J.D. Farag: While We Wait for the Rapture, Titus 2:11-15

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In this teaching from Titus 2:11–15, Pastor J.D. Farag shares how believers are called to live with purpose and hope as we eagerly await the rapture of the church. Learn what it means to “occupy until He comes,” walking in grace, godliness, and readiness for the blessed hope of Christ’s return.

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While We Wait for the Rapture, Titus 2:11-15

Good morning, and welcome to our second service. On Sunday mornings we have two services: the first is our Bible Prophecy Update, and the second is our verse-by-verse study through the Word of God. We are currently in the book of Titus, chapter 2—a passage I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time, because it deals with our blessed hope. I can’t wait for what the Lord has for us today.

Please stand if you’re able and follow along as I read. If not, where you’re seated is fine.

The apostle Paul writes to Titus, beginning in verse 11:

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
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 appearing of the glory 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.
These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.” (Titus 2:11–15)

Let’s pray. Lord, thank You so much—not just for our blessed hope, but truly our only hope. Jesus, You are our only hope in this world, in this present age. We have before us a passage that is both encouraging and instructive. As only You can, by the Holy Spirit, get our attention—and once You have it, hold it—so our minds don’t wander. None of us wants to miss anything You have for us today. Speak into our lives through Your Word, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. You may be seated.

We get to talk about my favorite topic: the rapture. Not just the rapture itself, but specifically what we’re to do—and how we’re to do it—as we occupy and wait for the return of Jesus Christ in the rapture of the church.

In our text today, Paul—by the Holy Spirit—writes to Titus and, doubtless, encourages him. He also provides what I see as a kind of “to-do list” for us until He comes. If you’re anything like me, you hate to wait. (Can I get a witness?) So I found three items here—you may find more—but three clear directives. And, thankfully, we’re told not only what to do, but how to do it as we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of Jesus Christ.

1) Deny ungodly worldliness (vv. 11–12).
This is easy to miss at first read. Paul says it’s actually grace that teaches us. Grace is our teacher—teaching us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. That’s what we’re to do. The how is this: under grace’s instruction, by the Holy Spirit, we stay busy in the Spirit with the things of God as we occupy until He comes.

We’re told that if we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. What does that look like? If I’m walking in the Spirit, living by the Holy Spirit, I won’t have time or appetite for the flesh or the world—because I’m too full of the things of God. When you’re full, you’re not hungry. (Yes, another food illustration!) When you’re filled with the Holy Spirit, there’s no room left for the cravings of the flesh. That’s how you say “no.”

Jesus said, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13 KJV). Be busy about the things of God until He returns. When you’re watching the clock, time drags. When you’re occupied, time evaporates. So stay spiritually occupied. “I’m unavailable—presently occupied—until He comes.”

2) Be eager to do what is good (vv. 13–14).
We all love verse 13 about “waiting for our blessed hope,” but don’t miss verse 14: Jesus “gave himself for us to redeem us and purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” While we wait, we do good. And here’s the how again: those who eagerly await the Lord’s return are the ones eager to do good.

Some say, “You can be so heavenly-minded you’re of no earthly good.” I disagree. The more heavenly-minded you are, the more earthly good you will do. Isaiah tells us God keeps in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed on Him. When your hope is in Christ’s return—not in this world—you live differently. There’s an eagerness, an urgency to serve, to share the gospel, to bless others.

Jesus’ parable in Matthew 24:45–51 contrasts two servants. The faithful servant is found doing what his master assigned because he expects his master at any time. The wicked servant says, “My master is staying away a long time,” and lives carelessly. Expectancy affects conduct.

Peter writes that the Lord isn’t slow in keeping His promise but is patient, “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3). He even hints we “speed” His coming—through sharing the gospel and prayer. When the last soul believes, we’re out of here. So share the good news, and pray, “Your kingdom come.” “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

3) Teach, encourage, and—if needed—rebuke (v. 15).
Paul tells Titus to teach these things, encourage, and rebuke with all authority—and not let anyone despise him. This has profound application for us, especially “in this present age.”

Let me address two “camps.” Many older believers say, “The rapture can’t come soon enough.” Some younger believers feel, “That’s not encouraging—I want to marry, have children, start a career.” I get it. We want those things for our kids too. But we must teach the truth about the rapture and encourage them to put their hope in Christ’s return. Perhaps we adults have sometimes modeled an unhealthy attachment to this world. If so, we need to repent—and lovingly rebuke worldly thinking where necessary.

No one in heaven after the rapture will say, “I wish the Lord had waited so I could pay more bills and fight termites and cockroaches.” In eternity, no one regrets Jesus coming “too soon.”

Now let’s read 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18:

“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.
Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

“Caught up” is harpazo in Greek (Latin: rapturo), where we get “rapture.” This is God’s promise—His Word. He cannot fail or break His Word. Our loved ones who died in Christ will rise first (their bodily resurrection). To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord; their spirits are with Him now. Then, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:51–52), we who are alive will be transformed—putting off the corruptible and putting on the incorruptible—and meet them in the air. That’s the rapture.

Therefore, encourage one another with these words. And if needed, rebuke one another with these words. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Prov. 27:6). We rebuke because we love. A doctor who withholds a hard diagnosis isn’t loving. In the same way, if someone is clinging too tightly to this world, we may need to speak truth in love—risking the friendship to save the friend.

Jesus is our blessed hope—truly, our only hope. Encourage one another. If necessary, lovingly rebuke one another. He’s coming soon.

Let’s pray. Father in heaven, thank You. For those discouraged or hanging on by a thread, remind them of our blessed hope and how close the rapture truly is. For those not looking or longing for Your appearing, reach them by Your Spirit—and, if needed, bring that loving, needed rebuke. In Jesus’ name, Amen.