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ONLY TO THOSE WHO WILL PERISH, THE COMING OF JESUS WILL BE LIKE A THIEF

After the events of 1844, when the crowd was disappointed that Jesus did not come to this world as a fulfilment of the prophecy of 2300 days, but through the Lord servant, Mrs. Ellen G. White, many people have been enlightened and given an explanation of the events that actually occurred, that is, this time was the transfer of Jesus from the holy place to the most holy place to begin the trial of the court in heaven, not on earth. In addition, in responding to the deep disappointment by many who have left all their treasures and lives, the Lord servant Mrs. Ellen White also said that there will be no more God’s truth based on TIME (Time Setting). Based on this statement and Mathew 24:36, most Adventists believe that the TIME of the coming of Jesus as was once calculated by William Miller will not be known until the event itself will occur. Let’s us read Mathew 24:36 as follows:

Matthew 24:36

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

The prohibition to find out the TIME of the second coming of Jesus as understood from the Mathew 24 : 36 has been held and persisted since the words were written by Matthew and it is believed that only the Father Himself knows. Such an understanding has not changed until it has been thousands of years apart, so the emergence of William Miller who dared to do the Time Setting that he had begun in 1818 which has certainly received a strong opposition from most Christians of that era, as well as if its appearance is present among us today.

William Miller’s courage in doing the time setting calculation can be said to violate the understanding that has been held for so long, but nevertheless would the Time Setting is against God’s will? And the people who oppose and make fun of William Miller, were they in the right position? The servant of God, Mrs. Ellen G White said:

Early Writings, p. 235, edition 1882:

I saw the people of God joyful in expectation, looking for their Lord. But God designed to prove them. His hand covered a mistake in the reckoning of the prophetic periods. Those who were looking for their Lord did not discover this mistake, and the most learned men who opposed the time also failed to see it. God designed that His people should meet with a disappointment. The time passed, and those who had looked with joyful expectation for their Saviour were sad and disheartened, while those who had not loved the appearing of Jesus, but embraced the message through fear, were pleased that He did not come at the time of expectation. Their profession had not affected the heart and purified the life. The passing of the time was well calculated to reveal such hearts.

Early Writings, Chap – The Advent Movement Illustrated, p. 243, edition 1882:

…….. .. I saw that they were correct in their reckoning of the prophetic periods; prophetic time closed in 1844, and Jesus entered the most holy place to cleanse the sanctuary at the ending of the days. Their mistake consisted in not understanding what the sanctuary was and the nature of its cleansing…..

From the statement of the servant of God Mrs. Ellen G. White above, we get the answer that William Miller’s actions, which have been contrary to the understanding that Christians have believed and held for a long time, it turns out that from the Heaven point of view, it is not considered as an act against God or against the Law. It is even said that the mistake was God’s deliberateness to cover in the reckoning of the prophetic periods to prove them. Because of God’s partaking in the reckoning of the prophetic periods; prophetic time closed in 1844, William Miller who opened the understanding of the prophecy of 2300 days of Daniel 8:14, was also the fulfilment of one of God’s servants to restore the work for the world. The opening of Daniel’s book also shows that we are in the last days, where the all the prophecies will be revealed as said by the angel of Gabriel in Daniel 12:9.

Although Mrs. Ellen G. White’s explanation is very clear that the Time Setting is not against the law, it turns out that the entire Christian world including the Adventist church still considers that the TIME of His second coming should not be known, only the Father knows as Matthew said. Therefore, Mrs. Ellen G. White’s explanation of William Miller’s experience is important for us living in the last days to explore and seek convincing answers about how far we are allowed to know the TIME of Jesus’ second coming, moreover we are now living in a period closer to the fulfilment of various related prophecies.

As the fulfilment of the various prophecies is approaching, Mrs. Ellen G. White says:

Testimonies for the Church Volume Six, p. 129, edition 1901:

…. They should know the things that will come to pass before the closing up of the world’s history. These things concern our eternal welfare, and teachers and students should give more attention to them. By pen and voice, knowledge should be imparted which will be meat in due season, not only to the young, but to those of mature years also.

