Knowing the Day and Hour
Matt. 24:35,36 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Mark 13:32 includes, "neither the Son")
The most widely held interpretation of Matt. 24:35,36 is simply that "no one can know the day and hour of Christ's return." This is broadly understood to mean not only His physical return but all events surrounding end time prophecies. Often those who act as "watchmen" are vilified with charges of false teaching and worse. This is understandable, but none-the-less sad, in the climate orchestrated by the "enemy man."
Most every one understands context to be one of the most important factors in Biblical interpretation. The context of Matthew 24 is the coming of Jesus Christ and the end of the age. That is why so many believe verse 36 speaks of not knowing the day and hour of Jesus' return.
Matt. 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)?
Could there, however, be another context ruling verse 36? And why did Jesus tell us that "no one could know the day and hour" if it did not relate to His coming?
Verse 36 begins with a conjunction, that is, "an uninflected word used to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences...." (Webster)
The following verses use the same Greek word translated "but", as is used in verse 36 of Matt. 24. Notice the first phrase or phrases can stand alone but the conjunction "but" ties in the actual purpose of each verse.
Matt. 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Matt. 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet
In like manner the phrase, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away" can stand by itself. However, Jesus tied in the next phrase, "but of that day and hour knoweth no man, not the angels in heaven but My Father only" for a specific purpose. Jesus wants us to understand that the day that "heaven and earth shall pass away", sometime after the Millennium, is a day known only by the Father. In contrast, the time of His coming and the end of the age can and will be known by those who are watching and who are not asleep.
Some say "heaven and earth" passing away does in fact come during the last days at the end of this age. Can that be? To what would Jesus then return? There is but one passing away of "heaven and earth" and that is following the Millennium. (Rev. 21:1)
The New International Version went further than any other translation to obscure and misrepresent the meaning of Matt. 24:35,36.
Matt. 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The day and Hour Unknown (Informational division between verses 35 and 36)
:36 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son*, but only the Father.
* Some manuscripts do not have "nor the Son."
Not only did they omit the connecting word "but", they actually inserted the editorial, "The day and Hour Unknown" between the two verses. Is there any mystery how Satan is able to confuse and divide the Church?
Just a few confirmations that we are to watch and know when the Lord is to return.
Matt. 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
1Ths. 5:1-6 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Rev. 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
To sum up. Jesus never did say that we could not know the day and hour of His return. In fact He emphasized the importance of "watching" in order that we would know and subsequently prepare for His coming.
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