"Of That Day And Hour Knoweth No
Man"
Matthew 24:36
In the Old Testament and in the four
Gospels, our God gave "signs of the times" by which he announced the
end of Judaism and the establishment of his kingdom in the world in these last
days. Those signs pointed to things that were fulfilled in the incarnation and
birth of Christ, his sin-atoning death as our Substitute, his exaltation as
King in heaven, and the annihilation of
Think for a minute - If there were any
signs or prophecies yet to be fulfilled before the glorious second advent of
Christ, how could we be urged to expect his imminent return? Yet, from the
first century, God's saints were urged by inspired apostles to live in daily,
constant anticipation of Christ's appearing, upon the very tiptoe of faith
(Tit. 2:11-13; II Pet. 3:11-13). And those who did so were commended for it (I
Thess.
"It is not for you to know the times
or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." It is not
proper for us to know these things. We are not charged to search out the times
of our Master's coming, but to constantly serve him, realizing that he may
appear at any moment (Matt. 24:46).
It would not be profitable for us to know
the future. Such knowledge would distract our attention away from our present
responsibilities. We would probably become indifferent and careless about our
daily responsibilities. Gazers into heaven do not do much good upon the earth.
It is not possible for us to know the
times and the seasons of the future (Matt. 24:36; Mk.
Don Fortner