God’s blueprint for mankind foretells seasons and times that we are meant to pay attention to. God never intended for us to be ignorant of the times, including the timing of the end of the Age of Grace. Hence the title: “WHAT IF?” What if we are being given a warning shout right now that the Harpazo / Catching Up / Rapture is at the door? What if the shouts for us to pay attention are really from God Himself and not just from fellow humans? What if the Feast of Trumpets next week is the beginning of events described by Jesus and further outlined by Paul? Notice what we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:4:
“For you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”
One of the verses in Matthew 24 that is suddenly much more controversial lately than ever before is:
“But of that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, but My Father only.”
In my studies I came across an interesting article written five years ago in 2020 by author Jeff Van Hatten. Because it is offered as a “free share” article, I have transcribed it in its entirety below. I have provided some definitions below for those not familiar with terms used in his article. There are four levels of Jewish textual interpretation and two of them are used in the author’s article below.
- Pashat level: The simple, literal meaning of the text
- Sod level: The secret or mystical interpretation,focusing on hidden meanings and deeper spiritual insights.
I will add some personal commentary at the end of the article. Please read to the end.
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No One Knows The Day or Hour, A Hebrew Idiom
This saying of Yeshua has been debated for ages, and many different explanations have been given. Is it a Hebrew idiom? And if so, where did it come from and just what does it mean? Let’s take a look at this saying and see what is known about it:
The Most Common Usage
The common answer given by the bridegroom during ages past to someone asking the question: “When’s the wedding date?” was a well known Hebrew idiom: “I don’t know, the angels don’t know, ask my dad!” Today, if depression over the length of time taken to build the new home and furnish it to his father’s expectations had set in, the bridegroom might very well reply with one of today’s favorite idioms: “When the time is right.” By using this expression, “You do not know the day or the hour”, Yeshua may have simply been using a common wedding idiom to answer his disciples’ questions about the sign of his coming and of the end of the age. In short, he merely answered at the Pashat level of understanding: “It will be revealed when it is the appropriate time to do so.” This is in accordance with a similar question asked by Daniel. The answer was “keep these words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end” (Daniel 12:1-4).
The Yom Teruah Usage
- Yom Teruah: The Day of The Trumpet Blast
One of the seven Moedim of Yahweh (Divine Appointments or Feasts) is called the Yom Teruah. It is also referred to as Rosh Hashanah or the Feast of Trumpets. Of the seven moedim, this one is the only one that doesn’t have an exact starting time. This moed begins only when two witnesses see the edge of the moon and report their sighting to the Sanhedrin. This requirement introduces slight variable time to its inception. The Jews celebrate what is supposed to be the first day of the seventh month, Tishri, (Leviticus 23:23-25) over a two-day period because it is “the day no one knows the day or hour.” For this very reason, Yom Teruah was, and still is, referred to as “the moed that no one knows the day or hour of!”
- Yom Ha-Keseh: The Hidden Day, The Day of hiding, The Day of Concealment.
Psalm 81:3: Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the concealed time, on our feast day.” Yom Ha’Keseh can be interpreted several different ways. Firstly, it references the day when the moon is just coming out of hiding, in other words, a day of a concealed moon. Secondly, Satan is not given notice about the arrival of Yom Teruah, the Day of Judgment. A hidden day because it was hidden from Satan, the adversary, in the same manner that the resurrection of Yeshua on the third day was hidden from his knowledge. By using this expression, “You do not know the day or the hour”, Yeshua may have been referencing both Yom Teruah and the Yom Ha’Kesheh at the Sod level of understanding.
Avi Ben Mordechai devotes a chapter in “Signs In The Heavens” to explaining what the idiom “no man knows the day or hour” truly means from a rabbinical Hebraic perspective. He states: “It is a figure of speech. Yeshua used this figure of speech to say: ‘I am coming for my Bride on such and such a day! Be watching!’ The phrase, ‘of that day and hour no man knows’ refers to the sanctification or setting apart of the new moon. Without this sanctification, the Jews had no way of determining Yahweh’s appointed times or moedim.
