Jesus' Return Date Unknown: Mark 13:32-37
Many have questioned the date of the return of Jesus Christ.
However, the parable of Jesus in Mark 13:32-37 (NIV) explains that this date is unknown and that believers must be ready for His coming:
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert[e]! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
Therefore, regardless of what events take place in the world, no one knows when the date of the coming of the Lord will take place. If a date was given, people would wait until the last minute to get ready for His coming and therefore an unknown date requires believers to be ready without knowing the day or the hour. Believers must make themselves ready through prayer and following the Lord's commandments. There is no time to wait until the Lord comes to make the commitment to the Lord Jesus. Believers must be ready and watch just like Jesus' parable of Mark 13 says. It takes time to develop a strong relationship with the Lord and this relationship must be built through faith, prayer, and obedience to the commandments that have been given. Believers must flee from the pleasures of this world because those things lead people astray from the Kingdom of Heaven and one day those things will not exist. Believers must build up treasures in heaven by building a strong relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
However, the parable of Jesus in Mark 13:32-37 (NIV) explains that this date is unknown and that believers must be ready for His coming:
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert[e]! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
Therefore, regardless of what events take place in the world, no one knows when the date of the coming of the Lord will take place. If a date was given, people would wait until the last minute to get ready for His coming and therefore an unknown date requires believers to be ready without knowing the day or the hour. Believers must make themselves ready through prayer and following the Lord's commandments. There is no time to wait until the Lord comes to make the commitment to the Lord Jesus. Believers must be ready and watch just like Jesus' parable of Mark 13 says. It takes time to develop a strong relationship with the Lord and this relationship must be built through faith, prayer, and obedience to the commandments that have been given. Believers must flee from the pleasures of this world because those things lead people astray from the Kingdom of Heaven and one day those things will not exist. Believers must build up treasures in heaven by building a strong relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
