TOPIC:“When the Morning Dawn Finally Breaks”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:Titus 2:11-15
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13)
In this message today I want to begin with this statement: The New Testament is the most hopeful book that has ever been written. And the three leading prophetic voices of this hope were Paul, Peter and John. Let's listen to what each of them had to say about this hope. To the Romans Paul declared: “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). To the Galatians Paul wrote: “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith” (Galatians 5:5). To the Colossians Paul states: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). To young Timothy Paul proclaimed: “Our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope” (I Timothy 1:1). According to Paul, the hope of the Christian is in the coming of Jesus Christ for His church. We call it the Rapture as we are caught up to meet our blessed Lord in the air.
The Apostle Peter stated: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again unto a living hope” (I Peter 1:3). The Apostle John declared: “We shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that has this hope in Him, purifies himself” (I John 3: 2, 3). This “blessed hope” that Paul mentions here in our text, and other passages scattered throughout the New Testament, is a singing thing. It is a melody in the heart that causes us to rejoice in fervent expectation of the return of Jesus Christ in power and great glory. Let us now consider how Paul views this hope and how we can be prepared for the breaking of that final dawn.
I.
Think, to begin with, of the MANIFESTATION of the appearing of Christ in glory that we find here in Paul's words. Listen to his glowing words in verses 11 and 13: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men...Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
As one studies the whole panorama of the Second Coming of Christ, he must carefully distinguish between the Rapture and the Revelation, each separated by a seven year period, and each for a different people and with a different purpose in view. At the Rapture Christ comes IN the air FOR His church, while at the Revelation Christ comes TO the earth WITH His church. The Rapture is IMMINENT and involves the church, while the Revelation is IMPENDING (preceded by signs) and involves Israel.
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