Knowledge of the Hour in Christianity

 

Knowledge of the Hour in Christianity

In the Gospel of Mark chapter 13 verse 32

But of that day and that hour no one knows, neither the angels who are in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father

The interpretation depends on cultural backgrounds of marriage among the Jews. Rabbi Bentley explains this matter: when the groom wants to betroth his bride, he goes to her father with his family. He takes with him wine, the betrothal contract, and the dowry. The bride becomes his wife, but the marriage is not fully completed until the wedding day. Before the wedding, the groom builds the bridal chamber. When he finishes the building, he can return to his bride. The father of the groom alone decides when the bridal chamber is ready. Therefore, no one can know the day of the wedding except the father alone. He is the one who determines the hour and the day of the wedding.

The text does not require scrutiny in translation or theological debate, but rather an understanding of the cultural background, and let us take an example from the words of Christ:

Gospel of John 14: 2

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you

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Interpretation of Father Matta El Meskeen

The end of the world is the end of time, and the day of the end of the world or the hour in which the end begins does not exist within time at all, because it is the end of time; therefore it is certainly not within time, nor is it counted from it, nor measured by it. Thus, the day of the end of the world and its hour are above time and do not exist within it. They belong to the essence of the non-temporal and the unknown beyond time, and thus man, whoever he may be, is prevented from perceiving it, as he is a temporal being subject to time. Therefore, it is not part of the mission of the incarnate Son nor of His work, because His mission ends in time in the present in the flesh, and it is a mission of self-emptying and humility. As stated in the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians chapter 2 from verse 5

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus

Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God

But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father

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And also in verse 37 of the Gospel of Matthew chapter 24

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be

And verse 42

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming

And verse 44

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

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And also in the Gospel of Mark chapter 13 verses 26 and 27

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory,

And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven

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Does the Holy Spirit not know the Hour

At the beginning, Christ said in the Gospel of John chapter 4 verse 24

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth

And also in the First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians chapter 2 from verse 10

 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God

 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God

 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God

 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual

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And glory be to God, Lord of lords and King of kings