Eschatology or the doctrine of the last things has always held fascination for the child of God. As the end draws nearer, a study of these things becomes even more important. This short book considers various subjects regarding the last times in a clear and simple style. As Rev. Kortering states in chapter 1 on “Try the Spirits,”

When the stormy billows of false doctrine and immorality crash about us, what is our calling? Shall we close the hatch and sink deeply beneath the turbulent surface and find security in isolation? Shall we try to run away from it all and nurse our wounded spirits in the bowels of past glories? No, my friend; that may seem appealing, but that is not the calling of the faithful church. Rather, the church of Jesus Christ is to enter into the storm as a battleship that is anchored firmly to the Rock of Ages, our Lord Jesus Christ as He has revealed Himself to us in His Word. Only then can we oppose the enemies of the truth, and sound forth in clear and certain words the pure preaching of the Gospel and not be dashed to pieces on the rocks of unbelief. When we do this we can be certain that our eye will be focused upon the beacon light of God that directs us safely to the haven of rest.

Chapter 1: Try the Spirits
Chapter 2: Our Life After Death
Chapter 3: Evidence of Our Lord’s Return
Chapter 4: The Four Horsemen
Chapter 5: The Sealing of the 144,000
Chapter 6: The Locusts Out of the Abyss
Chapter 7: The Eating of the Little Book

This book can also be read on-line.

To read this book in Italian, click here.

Herman Hoeksema preached often on Revelation, even preaching through the entire book more than once—not to mention the numerous Bible studies he led on it. Behold He Cometh is thus the fruit of several decades of teaching. This essay-style commentary on the book of Revelation is written from the Reformed, amillennial viewpoint. In clear, concise language, the author sets forth rich biblical teaching concerning the end times.

Dr. William Hendriksen (renowned expositor of the Book of Revelation and minister in the Christian Reformed Church): “The treatment of the text is definitely Reformed in character in that it always ascribes all the glory to God and traces his way in history … I warmly recommend the book” (The Banner).

“We highly recommend this volume … Every pastor should own a copy, and it would serve as an excellent text for Seminary, Bible School or Bible class study groups” (The Gospel Witness).

“A new and solid commentary has been added to the list of the Reformed expositions of the last book of the Bible” (Calvinist Contact).

“A refreshing feature … was that the author showed great insight into the Scriptures” (Australian Baptist).

“… anyone who wishes to make a thorough study of Revelation owes it to himself to work through Hoeksema’s Behold He Cometh” (Wisconsin Lutheran Journal).

“It is the kind of book I would like to see in every library and in every home. I heartily recommend it” (Westminster Theological Journal).

“It is the best work on Revelation known to this reviewer (bearing in mind the excellent works of Hengstenberg, Durham and Hendriksen, to name no others) … Its lucid, simple style is admirably calculated to demonstrate just how perfectly the message of this final book of the canon accords with everything else in Holy Scripture … Hoeksema’s treatment of the Final Judgment of the ungodly and the blessedness of the New Jerusalem is a joy to read. May this superb work goad us to long, pray and work for the second coming of our Saviour, when the cosmic conflict shall end, when Christ shall yield up the kingdom to His Father, and God shall be all and in all” (Peace and Truth).

Rev. Jerome Julien (United Reformed Churches in North America): “Rev. Hoeksema preached through the Book of Revelation twice in his ministry, once soon after World War I and the second time during World War II, the latter time to very large crowds of hearers. The series of messages in this volume—fifty-three in number—thoroughly expounds the comforting truth in this last book of the Bible … A student of the Book of Revelation can hardly do better than this! … by all means get a copy of it” (The Outlook).

Joel R. Beeke: “Where should you begin [the study of eschatology]? Read the book of Revelation again. While doing so, consult Herman Hoeksema’s Behold He Cometh” (in Joel R. Beeke and Sinclair B. Ferguson [eds.], Reformed Confessions Harmonized [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1999], p. 271).

Rev. Charles Roberts: “Rev. Hoeksema’s exposition of Revelation is a priceless tome of pastoral insight and scholarly wisdom. A superb, user friendly, amillennial analysis of one of the most important books in the canon of scripture.” – South Carolina, USA

“[My wife’s mother] was blessed to read Herman Hoeksema’s Reformed Dogmatics and Behold He Cometh. She has particularly found the latter very edifying in recent times and has revisited it often.” – W. Yorkshire

“Thank you very much for the book by Herman Hoeksema, Behold He Cometh! This is a wonderful and very useful book. Herman Hoeksema is superb in his writings! … Out of all the interpretations of the book of Revelation his is the most comprehensive and beautiful, and also tactful, without direct negative pointing to any particular group or denomination” – Kazakhstan

