In today’s text, Paul describes Christ’s coming as a “blessed hope” for every follower of Jesus Christ. This hope is a direct result of the grace of God in our lives. The glorious appearing is when Christ returns to the earth with His own after the seven years of tribulation. But the blessed hope could take place at any moment! Christ’s return for His own is imminent!

This blessed hope is certain! There have been some who have mocked and ridiculed those who have such hope (2 Pet. 3:3–5), but the Lord Jesus promised, “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:3). He mentions it to the apostle John four times in the book of Revelation (3:11; 22:7, 12, 20). As one who has put faith in His finished work on the cross, you can rest in the blessed hope that Christ is coming back for you personally! Scripture is clear that when He returns for His own, “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout … And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Th. 4:16–17).

We do not know when this blessed event will take place, but we believe with Paul, that “our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11). His coming will take place “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet … and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:52).

Since this blessed hope of Christ’s return is imminent and certain, may we be found redeeming the time until He returns!