Letters and Manuscripts – Volume 10, Lt 97, par 64, edition 1895:

…… We should study the great waymarks that point out the times in which we are living. We know that we are very near the close of this earth’s history, and everything of a worldly nature should be secondary to the service of God.

Testimonies for the Church Volume Seven, Chapter 2-The Signal of Advance, p. 14, edition 1902:

….. Those who place themselves under God’s control, to be led and guided by Him, will catch the steady tread of the events ordained by Him to take place….

Testimonies for the Church Volume Eight, Chapter 46-The False and the True in Education, p. 293, edition 1904:

…… We are to see in history the fulfilment of prophecy, to study the workings of Providence in the great reformatory movements, and to understand the progress of events in the marshalling of the nations for the final conflict of the great controversy.

Letters and Manuscripts – Volume 2, Lt 1, par 18, edition 1869-1875:

…There are many who do not understand the prophecies relating to these days and they must be enlightened. It is the duty of both watchmen and laymen to give the trumpet a certain sound….

Brethren, we are now in the last period of the entire history of the world, we are living in a period nearing deliverance compared to the prophets, apostles as the writers of the Bible and end time prophets who interpreted the prophetic words, thus according to the servant of God, Mrs. Ellen White’s words above, in studying all the prophecies and their revelations, we must know the THINGS THAT WILL COME TO PASS, THE GREAT WAYMARKS, THE TREAT OF EVENTS, and TO STUDY THE WORKINGS OF PROVIDENCE IN THE GREAT REFORMATORY MOVEMENT, meaning that our spiritual journey should not stop with knowledge of things that have happened but must continue to develop according to the scroll of truth.

If we read the following verses of Matthew 24:36, especially verses 43 and 44, these verses speak of the Lord’s sudden or unexpected coming.

Matthew Chapter 24: 43, 44:

43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Following are also several Bible’s verses which also mention on Jesus’ advent like a thief:

Malachi Chapter 3: 1, 2:

1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

Mark Chapter 13: 33-35:

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Luke Chapter 12: 39, 40:

39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

1 Thessalonians Chapter 5: 2-5:

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

2 Peter Chapter 3: 10:

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Revelation Chapter 3:3:

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Revelation Chapter 16 : 15:

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Read the verses above carefully, the coming of Jesus in those verses is not meant to everyone and it is a sudden come or like a thief. Furthermore, it says that there will be two groups of God’s people: 1) the group that is said to have been careful, on guard or ready and 2) the group that spiritually is judged to be not careful, not alert or not ready. It is to them that the coming of Jesus will be unexpected, sudden, like a thief at night, hence the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come and to secure all of his possessions.

We live in the last days period, hence it is necessary to understand the instructions from Spirit of Prophecies as an interpretation of the Bible for last days people as mentioned in the follow-ing verses: Hebrews 1:1 – it is said that in these last days, God speaks to His people through the intercession of His son, and Revelation 19:10 – it says that Testimony of Jesus is the Spir-it of Prophecy. The Lord’s servant, Mrs. Ellen White as one of the end time prophet, has pro-vided a clear picture of what the attitudes of those who are categorized as WATCHED OR PREPARED and those who are found to be watched not or ignore as follows:

The Great Controversy, Chap. 17 – Heralds of the Morning, p. 309-310, edition 1911:

The condition of the church at this time is pointed out in the Saviour’s words in the Revelation: “Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” And to those who refuse to arouse from their careless security, the solemn warning is addressed: “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” Revelation 3:1, 3.

From the Great Controversy explanation, we get an interpretation of the Bible verses above which speak of His coming like a thief. In this quote, the Lord’s servant Mrs. Ellen G. White divides God’s people into two groups, where it is said that the coming of Jesus that will be like a thief will only be experienced by those who are WATCHED NOT or are not prepared.

Furthermore, the Spirit of Prophecies provide more through the story of birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of those that WATCHED and WATCHED NOT.

