ce when the Lord is enthroned as King of kings
and Lord of lords. The Spirit of God has shown through the prophets
what the appearing, the visible manifestation of the Lord will mean,
for the people Israel, for the nations and for groaning creation. But
nowhere do we find "that blessed hope" made known by the prophets. The
Jewish Saints knew nothing of it as it is revealed to the church of
God. True they had now and then a glimpse of the future. One of the
greatest sufferers was Job. His darkest night was illuminated by the
assurance of hope when he uttered his great testimony: "I know that my
Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand in the latter day upon the
earth. And if after my skin this body shall be destroyed, yet in my
flesh shall I see God. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes
shall behold, and not another" (Job xix:25-27). But this is not "that
blessed hope" the Lord has given to us His people.

Old Testament Saints knew of the resurrection of the dead. They knew
nothing of a resurrection from among the dead. Yet Enoch and Elijah
were taken to glory without dying. No prophet knew the typical meaning
of their experience as we know it through "that blessed hope."

For the First Time

"That blessed hope" is for the first time mentioned by our Lord. But
where in His earthly life did He give it to His disciples? It is not
found in the records of the three first Gospels, generally called the
synoptics. In these records He spoke often of His Return. He promised
a Second Coming of Himself in the clouds of heaven with power and great
glory. He revealed what should take place before His return. In His
prophetic Olivet discourse (Matt. xxiv-xxv) He gave the signs of His
Coming, the preceding great tribulation, the physical signs
accompanying His visible manifestation, the regathering of His elect
people Israel by the angels. He revealed how some would then be taken
in judgment and others left on the earth to enter the Kingdom (Matt.
xxiv:40-41). He also spoke in parables of how the conditions in
Christendom would be dealt with by Him. And finally He gave a prophecy
concerning the judgment of the living nations in the day of His
appearing. But nowhere in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke did He
speak of "that blessed hope."

It was in the upper room discourse that He spoke of it the first time.
His eleven disciples were gathered about Him. Judas had gone out into
the night to betray