"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who 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 deeds" (Titus 2:11-14).
From the 1st Century on every born-again Christian, believer in Jesus Christ, has had a "Blessed Hope" of His soon return. This is called His Appearing or the Rapture!
What Is Jesus' Appearing?
There is a time, very soon, I might add, that Jesus is coming back to gather His Church (all believing Christians). The church is referred to as the called-out ones and the body and bride of Christ. This event is called the “Rapture,” which the Bible says can happen at any moment which is called the imminent return of Jesus Christ. This event happens before the 7-year tribulation and the coming of the antichrist who is referred to as the lawless one, son of perdition. Both of these preceded the 1,000-year reign of Jesus on the earth called the Millenium. Kingdom. As you can see, I believe in a literal translation of the Bible!
ARE YOU READY?
Are you ready for the rapture and God’s wrath to be poured out across the earth on all people who have rejected Jesus? Are you ready for the end of the age?
Caught Up with the Lord
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep (dead), so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope (unbelievers). For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For 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. For 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. Then 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 (in heaven). Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
As you can see, verse 4:17 speaks of an event called “the Rapture”, Latin “rapio and rapturo,” Greek “harpazo,” which means “to catch up, to snatch away, or to take out.”
“…we who are still alive and are left will be caught up (snatched away, taken out of the earth) together with them (those who have died) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.”
Therefore, the Rapture is characterized in the New Testament as a “translation coming.” (1 Cor 15:51- 53) This is where the Lord comes for His church, taking her to His Father’s House (John 14:3). Paul states that the concept of the Rapture is meant to encourage believers during these End Times.
“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:51-53).
Jesus Taught About His Appearing at the Last Supper.
The idea that Jesus taught an appearing, or the pre-tribulation Rapture was intriguing to me. I had never heard it taught. The critics and mockers say it is a new doctrine, and the apostles and early church fathers didn’t teach it. But, if it were true, it would be my game-changer, just one more iron-clad reason to believe and be comforted. It has become MY TOP reason to believe in the pre-tribulation Rapture. Why? Because Jesus said He was the truth and the only way to be with Him in Heaven was to believe Him—Truth.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
The Rapture or the "Blessed Hope of His Appearing" is a doctrine started and taught by Jesus, continued and spread by His disciples, and believed and passionately lived out by His Church. Jesus imparted a comforting, hope-filled message of His return for the sole purpose of rescuing His Church before the Great Tribulation. Jesus taught His born-again children of the faith (Christian believers) four foundational truths about the Blessed Hope, Rapture, or snatching away of His True Authentic Church. These truths are that:
only believers will be Raptured at His Appearing
the Rapture will be a source of comfort
the Rapture will be similar to His Ascension
and the Rapture will be an intentional rescue of born-again believers
This truth constitutes the doctrinal basis for all that the Apostles later taught the early church regarding its departure—Rapture during His Appearing.
Jesus Promised He Would Take Believers Home
At the Last Supper Jesus promised the disciples that He was leaving them, would comfort them, prepare a home for them in Heaven, and He would come back to get them. Earlier in the week, Jesus told them the temple would be destroyed, which confused and bewildered them.
"Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down” (Matthew 24:1,2).
They thought He planned to defeat Rome now, and they would rule with Jesus in the temple. They were even more perplexed and mortified when Jesus told them He would leave them—be put to death. Under this duress, extreme anxiety, and sorrow, Jesus offered them a new doctrine, a blessed hope, a fresh promise, and a new revelation. Jesus answered them at the Passover meal in the upper room.
“Do not let your heart be troubled” (John 14: 1a).
Why? Because He has a plan for them better than what they could ever imagine. These words of comfort were meant for all believers who put their trust in Him.
"You believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14: 1b).
He was revealing that God the Father indwelt Him; they are One. He only does what the Father tells Him to do; because of this, He has divine authority. We know that Jesus bore testimony and perfectly fulfilled the Scriptures. Although they didn’t understand at that time, they would later.
“So, when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken” (John 2:22).
Jesus will now give them a brand-new revelation, the doctrine of the Rapture.
“In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you” (John 14:2).
He is not referring to any previous Old Testament teaching. He is giving them a new vision of the End-Times. It replaced nothing but added something unknown to the disciples of Jesus and was not disclosed in the Old Testament Scripture. And He was revealing it by the authority of His Heavenly Father. This truth was to be appropriated as part of the very fabric of the Gospel. This truth unveils the mystery of the church, born-again Christians, the body of Christ, the bride of Christ, and their final home—heaven. He was giving a progressive revelation that the spirit-filled Apostles would fill in. Therefore, the Rapture, in a nutshell, is,
“Because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be” (Jn 14: 2c-3).
