When Christ came 2000 years ago, his coming and all his works were the fulfillments of prophecies. His coming as man in the flesh, his birth in Bethlehem, his preaching from Galilee and his death on the cross, all these were done to accomplish what was written in the bible. That is why to Peter who tried to stop the men from the high priest arresting him he said:
Matthew 26:52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
He wanted to fulfill the prophecies of the bible and finish all the works assigned to them so that people can trust in him. Then how about his second coming? He already taught us that he would come on the clouds of heaven, which means that he would come back as man in the flesh, hiding his spiritual glory in the flesh. And also he let us know the time of his coming too so that we can know and receive him when he comes to fulfill the prophecies.
Noah’s Time
Let us take a look at the prophecy concerning the time of his coming so that we can know the time of his coming. Many people says the time and date cannot be known because Jesus himself taught us that only God knows the time and date. Then let us read carefully to understand the true meaning so that we would not misunderstand the meaning.
Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
His coming is compared to the time of Noah. Therefore, to understand his coming we must understand the time of Noah. In the time of Noah men grew wicked in the eyes of God and God decided to destory mankind completely with flood. And finally the flood came and destroyed everybody: Except for Noah. Nobody knew the time and date of coming disasters, but Noah and his family was warned in advance and they could get prepared by building a huge ark.
Genesis 7:4 4 Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.
God let Noah know the coming disaster long time before so he could build the ark and also 7 days before the flood God let Noah know that he would send rain for 40 days to destroy all the living things from the earth. In the world of wickedness Noah was considered as righteous man and he was given the time of disasters and he could save himself. Then can we say that nobody should know the time and date? It is not true. To those who are to be destroyed the time and date are not known, but to those who are to be saved God already let them know the time and date. Let us confirm this through Lot’s story.
Lot’s Time
Luke 17:28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
Again Jesus compared his coming to the time of Lot. At the moment people were not aware of any coming disasters and living their daily lives in peace, the disasters came and completely destroyed them. People were taken by surprise when they were not prepared. But is it the complete story? No. As you can already guess, Noah and his family could save themselves. Then why? Because they were warned in advance and they could escape the disaster to save themselves.
Genesis 19:12 12 The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13 because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. 15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” 16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”
In the time of Lot, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah along with all the people in them becuase of their wickedness, but Lot was considered as righteous in the eyes of God and he could save himself because he was warned in advance so that he and his family would escape from the disasters. Then what do these stories tell us? Through these we can know God already warns his people in advance so that they can get prapred before the coming disasters. Therefore, there are two types of people and two types of stories: first, those who do not know the time and date and are to be destroyed by the disasters, and second those who know and are to be saved.
Apotles’ Understanding
1 Thessalonians 5:1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
There is a group of people who will face the day of God unexpectedly and they will not be able to escape the coming disasters. But there is another group of people who will meet the day of the Lord prepared and save themselves out of disasters. Then how would it be possible for them to escape the disasters? It is because they would be warned beforehand so that they could get prepared.
2 Peter 3:10 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Here Apostle Peter teaches the same thing. For those who do not know the time the day of the Lord will come like thief when they are not prepared, and will destroy them. But for those who know the day, the day is the day of redemption and salvation and the day is the day when they will go to the kingdom of heaven.
Conclusion
Therefore, when Jesus gave his teachings of the day of his coming, he was separating two types of people: People like Noah and Lot and People who were destroyed. In short, the bible teaches that there are two groups of peoples: those who are to be saved and those who are to be destroyed. To those who are to be destroyed the time and date will not be known and they will get destroyed unprepared. But those who know the time and date will be given time to get prepared so that they would receive salvation.
Then in what group would like to be in? Those who know or those who do not know? Through the prophecies of the bible we must know the time and date and get prepared so that we can receive salvation. World Mission Society Church of God invites you to come and have knowledge about Christ’s Coming so that you can save yourself. Even though Satan works hard to cover the glory of God in the gospel, now the true gospel of the new covenant of Passover is being preached throughout the world.
Give glory to Heavenly Father Ahnsahnghong and Heavenly Mother New Jerusalem!
All the prophecies of the bible must be fulfilled. So it is important that we know the day of the Lord. There is no exact date of it but God let us know the sign of His Coming very clearly in the bible.
All the prophecies of the bible must be fulfilled. So it is important that we know the day of the Lord. There is no exact date of it but God let us know the sign of His Coming very clearly in the bible.