The Time is Near, but the Hour is Unknown

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Mark 13:28-37

Mark 13:32-33

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Be on guard, keep awake.^[a] For you do not know when the time will come.

(ESV)

I have a confession to make, I am a fan of Dr. Who.  My favorite two actors who played Dr. Who are Tom Baker and David Tennant because they brought a genuineness to the character as they got the job done despite mistakes made along the way, like the path life often takes.  For those unfamiliar with the series, it is about a character, Dr. Who that is a time lord and able to travel through time fixing events that have gone wrong.  While it would be interesting to be a time lord and able to go back and fix things in our lives or know the future, we live in the present.  For Christians, this means we must seek God’s forgiveness for our past sins and have faith and trust in God regarding the future.  Mark 13:32-33 is a reminder that while we do not know the future or the hour in which Jesus will return because we live in the present, in the present we are to be diligent going about spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). 

The text of Mark 13:28-37 is Jesus concluding his teaching that answers the disciples’ question regarding the signs that point to the end of the age (Mark 13:4).  Jesus begins his conclusion by once again using the illustration of the fig tree.  However, in His earlier use of the fig tree as an illustration, the fig tree was not fruitful for it was not the season for growing figs (Mark 11:12-14; 20-26).  In the illustration of Mark 13:32-33, the fig tree is preparing to give fruit as it is putting out its leaves, indicating summer is near.  The lesson from this illustration is while we cannot know with certainty what the future holds, we can read the signs and prepare. 

Mark 13:30 is a verse with many interpretations regarding the generation Jesus is referring to.  The general signs described in Mark 13:3-13 are not only present in our present society and culture, but have been present in almost every generation preceding modern culture.  This, however, does not indicate that each of these generations was the one that would not die prior to the return of Christ, but only an indication that the return of Christ is coming (Mark 13:29).  This is because the specific sign of the abomination of desolation (Mark 13:14-23) or the appearance of the Antichrist desecrating the Temple has not happened since there is presently no temple to desecrate. 

The signs Jesus describes in Mark 13:3-13 that have fulfillment in many generations throughout history are not to be interpreted as a countdown to the return of Christ but instead the creation of a sense of urgency regarding the need to spread the Gospel prior to the return of Christ (Mark 13:33-37).  It is not until the specific sign of the abomination of desolation (Mark 13:14-23) that a sort of countdown can begin as the generation witnessing this will also witness the coming of the Son of Man (Mark 13:24-27).  However, the specific date and hour of the Lord’s return will remain a mystery right up until the glorious return of Christ. 

While it would be fun and comforting to know the exact hour of the Lord’s return, God is wise in not letting His children know for he knows we would,

1)      Live irresponsibly – If we knew the very date and hour of the return of Jesus Christ, His return would be a deadline and not something giving hope and a sense of urgency.  Let’s imagine for a moment that we knew the return of Jesus would happen in six months.  There are some who would go out and buy a mansion, luxury, or sports car, and take trips all over the world believing the Lord would return before having to pay for them. 

2)      Procrastinate in ministry – Jesus called the church to spread the Gospel, make disciples, and be witnesses throughout the earth (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  If the church had a deadline for the return of the Lord by knowing a specific date and time for the Lord’s return, they might procrastinate in evangelizing the lost.  Thankfully, God is wise in not letting the church know the specific date and time and instead provides signs that provide a sense of urgency in reaching out to the lost. 

3)      Cram for the final in our study of God’s Word – Most of us who have attended college has to admit to spending an all-nighter cramming for a final exam.  We knew the final was coming several months before but were lax in our study and now with the deadline approaching, must cram for the exam.  Sadly, after cramming for an exam, most students do not retain as well as they would have through a diligent study done without the pressure of having to cram for an exam.  God wants his people to be diligent in ministry and not asleep and in His wisdom keeps the specific date of His return a mystery.  This means we do not know when the Lord will return and must live in a continuous state of readiness for the return of the Lord (Mark 13:35-36). 

God’s people are not like Dr. Who and cannot travel in time to know the future and instead must live day-to-day in a constant state of readiness for the Lord’s return.  This process of readiness begins with one accepting Jesus as savior so we can have forgiveness of our sins that separate us from God, making it possible to have a personal relationship with God.  Romans 10:9-10 tells us that all one must do is confess Jesus as Lord and believe He died and resurrected from the dead to be saved.  I invite you to begin the preparation process for the return of Jesus by praying with me now. 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

If you just prayed, you know have complete forgiveness of your sins that separated you from a personal relationship with God.  I encourage you to join with other believers in Christ through a local church or bible study as we await the second coming of Jesus Christ.  May God bless everyone reading this post.