No One Knows the Day or the Hour and a Day as a Thousand Years

The two most often quoted Bible verses to counter the fulfilled view of eschatology are “no one knows the day or the hour” (Matthew 24:36) and “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years” (2 Peter 3:8). The person reciting these passages may know little else about eschatology, but they think that’s enough to shut off all discussion. If you are one who has attempted to use these verses in this way, I hope you will study this a bit more. But let’s address these two passages briefly.

DAY OR THE HOUR. This passage is in Matthew’s version of the Olivet Discourse. The context is the end of the age (Matthew 24:3) in which Jesus promised to return in judgment to punish Old Covenant Israel (Matthew 23:29-39; 24:29-34) and destroy the temple (Matthew 24:2). In Luke’s version of the Olivet Discourse we see Jesus telling his disciples that this was imminent when they saw Jerusalem surrounded by armies (Luke 21:20-24). Then it would be “about to happen” (Luke 21:36, Young’s Literal Translation). These prophecies were fulfilled in AD 70.

Just prior to the “no one knows the day or the hour” in Matthew 24:36, Jesus said “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (verse 34). Does verse 36 completely negate verse 34? Some Christians say that Jesus begins speaking about something different in verse 36, but that view is completely untenable for several reasons. But very simply, there is no discernable break in the content, especially when you compare Matthew 24 with Luke 17 which covers the same material but in a different order. But notice that in verse 36 Jesus refers back to what he just said with the reference “But concerning that day. . . .” This phrase clearly tells us that the flow is continuous.

So, what Jesus was teaching can be summarized thusly: “I cannot tell you the day or the hour when all these things will take place, but I assure you that they will happen in this generation, before some now living have died.”

Of course, that brings up the question, what does “this generation” mean. It clearly means what it says—the generation of those then living in the first century. No serious reader can doubt this as Jesus just prior specifically laid the object of his wrath upon the scribes and Pharisees to whom he was speaking in Matthew 23, where we also see the phrase “this generation” (Mathew 23:36). The phrase “this generation” is used several times in the New Testament and it clearly ALWAYS means the contemporaries of Jesus (Matthew 11:16; 12:38-45; Mark 8:12; 8:38-9:1; 13:30; Luke 7:31; 11:29-32, 49-51; 17:25). In addition, using Scripture to interpret Scripture, Jesus said the same thing in other ways, such as “some standing here will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom” (Matthew 16:28; see also Matthew 10:23; 26:64; Revelation 1:1-3; 22:6-20).

No doubt your next objection will be this: “Well, we know that Jesus has not returned, so some of this is yet to be fulfilled.” ANSWER: You have misunderstood what Jesus was predicting. He was predicting a divine presence in judgment, just like Yahweh did numerous times in the Old Testament. He was not, at least in these passages, predicting a bodily return to earth. For more on this see my articles #A8, #A13, #A14, and #A15 here:

DAY AS A THOUSAND YEARS. This passage cannot have a literal meaning, otherwise it would be nonsense. Thus, it cannot mean that a short time really means a long time. The context of this statement in 2 Peter 3 is that the scoffers were reminding Peter that Jesus had promised to return in judgment in their generation, but now, about 3 decades later it had not yet happened. So, Peter scolds the scoffers and advised them that “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise” as they were “waiting for the hastening day of the Lord” (2 Peter 3:12). So, Peter, writing in the early 60’s AD was issuing a strong warning about the coming destruction in AD 66-70 when Jerusalem was leveled and the temple destroyed.

Neither of that explains the Matthew 16: 27, 28 passages.

They may have seen him, but they didn’t see him with God and all the angels. Nor did they see him with God and all the angels judging every man according to his deeds. Also “Before you taste death”, I’m pretty sure that implies some who he was speaking to would see those things happen before they died. I’m pretty certain that the Bible has never claimed that happened. But it claims that it WILL happen.
The passage is pretty specific and can’t be written off as referring to the spirit of the Kingdom. Even if it did it still doesn’t explain that He said they would see it happen.

1.) Some of the people he was talking to were taken to Heaven or elsewhere before they died.

2.) The passage is wrong.

3.) It’s misquoted or mistranslated.

1.) Some of the people he was talking to were taken to Heaven or elsewhere before they died.