The Word Tense
The word translated “knows” in Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32 is the Greek word “eido” (G14921), and is in the perfect tense. The perfect tense describes something that was true or completed in the past, was still presently true at the time it is spoken, but which would not necessarily be true in the future. Therefore, it can’t be taken dogmatically that no one will ever know, which would be a violation of numerous scriptures that clearly state that the Bride of Yeshua will know and will not be taken by surprise (Amos 3:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5; Hebrews 10:25; Revelation 3:3, etc.). There are stark and complete reversals throughout scripture: prophecy sealed (Daniel 12:4) and now you do know (1 Thessalonians 5:1-5; Revelation 3:3).
Furthermore, the word “eido” can be translated as: “to make known.” Paul uses it this way in 1 Corinthians 2:2, saying in essence: “I have determined not to make known to you, or to openly declare, anything except the crucified Yeshua Ha-Mashiach.” If this is the manner in which Yeshua used the word “eido” in Matthew 24:36 and Mark 13:32 then the verse would read more properly: “Neither I nor the angels will make known or declare that day, only my Father in Heaven will reveal or declare it.” The 1930 Concordant Version of the Sacred Scriptures does just that, translating Matthew 24:36: “That day and hour not yet anyone has perceived, not yet the messengers (angels) of the heavens, not yet the son, (but) the Father only.”
This takes all the emphasis off of “no one can know the timing” and places it distinctly into the realm of mystery — a fact currently concealed and not yet revealed because it isn’t the time to do so — or it is simply one of those concealed matters that brings glory to Yahweh, and which the kings are to investigate to their glory! This takes all emphasis off of “no one can know the timing” and fully agrees with the rest of scripture which says we will know the day and hour!
The Time Zones
When the official beginning of the yom Teruah Moed is proclaimed in Jerusalem by the Sanhedrin, in other time zones the moed begins at a different time! In some areas it may be daylight, and on the opposite side of the globe, nighttime. In Jerusalem, it may be on the first day, but in the United States it is still the seventh day. Even in the United States, it may begin at 4:00 pm in the Eastern States but at 1:00 pm in the Western States. Hence, “You do not know the day or the hour.”
Yeshua Knows The Future
There are many scriptures which clearly show that Yeshua knew the future. He states unequivocally in Matthew 24:25: “Behold I have told you in advance”, repeated in Mark 13:23, just a few verses before the contested “no one knows” verses! Avi Ben Mordechai writes: “If He knew the future in Matthew 24:25, and the context concerns the Day of Trouble, why would He suddenly speak as though He did not know the future in the same context just in 11 verses later in Matthew 24:36? Was He confused? Or was He making perfect sense in light of the customs of the Jews?” Needless to say, Yeshua was neither confused nor unaware of future events and their exact dates of fulfillment!
Conclusions
While the case for “You do not know the day or the hour” being an actual Jewish idiom is not categorically proven, the logic behind it is pretty sound. It may be referencing a common wedding expression at the Pashat level of understanding, or both Yom Teruah and the Yom Ha’Keseh at the Sod level of understanding. This statement in no way contradicts other scriptures as to whether or not one will know the day and hour today, as opposed to not knowing it when Yeshua spoke it. A more proper translation of the Greek places it into the realm of mystery — a fact currently concealed and not yet revealed because it isn’t the time to do so — simply one of those concealed matters that brings glory to Yahweh, and which the kings are to investigate to their glory!
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As stated earlier, this article was written late in 2020. There are some fascinating facts that have recently come to light that I would like to address.
We know that the seven Jewish Feasts of the Old Testament foreshadowed what would be fulfilled by the Messiah. Each of the first four feasts, the spring feasts, were fulfilled to the very day: Jesus fulfilled the Feast of Passover with His death on the cross; the Feast of Unleavened Bread while in the tomb; the Feast of Firstfruits at His resurrection from the dead; and Pentecost, the Old Testament Feast of Weeks, was fulfilled mere days later, just prior to His ascension to the right hand of the Father’s Throne.
All the spring feasts have been fulfilled. The last three, the fall feasts, still await fulfillment, starting with the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) which is discussed in the article included at the beginning of this writing. The author addressed the “No one knows the day or the hour” controversy. After much study and prayer, I do happen to be among those who believe that true believers CAN know the timing of the end of the age.
I believe the Rapture / Catching Up of all true believers occurs before the Great Tribulation officially begins. The purpose of the Feast of Trumpets, besides being the Jewish New Year, is to awaken the soul from spiritual sleep — a call to repentance and readiness. It is a reminder that Judgment is near (Zephaniah 2).
