Predicting the End of the Age

Within the Church, there has always been a segment of believers resistant to attempts at predicting the time of Jesus’ return. This refers to His coming to Rapture His Bride, the Church.

This event is commonly believed to take place before the initiation of the 7-year Tribulation Period, also known as Daniel’s 70th week.

The Scripture typically cited to justify having no concern about knowing the time of the Rapture is found in Matthew 24. There we read:

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my

Father only.” Matthew 24:36

These believers point out that God’s Word states that only God the Father knows the exact date of Jesus’ invisible return at the Rapture. They therefore believe that the Body of Christ should not concern itself with attempting to predict or know the time of His coming.

Does “No Man Knows the Day or Hour” Mean Christians Should Not Watch?

In response, many believers point to numerous arguments within Scripture that they believe refute this stance, including:

1. In the Book of Titus, Scripture directly exhorts the believer to be looking for the return of Jesus: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
2. When Jesus stated that no man knoweth the day or the hour, He did not say a word about the week or the year.
3. Jesus desires that we be aware of the approximate time of the Rapture. Scripture lists many signs that would immediately precede both the Rapture and Jesus’ physical 2nd Coming to the earth. “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” (Luke 21:31).
4. In the “Parable of the Ten Virgins,” Scripture admonishes believers to watch for Jesus’ return to receive His Bride, the Church. We are to be ready for our marriage to Him, which will occur soon after the Rapture of the Church (Matthew 25:1-13).
5. God’s Word states that Jesus was saddened by the failure of the Jewish people to recognize the signs of His 1st Coming (Luke 19:41,42). Does it not stand to reason that He would feel the same way about believers who cared not about knowing the time of His 2nd Coming?
6. Scripture also states that special rewards will be given to believers who are actively looking for the Lord’s return (II Timothy 4:8).How then could one possibly argue that it is wrong to want to search out the time of His return?

Those Who Watched for Jesus’ First Coming

To these arguments, one might also add another fact. Scripture holds in high regard those who were actively looking for Jesus’ 1st Coming to the earth.

This statement requires some explanation:

There are many Heroes of the Faith within God’s Word (Hebrews 11:17-32). Almost all of these so-called “Heroes,” however, had faults in their characters that Scripture is quick to point out.

Abraham, the “father of our faith”, was often faithless (Genesis 12:19, 20:11).

Moses, the giver of the Law, was also a violator of the Law. He was guilty of murder (Exodus 2:12) and of deliberately misrepresenting God to the Hebrew people (Numbers 20:11).

David, who was called the man “after God’s own heart”, was also an adulterer (II Samuel 11:4), and a murderer (II Samuel 11:15).

The Wise Men, Shepherds, and Simeon Were Watching

On the contrary, consider those who were expectantly seeking the 1st appearance of Jesus to the earth. These included the 3 Wise Men (Matthew 2:11), the shepherds outside Bethlehem (Luke 2:15), the devout Simeon (Luke 2:25), and others (Luke 2:36, John 12:20). It is of interest that Scripture makes no mention of individual character flaws these people may have possessed.

For in so doing, Scripture places these individuals in a special place of honor. They were actively looking for the coming Messiah.

By not listing the shortcomings or sins of these people, this could be interpreted as God giving them His special “stamp of approval.” It would also honor them for their longing to see the coming Messiah.

Should Believers Be Looking for Christ’s Return Today?

It is therefore logical to conclude that the LORD is also pleased with those who look forward to His return. The believers who are actively seeking to understand the time of His invisible 2nd Coming, the Rapture of the Church.

Related Studies from Paradigms Tossed

Continue exploring biblical prophecy, the return of Jesus Christ, and the prophetic timeline through these related studies:

Moses as a Type of Christ: Biblical Prophecy, the Rapture, and the Second Coming
This study examines Moses as a prophetic type of Christ and explores biblical patterns connected with the Rapture and Jesus’ Second Coming.

Hosea 6 Prophecy and the Year 2030: Prophetic Timeline 4
Explore Hosea 6:1–2 and the proposed 2,000-year prophetic pattern leading toward the return and Millennial Reign of Christ.

2030 Prophetic Time Table 5 – The Examination of the Passover Lamb
A study of Jesus Christ as the Passover Lamb and the prophetic patterns that may point toward the completion of mankind’s 6,000 years of self-rule.

2030 and Biblical Prophecy: Is It Really “Just a Coincidence”?
Examine several proposed prophetic timelines involving Israel, Daniel’s prophecy, the Millennial Kingdom, and the possible significance of the year 2030.

Biblical Prophecy and the Year 2030: God’s Millennial Kingdom
A related study examining biblical chronology, prophecy, and the anticipated Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ.