Deep Dive into Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - The Second Coming and Its Consequents

The Second Coming of Christ forms the indispensable foundation of eschatology, serving as the anchor event that marks the beginning of the completion of God’s plan. Scripture outlines that Christ’s return will be personal, bodily, visible, triumphant, and unexpected, though its exact timing remains indefinite, reserved only for the Father. Biblical terms such as parousia, apokalupsis, and epiphaneia are used interchangeably, suggesting the Second Coming is a single, unified event, rather than a two-stage sequence of a secret rapture followed by a public revelation.

This advent triggers the universal Resurrection, which is a comprehensive work of the Triune God encompassing both the righteous and the unrighteous. The nature of the resurrection body is not a mere physical resuscitation, which would be subject to dying again, but a radical bodily transformation—a metamorphosis. The new body is described as an imperishable "spiritual body," fundamentally different from the natural body, as "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." This glorious transformation frees the individual from pain, illness, and death, resembling Christ’s own glorious body.

The Final Judgment follows the Resurrection, as both the raised righteous and unrighteous must be present. The appointed Judge is Jesus Christ, who receives all judgment authority from God the Father. This judgment evaluates all humanity and the evil angels. The basis of the judgment is the individual's earthly life and deeds, which are weighed against the unwavering standard of the revealed will of God, including the Law and the words of Christ. The judgment’s ultimate goal is to publicly manifest the final spiritual status of all subjects, resulting in a permanent and irrevocable separation to eternal life or eternal punishment.

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