MARCH 14<\/p>\n
Can anyone know the exact time and day of Christ\u2019s return?<\/p>\n
Jesus\u2019 own words could not be clearer: \u201cBut of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father\u201d (Mark 13:32). The exact day and time of Christ\u2019s return will not be revealed in advance to any man. At this time, it was known only to God the Father. While all the angelic beings enjoy intimacy with God, hover around His throne to do His bidding (Is. 26:2\u20137), and continually behold Him (Matt. 18:10), they have no knowledge of the time of Christ\u2019s return.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Jesus spoke these words to the disciples, even He had no knowledge of the date and time of His return. Although Jesus was fully God (John 1:1,14), when He became a man, He voluntarily restricted the use of certain divine attributes (Phil. 2:6\u20138). He did not manifest them unless directed by the Father (John 4:34;\u00a05:30;\u00a06:38). He demonstrated His omniscience on several occasions (see\u00a0John 2:25;\u00a03:13), but He voluntarily restricted that omniscience to only those things God wanted Him to know during the days of His humanity (John 15:15). Such was the case regarding the knowledge of the date and time of His return. After He was resurrected, Jesus resumed His full divine knowledge (see\u00a0Matt. 28:18;\u00a0Acts 1:7).<\/p>\n
Based upon that, a Christian\u2019s role is to \u201cwatch and pray\u201d (Mark 13:33). Christ sounded a warning for believers to be on guard in two practical ways: 1) \u201cwatch\u201d is a call to stay awake and be alert, looking for approaching danger; and 2) \u201cpray\u201d emphasizes the believer\u2019s constant need for divine assistance in this endeavor. Even believers do not have in themselves sufficient resources to be alert to spiritual dangers that can so easily surprise them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MARCH 14 Can anyone know the exact time and day of Christ\u2019s return? Jesus\u2019 own words could not be clearer: \u201cBut of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only … Continue reading