The Blessed Hope - What is it?

[Omegaman 3.0]

The Blessed Hope - What is it?

 

First off, it is located in Titus 2:13:

 

  11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and Godly in this present age, 13looking forward to that blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14who gave Himself for us, to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.

 

No real definition is provided in the above passage, and nothing tells us what it is not either. One thing we do know, is that is is something to look forward to.

 

Some people think this is a reference to the rapture, that catching up of believers, referred to by Paul in 1 Thess 4:

 

13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

 

Interesting. Paul here mentions in verse 13, that there are some who have no hope, I never noticed that as a contrast to a blessed hope before - just an observation. Back to my original thought:

 

If this catching up (or rapture as it is sometimes called) is a pre-tribulation event, then it would indeed be a blessed hope (at least for those who will be around near the end), because if would be a meeting with our savior, and an escape from a horrible time that is about to take place.

 

I am wondering though, what in Titus 2, indicates that this is what is being spoken of? Well, to be honest, I am not wondering that exactly, because the answer to my question is "NOTHING". Nothing there indicates that it is a pre-trib rapture. Some take it upon themselves to go beyond the word of God and just define the blessed hope as the pre-trib rapture.

 

I have the hope, one day, that I will meet my savior, face to face, and enter into His rest. I have the hope, that I will be delivered from His wrath He intends to appliy to the ungodly, that I deserve because of my rebellions, my sins. My hope is based upon the promise that rather than endure torment, I will join Him in Heaven, because by His grace alone, I will have been brought there.

 

So anyway, take a look at Titus 2:13 in it's context, and see if you think that the context indicates that the blessed hope is a pre-trib rapture, or is it possible something else?

 

Personally I have a blessed hope, not unlike this idea, in that I am looking forward to the blessed hope of salvation (Titus 2:11) and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, mentioned in Titus 2:13 and described in Matt 24:29 and 30 where we are told that after the tribulation and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds with great glory.

 

So, what are your thoughts. Do you think that Titus 2 tells us that the blessed hope is a pre-trib rapture? Why or why not?

[angels4u]

Hi Mega,

 

This is what I believe the answer for your question..

 

Titus 2:12-13

12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
 

[Omegaman 3.0]

Hi Mega,

 

This is what I believe the answer for your question..

 

Titus 2:12-13

12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

 

 

Maybe angels4u, and thanks for your reply, but I cannot say I understand your answer. Are you saying that verse 12, is our blessed hope?

[George]

Just some passages for the discussion --

 

Tit 3:6  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Tit 3:7  so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

Heb 6:9  Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.
Heb 6:10  For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
Heb 6:11  And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,
Heb 6:12  so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Heb 6:18  so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

 

Col 1:27  To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

[Last Daze]

For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.  1 Corinthians 15:16-19

 

The blessed hope is being raised immortal to spend eternity with Christ.

 

The pre-trib rapture is a wish, not a certainty.  Christ being raised immortal is a certainty.  His promise to raise us immortal is clear.  That is our blessed hope, our blessed assurance, our blessed certainty.

[angels4u]

 

Hi Mega,

 

This is what I believe the answer for your question..

 

Titus 2:12-13

12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

 

 

Maybe angels4u, and thanks for your reply, but I cannot say I understand your answer. Are you saying that verse 12, is our blessed hope?

 

Yes Mega, Jesus Christ and His appearance is our blessed hope..

We set our hope on the second coming of our Lord.

[Ezra]

 

So, what are your thoughts. Do you think that Titus 2 tells us that the blessed hope is a pre-trib rapture? Why or why not?

The "Blessed Hope" is the "glorious appearing" of Christ, and because it is "blessed" and addressed to believers, there is no question that it pertains to the pre-tribulation Rapture, when the saints will not only be resurrected but perfected. Since it is "to purify unto Himself" it must be connected with 1 Jn 3:1-3, which refers to the same event.

 

Hoever, at the Second Coming of Christ with His saints and angels -- also termed "appearing" in some passages -- there is UNIVERSAL MOURNING.  That is certainly not a Blessed Hope since Christ comes to judge the world.

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Rev 1:7)

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 14,15)

 

 

[missmuffet]

It is the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior,Jesus Christ.Jesus said He would return John 14:3 and He always keeps His promises.Jesus could come back at any time for His church.This is called the rapture.

[Joshua-777]

 

The Blessed Hope - What is it?

 

First off, it is located in Titus 2:13:

 

  11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and Godly in this present age, 13looking forward to that blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14who gave Himself for us, to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.

 

No real definition is provided in the above passage, and nothing tells us what it is not either. One thing we do know, is that is is something to look forward to.

 

Some people think this is a reference to the rapture, that catching up of believers, referred to by Paul in 1 Thess 4:

 

13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

 

Interesting. Paul here mentions in verse 13, that there are some who have no hope, I never noticed that as a contrast to a blessed hope before - just an observation. Back to my original thought:

 

If this catching up (or rapture as it is sometimes called) is a pre-tribulation event, then it would indeed be a blessed hope (at least for those who will be around near the end), because if would be a meeting with our savior, and an escape from a horrible time that is about to take place.

 

I am wondering though, what in Titus 2, indicates that this is what is being spoken of? Well, to be honest, I am not wondering that exactly, because the answer to my question is "NOTHING". Nothing there indicates that it is a pre-trib rapture. Some take it upon themselves to go beyond the word of God and just define the blessed hope as the pre-trib rapture.

 

I have the hope, one day, that I will meet my savior, face to face, and enter into His rest. I have the hope, that I will be delivered from His wrath He intends to appliy to the ungodly, that I deserve because of my rebellions, my sins. My hope is based upon the promise that rather than endure torment, I will join Him in Heaven, because by His grace alone, I will have been brought there.

 

So anyway, take a look at Titus 2:13 in it's context, and see if you think that the context indicates that the blessed hope is a pre-trib rapture, or is it possible something else?

 

Personally I have a blessed hope, not unlike this idea, in that I am looking forward to the blessed hope of salvation (Titus 2:11) and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, mentioned in Titus 2:13 and described in Matt 24:29 and 30 where we are told that after the tribulation and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds with great glory.

 

So, what are your thoughts. Do you think that Titus 2 tells us that the blessed hope is a pre-trib rapture? Why or why not?

 

I believe it has to do with the revealing of the sons of God. When He appears to the world, we will appear with Him in glory.

1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

1 John 3:3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God![ Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

 

[Last Daze]

The "Blessed Hope" is the "glorious appearing" of Christ, and because it is "blessed" and addressed to believers, there is no question that it pertains to the pre-tribulation Rapture, when the saints will not only be resurrected but perfected. Since it is "to purify unto Himself" it must be connected with 1 Jn 3:1-3, which refers to the same event.

 

Hoever, at the Second Coming of Christ with His saints and angels -- also termed "appearing" in some passages -- there is UNIVERSAL MOURNING.  That is certainly not a Blessed Hope since Christ comes to judge the world.

 

 

The "Blessed Hope" is the "glorious appearing" of Christ, and because it is "blessed" and addressed to believers, there is no question that it pertains to the pre-tribulation Rapture,

 

 

What a leap of logic there.  Fixed it for ya.  Actually, the "blessed hope" pertains more directly to being raised from the dead immortal.  The rapture happens subsequently because there are believers still alive at that time.  It doesn't address the question of when. 

 

 

Hoever, at the Second Coming of Christ with His saints and angels -- also termed "appearing" in some passages -- there is UNIVERSAL MOURNING.  That is certainly not a Blessed Hope since Christ comes to judge the world.

 

 

True.  The blessed hope happened earlier that day.