Scripture References:
- “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36)
- “But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:9)
- “But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” (Daniel 12:4)
- “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.” (Revelation 22:10)
- “Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” (Daniel 12:10)
1️⃣ Facing the Challenge of “No One Knows”
Whenever we carefully discuss with someone the question of when the Lord will return, we immediately hear the response:
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36)
Since the Lord said this, we dare not overstep, nor presume to speculate about things He has not revealed. Yet was this statement made within a specific phase of redemptive history? After the Lord’s resurrection, ascension, and glorification, how should we understand it today?
2️⃣ The Lord’s Humility and Obedience During His Earthly Ministry
When the Lord was on earth, the Scriptures tell us that He took on the form of a servant and was made in human likeness. Though fully God, He willingly humbled Himself in His earthly life, holding to the position of “Son of Man” and submitting to the order God established on earth.
So after the Lord died, rose again, and ascended — would He still not know that day or hour? If He now reigns on the throne, should this statement be understood as permanently valid in every stage and every state? Or was it spoken within a specific context? This is perhaps a question worth serious consideration.
3️⃣ End-Time Prophecy: Sealed and Opened
Concerning end-time prophecy, God spoke to Daniel this way:
“But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:9)
So in Daniel’s time, end-time prophecy was sealed. Even the godly Daniel could see the vision but could not understand its interpretation — because the time of the end had not yet come, and these words remained sealed.
By the time John wrote Revelation, God told him:
“Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.” (Revelation 22:10)
If God says “do not seal,” it at least means these prophecies are no longer completely closed as before. Though not everyone may understand them, for those who are prepared, the time will come when they can receive their meaning.
4️⃣ Who Can Understand?
God told Daniel who would be able to know:
“But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” (Daniel 12:4)
In context, “going here and there” is linked to “increasing knowledge” — perhaps telling us that in the last days, there will be those who continually search and seek to understand what God’s Word reveals about the end times. This does not refer to a special class of people, but to anyone in the last days willing to search God’s Word.
God further reveals through Daniel who will understand:
“Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” (Daniel 12:10)
May we all become before God those who are “purified, made spotless and refined,” so that in the last days we may understand more of His heart.
5️⃣ Watchfulness and Readiness: Beyond Calculation and Ignorance
Understanding prophecy is not the same as knowing the exact day and hour. If we focus our minds on calculating times, we easily miss the Lord’s true intention — for a calculated date cannot produce genuine watchfulness. Scripture never teaches us to wait for the Lord this way. True preparation lies not in knowing “which day,” but in humility, purity, and refinement before the Lord, becoming those who are ready at any moment.
Yet refusing to calculate dates does not mean remaining completely ignorant about end-time matters. The Lord does not want us to be watchful in blindness, as though waiting for Him requires no further knowledge or understanding. He will in due time, according to His will, grant insight into His end-time Word.
Today among Christians, two extremes often exist:
- Some are eager to constantly calculate, trying to pinpoint the time of the Lord’s return.
- Others use “no one knows” as a reason to avoid studying anything related to end-time revelation, as if waiting for the Lord requires only passive waiting.
True biblical watchfulness comes neither from human calculation nor from human ignorance, but from walking in humility and alertness within the light God gives, preparing ourselves to meet Him.
May the Lord grant us the vision we need in His Word, and may we live in genuine watchfulness and readiness in His light.