No One Knows That Day or Hour
The phrase "No one knows that day or hour" is found in 2 parallel passages of the bible i.e. Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32;
Mat 24:36 But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Mar 13:32 But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
In Luke, there was a similar passage about "that day" in Luke 17, and the events that are going to unfold on "that day".
All these passages are a continuation of the conversation between the disciples and Jesus when the disciples asked Jesus the questions in Matthew 24:3.
It is interesting to note that the Strong's Concordance translate "that day" as "that one day", indicating a particular date and day, that these things are going to take place.
Modern day controversy:
Some bible interpreters indicate that "that day" refers to a future day or future date that Jesus was referring to (we shall call them futurists).
Their explanation was that:
a. They agree that Matthew 24:3-35 was actually referring to the events of the destruction of Jerusalem, and
b. that Matthew 24:36 was referring to a future event of the "day of judgement/apocalypse or a future 2nd coming of Jesus" that has yet to happen.
c. They call this a transition verse, where Jesus changed His topic or agenda.
My explanation:
I choose to differ from their explanation, because:
a. Jesus did not make a topic change or a topic transition.
b. The conversation of Jesus and His disciples did not change. It was the same thing that Jesus was talking about and conversing with His disciples.
In the parallel passage in Mark 13:4, we read:
Mar 13:4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when ALL THESE THINGS shall be fulfilled?
and as an answer to their questions, Jesus said in Mark 13:32:
Mar 13:32 But concerning THAT DAY or THAT HOUR, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Jesus answered verse 4 with verse 32. It was a continuous conversation. Jesus did not change topic or transition into another subject, nor talk about another era or time period. Jesus did not change audience. It was all within the same time, in answering to the disciples in front of them.
Qn: Did Jesus gave a clue as to the timing of That Day?
That Day when all these terrible things are going to happen?
An: Yes, Jesus did. Two verses before Matthew 24;36, we read in Matthew 24:34:
Mat 24:34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
The timing indicator is "this generation shall not pass away".
However, the timing as to the exact "that one day" or "that hour", no one knows, not even Jesus knew.
Qn: Did Jesus himself knew of "That Day"?
An: Some may say that Jesus knows. But Jesus himself said that not even He himself knows.
Why is this?
When Jesus was physically on planet Earth, He was bound by certain limitations. For example, He can only be in 1 place at a time. He was not Omnipresent.
Based on Luke 2:52, we read that Jesus was 12 years old and He was having a discussion with the teachers of the Law in the temple, when His earthly parents were looking for Him. The the verse said:
Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Note: that Jesus had to grow, to advance, to gain wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. He did not automatically knew everything. He wasn't born earthly to know everything from His Father (God).
Jesus in the physical was not Omniscient. He did not know everything. Jesus only spoke what He heard His Father said. He did what His Father said to do. He did not have all knowledge about every situation.
For example, in Mark 5:30, when a woman touched Him, Jesus did not know who touched Him.
Mar 5:30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”
That Day vs pregnancy Date
The speculation of the exact "that one day" can be roughly compared in a simple analogy for purpose of clarification.
In a woman's pregnancy, the doctor may give you a particular date of when the baby is going to come out, but we know that the actual date may differ to several days before of after that stated date. You will not know the exact date or hour of when the baby will be born, but you will know that it will be within that period of time.
Similarly, the actual "that day" of when it shall be is not known, but it shall be within the timing of "all these things that will happen, will definitely take place within their time period, "their generation".
What is the meaning of "That Day"?
Luke 17 tells us the events that will take place on "that day". This is similarly recorded in Matthew 24 and Mark 13.
In Luke 17:30-31, we read:
Luk 17:30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Luk 17:31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.
These verses quoting "in that day" is a direct reference to the fall of Jerusalem, and not some future event or day.
In his book John L. Bray called "Matthew 24 fulfilled", he said:
["That Day" is the culmination of "those days"]
Qn: What are "those days"? Or What are "those last days"?
An: Those days refer to everything that Jesus said from Matthew 24:3-35. These are the last days.
So verse 36 "that day" is the culmination (highest or climatic point) of verse 3-35 "those days"
There was no indication that the events had changed from verse 35 to verse 36. We can conclude that we are dealing with the same events.
Note: When the disciples were told that it will happen in their generation, and that they did not know the exact moment. It was enough. It was not too vague or uncertain. Jesus did not leave them dangling in hopelessness because Jesus told them that they just need to know the signs, the landmarks or indicators that will happen in their generation along their way. And all these signs were very clearly foretold to them in all the parallel passages above.
John Lightfoot, an early Christian writer, wrote about "that day and hour".
[Of what day and hour? That the discourse is of the day of the destruction of Jerusalem, is so evident, both by the disciples' question, and by the whole thread of Christ's discourse - that it is a wonder, any should understand these words of the day and hour of the Last Judgement.]
Another prominent Christian writer John Gill, in his 1809 commentary on Matthew 24:36 (his commentary is freely available in e-sword app).
[But of that day and hour knoweth no man,.... Which is to be understood, not of the second coming of Christ, the end of the world, and the last judgment; but of the coming of the son of man, to take vengeance on the Jews, and of their destruction; for the words manifestly regard the date of the several things going before, which only can be applied to that catastrophe, and dreadful desolation: now, though the destruction itself was spoken of by Moses and the prophets, was foretold by Christ, and the believing Jews had some discerning of its near approach; (see Heb 10:25) yet the exact and precise time was not known; ]
Another early Christian writer, N. Nisbett in 1787 in his book title "An attempt to illustrate various important passages in the Epistles, etc. of the New Testament, from our Lord's prophecies of the destruction of Jerusalem from some prophecies of the Old Testament." talked about Matthew 24:36
[ But though the time was hastening on for the completion of our Lord’s prophecy of the ruin of the Jews; yet the exact time of this judgment, laid hid in the bosom of the Father. Verse 36. ‘Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.’ St. Mark has it: ‘Neither the Son, but the Father;’ but the sense is the same. Some men of great learning and eminence have thought that our Lord is here speaking, not of the destruction of Jerusalem, but of that more solemn and awful one of the day of judgment. But I can by no means think that the Evangelists are such loose, inaccurate writers, as to make so sudden and abrupt a transition, as they are here supposed to do; much less to break through the fundamental rules of good writing, by apparently referring to something which they had said before; when in reality they were beginning a new subject, and the absurdity of the supposition will appear more strongly, if it is recollected that the question of the disciples was, ‘When shall these things be?’ ‘Why,’ says our Saviour, ‘of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only’” ]
In conclusion: The judgement on Jerusalem is about to fall soon. This judgement will come suddenly and without further warning like in the flood that occurred at the time of Noah.
Mat 24:37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Mat 24:38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,
Mat 24:39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Fold the Old Garment
This judgement was about to fall on the Mosaic system and the Jews who crucified Jesus Christ. Just like in the flood, it came and took all of them away. That judgement (that physically and historically occurred in AD70) is going to be the same and to take them all away.
The whole Jewish system of Mosaic Law is going to be completely take away. In fact, to be folded up like a garment as described in Hebrews 1.
Heb 1:11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,
Heb 1:12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
Jesus spoke about an old garment and a new garment, and that you cannot put a patch on an old garment (Luke 5:36)
So what do you do with an old garment?
You just fold it up and put it away. You then put on a new garment, and that garment is Jesus Christ.
