"LOOKING FOR THE BLESSED HOPE"
Background:
In Titus 2:11-15 Paul digresses from his instructions to Titus regarding how the church should mature in sound doctrine and explains how the grace of God now has appeared to bring salvation to all (v. 11). In verse 12 the apostle shows the power of instruction, how it is to create life changes within the believer.
The apostle Paul then gives a powerful anthem to the tremendous truth of the "blessed hope" (v. 13). He not only says "we" are looking (including himself) for His appearance but he says the One we are waiting for is our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus!
Below are the proofs that this is a rapture passage.
Free Greek Translation:
[We are] excitedly expecting, continually, the joyous prospect, even the glorious appearance of our great God, even [our] Savior, Christ Jesus!
EXCITEDLY EXPECTING. This is a compound verb from pros/before and dexomai/take, receive. The New Testament usage is "take up, receive, welcome, wait for, expect." (Arndt & Gingrich) Liddell & Scott adds, "receive favorable, to admit to, receive hospitably, expecting, to wait for." Vincent comments: "Primarily, to receive to one's self, admit, accept." This "looking" then is "an ongoing process of greatly anticipating and welcoming to one's self the appearing of Christ for the church believers at that very time Paul is writing." This makes this a rapture passage. Paul was anticipating and longing for the coming of Christ right at that time!
This "looking" is a Present Active Participle. With the Present tense Alford, an amillennialist (who saw the truth), rightly notes: "This expectation being an abiding state and posture." In other words, we should all be continually anticipating that He could come even today! Nicoll adds: "As already stated, describes the glad expectancy which is the ruling and prevailing thought in the lives of men looking for their Lord's return."
THE BLESSED HOPE. (makaria elpis) Or better, "the JOYOUS anticipation." Paul wanted Christ to come at that time. This is a happy thought for all church believers. Of course, he did not know God's timetable, nor do we today. The rapture of the church is imminent and possible at any time!
The Granville Sharp rule is at work here. The passage better reads: "the joyous anticipation, that is, the glorious appearance." Vincent agrees and writes: "The kai (and) is explanatory, introducing the definition of the character of the thing hope for. Looking for the object of hope, even the appearing, etc." D. Edmond Hiebert adds: "The Greek connects 'the blessed hope and glorious appearing' under one article, suggesting that the reference is to one even viewed from two aspects." A. T. Robertson agrees.
OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR, CHRIST JESUS. The Granville Sharp rule is in place here also. It should read: "the great God even Savior, Christ Jesus."
Conclusion: In the Popular Bible Prophecy Commentary (Harvest House) I wrote:
Since the church is told to look in such anticipation, we can conclude that the rapture is in view here because it could happen at any time for those who were then alive. This expectation is not for the second coming, when Christ will arrive to reign on earth as the son of David over His kingdom.
The Greek text has only one article and the full sentence should read "the blessed hope, the joyous anticipation, that is, the glorious appearing!" This implies that the reference is to "one event" viewed from two aspects. The One appearing is "our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus" (verse 13). God here does not refer to the heavenly Father, for He is Spirit and no one has seen Him. It is about the second person in the Trinity, the Son of God! The article "the" is before "great God," but the article is omitted before "Savior." Thus, the Great God, even the Savior, Christ Jesus!
