Nougat 26

Recently, in preparation for a project I was invited to present for Jo-Anne Richards, I was reading about the end times. One thing was very clear in that text, and it is equally clear in Today’s Holy Nougat, contrary to what many others seem to profess.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 ASV

[1] But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.

[2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

The Day of the Lord

Inasmuch as we have received signs of that landmark and historic Day, Paul says no one knows the exact date. I’m more than just inclined to believe him (although it is one date that I don’t plan to miss) because nowhere in the Bible do we actually receive clarity on the matter.

Several prophets received visions of the future (including Paul, it seems), but none of them have a date. In fact, it sometimes seems that the signs are contradictory or designed only for interpretation by the great biblical scholars.

Two very profound prophets on the Day of the Lord are Daniel and John (the beloved?). They offer signs of the times, and Daniel even offers general timelines that point to the date but no actual date. John tells what Heaven looks like, tells even about a deadly mark that will separate ‘sheep’ from ‘goats’. Even then, there is no date.

Given that Paul didn’t claim prophecy as a spiritual gift, it is unlikely that he would have had a better clue than those two major prophets of the two biblical dispensations of Law and Grace. His argument is that those who are ‘looking’ for a specific date must consider it to be as sudden as a break-in. Isn’t that something? There will be warnings, yet the Day itself will come suddenly. Remember, though, that we make preparations against a break-in when we see signs of theft in our neighbourhood. So, lack of knowledge of the Date is no excuse!

The Greatest Prophet of all, Y’shua (the Son of God in human form), also spoke about that Day. He offered signs to watch for, but *no date*! In Mark 13, as with Matthew 25, Y’shua offers extensive details about what we can expect. Mark 13:32-37 (the text Jo-Anne had me reading) is very clear … not Daniel (nor the other prophets, nor Paul), nor the angels, not even Y’shua Himself know when God will say, ‘enough is enough’.

But we do know that that Day is marked on God’s calendar. And we have a chance to be with God, with Y’shua, and all the other saints on that Day. That may be all we need to know. So we make preparations, doing our due diligence.

If I have anything to do with it, by virtue of choices I make, more so, by virtue of Christ’s love, I’ll be ready. I so pray that we’re all there. In the name of Y’shua, think about these things.

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May all we seek be found in Christ