[387]The time of the Lord’s second appearing is of great importance to all, and Christians, since the days of the apostles, have been watching for some evidence of his presence and asking the question, When will the Lord appear?  While those who love the Lord discuss the important question, some have answered saying, ’The Lord is liable to come any moment.  He may come tonight,’ These expect the Lord’s appearing in a visible body.  Others who have no real desire for his coming, because it would interfere with their selfish plans, say:  ’He will not come in my time; he will not come for fifty-thousand years or more; hence there is no reason for our concerning ourselves about his coming’.  Still others who fear his coming and who do not desire to see him say:  ’No one can possibly know the time.  Why, therefore, should one spend his time in discussing the question?’

[388]The last-named class, in support of their contention, cite the words of Jesus when he said:  “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only”. (Matthew 24:36) It is assumed because he used these words that no one would ever know except Jehovah.  We should remember that Jesus spoke those words while he was yet a man on the earth.  He had not been glorified then.  He did not say that no one would ever know of the hour or the day of his coming.  If we conclude from these words that no man would ever know, we might as well conclude that Jesus would never know, because he said at that time that only the Father knew.  Paraphrasing his words we note he said this:  ’The day of my coming no one now knows except my Father.  Neither man nor angel knows anything about it; nor do I even know,’ At the same time, his words implied that conditions would change, so that others would know, because he said:  “Watch therefore:  for ye know not the hour your Lord doth come”. (Matthew 24:42) Why watch unless they would know when the time would arrive?  When Jesus arose from the dead he said:  “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”. (Matthew 28:18) He must have known then the time of his coming, because now as the creature divine everything was committed into his hands for the outworking of God’s plan.  At the time of his appearing surely the angels of heaven would know about it; and the day must come when the watchers would know.

[389]His last message to the disciples just before his ascension on high clearly indicated a time coming when the watchers would know.  He said unto them:  “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power.  But ye shall receive power, after that the holy spirit is come upon you.” (Acts 1:7,8) Those who are begotten of the holy spirit have the promise that the Lord will reveal to them his great truths when due to be understood. (1 Corinthians 2:9,10) These are they that walk in the light, and for them the light shines with increasing brilliancy unto the perfect