Mat 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples....
Mat 16:28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

Who is standing there? Who is he talking to? His disciples. What is going to happen. They are going to "see" the son of man coming in his kingdom".

What happens next?

Mat 17:1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;

He takes some disciples (some who are standing there) up a mountain.

Mat 17:2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Jesus appears to them IN A VISION (we'll look at that later) in the form he'll be in the kingdom of heaven...in the future.

Mat 17:3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

Moses and Elijah, in this FUTURE vision, are seen.

Mat 17:8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Mat 17:9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."

So what happened? Jesus said SOME of his disciples wouldn't have to die to see Jesus coming into his kingdom. Right after that SOME of his disciples saw in a vision Jesus coming into the kingdom in a vision. Jesus told the truth. The scripture is true.

Your answer is the closest of the bunch so far. When Scriptures says no man knows the day or the hour, it refers to a Jewish wedding custom. After all our Lord is getting married and is Jewish. Keep in mind the Rapture and the 2nd coming are 2 different events. The Rapture will happen in some Feast of Trumpets in the future.

1Th 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 1Th 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 1Th 5:3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 1Th 5:4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1Th 5:5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

The Jews he was talking to knew what he was talking about, but gentiles might not. "Thief in the Night", "last Trump", and other sayings are Jewish and they would understand, just as an American would understand "Turkey Day" as Thanksgiving, but someone from China may not.

After the Bridegroom purchased his bride, he went to his father and they built a room onto his fathers house for the new couple to live in. He would also build a shack, or temporary building to consummate the marriage on the wedding night. When the father looked at the shack to see if it would hold up in weather and keep their privacy, the father would say "Go get your bride". This day will happen on some Rosh Hashanah, or Feast of Trumpets.

You are correct that the "day as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day does refer to the 6 days of creation and the day of rest at the end. This is also why the Menorah has 7 lamps. The non believers make this statement to say that God's day can be millions of years. I say this fiction is a sign the person's faith is faulty calling God a liar. God even went to the trouble to explain,..."The evening and the morning was the first day". He repeated this over and over for each day to emphasize each day was a day. If you ascribe to the belief that nothing is too hard for God, then what's the problem? If Jesus can rise from the dead and Lazarus can rise from the grave, why such doubt about God creating the universe in 6 days? This is one of those things that requires faith. You cannot please God without faith. He tells us Hos ways are NOT our ways. If you limit God to what you think He can do then you have invented an idol in your mind that might as well be a carved stick or stone carving to worship. Scripture is very plain in what God did and how long it took. Would God lie?

The word used in 1Thess 5:1 for seasons is not summer, winter, fall, ect, it's "moed" or "rehearsal". In Lev 23, God spells out "The Lord's Days"( notice He didn't say Jewish Holiday's), to spell out the prophesies He will fulfill for His people. The "Thief in the night" references has to do with the "High Priest" ( Jesus in this case) will come in the midnight hour and anyone found sleeping that should be awake will lose their garments and they will be naked as the High Priest throws there garments in the fire. All the Jews study these holidays at least a month before they happen so they would know all these references.

One defeatist principle is saying no one can know the day or the hour, so they won't even study Scripture thinking that can know nothing about what's coming even though Scripture commands that we be looking for His return.

Now the "Bride will be taken up into the clouds at the Rapture for the marriage Supper of the Lamb for 7 years.( I'm a pre-tribber) Rev 4:1 tells John to "Come up here" and The "Lamb" has NOT opened the first seal yet. We are told we are NOT the children of wrath. We may die of cancer or war, but we won't suffer God's wrath. His wrath starts with the first seal. After 7 years of seal opening, trumpet blowing and bowels pouring, Jesus comes back with the saints to defeat the armies of demon filled soldiers coming against His people in Jerusalem. That's the second coming and the next day, He will set up in Jerusalem to rule and reign for 1000 years, as has been promised forever. When that ends, He burns the place down and we are shuttled into a new earth and a new heaven with a new Jerusalem.

They're two separate statements:

“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.

He's teaching the reality of the kingdom to come. He's telling them what's going to happen. And then he makes the statement that he's going to prove it to them now.

Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.“

Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.“

He's saying those FEW that he takes with them on the mountain are NOT going to have to die to see Christ in the kingdom. He gives them a vision and shows them. Everybody else was going to die since they won't be resurrected and see that sight until Christ returns.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.