Bleed Between The Lines

Months ago I wrote in a blog the words “I hope” and some one commented that hope was the wrong word, but that’s the word the bible uses. I’m going to try my best to explain the blessed hope. In the bible there have been many prophesied “events” The growth of Israel, The coming of a messiah, the resurrection and the next event according to scripture is the coming of Christ in the air to reveal himself as king and bring his followers home. This is Described in a number of places

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

This “hope” is a hope because none of us know when it will happen so we just wait in anticipation as the generations before have. You shouldn’t debate words based on your own understanding of scripture, instead use scripture to make a point. You’ll find you’re far better off when your starting point is God’s word.