QUOTE(Kansasdad @ Feb 13 2007, 03:39 PM) [snapback]101997[/snapback]
How many dates will come and go yet Jesus himself said nobody knows.
I understand exactly where you're coming from, and am quite familiar with the passages you refer to.
However, in my opinion, this possibly brings up a critical failure in the thinking of a lot of the church today. It has probably caused many to close their eyes and/or stop their ears in the thought that God would actually let his people be blind and deaf to world events.
In looking into this, I remember the Matthew 24 passage..." 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Well, what did Noah know? God told Noah seven days before the flood precisely when the flood would come. Here it is in Gen. 7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
That leads to 1 Thess. 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.Also, in Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
When Christ came the first time, he really expected the people of that day to know. The signs were given of his arrival. Even the wise men from the East knew when to show up based on the sign of his star. But, the religious elite were clueless. How similar will today be? Are the signs going to be missed by most because "no man knows the day or the hour?"
What if the tense of that portion of scripture truly applied to those of that day, but not those of the day in which these last days have come upon?
In looking at the body of scripture from Genesis to Revelation, where is there an example of God's true followers being clueless of coming events? Is there any place where the true saints ever said, "Boy...didn't see that coming?" I put forth that if the interpretation is as many say, it is the only place in all of scripture where the (obedient) saints of God are clueless.
It is probably more true that the friends of the bride will see the groom coming down the road, alert the bride, and begin the celebration.
Anyway, this is just a collection of my studies in the matter. I never cease to pray that the Lord will reveal his truth to me as I watch.
May Jesus be glorified.
In Him,
Mike