We Cannot Know “The Day or Hour”
Hal Lindsey
I want all of my friends to know that I AM AGAINST any form of predicting a specific day that the end of this age and the Rapture will occur.
I am well aware that a Christian teacher has predicted that the end of this age will occur on May 21st 2011. When this fails, it will be used by our enemies to discredit the expectation that the Rapture could take place at any-moment.
The Lord Jesus clearly commanded that we are to recognize the general time of the seven-year tribulation that will end with Christ’s personal return to the earth to end Armageddon and set up His 1000 year Kingdom on Earth.
After Jesus made many prophecies about His coming and the end of the age, He said, “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but M y words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matt. 24:32-36 NAS)
In this very important parable, Jesus applies the significance of the prophecies He had just spoken. Every one knew that when the fig tree puts forth its first leaves, the general time of summer was near. There was no specific date assigned to this phenomena, but everyone recognized that the general time of summer had arrived. Jesus then applied this to what He had predicted about the signs of His return and the end of the age. When the signs all appear in the same time period and begin to multiply like “ birth pains” , we are COMMANDED TO RECOGNIZE that the general time of their fulfillment was near– right at the door.
The Lord Jesus then warns that no one can know the specific day or hour, but He commands us to know the “ general time” and prepare.
This is why I do not believe anyone can know the specific day. Even the Angels of Heaven cannot know that. But I do believe we must recognize that we are in the general time of the end of this Age and Christ’ s return. Jesus said of this time, “...this generation will not pass away until all is fulfilled.” The generation that saw these signs begin to all appear and multiply in severity will not die until all is fulfilled. We are that generation! The question is – are you ready?
