The Blessed Hope – Part Ii Series

THE BLESSED HOPE – PART II

Let’s stand together and open our Bibles to Titus 2 as we continue with our series “God’s Watchman,” with today’s message, “The Blessed Hope Part II.”

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…

THAT WHICH IS TO COME

Last week I described how in the near future, the world would experience one of the most dramatic life changing events in history. It will be a moment of such magnitude the world would never again be same. It will divide every person on earth between those who believe in Jesus Christ, and those who reject Jesus Christ.

Those who believe in Christ will instantly be caught up, faster than the speed of light, into the glorious presence of Jesus Christ, our eternal Savior and King.

But those who reject Christ, will be left behind to face a world that will be far different than anything they have ever imagined. They will face a world overrun with lawlessness and evil that will reap the wrath of God’s divine judgments.

The world mocks, and ridicules the idea of a heavenly rapture, but I assure you the rapture is very real and that it is the next world-shaking event on God’s prophetic calendar. This event is so significant that Jesus said…

Mark 13:33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—36 lest, coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” NKJV

You can hear the urgency in Jesus words as He commands every believer to constantly be alert and watching. This is exactly why I am preaching this series. As your pastor and God’s watchman, it is my duty to alert you and warn you so that you will not be caught unaware.

WHAT IS THE TIMING OF THE RAPTURE?

Without any doubt the rapture is a real event, but the big question is; when will the rapture happen? Jesus gives us a very clear answer in Mark 13:32 when He said…

Mark 13:32 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. NKJV

Jesus clearly says NO ONE knows the day or the hour of His return for the church, except God the Father, which is why it is so discouraging when people say that Jesus will return on such and such day, and then when it doesn’t happen, it looks bad on the body of Christ.

Although we do not know the day or the hour of His return, we do know from scripture that first, we must always be watching for that moment, and second, Bible prophecy shows we are rapidly moving closer and closer to that day. Everywhere we look, there is a growing storm of prophetic signs happening all over the world. These prophetic signs are escalating in their strength and intensity like a fast-moving hurricane, and they tell us that the final days are upon us and that His coming is drawing closer every day.

THE DAY AND THE HOUR

I want to make a point here that I believe is vitally important. When Jesus said that only the Father knows the day and the hour, it is important to understand that God has set a specific day and a specific hour when the rapture will happen. It will not happen by accident. It will happen exactly at the precise moment that God has already set in place. For example;

Revelation 9:13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. NKJV

My point is, that just as God has set these angels for a specific moment in time, even so, God has set a specific day and hour for the rapture, and it will happen at the exact moment that God has appointed for it. We don’t that moment, but God does. And… when it does happen, it will happen unexpectedly, like a thief in the night when the world least expects it. That’s why Jesus commands us to be ready and watching at all times.