When discussing prophecies about the end times, Christians often quote Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:36: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
We often think, if even the Son (Jesus Christ, the Son of God) doesn’t know, how could we possibly know? And, if even the Son doesn’t know, should we even desire to know?
However, this attitude leads us to overlook the specific prophecies God has given in the Bible concerning the end times.
Knowing or Not Knowing
First, in Matthew 24:36, Jesus used the present tense to talk about the end times. He was speaking in the present tense (at that time), saying that at that moment, no one knew. Specifically, Jesus made this statement before His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.
Jesus did not say that no one would ever know in the future. After His ascension, once He was with the Father, whether the Father would tell Him the time is something that has not been revealed to us. However, since the end times concern the return of Jesus, He must ultimately know, at least when He is sent by the Father to return. Once He is ready to act or is already acting, He will reveal it to His servants and prophets.
“For the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
Second, in Matthew 24:36, Jesus used the Greek word “εἴδω” (eidō) to express the word “know.” This word is different from the word used in Matthew 24:39 for “know,” which is “γινώσκω” (ginōskō).
In Greek, there are different words that can be translated as “know,” but they carry different meanings.
“Eidō” refers to an innate knowledge, a kind of awareness gained through natural senses or perception. Because of this, it is often translated as “to see.”
“Ginōskō”, on the other hand, refers to knowledge gained through interaction or the development of a relationship.
“In the days before the flood, they knew nothing (ginōskō) about what would happen…” (Matthew 24:39, direct translation). The word used in Matthew 24:39 for “know” (ginōskō) contrasts with the word used in Matthew 24:36 (eidō).
“When they did not know (ginōskō), the flood came…” Here, Jesus means that when the flood came, those who were unprepared did not know. However, Noah and his family did know when the flood came. This highlights the difference between the children of grace and the children of destruction.
The emphasis here is not that Noah could “see” the specific time of the flood coming, but rather that he knew the flood was coming, and before it happened, God let him know in advance and instructed him to enter the ark ahead of time.
Noah didn’t scramble to get into the ark after the flood had already started.
Thus, the day and the hour, even the Son Himself could not “see” (eidō), but He would be informed or come to “know” (ginōskō), and so will His servants. Only those who do not know Him will remain completely unaware (ginōskō), in the dark, unprepared for the final outcome.
Understanding Prophecy
Some of the most important prophecies about the end times include Jesus’ own words in the three Gospels (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21), Revelation, and the Old Testament prophetic books, especially Daniel, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah.
God told the prophet Daniel:
“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 12:4).
This verse is often misunderstood as God reprimanding those who study end-time prophecies, suggesting that their increased knowledge is a bad thing. In most translations, “run to and fro” is presented in a way that conveys a negative connotation, which doesn’t exist in the original text. In contrast, the same phrase appears in Zechariah 4:10, where it describes the eyes of the Lord “running to and fro” throughout the earth, indicating God’s wisdom and exactness.
God told Daniel that the visions he saw were hidden at that time, but in the end, due to diligent study and increased knowledge, the prophecies would be understood.
This makes sense because if prophecies were to remain sealed forever, they would lose their significance. The temporary concealment was because the prophecies weren’t relevant to the people of that time. But when the events prophesied are about to occur, the prophecies become relevant, and God allows the wise to understand them.
This is precisely what is happening now. In recent years, biblical knowledge has increased at an unprecedented rate. This isn’t because modern people have suddenly become smarter but due to several unexpected factors:
- More people have more time to study the Bible. Many think people are too busy today to read the Bible, which is true as a general state. But with regard to studying prophecy, more people now have more time than ever to devote to studying Scripture. This is partly because of the population increase, but more importantly, many laypeople now have substantial leisure time for biblical study, which was once the privilege of a few clergy.
- The exchange of information among Bible students has grown exponentially, significantly increasing the insights gained from such exchanges.
- The development of computer technology has made research tools for exploring and comparing biblical information incredibly efficient, greatly benefiting the study of prophecy, a luxury previous generations did not enjoy.
As a result, the discovery of hidden relationships and the consistency among various biblical prophecies has increased dramatically. This is not a bad thing, for the growing clarity of biblical prophecies is itself a sign of the end times.
- Perhaps more importantly, recent revelations about the end times are not only coming from believers studying Scripture but also from an increasing number of visions and dreams (including near-death experiences or after-death experiences), which have surged in recent years. This aligns with the prophecy in Joel 2:28 about the outpouring of the prophetic spirit in the last days. While not all such experiences and words can be trusted, and even genuine experiences may not all come from the Holy Spirit, we should not close our eyes and ears, assuming all these revelations are false, for doing so risks falling into the spirit of the Pharisees. We have the Word of God as our standard to test the words of prophets and the Holy Spirit’s guidance within us to help discern truth.
Daniel did not understand at that time and asked, “I heard but did not understand. So I asked, ‘My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?’” (Daniel 12:8).
