No Man Knows The Day
"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:36-37).
Note that in Matthew 24:36-44 Jesus is referring to the same "coming of the Son of man" as when he says "immediately after the tribulation of those days... they shall see the Son of man coming" (Matthew 24:29-30). Jesus isn't teaching a 3rd coming. Note that he is speaking to the same believers, the same "ye," in Matthew 24:15 that he is speaking to in Matthew 24:42.
Note that Jesus didn't say "no one will know the day" (future tense) of the 2nd coming but "no one knows the day" (present tense in translation, perfect tense in Greek).
Note the exact correlation of the phrase and tense of "knoweth no man" in Matthew 24:36 and 1 Corinthians 2:11-12: "Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God." See also: "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth... and he will shew you things to come" (John 16:13).
Jesus said his coming would be "as the days of Noah were" (Matthew 24:36-37). God told Noah when the flood would come before it came: "For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights" (Genesis 7:4). He told him because: "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).
Note that Jesus comes on people at an hour they will not know only "if" they aren't watching: "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" (Revelation 3:3). Paul said that if we watch for the 2nd coming it will not overtake us as a thief: "Yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night... But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief... let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch" (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4, 6). Note that between the 6th and 7th vials, at the very end of the tribulation, Jesus is still exhorting us to keep watching for his coming: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth" (Revelation 16:15).
Before the 2nd coming, at the abomination of desolation, I believe those of us alive and still watching will know that we'll have to wait 1,335 days until Jesus comes: "From the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days" (Daniel 12:11-12).
*******
Imminence
Note that the Bible nowhere says that Jesus can come to gather us together at any time, but says the opposite (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, compare Matthew 24:29-31).
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Paul says that the apostasy and abomination of desolation must occur before the day Jesus comes to gather us together (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4), and that Jesus' coming (parousia) to gather us together must destroy the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:8). We Christians will go through the reign of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:7-10, 14:12-13).
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, and 1 Corinthians 15:52, Paul is referring to the same "coming" of Jesus and the same "gathering together" of the saints and the same "trumpet" and the same "clouds" as Matthew 24:29-31, which says all these will occur "after the tribulation." The scriptures don't teach a 3rd coming or a 2nd rapture of the church.
The apostles knew from the beginning that the rapture could not be imminent because Jesus told Peter that he would grow old and be killed (John 21:18-19), and Jesus told the apostles that they would first have to have the Holy Spirit come upon them, after which they themselves would be witnesses for Jesus "in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Also, Jesus told Paul that he must bear witness of him at Rome (Acts 23:11). The doctrine of imminence would make Jesus' statements in John 21:18-19, Acts 1:8, and Acts 23:11 into lies.
Some believe the Bible teaches an "imminent" rapture and will list many verses. But note that none of the verses listed require imminence. Those who believe the rapture is after the tribulation can keep all of them.
Each verse describing Christ's future "coming" will be fulfilled at the 2nd coming. None require imminence. Those who believe the rapture is after the tribulation at the 2nd coming (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8) look forward to that coming.
Note that even if Paul at one time expected the rapture in his lifetime (contrast 2 Timothy 4:6), he still nowhere taught the rapture could happen at any time, but expressly taught the opposite (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).
*******
Like A Thief
Note that Jesus comes on people as a thief only "if" they aren't watching: "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" (Revelation 3:3).
Paul said that if we watch for the 2nd coming it will not overtake us as a thief: "Yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night... But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief... let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch" (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4, 6).
Note that between the 6th and 7th vials, at the very end of the tribulation, Jesus is still exhorting us to keep watching for his coming: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth" (Revelation 16:15).
Note that it's possible to know at what hour a thief is coming: "If the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched" (Luke 12:39); "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. Therefore be ye also ready" (Matthew 24:43-44).
Knowing when Jesus will come like a thief will help us believers (Matthew 24:43-44), but it will not help the devil or any of his followers. In his overwhelming power, Jesus will nonetheless "overtake" them like a thief (2 Thessalonians 5:4): "No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house" (Mark 3:27, compare Revelation 20:2).
We don't know what the spirits of devils will tell the world they are gathering their armies for in Revelation 16:14, but we know the world will already be under strong delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:11), and the sine qua non of Antichrist doctrine is the very denial that Jesus is the Christ and the very denial of the Father God himself (1 John 2:22), so the spirits of devils won't be telling the world that Jesus Christ or God is coming back. Unbelieving men will certainly be kept in delusion and darkness until his coming as a thief:
"I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." (Revelation 16:13-16).
Some say there will be some in the armies that know Christ or God is returning from their prior knowledge of the scriptures. But the scriptures don't say that there will be, or that even if there are, that in their strong delusion they will still believe in any way in any of the old pre-Antichrist doctrines regarding Christ and God.
