Rapture

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.” As we approach September 23-24, 2025, social media platforms are flooded with September 2025 rapture predictions, prophetic declarations, and countdown timers. Some believers have even taken extreme measures, selling possessions and preparing for an imminent departure. However, before we allow excitement or anxiety to overwhelm us, we must anchor ourselves in what Scripture actually declares about Christ’s return. Jesus, speaking with divine authority in Matthew 24:36, establishes an unshakeable truth: the timing of His return belongs exclusively to the Father. Notice the deliberate emphasis – not even the angels in heaven possess this knowledge, nor did the Son during His earthly ministry. How then can any human claim to possess what Jesus Himself acknowledged He did not know? The Greek word for “knows” here is oida, indicating absolute, complete knowledge. This isn’t partial understanding or educated guessing – it’s definitive knowledge that belongs to God alone. When Christ uses such absolute language, we must receive it with reverent acceptance rather than attempting to circumvent it through calculations or visions. Acts 1:6-7 “Then they gathered around him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.'” Even after His resurrection, when the disciples pressed Jesus about prophetic timing, His response was crystal clear. The disciples, filled with curiosity about God’s timeline, received a gentle but firm redirection. Jesus didn’t provide cryptic clues or mathematical formulas – He simply declared that such knowledge was beyond their scope of responsibility. The word “times” (chronos) refers to periods or seasons, while “dates” (kairos) speaks of specific appointed moments. Jesus definitively states that both the general seasons and specific moments of prophetic fulfillment remain under the Father’s exclusive authority. This comprehensive statement leaves no room for human calculation or prophetic speculation about exact dates. The Pattern of Watchfulness Mark 13:32-37 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come… Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back.” Jesus establishes a profound principle: uncertainty about timing should produce constant readiness, not frantic date-setting. The repetitive emphasis on watchfulness throughout this passage reveals God’s heart. He desires a church that lives in perpetual spiritual alertness, not one that relaxes between predicted dates. Consider the wisdom in God’s design. If we knew the exact date, human nature would lead us to spiritual complacency until the final moments. Instead, the mystery of timing keeps us in a state of holy expectancy, ensuring that every day holds potential for His appearing. Luke 12:35-40 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet… You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” This parable reveals the heart of biblical preparedness. Notice that the servants aren’t calculating when their master might return – they’re simply maintaining constant readiness. Their lamps remain lit, their clothes stay prepared for service, and their hearts remain expectant. The phrase “dressed ready for service” uses the imagery of a servant with their outer garment tucked into their belt, ready for immediate action. This speaks to spiritual preparation that goes beyond mere intellectual acknowledgment. True readiness involves active holiness, faithful service, and vigilant spiritual discipline. The Danger of Date-Setting 2 Peter 3:8-10 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Peter addresses the very human tendency to impose our time constraints upon God’s eternal purposes. While some are setting specific dates and creating countdown timers, Scripture reveals that God operates on a completely different timeline than human expectation. The apparent “delay” in Christ’s return isn’t divine procrastination – it’s merciful patience. Every day that passes represents another opportunity for souls to come to salvation. When we focus obsessively on specific dates, we can miss the beauty of God’s redemptive heart that desires all to come to repentance. Revelation 3:3 “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” The imagery of a thief is intentionally startling. Thieves don’t announce their arrival or provide advance warning. They come unexpectedly, when defenses are down and attention is elsewhere. Jesus deliberately chose this metaphor to emphasize the unpredictable nature of His return. This passage also reveals that spiritual alertness isn’t automatic – it requires intentional maintenance. We must “wake up” and remain vigilant. The church at Sardis had become spiritually drowsy, and Christ’s warning serves as a call to constant spiritual awakening. The Ezekiel Principle Ezekiel 33:1-6 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head…'” While this passage speaks to physical warfare, the principle applies to spiritual watchfulness. A true watchman doesn’t predict specific attack dates – he maintains constant vigilance and warns of