Jesus instructed us to be alert and ready at all times. This is what faithful Sons and Daughters do in preparation for His return.
Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 12:
35 “Be prepared for action at a moment’s notice. 36 Be like servants anticipating their Master’s return from a wedding celebration. They are ready at a moment’s notice to unlock and open the door for Him. 37 What great joy is ahead for those who stay awake and wait for their Master’s return! He Himself will become their servant and wait on them. 38 He may appear at midnight or even later, but what great joy for the awakened ones whenever he comes! 39 Of course, if they knew ahead of time the hour of their master’s appearing, they would be alert, just as they would be ready if they knew ahead of time that a thief was coming to break into their house. 40 So keep being alert and ready at all times. For I promise you that the Son of Man will surprise you and appear when you don’t expect Him.”
41 “Lord,” Peter asked, “does this apply only to the twelve of us, or is it for everyone else as well?”
42 The Lord replied, “A Master will delegate authority in His house to a trustworthy and thoughtful manager who understands his Master’s desires. And the household manager will serve others what they need at exactly the right time. 43–44 And whenever his Master returns, He will find that His servant has served Him well. I promise you, the Master will reward Him generously and he will be placed as an overseer of everything He owns.
Jesus explicitly tells us that we will be surprised at His appearing and we won’t expect Him at that time. People have been trying to figure out the date of His return for centuries even though He expressly tells us in the above passage that we will be surprised.
In Acts chapter 1, the disciples kept asking Jesus the same question. He spoke:
6 Every time they were gathered together, they asked Jesus, “Lord, is it now the time for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7 He answered, “The Father is the one who sets the fixed dates and the times of their fulfillment. You are not permitted to know the timing of all that HE has prepared by HIS own authority. 8 But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you will be seized with power. You will be My messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces—even to the remotest places on earth!”
Our minds want to analyze dates, times, and seasons as well as feast days and mathematical relationships in Scripture, looking for some indication as though they can unlock FATHER’S plan which is solely under HIS authority, not Jesus or The Holy Spirit’s. So why do we keep burning time and resources in an effort to find out what FATHER is holding back and unwilling to disclose? Do you really think you can outthink FATHER and find something HE failed to consider in keeping the date a mystery? HE is Supreme and we aren’t!
For decades, prophecy teachers have been making a living by tickling people’s ears with the latest world developments pointing to some specific date of Jesus’ return. As for me (after I tossed all the prophecy books and CD’S I acquired over the years), I am simply being alert and ready on a moment’s notice. I will do what The Holy Spirit leads me to do on a daily basis as a faithful steward and serve others. How simple it is and my mind is not cluttered with dates and times which come and go without results.
The disciples badgered Jesus concerning the date of His Glorious return yet He did not give it to them. We must remember that He only spoke what FATHER directed Him to speak and share. Nothing has changed so let us be productive for the Kingdom and direct our attention to what we need to say and do today. Accept the reality that we will be pleasantly surprised on that day.