No one knows the day or the hour of Christ's return except the Father; Jesus said so Himself, and not even the angels know it. The date stays hidden, but the promise is certain: He will come again. For you, that means living ready and unafraid, faithful to the work He has given you.
What did Jesus mean when He said no one knows?
He meant that the time of His coming belongs to the Father alone. No calculation can uncover it. Jesus said it plainly to His disciples:
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. — Matthew 24:36 (King James Version)
In Jesus Is Coming Soon, Apostle Guillermo Maldonado writes that “we do know for certain that He is coming” even though the day and hour stay unknown. The same book warns that anyone who claims to know the exact day and hour of His return is in great error.
Why has the Father kept the date to Himself?
Scripture does not list every reason, but it shows what He gave His people instead: a mission. When His disciples asked about timing, Jesus answered:
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: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. — Acts 1:7–8 (KJV)
Instead of a date, they received a promise of power and a place in His work. The same exchange stands for you: the Father keeps the times and the seasons, and He gives you a part in carrying the gospel.
Does the long wait mean Jesus is not coming back?
No. The years that have passed are the Lord's patience, not a broken promise. Peter explains why He has not yet come:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. — 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
In End-Time Harvest, Apostle Maldonado teaches from this verse that God's will is for no one to perish, which makes the evangelization of the world the church's highest task. The same patience runs through Jesus Is Coming Soon: the end is being held back while the Lord waits for people who will still put their faith in Him.
Every year of waiting is a year of mercy for someone who has not yet come to Him. If that is you, our Why Believe in Jesus page tells who He is and why He came.
Go deeper: If you want to understand why reaching people with the gospel matters so much to God, read the book End-Time Harvest.
How do you live when you do not know the day?
You live ready and faithful at the same time. Right after saying no one knows the hour, Jesus told His disciples, “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is” (Mark 13:33).
Two errors are named in Jesus Is Coming Soon. One treats His return as so far off that nothing is urgent. The other treats it as so near that study, work and plans to share the gospel no longer matter. The book calls that an escapist mentality, since it keeps believers from their calling. Its answer is a kingdom mentality: live as though Christ were returning tomorrow, and plan as though His return were a hundred years away.
In How to Occupy Until Jesus Returns?, Apostle Maldonado explains that to occupy is to do the Father's business until Jesus comes. Readiness, in that message, begins with staying alert, watching and praying, and then keeping to the assignment God has given you.
Start with today. Spend time with God in prayer, keep at your studies and your work with care, and tell one person what Jesus has done for you. If you would like someone to pray with you, we would love to. Our Help and Prayer Support page gives our phone number and a way to send a message.
Frequently asked questions
Will we know when Jesus returns?
Not ahead of time. The day and the hour stay with the Father, so no one can give you the date in advance. What you can know is the One who is coming, and knowing Him matters more than knowing the date. Talk with Him today, and leave the timing in the Father's hands.
Did Jesus say that even He did not know the day?
Yes. In Mark's account He says that no one knows that day and hour, “neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32). Take the words as Scripture gives them, without adding to them. If this question troubles you, a pastor can walk through the passage with you.
Should not knowing the day make me afraid?
No. Jesus told His disciples not to let their hearts be troubled, and He promised, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself” (John 14:1–3). His return is good news for everyone who trusts Him, a hope rather than a threat. You can rest in that promise.
What should I do if someone tells me they know when Jesus will return?
Hold the claim up to Jesus' own words and let them settle it (Matthew 24:36). Arguing is not necessary, and neither is alarm. If a prediction has unsettled you or someone you love, sit down with a pastor from your local church and talk it through.
Keep reading
Related teaching from the store
- Jesus Is Coming Soon, the print and digital editions of Apostle Maldonado's book on Christ's return.
Published by King Jesus International Ministry. This article draws on Scripture and on Apostle Guillermo Maldonado's books Jesus Is Coming Soon and End-Time Harvest and his message “How to Occupy Until Jesus Returns?” (Wisdom Seed, 2021). It is offered for study and encouragement. It is not medical, psychological, or financial advice.