Maranatha, January, Chap. 2 – The Lesson of Bethlehem, edition 1976:

At the time of Christ’s first advent the priests and scribes of the Holy City, to whom were entrusted the oracles of God, might have discerned the signs of the times and proclaimed the coming of the Promised One. The prophecy of Micah designated His birthplace; Daniel specified the time of His advent. God committed these prophecies to the Jewish leaders; they were without excuse if they did not know and declare to the people that the Messiah’s coming was at hand. Their ignorance was the result of sinful neglect….

All the people should have been watching and waiting that they might be among the first to welcome the world’s Redeemer. But, lo, at Bethlehem two weary travellers from the hills of Nazareth traverse the whole length of the narrow street to the eastern extremity of the town, vainly seeking a place of rest and shelter for the night. No doors are open to receive them. In a wretched hovel prepared for cattle, they at last find refuge, and there the Saviour of the world is born….

There is no evidence that Christ is expected, and no preparation for the Prince of life. In amazement the celestial messenger is about to return to heaven with the shameful tidings, when he discovers a group of shepherds who are watching their flocks by night, and as they gaze into the starry heavens, are contemplating the prophecy of a Messiah to come to earth and longing for the advent of the world’s Redeemer. Here is a company that is prepared to receive the heavenly message. And suddenly the angel of the Lord appears, declaring the good tidings of great joy….

Oh, what a lesson is this wonderful story of Bethlehem! How it rebukes our unbelief, our pride and self-sufficiency. How it warns us to beware, lest by our criminal indifference we also fail to discern the signs of the times, and therefore know not the day of our visitation.

Maranatha, January, Chap. 3 – When Jesus was Born, edition 1976:

The King of glory stooped low to take humanity; and angels, who had witnessed His splendor in the heavenly courts, as He was worshiped by all the heavenly hosts, were disappointed to find their divine Commander in a position of so great humiliation.

The Jews had separated themselves so far from God by their wicked works, that angels could not communicate to them the tidings of the advent of the infant Redeemer. God chooses the wise men of the East to do His will….

These wise men had seen the heavens illuminated with light, which enshrouded the heavenly host who heralded the advent of Christ to the humble shepherds….

This light was a distant cluster of flaming angels, which appeared like a luminous star. The unusual appearance of the large bright star, which they had never seen before, hanging as a sign in the heavens, attracted their attention…. The wise men directed their course where the star seemed to lead them. And as they drew nigh to the city of Jerusalem, the star was enshrouded in darkness, and no longer guided them. They reasoned that the Jews could not be ignorant of the great event of the advent of the Messiah, and they made inquiries in the vicinity of Jerusalem.

The wise men are surprised to see no unusual interest upon the subject of the coming of the Messiah….They marvel that the Jews are not interested and joyful in prospect of this great event of the advent of Christ.

The churches of our time are seeking worldly aggrandizement and are as unwilling to see the light of the prophecies and receive the evidence of their fulfilment which show that Christ is soon to come, as were the Jews in reference to His first appearing. They were looking for the temporal and triumphant reign of Messiah in Jerusalem. Professed Christians of our time are expecting the temporal prosperity of the church, in the conversion of the world, and the enjoyment of the temporal millennium.

The Great Controversy, Chap. 17 – Heralds of the Morning, p. 315, edition 1911:

It was not alone upon the hills of Judea, not among the lowly shepherds only, that angels found the watchers for Messiah’s coming. In the land of the heathen also were those that looked for Him; they were wise men, rich and noble, the philosophers of the East. Students of nature, the Magi had seen God in His handiwork. From the Hebrew Scriptures they had learned of the Star to arise out of Jacob, and with eager desire they awaited His coming, who should be not only the “Consolation of Israel,” but a “Light to lighten the Gentiles,” and “for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” Luke 2:25, 32; Acts 13:47. They were seekers for light, and light from the throne of God illumined the path for their feet. While the priests and rabbis of Jerusalem, the appointed guardians and expounders of the truth, were shrouded in darkness, the Heaven-sent star guided these Gentile strangers to the birthplace of the newborn King.