Jesus is going back to heaven. God the Father has a house, and Jesus is preparing a room for those who love Him. He is coming again for Christians—His Own. He will take believers to Himself in Heaven, and we will be with Him. I think that it is literal, straightforward, and easy to understand.
The Appearing is Described as Occurring at Any Time Without Warning
Nothing needs to happen for the Rapture to take place, this is called Jesus' immanent return.
Jesus stated about the Appearing in Matthew 24:42,44,
“Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come… So, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Not only do believers in Christ not know when to expect Him, but the Father Himself has sole control over the exact time His Son is to return. As Jesus stated in vs 36,
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
This is what Christians call the "Imminence" of Christ's Return. This means according to the pre-tribulation view, nothing needs to happen or be fulfilled, Jesus can return for His Church at any moment in time (imminence).
"So that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:7)."For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20)."And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come (the tribulation)" (1 Thessalonians 1:10)."That you keep the commandment without fault or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Timothy 6:14).
According to any other Rapture view, there is no imminence. Christ's return would be a predictable moment in time, such as in the middle or end of the tribulation.
The Blessed Hope of His Appearing
Until the Rapture, the Church has had "the blessed hope of His appearing." From the Apostle Paul's teachings in the 1st century to now the message has been the same, Jesus is coming back for all who believe in Him and will be taken into heaven for all eternity. The church has always had a "Blessed Hope. "
"Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus" (Titus 2:13).
The "Blessed Hope" holds the never-failing thrill of the possibility of Christ's immediate return. It is the divine cure for a troubled heart.
"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3).
This "Blessed Hope" is a prescription for permanent joy.
"Therefore, you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you" (John 16:22).
The "Blessed Hope" is the incentive to remember Jesus in the breaking of the bread in communion.
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26).
The "Blessed Hope" inspires all believers to engage in dedicated and patient service for Christ.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
The concept of the "Blessed Hope" instills profound confidence in Christians, affirming their complete transformation into the likeness of Christ in body, soul, and spirit.
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself" (Philippians 3:20-21).
The "Blessed Hope" represents a believer's salvation from the divine wrath that God bestows upon an unbelieving world.
"And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come" (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
It is the Christian's deepest source of comfort.
"For 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. Then 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thess 4:16-18).
Our "Blessed Hope" teaches all believers to live a Christ-honoring life.
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus" (Titus 2:11-13).
This "Blessed Hope" promotes pure holy living.
"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:2-3).
Therefore, we are to keep watch, remain in Christ, look for the blessed hope of His appearing, and comfort one another.
Therefore, Christians are to...
KEEP WATCH
“Therefore, be on the alert (keep watch, stay awake), for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).
REMAIN IN CHRIST
“Now, little children, remain (abide, continue) in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not draw back from Him in shame at His coming” (1 John 2:28),
LOOK for the BLESSED HOPE of HIS APPEARING
“Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13),
COMFORT ONE ANOTHER
“Therefore, comfort (encourage) one another with these words (about the appearing or rapture)” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
Crown of Righteousness for Believers Who Love His Appearing
There is even a crown of righteousness given in Heaven based on looking for the Blessed Hope. This crown is inherited through the righteousness of Christ, which grants us entitlement to it, and without which it remains unattainable. As it is acquired and held in righteousness, rather than by force or deceit like some earthly crowns, it is an eternal crown, assured to all who love the Lord and await His return with eagerness.
"In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8).
Through our enduring discouragements, persecutions, sufferings, or even death, we know assuredly our reward is with Christ in eternity.
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).
This crown is not meant for those who rely on their own sense of righteousness or deeds. Such a stance fosters only arrogance and pride, not a deep yearning or an earnest desire to be with the Lord. This yearning for the return of Jesus is known as the "blessed hope."
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who 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 deeds" (Titus 2: 11-14).
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We All Have the Same Dilemma, We're Dead in Sin
Every human being, ethnic group, race, or gender finds themselves in this same dilemma. Therefore, there are three questions you would be wise to ask yourself and extremely prudent to answer.
One, why do I need to be saved?
Two, what does it mean for me to be saved?
Three, how am I saved?
I believe Only Jesus plus nothing not only saves you but answers these three questions.
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