UNKNOWN DAY?
Matthew 24:36 (NASB) when Jesus said, “But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone”. What did He mean?
Written by JR Mayhugh Jr
Without a doubt, this is one of the most contentious verses of our times. Some believe that Matthew 24:36-41 deals with the rapture of the bride of Christ, which is an untimed event in future history. Those same believers teach that the 2nd Coming is a timed event – down to the very day, which is the end of what’s known as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7 (KJV)), also called the Great Tribulation.
But, the best illustration from the Lord Himself of course comes from His words at the Last Supper, when references were made to a Galilean wedding, while His Galilean disciples were intently listening. For more on this fascinating bit of info, click here:
https://www.anchoredinword.com/ancient-galilean-wedding/
Nonetheless, there is yet another piece of evidence giving credence to the Lord's words in Matthew 24:36 when He didn’t know “…that day or hour…” (when He would return), meaning He really didn’t know – yet. Regardless of your belief, take a look at Revelation 14:14-16, which to my knowledge is rarely (if ever) used to further illustrate the point.
Revelation 14:14-16
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Envision the scene in your mind. Jesus is staring out at the earth (my presumption) as He sits on His favorite cloud, holding a sickle. The sickle is a hand-held tool used in harvesting crops of various types of plants, such as corn, wheat etc. Poised and ready for action, Jesus sees an angel come from His Father’s temple. This messenger relays the command from the Father to "reap a harvest" - He immediately complies.
Consider if you will for a moment, the idea that Jesus probably doesn't go around with a sickle in His hand all of the time, yet at that moment He was ready to use it. This would seem to imply that because He knows of the "nearness of that hour", that He knows when to grab the tool. As well, He doesn't swing the tool to begin the harvest until He receives the ultimate command from the Father by way of a messenger from the temple - an angel. I know it's a stretch, but please allow me a few more thoughts.
We could conclude that the “reaping” in Revelation 14 is what some believe to be the martyred saints during the Tribulation. Chapter 14 is pretty much chronologically at least two-thirds of the way-ish into the Tribulation, so it seems fair to make the assumption about the martyrs.
Let's consider what happens after the reaping of those souls who had to die for Jesus during the Tribulation (as opposed to living for Him now, on this side of the Tribulation before it begins):
John 14:2-3 - 2 In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.
As a final thought, we know that Jesus gave His disciples plenty of information about His rank in all of eternity, clearly giving indications that He’s second to the Father in Heaven, and takes orders from Him. This devoted obedience I believe has been foreshadowed in the traditional Galilean wedding (Jesus and His disciples lived as part of the Galilean culture) when the son (bridegroom) does not take his new bride into their new home until his father says their new home is ready to be lived in – then the father gives the directive to his son to get his bride, and bring her home – he immediately complies. Interesting?!
One thing is for sure - we'll know soon and very soon!
Maranatha!!!