Yes — the blessed hope is the soon appearing of Jesus Christ, when dead believers are raised and living believers are changed.
Les Feldick defines the blessed hope as Christ's appearing, not merely going to heaven at death. Scripture connects this hope to the resurrection and transformation of believers at the last trump.
Titus 2:13 — This verse contains the exact phrase 'blessed hope' and directly ties it to the appearing of Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — This passage describes the event Paul connects to the hope, when the Lord descends and believers are caught up.
Scripture speaks of the 'blessed hope' in Titus 2:13: 'Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;' The same hope is described in 1 Thessalonians 4, where Paul urges believers not to sorrow for those who sleep: 'For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.' (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Paul goes on to describe the event: 'For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.' (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). In 1 Corinthians 15:52-53, he adds that at the last trump 'the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed' as 'this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.'
Les Feldick points to Titus 2:13 as the definition of the blessed hope: 'the soon appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.' He specifically corrects the idea that the blessed hope is simply going to heaven when a believer dies — that is 'a glorious hope,' but the blessed hope is Christ's appearing. He ties this hope to the resurrection and transformation described in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4: dead believers will be raised incorruptible, living believers will be changed in a moment, and together they will be caught up to meet the Lord. Les stresses that this hope is only for those who have believed the Gospel — that Jesus died and rose again — and that believers should not sorrow as those who have no hope.
In Clip 1, Les says the blessed hope is not the hope of dying and going to heaven, but the soon appearing of Jesus Christ. Because He arose from the dead, believers have this living expectation. In Clip 2, he says believers don't live and die like a dog; the best is yet to come.
At the last trump, the dead in Christ are raised incorruptible and living believers are changed in a moment, then caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. Les emphasizes this has nothing to do with the trumpets of Revelation; God uses this trumpet for the Church. This resurrection is for church-age believers in the body of Christ.
Only those who have believed the Gospel — that Jesus died and rose again — are in this number. God will bring the departed souls and spirits of believers from heaven to the atmosphere. Old Testament saints wait until the kingdom is set up and are not part of this church-age catching up.
Paul says do not sorrow as others who have no hope. Believers are not to fall apart and weep endlessly because they know they will see believing loved ones again. The qualification for this comfort is simply believing the Gospel.
Resurrection and Transformation at the Trump
Les explains that at the last trump the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible and living believers will be changed in a moment — the key action of the blessed hope.
Definition: The Soon Appearing of Christ
Les directly answers that the blessed hope is the soon appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, not simply going to heaven after death.
A Hope Beyond Death
Les says believers have the prospect that the best is yet to come, showing why the resurrection hope changes how believers face death.
The Church-Age Catching Up
Les describes the change of living believers and the raising of the dead in Christ at the last trump, and notes this applies to church-age saints, not Old Testament saints.
Believers Brought From Heaven
Les connects 1 Thessalonians 4 with 1 Corinthians 15, explaining that God will bring the souls and spirits of departed believers down to the atmosphere when the living believers are changed.
Do Not Sorrow as Those Without Hope
Les emphasizes that sorrowing over believers who die is unnecessary, and the only qualification for this hope is believing the Gospel that Jesus died and rose again.
Hope of Seeing Loved Ones Again
Les explains why believers do not mourn as those who have no hope — they expect to see believing loved ones again at the resurrection.
The New Resurrected Body
Les shows that redemption is not complete until believers receive a new resurrected body, and that departed saints' bodies will be reunited with their soul and spirit.
Titus 2:13: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
This is the exact verse where the term 'blessed hope' is used in Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 4:13: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Paul instructs believers not to grieve without hope for those who have died.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
This verse connects belief in Christ's resurrection to the hope that God will bring departed believers with Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
These verses describe the event of the blessed hope — the resurrection of the dead and the catching up of living believers.
1 Corinthians 15:52-53: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Paul explains the instantaneous change that takes place at the resurrection of believers.
The blessed hope is the soon appearing of Jesus Christ, when dead believers will be raised and living believers will be changed and caught up to meet Him. Les Feldick calls this the believer's expectation, not just the hope of dying and going to heaven.
Les Feldick teaches that the blessed hope in this context is for church-age believers. Old Testament saints wait until the kingdom is set up and are not part of the catching up that Paul describes for the body of Christ.
Les Feldick says the last trump at this event is not a trumpet from Revelation; it is God's trumpet for the Church. It sounds and the dead are raised incorruptible and living believers are changed instantly.
Les points to belief in the Gospel — that Jesus died and rose again. Those who have believed are the ones who will be raised or changed at the blessed hope.
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