Author & Study
The Author and the Study
The heart behind this book, the journey of research, and the unshakable foundation of Scripture.
About Hans Malan
A life behind the study
Philippus Johannes (Hans) Malan
Gonubie, East London, South Africa
Philippus Johannes (Hans) Malan was born in 1942. His working life began in the study of law: he completed B.Comm and LL.B degrees at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, now North-West University.
He went on to teach Law — at Fort Hare, at Port Elizabeth and at Vista — before later practising as an attorney. Alongside that professional life ran a long and steady involvement in the Reformed churches and their confessions.
This study guide is the fruit of that quiet labour: an invitation to read the Bible with fresh attentiveness, to consider the wisdom carried in the Church's ancient confessions, and to receive the comfort Scripture gives concerning the return of Christ.
A life across
Law, Church and Scripture
Law
A professional life shaped by careful reading, interpretation and disciplined reasoning.
Church
Long participation in the Reformed church tradition and its confessions.
Scripture
A sustained desire to understand what the Bible teaches concerning Christ's return, resurrection and eternal hope.
The purpose of the study
Why this study was written
The study grew out of questions believers actually ask: what Scripture teaches about Christ's return, what becomes of believers who die before he comes, and how resurrection, judgment and eternal life fit together.
It is offered as an educational, reflective resource — an invitation to search the Scriptures and confess the faith honestly, and to approach the return of Christ with hope, joy, courage and perseverance rather than fear.
The question the study reframes
“Will you be there?”
“Where will you be?”
Rather than asking whether we will be present when Christ returns, the study asks where we will be — inviting believers to consider, calmly and personally, where they stand in the light of his promised return.
How the study works
The study's approach
The study works with Scripture and the Church's historic confessions — the Apostles' Creed, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Belgic Confession.
Scripture first
The word of God is the foundation and final authority.
Confession in service of Scripture
The confessions do not replace Scripture. They help Christians articulate and examine what they believe Scripture teaches.
From the foreword
From the foreword by Dr Leon van Niekerk
“Customarily, when considering Biblical prophecies concerning the end of time, you could expect the question 'Will you be there?' However, the question from which this work proceeds becomes 'Where will you be?'”
“One of the most impressive aspects of Malan's guide is the way it encourages us to delve deeper into the Scriptures. It provides clarity on issues that often lead to confusion and enables readers to build a solid foundation for their faith.”
“In a world often characterised by uncertainty and confusion, this Bible study guide provides a stable rock of confidence in our faith.”
Readership
Who this study is for
The study is offered to Christians of every tradition who long to search the Scriptures and confess the faith honestly.
- Christians seeking greater clarity about Christ's return
- Bible study groups reading together
- Readers working through the Apostles' Creed and the Reformed confessions
- Believers wrestling with questions of resurrection, judgment and eternal life
Soli Deo Gloria
Continue the study
Explore the full table of contents, read the featured chapter, or bring your questions and reflections into the conversation.