Not knowing the 'times and seasons'

Q. What does it mean in Acts 1.7 that they will “not know the times and seasons”, and in Matt.24.36, not know “the day or hour”, and yet in other places the people are rebuked for not knowing, what does all this mean?

A. This is a good question, and not as confusing as it may seem. The reason that this seems so confusing is again because of bad teaching and a lack of knowledge of the plan of G-d. A simple understanding of the festivals and Sabbath, along with good Torah teaching would give you the answer, so it is from that approach that this question will be answered. G-d has revealed His plan through out the scriptures to Israel.

The prophets have revealed very specific information about world history as it relates to the coming of the Messiah. The prophet Daniel, in particular, was given specific information. In Daniel 9.24-27, there is the 70 week prophecy of Daniel(Dan 9.24). Time was divided during these 70 weeks of years, or 490 years total. It was revealed that from the going forth of the decree to build the Temple to the coming of Messiah was 69 weeks of years, which is 483 years, or 173,880 days.

Those that followed the scriptures knew that the fourth beast of Daniels vision (Dan 7.7-Rome) had come along, and the 483 years was near, but most people, like today, didn’t know the scriptures and followed their teachers and ignored the signs and eschatology G-d had set up. Exactly 173,880 days after the decree went out to rebuild the Temple (Dan 9.25), Yeshua rides into Jerusalem on the 10 of Nisan and presented Himself as the Messiah, but He knew He was going to be rejected.

In Luke 19.41-44, He weeps over the city and says that if they had know what day it was, they would have been blessed, but now destruction was coming because they did not know the day of their visitation. In other words, the scriptures were clear as to when Messiah was coming, and they did not see it, so now that will be taken away from them. Israel should have known by the Word exactly about His coming to present the Kingdom of G-d.

It was presented and rejected. The term “not know” is an idiom meaning not fixed in time. So, because they rejected the Kingdom offer, its coming is not fixed in time right now and that is why He said they would not know. But, that will only hold true till the Tribulation period, or “birth-pains” described in Revelation and Daniel especially. Remember, G-d revealed to Daniel 490 years of dealing with Israel, 483 years have been done with the rejection of the Messianic Kingdom offer. Seven years remain that is where the seven year tribulation comes in.

That seven year period will start when the False Messiah will confirm a covenant with Israel ( Dan 9.27). When that happens, you will know exactly when Messiah will return, all you have to do is count 2,520 days and you will know when Yeshua will return. So, the “not knowing” is temporary because of Israel’s rejection and a 2000 year gap, but when the 70th week of Daniel picks up again, then you will know exactly, to the day, when He will return to set up the Messianic Kingdom. Right now, we don’t know when that countdown begins and neither did the listeners of the 1st century.

But, once you know the prophecies, and we know that the Tribulation will begin on a Yom Kippur, those who are alive on the earth when that covenant is confirmed on Yom Kippur can count 1,260 days to Nisan 10 and the false Messiah will declare himself G-d (Rev 11, 2Thes 2). Then count 1260 days, called the Great Tribulation and it comes out to Yom Kippur and Yeshua will enter Jerusalem, and begin a 5 day judgment of the nations, starting with the False Messiah and False Prophet Rev 19, Mt 25).