[Just a side note on some movies that may have been sent by the enemy to prepare the minds of unbelievers for the end-times: One of the Star Wars movies has frogs as the leaders of the good armies gathered to battle the evil armies. This could be an attempt to prepare the world to see the frogs of Revelation 16:13 as heroic leaders instead of demonic spirits. Similarly, Beauty and the Beast may be preparing the world to embrace a two-horned beast (i.e. Satan's standard image) in the hope that he and all the world can be freed from the cruel deformity placed upon them (i.e. suffering, death, eternal torture in hellfire) by an unjust power (i.e. YHWH the oppressor). Lastly, the Matrix series has arrived just in time to teach the ancient Gnostic "revelation" that our current material universe is simply a diabolical invention by YHWH to enslave our immortal spirits -- and now a redeemer has arrived with miraculous power to show us who we really are and free us from our deception and captivity.]
REVELATION 16:15 = ACTUAL COMING?
"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" (Revelation 16:15). Note that Revelation 16:15 doesn't say that Jesus is coming right at that time, for it says we still must watch. I believe Revelation 16:15 and Daniel 12:12 are the same blessing, given on the 1,290th day after the abomination of desolation (Daniel 12:11-12), encouraging us to keep holding on until the 1,335th day.
*******
Like A Thief = Secret Coming?
Note that Jesus coming "like a thief" in no way requires a secret coming, as anyone who has suffered a car-jacking or anyone who has been tied up by a thief during a house robbery will attest. It says that every eye will see Jesus when he comes back (Revelation 1:7, Matthew 24:30) to "overtake" the wicked like a thief (2 Thessalonians 5:4): "No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house" (Mark 3:27, compare Revelation 20:2).
*******
No Signs?
If there are no signs before the rapture, what are "these things" in Luke 21:28: "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh"?
*******
Such An Hour As Ye Think Not
"Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Matthew 24:44). Note that Jesus is referring to when "the Son of man cometh," and he says "immediately after the tribulation of those days... they shall see the Son of man coming" (Matthew 24:29-30). Jesus isn't teaching a 3rd coming. Note that he is speaking to the same believers, the same "ye," in Matthew 24:15 that he is speaking to in Matthew 24:44. I believe Matthew 24:44 is a warning against our becoming unfaithful, for Jesus will come like a thief for us only IF we fall asleep spiritually (Revelation 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6). Otherwise we would be saying that as long as we're ready and thinking he will come he can't possibly come.
*******
Watching
Note that in the Bible, "watching" doesn't mean staring up in the sky waiting for something to happen at any moment; it means to stay awake (Matthew 26:38-41).
"And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation" (Matthew 26:40-41). Here Jesus wasn't asking "Could ye not watch with me for the imminent rapture for one hour?" And he wasn't saying "Watch and pray for the imminent rapture that ye enter not into temptation." He was asking "Could ye not stay awake with me for one hour?" And he was saying "Stay awake and pray, that ye enter not into temptation."
Christ will come like a thief for us only IF we fall asleep spiritually (Revelation 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6).
Jesus made clear we must stay spiritually awake for his coming (Matthew 24:42-48, 25:13; Mark 13:35-36), and that his coming to gather us would not be until after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27). There's no 3rd coming of Christ.
But what does this mean? "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept" (Matthew 25:5).
I believe remaining spiritually awake means remaining obedient and in faithful service to the Lord until the day he comes, remaining a faithful and a wise servant (Matthew 24:42-51).
Some say that if the rapture is post-trib then the command to watch has little practical application. Not if we go into the tribulation thinking we can do as we please in it right up until he comes, and not if we believed pre-trib and it doesn't happen; then we could fall into the "My lord delayeth his coming" mindset Jesus warned against (Matthew 24:48-51).
Note that Luke 21:28 doesn't refer to the concept of "watching," which means to stay awake (Matthew 26:38-41).
******
Look Up
"When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28).
Aren't "these things" in Luke 21:28 the "signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars" that will appear right before the 2nd coming (Luke 21:25-27)? Note that Jesus is speaking to the same believers, the same "ye," in Luke 21:8-27 that he is speaking to in Luke 21:28.
*******
Look For
Note that even post-tribbers can keep the following verses: "We look for the Saviour" (Philippians 3:20); "look for him" (Hebrews 9:28), for in these verses the Greek word translated "look for" is "apekdechomai" (Strong's #553), which Strong's Greek Dictionary defines as "to expect fully." The same Greek word is translated elsewhere in the KJV NT as "wait for" (Romans 8:19; Romans 8:23; Romans 8:25; 1 Corinthians 1:7; Galatians 5:5). During the coming tribulation we will continue to "wait for" and "fully expect" the Lord's 2nd coming from heaven, just as we do today.
