Matthew Chapter 24

VERSE 35 and 36 “Heaven and earth [the present ecclesiastical and social order] will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”

Compare this with the words of Mark (13:32, 33)

“But of that day and hour knows no man; no not the angels of heaven, NOR THE SON, but my Father only. Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is.”

“To many these words seem to imply much more than they express: they think of them as though they put a lock upon and made useless all the prophecies of the Bible—as though our Lord had said, “No man shall EVER know,” whereas he merely said, “No man [NOW] knows,” referring only to the persons who heard him—(to whom he was speaking to at that time) to whom the exact times and seasons were not due to be revealed.

Who can doubt that the “angels of heaven” and “the Son” NOW KNOW, fully and clearly, matters which have progressed so nearly to fulfillment?

And if they are not now hindered from knowing by the statement of this verse, neither now are God’s saints hindered or restrained by this verse from seeking an understanding of all truth “written aforetime FOR OUR LEARNING.”

Indeed, it was in great measure because it was not the Father’s will that his people then, nor down to the time the “seals” were broken should know the date, that our Lord delineated the course of events, and assured them that if they would watch and pray and thus continue faithful, they, at the proper time, would not be left in darkness, but would see and know.

God, through his Prophet Daniel, pointed out that at this time “the wise shall understand” the vision and prophecy, and merely that “none of the wicked shall understand.” (Dan. 12:9, 10) To this the Apostle Paul adds his testimony,

“Ye brethren are not in darkness that THAT DAY should come upon you as a thief,” although it shall come thus upon the entire world. “Watch ye, therefore [that in due time YE MAY KNOW], and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass.” (D605, 606)

Verses 35 and 36 as explained by Brother Shallieu in The Book of Matthew

At that time even Jesus did not know the day and the hour, but he did know the year, and so can we know the year now in the end of the Harvest. We can be quite sure Jesus knew the year back there because of the detailed information in the chapter. (To have plainly stated the year, day, and hour would have allowed the enemies of righteousness to capitalize on the information for selfish purposes.) We need to (1) search the Scriptures (specifically the “more sure word of prophecy”), and (2) watch prophecies being fulfilled.

We should not interpret Scripture in the light of prophecy, but prophecy in the light of Scripture. Otherwise, all kinds of bizarre fulfillments will be predicted (as abundantly evidenced by the various predictions coming forth from the professing church, the church nominal).” The Book of Matthew

Verses 35 and 36 as explained in Appendix E of Revelation Notes Southern Wisconsin

Heaven and Earth are Passing Away Now!

In Verse 35 we see in symbol, that heaven and earth did indeed start to pass away, but our Lords word was fulfilled amply by history. The old system is to be replaced by the new heavens and earth. This first happened literally with the Jewish system in 70 A.D., and is now happening symbolically with the spiritual heavens and earth, in our time.

In Verse 36 it says that the Father had kept the times and the seasons secret, even from the Son. He only revealed the time and seasons to the Son, AFTER he was found worthy, after his sacrifice was completed at Calvary.

“Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” (Rev 5:2-5)

There is yet still another thought on these verses, which is worthy of consideration.

Most consider “that day” in Verse 36 to be in reference to the Day of the Lord specifically the time of the second advent of our Lord although it is not specifically stated so.

Recall once again the disciples asked three specific questions.

1) When shall these things [the destruction of the Temple, etc.] be?

2) What shall be the sign of thy presence (the Second Advent)?

3) What shall be the sign of end of the world [age], when the present heavens and earth pass away?

Bear in mind when the scriptures were originally compiled there were no divisions by paragraphs, sentences, punctuation, and etc., these are of more recent invention.

“That day” mentioned in Verse 36 could very well be in reference to our Lord’s statement in Verse 35, the day when “Heaven and earth will pass away” of THAT DAY no one knows.

The Day when “the [present] heavens (powers of spiritual control) will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth (the present social order) and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (2 Pet 3:10)

This is pictured by the dotted line on the Chart of the Ages, the date when the present heavens and earth give way to the new heavens and earth.

We move on to Verse 37 in our next post.