweetness of his favours, and raise them on high to where he is.  That is to say, he will grant them to share in his blessedness (Isa. 25:8; Rev. 7:17).

That, to be sure is our unique consolation.  If it were taken from us, we would without fail lose heart, or else we would seek false relief in vain illusions which might allure and flatter, but which would ultimately destroy us.  The prophet himself admits that he staggered and that his feet almost slipped when he considered the bliss which the wicked now enjoy; he found firm ground only when he turned to contemplate the sanctuary of God – that is, when he thought about the final end of the innocent and the guilty (Psa. 73:2 – 3, 16 – 20).

To sum up, this is my conclusion.  Christ’s cross will finally triumph in believer’s hearts over the devil, the flesh, sin, death and all wickedness, if, at the same time, their eyes are also turned to behold the power of his resurrection” (pages 106 – 108).

“Amen!  Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20b)