Upon hearing the information that “May 21, 2011 is Judgment Day!” many people in the churches almost immediately refer to the Bible verse found in Matthew 24:36:
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Matthew 24:36
You see, they say, after quoting this verse, the Bible tells us no man can know. Therefore your date of “May 21” is all wrong. And as often is the case after quickly making this statement and dismissing the information regarding the date of the end of the world, that individual goes on his or her way content that it will never happen. After all, they think, the Bible says man cannot know the timing of the end.
Of course, we do acknowledge that the Bible has this verse within it. However, the mistake that is being made concerning the understanding of “no man knows” as found in Matthew 24:36 ---is the same mistake that the churches make on numerous points of doctrine. Which is, that they superficially look at a Bible verse and then quickly jump to a conclusion without first checking out their conclusion with the whole Bible. The question is: does the rest of the Bible support the idea that mankind cannot know anything about the timing of the end of the world? Or, is there more information in the Bible that would allow for God’s people to learn the date of the end of the world?
The purpose of this pamphlet is to show from the Bible that it is (and always has been) God’s plan to reveal information from the Bible concerning the end of the world (including its exact timing) once we do reach the last days of earth’s history. For instance we see this idea in the following passage of Scripture:
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Daniel 12:4
According to this verse God “shut up the words” and sealed the book (the Bible) until “the time of the end”. Because the Bible’s information was sealed up, no man could know the timing of the end of the world. But, the strong implication found in Daniel 12:4 is that the seals would be taken off once the time period of the end is reached. Furthermore, once the end of time does come about, at that point ”knowledge shall be increased”. This is why Matthew 24:36 declares that no one knows “but My Father only”. God has always known the timing of the end of the world. And since God Himself is the author of the Bible it was no problem for Him to place that information hidden within the Bible itself. There to lie dormant until the proper point in history is reached. And once reached God then reveals these things to His people. This is why we read in the book of Acts these important statements:
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you...
Acts 1:7-8
As this verse makes clear knowing the “times and the seasons” was in the Father’s power. But please notice the following words “But ye shall receive power”. Indicating that the Father’s intention has always been to reveal these things according to His time table for this world.