I am sending forth a new and enlarged edition of this volume, I have nothing to add or withdraw. I see nothing in the state of the Church or the world to make me alter the opinions on prophecy which I expressed tweleve years ago. I can only say, I am more and more convinced, as I grow older, that to keep our eyes steadily fixed on the second coming of Christ is one great secret of Christian Peace. If this volume helps any one reader to cultivate the habit of looking at Christ's coming again, as well as Christ crucified, and Christ interceding, I shall be satisfied -J.C Ryle

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:1-13) We live in troubled and dangerous times. It has been a long time since there have been as many ideas and events in our world causing fear and anxiety as there are today. But one thing, in any event, is clear, and that is the duty of Christians to search more diligently than ever the prophetic Scriptures. Do not be like the Jews at the first advent who were blind to the hand of God and the fulfillment of His purposes in all that was going on in the world. Let us instead remember that the word of prophecy is given to be a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise (2 Peter 1:19). Let us walk in that light. Let us search what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them [the prophets] did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow (1 Peter 1:11). Let us compare prophecies fulfilled with prophecies unfulfilled and attempt to make the one illustrate the other. Let us strive, above all, to obtain clear views of the things we should be expecting, both in the church and the world, before the end comes and time will be no more.