No one knows the day or hour (Matthew 24) explained Question: Tom will you explain the Matthew 24 passage a little more. When it talks of Jesus coming “like a thief in the night” and “no one knows the day or hour”… does that actually mean we won't know the exact moment when he is coming? My answer: The answer is that you have to take the whole counsel of scripture to understand what Jesus was saying. Matthew 24 starts with the disciples asking a very specific question: Matthew 24:3-4 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. Instead of saying "it'll all go down in 20 years, or 200 years, or 2,000 years" Jesus instead tells them the process it will follow. Then He says "When you see all these things beginning to happen, know that the generation they happen in will not pass until they are complete": Matthew 24:33-36 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. Jesus said "my description is like a clock"... when you see this stuff in this order and in this INTENSITY and scope (that is very important, because very similar things occurred in 70 ad, but clearly NOT in the global intensity Jesus described) then know that IS when the timeframe "kicks in." Now, in describing the 7-year tribulation, Jesus breaks out the GREAT Tribulation, the last 3.5 years in verse 15: Matthew 24:15-21 "Therefore when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), ... 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. Jesus directly referred to the Daniel prophecy, which we KNOW is 3.5 years (prophetic years, not calendar years), or 1,260 days: Daniel 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." The abomination of desolation marks the beginning of the last 1,260 days. Now, you should ask "how do you know that is 3.5 years?! or 1,260 days, or 42 months?" That is another great question. We know for sure because the Bible says it over and over:

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No one knows the day or hour (Matthew 24) explained Remember what Jesus said about the abomination of desolation in Matthew 24? He said, if you live in Judea (Jerusalem) "get out of town"...antichrist is coming to town to lay siege to Jerusalem...prison camps are coming back when the last Hitler moves in to town. Ezekiel and Zechariah tell us 1/3 of the city will escape into the wilderness and be chased by the antichrist (but the praying church will protect her which causes her to love Jesus eventually), Jesus confirmed it, and Revelation tells us how long: Ezekiel 5:1-3 "And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber's razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. 2 You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. 3 You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. (144,000 to be exact according to Rev 7) Zechariah 13:7-9 "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion," Says the LORD of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones. 8 And it shall come to pass in all the land," Says the LORD, "That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it: 9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; And each one will say, 'The LORD is my God.' " Revelation 12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. But that isn't the only passage. Antichrist only has authority to make war with the saints for 42 months, because they get raptured and given never-dying bodies after the 42 months (which is the same as 1,260 days): Revelation 11:2-3 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." Revelation 13:5-7 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Jesus' return and the rapture, which doesn't carry us away, but rather equips us to go into Jerusalem with Jesus to start takin' names (if you know what I mean) ends the authority of the antichrist. It then takes another 30 days (for a total of 1,290 days) before antichrist is destroyed by the glory of Jesus as He reveals himself and sings at the antichrist on the temple mount (the breath of His mouth). The worst time the earth has ever seen ends with the greatest moment earth has ever seen, and then Jesus begins remaking the earth from Jerusalem as the capital of His new government: Daniel 12:1-4 "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to

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No one knows the day or hour (Matthew 24) explained that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. 4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." Daniel 12:6-12 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?" 7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. 8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, "My lord, what shall be the end of these things?" 9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. 11 "And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. This is an amazing reality...within 45 days of the rapture, the earth will begin starting to operate in righteousness, with us helping to extend Jesus' government over the whole earth (that process takes 1,000 years). Now, Paul really answered your question. He said no one who doesn't know Jesus will ever know the day or the hour, but you...if you are like Paul, should not be in the dark: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. You will know for certain, dear brother or sister..the day (probably never the hour), when you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place (reader KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS). What I am saying in a nutshell is this: at the time the disciples asked, the earth was not ripe. Only the father knew when it would be ripe, but Jesus says: this is how you know it is ripe, and when you see those things start to happen you will become more and more sure of the day. It is like a baby being born. When you first conceive, you generally don't even know it for a month or so... then, as the delivery draws near, you know more and more when that little guy is coming...when the dilation starts, you really know with great certainty....Jesus' return is the same way...birth pains, contractions, delivery...more and more you should be certain of the time.

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