Only the Father Knows
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matthew 24:36.
“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Mark 13:12.
What did Jesus mean?
Did He not know when He would be coming again?
An old English translation states, “But that day and hour no man maketh known, neither the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”
Albert Barnes in his Notes on the Gospels says, “Others have said that the verb rendered ‘knoweth’ means sometimes to make known, or to reveal… It is true the word has sometimes that meaning as 1 Cor 2:2. The Father will make known the time.” Quoted in The Second Coming of Christ, or A Bfrief Exposiition of Matthew Twenty-Four. By Elder James White p33.34.
Another quotation says, “His (Christ’s) answer is just equivalent in saying, The Father will make it known when it pleases him, but he has not authorised man, angel, or the Son, to make it known.”
James White wrote, “We do not profess any knowledge of the day and hour of the Second Advent, neither the year, but from the signs, we know that it is near, even at the doors. It is the opinion of critical scholars that the text should read, ‘of that day and hour maketh known no man’. It would then teach that no man, neither the angels, nor the Son is to make the day and hour known, but the Father will do it. This is in perfect harmony with Rev 3:3, 1 Thess 5:1-4. Read also Eze 12:21-28 and mark particularly verse 25." The Signs of the Times, ‘Showing that it is at the Doors’ p18. James White.
Sister White wrote, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Christ plainly said that He Himself could not make known the day or the hour of His second appearing. Had He been at liberty to make this time known, what need would there have been for Him to exhort His followers to maintain an attitude of earnest watchfulness, living, working, and waiting as if their time was not their own, but the Lord’s, cultivating fidelity, faith, and love; and purifying the soul through the truth.” R & H. Dec 27. 1898. Also DA632.