The Lord replied:
“Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 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 12:9-10).
The Lord told Daniel that the words (about the end times) would remain sealed until the end. This implies that at the end, the words would be unsealed. At that time, many will diligently study, and knowledge will increase, leading to a more precise understanding of the end times. Ultimately, only the wise will understand.
Although we may not know the exact day or hour, the increasing clarity of revelation shows the urgency of the times. God will not bring the end without first revealing His plans to His prophets.
The Day Draws Near
When examining prophecies about the end times, we must focus on the broader framework.
The apostle Peter said, “With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8). Peter didn’t arbitrarily use 1,000 years as a metaphor; it was based on divine revelation. Psalm 90:4 contains the same insight.
Judaism: Based on Old Testament prophecies, there is a significant revelation that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, which might contain a crucial prophecy. Just as God allotted seven days, He may have allotted humanity a total of 7,000 years, with each day representing 1,000 years. For example:
- The Talmud (Sanhedrin 97a) speaks of the correlation between the six days of creation and the world’s expected lifespan, saying the world will exist for 6,000 years, followed by a 1,000-year Sabbath.
- The Book of Jubilees, another Jewish text, uses a 49-year Jubilee cycle, with each Jubilee representing a “week” period. This chronology covers history from creation to Moses based on 50 Jubilees. Combining the 70 cycles mentioned in the Bible (e.g., Daniel 9:24, where 70 periods are allotted to Israel) results in a total of 120 cycles, corresponding to 5,880.
- Alternatively, the Zadokite calendar and prophecies as reflected in the Dead Sea Scrolls suggest 123 Jubilee cycles, each consisting of 49 years. This results in a total of 6,027 years of human history, from creation to the final judgment. This view contrasts slightly with the Book of Jubilees, which proposes 120 Jubilees (5,880 years), but both share a common reliance on Jubilee cycles as a framework for understanding the divine plan for a seven-millennium history. Also, because the Zadokite calendar does not assume that the year of creation is 3761 BCE as the popular Jewish calendar has, the difference in terms of the end times may be much smaller than it appears.
Christianity:
During the New Testament period, especially in the early days, the Church consistently understood God’s revelation in the same way: that the time God allotted to humans on earth, from Adam to the end of the Millennium, totals 7,000 years. This means human history spans 6,000 years, followed by a 1,000-year Sabbath, commonly referred to as “millennialism.” This understanding is based on a combination of biblical interpretation, Jewish tradition, and the development of early Christian theology, as seen in:
- Early Church Fathers: Figures like Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, and Hippolytus explicitly expressed this view in their writings. They connected the six days of creation with the six thousand years of human history and associated the seventh day of rest with Christ’s millennial reign.
- The Epistle of Barnabas: This early Christian text directly articulates the concept of a millennial Sabbath following 6,000 years.
Genesis and Human History:
There is a peculiar and thought-provoking correspondence between the past 6,000 years of human history and God’s six days of creation in Genesis:
- Day 1: The separation of light and darkness. Correspondingly, the first 1,000 years involve the differentiation of good and evil, the entrance of sin through Adam, the contrast of light and darkness, and Adam leaving the Garden of Eden. Adam lived 930 years, nearly spanning the first millennium.
- Day 2: The separation of the waters above from the waters below; notably, God did not say this day was good. In parallel, the 2,000th year features the Great Flood, where waters from above poured down and the fountains of the deep burst open, flooding the entire earth again. This occurred midway through the second millennium, with the first 500 years preparing for the flood and the next 500 years dedicated to post-flood restoration.
- Day 3: God separated land from sea and then created plants, especially fruit-bearing trees with seeds inside. Similarly, in the 3,000th year, God dispersed the nations, planted and preserved life and faith (as seen with Job), and established the “seed” of faith through Abraham.
- Day 4: God created celestial bodies to serve as signs and to mark seasons, notably the two great lights—the sun and the moon—to govern the day and night and to separate light from darkness. Correspondingly, in the 4,000th year, from the time of David and Solomon leading up to the advent of Christ and the birth of the Church, these serve as the two great lights.
- Days 5 and 6: God created life, starting with fish in the sea and birds in the sky, progressing to land animals, and finally creating man, Adam. In parallel, the 5,000th and 6,000th years—or the past 2,000 years since Jesus ascended and the Church was born—have seen the continual creation of new life. The overall form of life (referring to the collective body rather than individual lives) has gradually grown and evolved until the Body of Christ is formed. The “last Adam” (the capitalized “Man”) attains a complete body, the male child is caught up (Revelation 12), and Christ returns (Revelation 19).
- Day 7: God entered into rest. Similarly, the earth enters the 7,000th year, which is the Millennium, after which comes the new heaven and new earth and eternity.
In fact, the description of Christ’s millennial kingdom in Revelation strongly hints at the concept of “a day is like a thousand years.”