Let’s take a look at Daniel’s 70th Week (also called The Day of the Lord, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, The Great Tribulation, or in modern terms, The Apocalypse).The 70th Week of Daniel lasts exactly 2550 days and is divided into two sections. The first half is 1260 days according to Revelation 11:3 and Revelation 12:6. The second part is 1290 days long according to Daniel 12:11. Why is the number of these days so important? There may be a special significance to how God laid out the numbering of these days, specifically applicable to this year’s Feast of Trumpets which begins at sundown in Israel on Monday, September 22nd and lasts until sundown September 24th.
Follow along further: Starting with the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets 2025, which officially begins on the 23rd, and adding the 2550 days the Scriptures required to fulfill the 70th week of Daniel, we come to September 15, 2032. This is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement which is the only day of the year that the Old Testament high priest could go into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the people. Jesus, our High Priest, made permanent atonement for all who have believed in Him. How like God to arrange that the Second Coming of Christ would fall exactly on the Day of Atonement!
To add more significance to the Feast of Trumpets in 2025 being exactly 2550 days from the Day of Atonement 2032, it is amazing that the 2550-day interval never occurred in history until 1948, the year that Israel became a nation. Since then, these two feasts have met the 2550-interval only six times as of this year. Now in 2025 it happens a seventh time. After 2032, how many times will this pattern be repeated? NEVER! In light of the fact that God seems to love the number seven — which is the number of completion, we might want to take a good close look at what might be on our doorstep! The math is too precise to ignore. (To determine this for yourself, Google: “How many times since 1948 has the 2550 day pattern happened between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement?”)
Let’s go a little further. According to Bible scholars, the creation of Adam will be almost exactly 6,000 years ago in 2032. The Bible tells us that one day to God is like a thousand years. The creation story that begins in Genesis 1:3 took six days. Then He established the Sabbath. The Millennium is the seventh day — 1,000 years of Sabbath.
Let’s add a bit more intrigue to our story. Israel celebrated their 77th year as a nation in May of 2025. In 2032, it will be 84 years. Why is this significant? If we refer back to the Old Testament and the patriarch Jacob, we will remember the story of how Jacob, after going to work for his uncle Laban, fell in love with his daughter Rachel and asked Laban for her hand in marriage. Laban agreed but deceived him, giving him his elder daughter, Leah. A bride in ancient times would not remove the veil over her face until after the marriage was consummated, Jacob didn’t realize that Laban had deceived him until the next morning when he realized that he had married the wrong woman. After confronting Laban, Jacob made an agreement to work for him for an additional 7 years. So why is this important? Jacob was 77 years old when he married Leah. He then had to wait 7 years to officially marry Rachel — when he was 84 years old. Two brides, two waiting periods, two separate pictures. This is symbolic of the Gentile bride of Christ which he takes to His home just prior to the Apocalypse, and the Jewish bride whom He loved first but has to wait for her an extra seven years. This will be after the completion of the seven years of Daniel’s 70th week, the Time of Jacob’s Trouble. Coincidence? Maybe, but I don’t think so.
This Feast of Trumpets is quite unique. The signs Jesus instructed us to watch for are everywhere. One of these has to do with what is likely to happen at the United Nations in a few days. Plans are for the UN to force Israel into a two-state solution. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has made it very clear that he will not allow it to happen. The nations around Israel are also complaining that Israel has become too powerful and is now a threat to the entire Middle East. Will they find a peaceful solution? Is this part and parcel to the hooks God will put into the jaws of Gog? How about all the other trouble spots on this planet? Are they going to be able to declare some type of pseudo peace? They are going to try! The Bible says that when they declare peace and safety at the end of the age, there will be sudden destruction. The storm clouds are already overhead.
Most of the world is oblivious to what is about to happen politically and spiritually. Unfortunately, many church people are also unaware. Many, either don’t believe in the Rapture / Catching Up event at all, or they are convinced that there is plenty of time to get serious about eternity. My question is: What If? What if we have arrived at the Appointed Time? If so, we must set our houses in order and see that we have oil in our lamps as Matthew 25 warns.
If it turns out that the many hundreds having visions and dreams in the past weeks about this Feast of Trumpets being the time of our exit, are all wrong, we will have lost nothing by being prepared. But, what if they are not wrong?
This is no time to take chances. The Great Trumpet of God is only going to blow ONCE!! Let’s meet in the air! Maranatha!
Forever in His Service,
Jake Geier (aka Jack)