No One Knows the Hour
Jesus and the Temple
by
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“as for that day and hour no one knows it—not even the angels in heaven—except the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36). What Jesus is saying here could not be any more obvious. In fact, by this point, it would take a willful refusal to acknowledge the point that is being made or to hear Jesus talking about anything but the fall of the temple when He makes this statement. This probably does not even need to be said, but to somehow connect this to a rapture or to a second coming of Jesus to earth, considering the incredibly obvious context that is on offer, is not only absurd but also strains credulity to the point of breaking.
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About the Book
Jesus spoke about the fall of the temple ahead of time. If He was to be held up as anything but a failed messianic pretender, then it was ultimately necessary for the temple to be destroyed. The Resurrection only mattered if Jesus received His kingdom as the Son of Man, and He clearly said that He would come to His reign (or His reign would be confirmed) when the temple fell. If indeed it was well understood that Jesus – as reported by Matthew, Mark, and Luke – was speaking of the fall of the temple as something that would occur within the lifetimes of many of those who heard His answer to the disciples’ question about when the temple would be thrown to the ground, then this reveal insights about the time period when the Gospel narratives circulated in the first century. Had one been in the position to hear Jesus speak, one may not have known the hour that the temple would come crashing down. However, anyone who heard Him would be certain that when it did, Jesus would rule as the king of kings.
About the Author
David Byrd, of Litchfield Park, Arizona, is a father of five and grandfather of 3. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Religion from Wabash College and has been inspired in the construction of his Scripture commentary by the work of N.T. Wright, William Placher, John Walton, Stephen Webb, Richard Hays, John Crossan, and Hal Taussig, among others. He has served as a visiting professor to Emmanuel Theological Seminary, is an entrepreneur with a wide range of experience in hospitality, media, public relations, business development, and pastoral work. David also serves on the board of Hopegivers International and is a motorsports enthusiast