What exactly is the “Blessed Hope?”
Hope is a word that causes emotional optimism. We all thrive on Hope! So what about a “Blessed” Hope? The word blessed can mean “happy” or “beneficial”; for our hope is “blessed” in that Jesus’ return will, for us, be an amazing, joyful experience for the believer in Christ.
The idea of a “Blessed Hope” as used in the Bible has a significant special inference for Christians that are alive and remaining in the climactic “Last Days.”
Titus 2:11-13 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
This passage unmistakably identifies the “blessed hope” as the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior. The word hope does not communicate uncertainty, as in “I hope that something might occur”; rather, it is the “glad assurance” that something will absolutely take place.
The “blessed hope,” then, is the joyful assurance that God will extend His benefits to the generation alive and remaining in the day that Jesus Christ will return.
We are waiting for this event now. Jesus said He would return (John 14:3), the angels said He would return (Acts 1:11), and the epistles say He will return. Jesus could come back at any time for His church, This event is called the rapture.
Should this blessed hope of Christ’s any-time return have an effect on the believer in Jesus Christ? John wrote, “All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as [Jesus] is pure” (1 John 3:3).
The believers of the Last Days that are anticipating Christ’s blessed return; will seek to live in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, a life of purity; and earnest expectations of his imminent appearance!
Jesus’ imminent return should motivate the believer to live godly in an ungodly world. The word looking in Titus 2:13 is the key for that to happen. To be “looking” means that we live each day in continual anticipation and expectancy, with the conviction that Jesus could come at any time. The blessed hope brings us joy and cheers us through the trials of this world; but especially so as we see the "Day of the Lord" approaching!
The idea of the commencement of "Day of the Lord" which time wise is synonymous with the onset of the "Great Tribulation" can cause fear and anxiety for many people. The idea of the "Blessed Hope" and its relationship to the Rapture are intended to encourage every Christian in the Last Days!
2 Peter 3:10-12 But the "day of the Lord" will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
The word "Hasting" in verse 12 of II Peter chapter 3 comes from the Greek word "Speudonatas," which infers that Last Days Christians who are alive at the time of the climax of the signs of the times, should take courage at those things coming to pass in the world; since in essence, it literally highlights the nearness of our Lord's Coming, and our Gathering unto him, Forever!
by: Darrell G. Young
Focus on the Bible