According to biblical prophecy and its actual fulfillment in history—regardless of specific interpretations and despite differences in exact years—it is widely acknowledged that we are now very close to the end of the 6,000 years.
Moreover, considering that the last 1,000 years of the 7,000-year timeline are reserved for the Millennial Kingdom, and that Jesus must return before the Millennium begins, we cannot ignore this compelling fact:
If God indeed allotted 7,000 years to humanity on earth, the return of Jesus is very near.
However, just how near remains uncertain. According to the Jewish calendar, from the creation of the world—including the creation of Adam and Eve—up to the current year (2024 AD) is 5,784 years, leaving 216 years until the 6,000-year mark. Yet, more recent biblical chronology studies, such as Ussher’s Chronology, suggest that we are now 6,027 years beyond the creation of Adam and Eve. The discrepancy arises because Ussher’s timeline is based on a literal reading of the chronological records in the Old Testament, whereas the Jewish calendar incorporates rabbinical interpretations and traditional texts, not treating all ages and dates in the Old Testament as strictly literal. There is reason to believe that Ussher’s chronology may be closer to the timeline revealed by God.
Additionally, if we consider the period from Adam’s sin (rather than his creation) to Jesus’ crucifixion as the first 4,000 years (see Note 2 below), the end of the 6,000 years would fall between 2030 AD and 2033 AD, which is only 6 to 9 years from now. This aligns remarkably with Ussher’s calculations of creation and human history and corresponds with recent studies on prophecy, especially in Daniel chapters 9–12.
Readers of the Bible are aware that before the Millennium arrives, there is a seven-year period of great tribulation on earth, particularly intense during the last three and a half years. This suggests that if the above interpretations of the timeline are correct, we are extremely close to the final seven years of the end times.
Note 1: The above range of 2030 AD–2033 AD exists because the exact year of Jesus’ crucifixion cannot be precisely determined. Even using the broadest estimates, it falls between 30 AD and 33 AD. (In fact, there is strong evidence suggesting that Jesus was crucified between 30 AD and 32 AD, rather than 33 AD as traditionally held by the Catholic Church.)
Note 2: The idea that Jesus’ crucifixion marks the end of the first 4,000 years is not explicitly supported by clear biblical evidence; it is an interpretation based on the seven-thousand-year framework of biblical history. What is noteworthy, however, is that this interpretation aligns with multiple other independent prophecies in the Bible.
The Rapture
The Bible clearly connects the timing of Jesus’ return with the rapture of the saints. If the pre-tribulation rapture is correct, then the church (or the overcomers) could be taken up soon. If there is no pre-tribulation rapture, or if we are not among those taken, then the tribulation is imminent.
Whether one believes in a pre-tribulation or post-tribulation rapture, the key is to be faithful to God’s Word and closely follow the Holy Spirit. We must maintain a humble attitude, remain open to correction, and diligently study biblical prophecies, staying alert to current events to avoid being caught in a spiritual state unprepared for the Lord’s return.
Avoiding Predicting Specific Dates
However, we should not focus on predicting specific dates. The study of end-time prophecies should serve to heighten our sense of urgency as the time draws near and help us heed the warnings and reminders from the Holy Spirit through watchmen. While knowledge is indeed increasing, and various interpretations are emerging, no one can be absolutely certain about specific dates and times unless the Lord Himself reveals them. Even though many interpretations seem reasonable, none are guaranteed to be correct.
God retains His sovereignty in all things.
Therefore, the primary concern for believers and the Church today should not be to determine the exact day or hour of Jesus’ return but to always be prepared because the Lord could return at any moment. This preparation includes both the inner life and the work of obeying His commands.
Waiting for the One to Come
Jesus’ words about the end times are not merely news for the world; they also refer to the wedding of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). According to Jewish tradition, the wedding date is set by the groom’s father. After the engagement, the groom returns to his home to prepare for the wedding, while the bride waits, not knowing the exact time of his return. She must be fully prepared, waiting for his arrival at any moment.
If the time seems to be delayed, the sense of urgency only grows stronger.
This tests the bride’s heart and her longing for the groom.
In this present age, let us clearly understand whom we are waiting for. The world waits for an event, but the Church of Jesus Christ waits for a person.
Who is the one coming?
For Satan and his followers, He returns as the Son, to claim His rightful authority over heaven, earth, and the universe and to defeat His enemies in the wrath of the Lamb.
For the nations, He returns as the King of kings, to establish His reign on earth.
For the Church, He returns as the Bridegroom, to take His bride to the eternal dwelling place.
For the friends and servants of the Bridegroom, He returns as the Master, with whom they will reign for a thousand years and then enter the new heaven and earth as sons and servants of God.
The day of the Lord’s return is near. We have always said this, and rightly so, but now it feels different because His return is truly very near. Now is the time for God’s children to look up, long for redemption, and call for mercy.