Times...Seasons...Day...Hour
Recently the numerous studies about Hanukka have been especially informative and enlightening. On the basis of the various studies there were high expectations for the blessed hope. The term "blessed hope" is from a short passage in Titus 2:12-13. I quote: "...in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...". Truly we do look for the blessed hope. The blessed hope has been the comfort of every Christian in every age. Because we now live in a time of fulfilled prophecies, it is reasonable to believe that Jesus take us home quite soon. Let us therefore look at the biblical references to "times, seasons, day and hour."
Matthew 16
16 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
Here in Matthew 16, the implication is that we should know the times.
1 Thessalonians 5
5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
Here the meaning may mean that knowing the times and seasons is different from knowing the day and hour. The times and seasons seem to be something they should know from what they had previously been taught as opposed to the day and hour.
Matthew 24
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
The day and hour are hidden.
The next passage would seem contradictory and confusing.
Acts 1:6-8
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This passage is tricky. It is spoken to a group before the Holy Spirit has come upon them. Clearly they couldn't yet know the times and seasons.
Most, or at least some of us, would accept that the time of Jesus' appearing refers to our lifetime since the Jews are back in their homeland. If we can accept that then we can begin to try and discern the season. Here we stumble. Our studies thus far have pointed out the logic of the rapture occurring a number of different holidays, and seasons. My belief is that there are pictures and parallels of the rapture in a number of Jewish feasts. My further belief is that when the "season" finally is upon us, it will be revealed by the Holy Spirit and that logical persuasion will be unnecessary. So should we leave off from looking and trying to discern? Lets see.
Ecclesiastes 8:5-6
And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment,
6 Because for every matter there is a time and judgment
1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
Habakkuk 1:5
[ The LORD’s Reply ] “Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.
Matthew 24:50
the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
Luke 21:28
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Let me conclude by saying that I believe it is right to look and discern... to try and determine the "season" since we already know the "time". But I am sure that we cannot be positive about the season until the Holy Spirit has at last revealed it. When that happens, I think it will be revealed to many, if not all who are watching. The day and hour we may not know. Until the Holy Spirit reveals the season our logic in this matter may continue to be defeated. That is not to say we shouldn't be diligent in study and watchfulness. I will continue to watch on the various feasts (including Hanukkah)...and every day in between.
YBIC
Bruce Baber