NO ONE KNOWS THE TIME: Living Ready, Not Predicting Dates
Jesus Christ is coming again. That is the blessed hope of the Church and the longing of every heart that loves Him. But one thing we must never forget—and never distort—is that no one knows when that day will come. Over and over again, Scripture warns us not to assume, not to guess, and definitely not to declare any specific time or season for His return. Jesus Himself said it plainly. No one knows the day or the hour—not the angels in heaven, not even the Son, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36).
That should settle it. And yet, history is filled with men and movements who have tried to pinpoint the timing of Christ’s return. They quote obscure prophecies, calculate timelines, and make bold claims that this year or that date must be the one. But Jesus already told us it would be like a thief in the night. Unexpected. Sudden. Without warning (Luke 12:39–40; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). And when people ignore those words and chase predictions, they don’t just get it wrong. They damage the witness of the gospel. Every failed prophecy tied to a date drags the name of Jesus through the mud and turns sincere seekers into hardened skeptics.
We are called to be ready, not to be right about a date. The early Church didn’t walk around with charts and countdowns. They lived with urgency and faithfulness because they believed the King could return at any moment. Jesus said to stay dressed for action and keep our lamps burning like servants waiting for their Master to come home (Luke 12:35–36). That’s the posture of the Christian life—alert, faithful, expectant—not distracted by speculation or obsessed with the headlines.
And let’s also be clear about what we’re waiting for. Our hope is not in a nation, a temple, or a return to Old Testament systems. Our hope is in Jesus Christ alone. Paul told the Ephesians that there is one hope to which we have been called (Ephesians 4:4), and that hope is the return of the Lord Jesus to make all things new. There’s a lot of talk these days about geopolitical events, about the rebuilding of the temple, and about restoring old covenants. But that’s not where the New Testament points us. Salvation is not about being born into the right family or keeping the right customs. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, whether you are Jew or Gentile (Romans 1:16).
To elevate national Israel above the gospel is to misunderstand the entire purpose of God’s redemptive plan. Christ fulfilled the Law. He tore down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile and created one new people in Himself (Ephesians 2:14–16). There is not a different way for different groups. There’s one Savior and one way of salvation. If we understand that rightly, then we will look forward to His return, not to the return of a religious system that was only ever meant to point to Him.
So live today in humility and hope. Be awake. Be watching. Be faithful in what He has given you to do. Don’t waste time chasing predictions. Don’t get swept up in movements that promise secret knowledge or special timelines. Instead, fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). The King is coming. That’s certain. But the timing is not for us to know. What is for us to do is live like it could be today—because it could.
Bryan Dewayne Dunaway
