Will Yeshua’s Second Coming be known to us? or will He come as a thief in the night?

As we have studied earlier, The Feast of Trumpets is known and believed to be the Prophetic appointment when our Messiah is going to return. We already know that the New Testament proves that He died on the day of “Passover“, was Resurrected on the day of “First fruits” and the Holy Spirit was sent as promised on the day of “Pentecost“. The next or 4th Prophetic Appointment(which is yet to be fulfilled) amongst the Feasts that are given in Lev 23, is the Feast of Trumpets.

But there is a valid question raised among believers regarding this appointment. This question is Whether we can actually know when He is going to return, as in some places He told the disciples that “no one can know of what day or hour it is going to be” & other places it is equaled to a “thief in the night”. Thus, some question and even refuse to believe the Prophetic Appointment which is known as the “Feast of Trumpets” would be the day of His return. This was an interesting question that personally, I also had, as I was researching and doing my own studies. It is an important question which needs to be addressed and answered, as we have all been taught that no one can know when he is going to return.

There are a few verses in the New Testament which are used to prove the fact that the Second coming of Christ is a completely hidden event which could happen at any day. We will review a few of these verses today, and see whether there is anything that is overlooked or misunderstood.

Please note that even though the Scriptures point at the fact that Yeshua(Jesus’ true name) will return on the Feast of Trumpets, it is impossible “to know for sure” which year He will return, beforehand. But it is my understanding that we will be able to see the signs both on the Earth and in the Heavens, and we will be able to WATCH for His coming as it approaches. If you have read the study on the Feast of Trumpets, you would already know that “WATCHING” is a key message behind this Appointed time.

Examining Mat 24:36 – But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Reading this verse, we need to ask a critical question. What is the day and hour Yeshua is talking about? Is it the Day of the Second Coming? Or is it something else?

Let’s read verse 35&36 together. Yeshua tells the disciples “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only”. But of which day? Is He talking about the Second Coming or the day the Heaven and Earth pass?

Furthermore, in the next few verses(37-39) Yeshua says that His return will be like the days of Noah. An important thing to note about this parallel is that the people who drowned in the flood were sinners/unbelievers. The Flood overtook the people who were not ready for God’s Judgement, while Noah knew beforehand and he was ready. God even notified Noah, the day that the flood was going to start, a full week before it happened (Gen 7:4). If we are waiting for the day like Noah, ready, with eyes wide open, how can it overtake us?

Examining 2Pet 3:10 – But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Peter seems to be telling the readers that Yeshua will be coming without warning, like a thief. As Peter does not explain his thoughts any further, let us read the similar words of Paul in 1Thes 5:2. It reads, “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” Paul says the same thing as Peter; Christ will indeed return as a thief in the night. But let us continue our reading to the next few verses.

In verse 4-6, Paul says “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

Reading Paul’s explanation, we understand that “The Day of the Lord” will not be known by people who are in darkness. It will come as a thief to people who are not “Watching”.

These words agree with Yeshua’s words in Mat 24:37 about the Second Coming resembling the days of Noah. The judgement does not overtake the people eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of His prophecies. Furthermore, Paul’s words in 1Thes 5:1-6 agree again with Yeshua’s words written down in Rev 3:3 which read, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. As we see again, He will come as a thief in the night, to all who are not ready and DO NOT WATCH.

This further agrees with the parable Yeshua gave in Mat 24:43 which says “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” If the man of the house watched, he would not be surprised.

Whomever does not know God’s times and appointments given in Scripture, will surely be surprised at the claims made in this post. Luke 24:27 says that Yeshua explained the things concerning himself in the Scriptures beginning at Moses and all the prophets, to the disciples. Understanding God’s Prophetic Calendar and Appointments (which are written by Moses) is an important piece of the puzzle, in figuring out and keeping watch for His return. If one does not know His Word, how can he/she be ready for its fulfillment?

Conclusion
As we have seen, the question of whether or not we can know of the day in which Christ will return, is an all important one. Even though we do not know the exact year, day and hour in which the Second Coming will happen, it will surely happen on the Prophetic Feast of Trumpets. He will return fulfilling God’s Word and His Appointed time of Trumpets, just as he fulfilled Passover, Firstfruits & Pentecost. Yeshua himself has given us so many signs to look out for. Not only Yeshua, but all of the prophets have given clues of what should expire before His return. And out of all of these signs and prophecies none other is more important than the “Prophetic Appointments” known as the Feast days “God Almighty has spoken of” in the Scriptures.

We need to “WATCH”, so that we are not overcome and taken by surprise, on that day. And not only watch, but sound an alarm asking people to wake up and get ready. Let us be like Noah, ready and waiting for the fulfillment of all that God has spoken of, and may He provide us with the grace to warn the people around us, of the judgement of the world, which is at hand.