*******
Looking For And Hasting Unto
"Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God" (2 Peter 3:12). Note that this verse in no way says or requires that the rapture must be imminent or before the tribulation, just as the verse which refers to our "looking for new heavens and a new earth" (2 Peter 3:13) in no way says or requires that the coming of the new heavens and the new earth must be imminent or before the tribulation.
Note that in 2 Peter 3:12 and 2 Peter 3:13, the Greek word translated "looking for" is "prosdokao" (Strong's #4328), which Strong's Greek Dictionary defines as "to anticipate� to await". The same Greek word is translated elsewhere in the KJV NT as "in expectation" (Luke 3:15), "tarried" (Acts 27:33), "waiting for" (Luke 8:40, 1:21; Acts 10:24). In 2 Peter 3:12, the Greek word translated "hasting unto" is "speudo" (Strong's #4692), which Strong's Greek Dictionary says can mean "to await eagerly". During the coming tribulation we will continue to be "in expectation" of and "tarrying" for and "waiting for" and "awaiting eagerly" the Lord's 2nd coming, just as we are today.
Note that the same Greek word translated "hasting" in 2 Peter 3:12 is translated "make haste" in Luke 19:5-6 and Acts 22:18. I believe 2 Peter 3:11-13 means that we aren't to sit back, put our feet up, and try to get comfortable in this world, because everything around us is in this world is going to be completely obliterated and replaced by an entirely new creation.
*******
Eggus - At Hand
Note that Jesus' 2nd coming was "at hand" almost 2000 years ago (Philippians 4:5), so "at hand" in no way puts any time limitations on when Jesus must return, after which his coming would be "delayed" (Matthew 24:48).
Note that in Philippians 4:5, the Greek word translated "at hand" is "eggus" (Strong's #1451), which Strong's Greek Dictionary defines as "near." The same Greek word is used to describe every event written in the book of Revelation, from the tribulation to the eternal state in New Jerusalem after the millennium (Revelation 21-22): "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand (eggus)" (Revelation 1:3); "And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand (eggus)" (Revelation 22:10). Is every event in the book of Revelation therefore imminent?
*******
My Lord Delayeth His Coming
Some say that in order to believe Jesus won't come until after the tribulation one must "say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming" (Matthew 24:48). But if that's when Jesus said he is scheduled to come (Matthew 24:29-31), how is that a delay?
But what if we believed pre-trib and it doesn't happen; then we could fall into the "My lord delayeth his coming" mindset Jesus warned against (Matthew 24:48-51).
Either way, Jesus was referring to "that evil servant" in Matthew 24:48. The evil servant (whether pre or post) does wickedly, the faithful servant (whether pre or post) remains faithful (Matthew 24:45). I believe the warning of Matthew 24:50 is for backsliders (verse 49), and that Christ will come like a thief for us only IF we fall asleep spiritually (Revelation 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6).
But what does this mean? "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept" (Matthew 25:5); "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)
*******
Motivated By Imminence?
Note that belief in an imminent pre-trib rapture isn't required to be motivated to reach the lost and to remain repentant and to work diligently every day for the Lord because we never know when we or any lost individual is going to die (Luke 12:20). And we know we will be judged by our works (Matthew 25:26, 30; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 2:23; Luke 12:47-48).
*******
Night When No Man Can Work
Note that John 9:4-5 can't be referring to the tribulation because the two witnesses are men who will work great works during the tribulation (Revelation 11:3-6), and Revelation refers to the labours and works of us Christians who will die in the tribulation: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:13).
I believe that John 9:4-5 refers to the time of the arrest, crucifixion, and burial of Christ, when the disciples all fled from Christ (Mark 14:50) and went into hiding behind shut doors for fear of the Jews (John 20:19).
*******
As The Days Of Noah Were
"As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:37). Note that in Matthew 24:37 Jesus is referring to the same "coming of the Son of man" as when he says "immediately after the tribulation of those days... they shall see the Son of man coming" (Matthew 24:29-30), just as he is speaking to the same believers, the same "ye," in Matthew 24:42 that he is speaking to in Matthew 24:15. So Jesus is saying that the days before his 2nd coming will be like the days before the flood's coming.
"They were eating and drinking" (Matthew 24:38). Note that during the tribulation unbelievers will have to eat and drink just as people have always had to do even during times of great wars and disasters, and in Revelation 11:10 we even see unbelievers partying in the tribulation, so Jesus' mentioning their eating and drinking and getting married does not require that the unbelievers will be living in normal times, only that they will not be fasting and repentant like the Ninevites were (Jonah 3:5).
