Verses that cause concern and confusion:

[Mat 24:36] But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. [Mat 24:42] Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. [Mat 25:13] Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. [Mark 13:32] But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

1.  Nobody is predicting the day or hour.
2.  The Feast of Trumpets, is a two day festival, the "no man knows the day or hour" festival.

[Mark 13:33] Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
[Mat 24:44] Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

These three scriptures are 100% literally accurate.  Jesus' followers expected something completely different.  As for Mark and Matthew, at the time those statements were made, they did not know Christ would even die.

[Acts 1:6] So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
[Acts 1:7] He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority.

The last part of the statement in Acts, shows that GOD IS A DATE SETTER.

Remember, all of the Apostles initially thought Christ would return in their lifetimes; they wrote down the gospels many years after Christ's resurrectoin.  And all of the Apostles died before John was given the Revelation.  They, literally, were not to know certain things.

[1Cor 13:12.7] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

As for the Lord coming as a thief...

[1Thess 5:4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [1Thess 5:5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. [1Thess 5:6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Here are more scriptures that show that in the last days, the wise will understand, and know all things:

[Dan 12:9] And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
[Dan 12:10] Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

[Mark 13:23] But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

[Luke 8:17] For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

[Mark 4:22] For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

[1John 2:20] But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

[1John 2:27] But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

[Amos 3:7.17] Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

[1Pet 1:5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

[Isa 46:8] "Remember this and consider, recall it to mind, you transgressors,
[Isa 46:9] remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,
[Isa 46:10] declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, `My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'

[Job 11:6] And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

[1Cor 10:11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon
whom the ends of the world are come.

In other words, the events of the Bible are actually prophesies for the last days.  Did you know that there are five clear examples and types of pre tribulation rapture in all the main characters in the book of Genesis?
http://linkjesus.com/rapturegarden.htm

Do not scoff

[2Pet 3:3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, [2Pet 3:4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Instead,

[2Tim 2:15] "Study to shew thyself approved unto God..." and be like the nobel Bereans who [Acts 17:11] "...searched the
scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

30 scriptures that show that GOD IS A DATE SETTER, and accomplishes his will at APPOINTED TIMES. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Cottage/1651/appointedtime.htm

I believe we are told to WATCH, BE READY, and STAY AWAKE a grand total of no less than 20 times, but I won't quote all of those verses here.  Those who say not to be observant of possible times (be aware of dates) of our Lord Jesus Christ's return ... well, they may be ready, they may be watching, they may be awake, but it is my hope that they wake up even more, and watch a bit more.

Not only will the wise understand at the time of the end, [Dan 12:9,10], but scriptural examples show that we are admonished to know, and will be reprimanded as the Pharisees were, if we do not know the signs of the times, and the time of our visitation.

[Luke 19:41] And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
[Luke 19:42] Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
[Luke 19:43] For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
[Luke 19:44] And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

[Mat 16:1] The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
[Mat 16:2] He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
[Mat 16:3] And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the
face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Online Bible Prophecy Studies;

BACK