Titus 2:13
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
(KJV)

This verse is so simple, yet so profound. It has strong implications regarding the timing of the rapture. In the KJV, it seems to imply that the "blessed hope" and the "glorious appearing" might be separate events. But, in the Greek text, it is quite clear that this is not the case. The "glorious appearing" is what we as Christians are awaiting. The KJV is technically correct here, by translating the word "and" [Greek - kai]. But, it does not account for the "Granville Sharp rule," which applies to this verse.

Those who read the previous article will already be familiar with the Granville Sharp rule. The Greek word kai (kai) is equivalent to our English word "and" or "also." It is often used to connect two nouns in some way. It sometimes means the second noun is in addition to the first noun, distinguishing the two nouns. That is, two unrelated things are mentioned together. Example, "heaven and earth." But, under certain circumstances, "kai" is used to restate, or connect two nouns together, as referring to the same person or thing, or two things being joined together as a unit. (Example, "the God and Father.") That is, the second noun is a further description of the first noun. Both nouns refer to the same thing or person. Or, in the case of impersonal nouns, indicating that one noun is a subset of the other.

The basic Granville-Sharp rule is as follows;

"If two nouns of the same case are connected by a "kai" [and] and the article is used with both nouns, they refer to different persons or things. [Sharp's rule VI] If only the first noun has the article, the second noun refers to the same person or thing referred to in the first."¹

The key to understanding this rule is the use of the definite article (the). When we have two nouns connected by "kai" (and), we must look to see if the definite article (the) is used before BOTH nouns, or just the first noun. If it is used before BOTH nouns, Sharp's rule VI applies, and the two nouns are referring to separate things or persons being distinguished or contrasted. But, if only the first noun has the definite article, Sharp's rule I applies. Both nouns refer to the same person (in the case of personal nouns) or two things are joined in some kind of unit (with impersonal nouns).² Now, let's apply this rule to Titus 2:13. Here is the Greek text followed by a word for word translation.
 

prosdecomenoi

thn

makarian

elpida

kai

epifaneian

thV

doxhV

tou

megalou

Qeou

kai

swthroV

hmwn

Cristou

Ihsou

Looking for

the

blessed

hope

and

appearing

the

glory

the

great

God

and

Savior

of us

Christ

Jesus

Granville Sharp's rule I actually applies twice in this verse. It applies to the words "the great God and Savior." Both "great God" and "Savior" are nouns of the same case. The first noun "great God" has the definite article "the" and the second noun does not. This means that the Greek word "kai" [and] is being used to restate, and the second noun is referring to the same person as the first noun. So, in effect, "savior" (who is Jesus Christ) IS "the great God." This is a definitive statement on the deity of Christ which is lost if Granville Sharp is not applied.

The same rule applies to the first sentence, although in this case the nouns are impersonal things. Both "blessed hope" and "appearing" are nouns of the same case. And, the first noun (blessed hope) has the definite article, while the second noun (appearing) does not. With impersonal nouns, this indicates the "appearing" and "blessed hope" are being referred to as a unit. In an impersonal Sharp rule I construction, the relationship between the two nouns is either, a. distinct things being joined together as a unit, b. the first noun is a subset of the second, c. the second noun is a subset of the first, e. the two nouns are identical. In any case, with this construction, some kind of unity is being stressed between the two nouns.³ The NIV captures the meaning best in this verse. "while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." So, in essence, this verse says that the "blessed hope" for which we are looking is (or at least included within) the "glorious appearing" of Christ. This begs the question, what is the "glorious appearing?"

Matt 16:27
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
(KJV)

Matt 24:29-31
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(KJV)

Mark 8:38
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
(KJV)

The "glorious appearing" is when Christ comes in all His power and glory, being manifest to all the world. So, in effect, Titus 2:13 tells us that our we are watching for Christ's coming in power and glory, which is after the tribulation. This strongly implies that the rapture is after the tribulation.

Go to: "The Rapture in Revelation"

[1] Vaughn and Gideon, A Greek Grammar of the New Testament, (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1979), p. 83.

[2] The Granville Sharp rule indicates that the two nouns are referring to the same person when personal singular nouns are found in the TSKS (Sharp) construction. When impersonal nouns are used, it implies one of the following:
a) the two nouns are being viewed together as a unit.
b) the two nouns are overlapping entities
c) the first noun is a subset of the second
d) the second noun is a subset of the first
e) the nouns are identical (synonomous)
Wallace, Greek Grammar, Beyond the Basics, pp. 286-288
In any case, the TSKS construction always implies unity, while the TSKTS construction always implies distinction or separation. For more on Sharp's Rule, click here.