"Knew not until the flood came" (Matthew 24:39). The unbelievers in the days of Noah were given a big sign that their destruction in the flood was coming: the building of the ark. But most of them probably didn't know the exact day Noah was told the flood would come from God (Genesis 7:4), and didn't believe that Noah's God was really God anyway, much less that Noah's God could be powerful enough to cause a flood that could destroy all of mankind on the entire earth; and they remained in this unbelief "until the day that Noe entered into the ark" and "the flood came, and took them all away" (Matthew 24:38-39). Similarly, the unbelievers in the tribulation will be given a big sign that their destruction at the 2nd coming is approaching: the tribulation itself. But most probably won't know the exact day we've been told the 2nd coming will come (Daniel 12:11-12), and, as followers of the Antichrist, won't even believe that Jesus is even "the Christ" (1 John 2:22), much less that he could be powerful enough to destroy all of the armies of the entire earth led by their own "God" the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:4), for they will believe "Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:4); and so they will remain in their unbelief until they actually see the terrifying and overwhelming sight of "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" (Matthew 24:30).
Note that God had told Noah exactly when the flood would come: "For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights" (Genesis 7:4).
*******
Peace And Safety
"When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them" (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
I believe this refers to the destruction that will come upon the unsaved at the end of the tribulation and at the 2nd coming.
At the death of the two witnesses, at the end of the 42-month reign of the Antichrist, I believe the unsaved will rejoice and make merry and give gifts to one another (Revelation 11:10), thinking that now all is peace and safety, that now the Antichrist can rule unimpeded without any more plagues coming on the earth (Revelation 11:6). But little will they know that sudden destruction is about to come upon them with the 7 vials of God's wrath and Jesus' coming:
"Thy wrath is come.. that thou shouldest... destroy them which destroy the earth" (Revelation 11:18).
"Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe" (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10).
"Then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
*******
Is Israel Saying Peace and Safety?
If Israel were the one saying peace and safety, what would be the "sudden destruction" (1 Thessalonians 5:3) that comes upon Israel after they sign the peace treaty? Doesn't it say the treaty isn't broken until "the midst" of the 7 years (Daniel 9:27)?
Will the Antichrist be saying that his peace treaty with Israel is still in effect as he's making war against Israel and destroying it?
The Oslo peace accords can't be used as an example of a peace treaty and war currently co-existing in Israel because "The Oslo peace accords, signed in 1993 and 1995 by then Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Arafat, set out specific terms and dates that had to be met. By May, 1999, should the Oslo accord not be fully ratified and enacted, then the land for peace swap would expire, effective with that date" (from http://www.tidings.org/signs/signs1298.htm )
"Thursday, January 11, 2001
...Mr Sharon, leader of the right-wing Likud party, said: "The Oslo accord is an agreement that no longer exists. Period."... (from http://www.smh.com.au/news/0101/11/world/world3.html )
*******
Must Keep It Secret From Satan?
Some believe the timing of the rapture has to remain a secret in order to keep Satan from gaining an upper hand. But I believe there's nothing Satan could ever know that could ever give him an upper hand against Jesus, for "there is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD" (Proverbs 21:30). I believe that Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet will all know the day of Jesus' coming, but that this won't in any way keep them from being defeated by him (Revelation 19:20-20:2).
I believe Satan will give all his power to the Antichrist and False Prophet precisely because he'll know he has only a short time left (Revelation 12:12) to destroy all the Christians he can find (Revelation 12:17-13:18) and to mobilize all the forces of the world to attempt to fight Jesus at his coming (Revelation 16:13-16, 19:19).
*******
Limited Knowledge
Some may ask "What purpose is served in limiting the not knowing to then?" I think it was limited (and still is) because some things we cannot bear until a certain time: "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now" (John 16:12).
Some may ask "But the Son and the Holy Spirit do not know either. They could not bear it?" I believe Jesus didn't know then because before he was crucified "in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren" (Hebrews 2:17). But clearly after his resurrection he did know all things, for then it could be said of him: "Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3).
I do not believe the Spirit has ever been without knowledge, for "even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11). The Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of the Father: compare: "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you" (Matthew 10:20) and "for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost" (Mark 13:11).
This is why Jesus said: "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into ALL truth... and he will shew you things to come" (John 16:13).
*******
Luke 12:35-36
Regarding Luke 12:35-36, can't we continue to "wait for" the Lord during the tribulation just as we do now?
*******
"I Come Quickly"
Note that just as Jesus' statement "I come quickly" (Revelation 22:7) didn't require that he come before over 1900 years had passed, so it doesn't require that he come before a few years of tribulation have passed.
*******
"Come, Lord Jesus"
Note that saying "Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20) is not demanding payment on a debt, for Jesus doesn't owe anybody anything; it is a prayer like "Thy kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2), which we know will be fulfilled at the 2nd coming (Luke 21:31; Luke 22:18; Micah 4:8). There's no 3rd coming.