“I have almost finished reading Behold He Cometh, a wonderful and helpful read. Most illuminating and relevant; I had puzzled long about Rev. 17:9-13, Herman Hoeksema has clarified much for me. I find myself in total agreement with him in his methods and interpretation of the prophetic and apocalyptic literature of the Bible in the context of all of Holy Scripture. He is obviously familiar with the interpretative methods of others … and shows up their interpretation for what they are. Since the book was first written, events in the church and the world confirm Hoeksema’s understanding.” – Wolverhampton, England

“I’m reading a wonderful book I got from [the CPRC], Behold He Cometh, a commentary on Revelation. This has been a real help, although I only can work about 20 minutes a day on it [because of my serious health problems]. I have found it a real blessing.” – Co. Antrim, N. Ireland

“I was speaking to a believer on Saturday and during our conversation he mentioned Hoeksema’s Behold He Cometh and what a wonderful book he had found it.  So today I have had a look on the internet and begun reading it on line. The world is growing worse and worse. It’s so easy to become caught up in things and to begin to get fearful. How good it will be to be given an understanding of our great God and Saviour’s sovereign purpose in all the things He is bringing to pass before He comes back to judge the world in righteousness.” – Berkshire, England

“The commentary on Revelation is easily the best I’ve come across and Herman Hoeksema’s interpretation is so accurate, looking at the events that are developing in the world today.” – Essex, England

Click here to read a review of this book by one of our readers!
Click here to read a review of this book in the Standard Bearer.

Click here to read a review of this book in Korean.

Some chapters of this book have been translated into Polish.
Excerpts from the book on “The Binding of Satan”  and on Revelation 14:4-5 can be read on-line in Portuguese.
Chapter 7, “The Church With a Mystic Tendency” can be read on-line in Spanish.

The subject of the book is eschatology, the biblical doctrine of the last things.

“We amillennialists,” writes Engelsma, “proclaim a gospel that declares the little flock of Christ, that will always have tribulation in the world and whose members are killed all the day long, to be not merely conquerors but ‘more than conquerors’ (Luke 12:32; John 16:33; Rom. 8:36-37). See, this is not pessimism. This is optimism. This is the hugest optimism. This is optimism without any hint of pessimism.”

Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom includes fine exegesis of Revelation 20, Matthew 24 and Isaiah 65:17-25, and refutes “Jewish Dreams” and preterism.

Originally this book was a series of editorials in the Standard Bearer magazine.

“[Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom] breathes of the comfort and hope that the return of Christ brings to the believer … It is well-written and timely in its refutation of the views of Christian Reconstructionism” (British Church Newspaper).

“I was very blessed by Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom by Prof. Engelsma. I devoured it within the first week of its arrival.” – Norway

“Thank you for the book, Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom by Prof. David Engelsma. God willing, I plan to post that book on to the Kenyan pastors because this book is a wonderful defence of Reformed amillennialism and is a good bulwark against premillennialism and dispensationalism. This book is very timely and very useful and deserves to be widely read.” – England

“What a wonderful book in times like these, even in Namibia! … It is one of my library books that I give to members of the congregation.” – Namibia

8 sermons on Revelation 10-11 on CD or DVD

Who is the mighty angel of Revelation 10? What is the significance of his oath? What does it mean for John to eat the little book given him by this angel? And why is the book sweet in his mouth but bitter in his belly? What is the idea of the measuring of the temple? What are the 42 months and 1,260 days? Who are the two witnesses and what is their ministry? Why does the world rejoice so much over their death? What is the idea of the seventh trumpet? These 8 sermons on Revelation 10-11 explain these two chapters on the last times over against dispensationalism, historicism and postmillennialism.

(1) The Mighty Angel Astride Land and Sea (Rev. 10:1-4)
(2) The Mighty Angel’s Solemn Oath (Rev. 10:5-7)
(3) Eating the Little Book (Rev. 10:8-11)
(4) The Forty-Two Months of the Temple and the City (Rev. 11:1-2)
(5) The Ministry of the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11:3-4)
(6) The Opposition to the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11:5-8)
(7) The World’s Reactions After the Death of the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11:9-13)
(8) The Blowing of the Seventh Trumpet (Rev. 11:14-19)

7 sermons on Revelation 14 on CD or DVD

The 144,00 with the Lamb on Mount Sion, the messages of the 3 angels flying in the midst of heaven, Christ’s return upon a cloud to reap the 2 harvests—all are in Revelation 14. This chapter also includes the new song from heaven, the fall of Babylon, the everlasting punishment of those who worship the beast and receive his mark. and the great winepress of the wrath of God. These sermons on eschatology lead us from the crippling fear of man to the healthy fear of God, and the blessed comfort of His absolute sovereignty in Jesus Christ.

