Seeing What the Book Says - Part 1

Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 provide parallel accounts of what Jesus taught about the end times—specifically, the chronos timing of the end of this age and the corresponding signs of His coming. In Luke 21:34 He warns us: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.”
 
The Day Jesus refers to is the Day of the Lord. It has many titles in Scripture, including the Appointed Day, the Day of Redemption, the Last Day (of God’s great Week), the Day of Christ, and the Day of His coming.
 
What is the purpose of His warning? He doesn’t want that Day to come upon His disciples unexpectedly. He expects us to ‘be in the know’ concerning the timing of that Day and the signs leading up to that Day.
 
He tells us that this Day shall be like the time of Noah. Noah knew the timing of the Flood.

• He knew 120 years in advance as recorded in Genesis 6:3, for God would not strive with fallen flesh for more than 120 years.
• He knew it would come in his lifetime as recorded in Genesis 6:18, when God established the covenant of deliverance for his family through the Ark.
• He knew that when his grandfather, Methuselah, died that the Flood would be fast approaching. That is what Methuselah literally means. His grandfather died one month before the Flood.
• He knew the week it would happen as recorded in Genesis 7:14, for it would begin after 7 days.

 
There are other Scriptures that confirm the timing of the Day of the Lord, and hence, our Lord’s return. Despite this, many in the Church quote one verse taken out of context to say we are not to know when Christ is returning. The unknown day and hour in question that Jesus refers to is the Perfect Day when God makes the new heavens and new earth—Eternity Future.
 
Why is it so important that we see this truth about the end times? Because He doesn’t want us weighed down by the darkness we see around us, or the cares of this world. If we’re convinced that we cannot know the time, then that Day will come upon us unexpectedly. We’ll be vulnerable to the uncertainty, and distracted from our assignment of bringing as many people as possible into the Ark of Jesus Christ.
 
Instead, He wants us to shine as lights in the darkness. When we know the chronos timing, we need not fear the growing darkness. After all, the darker it becomes, the more the light stands out. The difference becomes clearer for all to see.