(1) The Comfort of the 144,000 (Rev. 14:1-5)
(2) The First Two Angels and Their Messages (Rev. 14:6-8)
(3) The Warning of the Third Angel (Rev. 14:9-11)
(4) The Saints in the Antichristian Kingdom (Rev. 14:12)
(5) Blessed Are Those Who Die in the Lord! (Rev. 14:13)
(6) The Son of Man and His Sickle (Rev. 14:14-16)
(7) The Great Winepress of God’s Wrath (Rev. 14:17-20)

“I am listening a second time to ‘The Lamb, Babylon and the Sickles.’ Such an encouragement and challenge.” – England

Grier proves conclusively from the teachings of Christ and the apostles that the Christian is to expect one personal, visible, sudden, glorious coming of the Lord Jesus, which will bring immediately one general judgment of all men, and usher in the eternal state!

“This little volume sets forth in orderly and eminently readable fashion what most Calvinistic teachers believer concerning ‘the Second Advent and questions related thereto.’ With orthodox Christians of every age, the author holds that our Lord’s return will be personal, visible, sudden and unexpected, glorious and triumphant. Of three views styled respectively post-millennialism, pre-millennialism and non-millennialism, he advocates the last named as scriptural and shows that it has been maintained by a large majority of the Fathers and Reformers of the Church. In two valuable chapters dealing with the interpretation of prophecy, he points out that the literalist view leads logically to absurdities and is not adopted by the writers of the New Testament, who specifically state that many of the Old Testament predictions have been fulfilled, albeit in a spiritual sense … A general consideration of N.T. teaching on the subject, is followed by a more detailed review of the doctrine of the Gospels, Epistles and Apocalypse, special attention being devoted to the significance of the ‘millennium’ of Revelation chapter 20. Here is a book that will well repay study by those who seek to understand truth that is basic to Christian faith and hope.” (Peace and Truth).

Click here to read a review by one of our readers!

Click here to read this book in Portuguese.

Meditations on the Epistles and the Book of Revelation.

The Rev. Gerrit Vos was many things: a gifted preacher-teacher, a compassionate and sympathetic pastor, an able leader in the protestant Reformed Churches. Of all his God-given gifts, one stood out. Rev. Vos was by the grace of God a humble man. He knew his sins and sinful nature; and his only comfort in life and in death was the he belonged to his faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In 1966, while I was pastor of the Doon, Iowa, church, Rev. Vos became emeritus. At that time I wrote him a letter expressing my appreciation to him for what he had done for me and for our churches. To that letter he responded with this advice: “My son, of all the things I counselled you remember this: be humble. there is a humility which is feigned. That is abominable in God’s sight. Be humble from the heart and God’s people will bear you up in their arms” That was, by God’s grace, Gerrit Vos, V. D. M.

These meditations reflect a pastor who loved God’s people, rejoiced with those who rejoiced, wept with those who wept, and who in this way humbly served his Lord. The reader will find in them rich instruction, profound insights, and much comfort from God’s Word. – Prof. Robert D. Decker

Chapter 1, chapter 2 and chapter 3 are in Italian.

12 sermons on Revelation 2-3 on CD or DVD

Nowhere in all Scripture does Christ Himself evaluate churches so penetratingly and succinctly as in Revelation 2-3: seven churches, one after the other, with their strengths and weaknesses, commendations and rebukes, promises and threats. What are the great issues in the church according to Jesus Christ? How does your church fare in His eyes? What are the lessons for congregations in the 21st century?

(1) Ephesus: A Labouring and Disciplining Church (Rev. 2:1-7)
(2) Ephesus: A Church That Has Left Its First Love (Rev. 2:1-7)
(3) Smyrna: A Persecuted Yet Rich Church (Rev. 2:8-11)
(4) Pergamos: A Church Dwelling Where Satan’s Throne Is (Rev. 2:12-17)
(5) Pergamos: A Church Strong in Persecution But Weak in Discipline (Rev. 2:12-17)
(6) Thyatira: A Loving Church (Rev. 2:18-29)
(7) Thyatira: A Church That Tolerated Jezebel (Rev. 2:18-29
(8) Sardis: A Dead Church (Rev. 3:1-6)
(9) Philadelphia: A Church With an Open Door (Rev. 3:7-13)
(10) Laodicea: A Lukewarm Church (Rev. 3:14-22
(11) Observations on the Letters to the Seven Churches (Rev. 2-3)
(12) The Dangers Facing the Churches (Rev. 2-3)

“I have been listening to the sermon on the letters to the seven churches and having finished, on Thursday listened again to Ephesus, as I needed the challenge of ‘thou hast left thy first love.’ I shall probably listen to the one on Laodicea again this evening or tomorrow.” – England