Chap. 17 – Heralds of the Morning, p. 315:

It is “unto them that look for Him” that Christ is to “appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28. Like the tidings of the Saviour’s birth, the message of the second advent was not committed to the religious leaders of the people. They had failed to preserve their connection with God, and had refused light from heaven; therefore, they were not of the number described by the apostle Paul: “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4, 5

The watchmen upon the walls of Zion should have been the first to catch the tidings of the Saviour’s advent, the first to lift their voices to proclaim Him near, the first to warn the people to prepare for His coming. But they were at ease, dreaming of peace and safety, while the people were asleep in their sins. Jesus saw His church, like the barren fig tree, covered with pretentious leaves, yet destitute of precious fruit. There was a boastful observance of the forms of religion, while the spirit of true humility, penitence, and faith — which alone could render the service acceptable to God — was lacking. Instead of the graces of the Spirit there were manifested pride, formalism, vainglory, selfishness, oppression. A backsliding church closed their eyes to the signs of the times. God did not forsake them or suffer His faithfulness to fail; but they departed from Him, and separated themselves from His love. As they refused to comply with the conditions, His promises were not fulfilled to them.

Such is the sure result of neglect to appreciate and improve the light and privileges which God bestows. Unless the church will follow on in His opening providence, accepting every ray of light, performing every duty which may be revealed, religion will inevitably degenerate into the observance of forms, and the spirit of vital godliness will disappear. This truth has been repeatedly illustrated in the history of the church. God requires of His people works of faith and obedience corresponding to the blessings and privileges bestowed. Obedience requires a sacrifice and involves a cross; and this is why so many of the professed followers of Christ refused to receive the light from heaven, and, like the Jews of old, knew not the time of their visitation. Luke 19:44. Because of their pride and unbelief the Lord passed them by and revealed His truth to those who, like the shepherds of Bethlehem and the Eastern Magi, had given heed to all the light they had received.

Brethren, we can see from Lord’s servant Mrs. Ellen G. White’s writing above that through the prophecy of Micah and Daniel, the Lord had given detailed knowledge of the birth of Jesus related to the PLACE of His birth and the TIME of His coming to the priests and scribes of the Holy City which then should all the Jews also have the news of the arrival of the promised one, thus the angels will not sadly find the no preparation or no evidence that Christ is expected, the redeemer of the world or the Prince of life. But in reality the angels only got a group of shepherds who were watching their flocks by night and the Eastern magi.

There is no evidence that Christ is expected, and no preparation for the Messiah was at hand from the priests and scribes and their followers is said as the result of SINFUL NEGLECT and WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN. As the Christian world knew, the Priests and scribes are very faithful people and are well knowledgeable of the books of Moses, however the very important knowledge BIRTHPLACE and TIME of Jesus’ advent was not what they care about. As a result, all their knowledge and faithfulness became meaningless, on the contrary the shepherds of Bethlehem and the Magi i.e. those who were not at all reckoned with whom the commissioned angels found fit.

Mrs. Ellen G. White relates the story from Bethlehem to us, the church in these last days by saying “HOW IT REBUKES OUR UNBELIEF, OUR PRIDE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. HOW IT WARNS US TO BEWARE, LEST BY OUR CRIMINAL INDIFFERENCE WE ALSO FAIL TO DISCERN THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, moreover in the book The Great Controversy it is said that THE MESSAGE OF THE SECOND ADVENT WAS NOT COMMITTED TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE PEOPLE. THEY HAD FAILED TO PRESERVE THEIR CONNECTION WITH GOD AND HAD REFUSED THE LIGHT FROM HEAVEN, hence the negligence of those who should be the first to receive the news of the coming of the Messiah and then others to receive from them is a story of the bitter experience of the spiritual journey of God’s people as an type for the anti-type of the Adventist church, the last church who was entrusted with His final work.

The Great of Controversy explains Thessalonians 5: 4, 5 about to whom the coming of Jesus which many Christians have been waiting for, will feel like a thief. According to the verse, only the Shepherds of Bethlehem and Magi are of course classified as children of light, whereas on the other hand the priests and scribes and other Jews who should have knowledge of God’s truth as it must come from them, because they do not know and ignore the knowledge of Micah’s prophecy and Daniel, can be summed up as men of darkness. It is emphasized to us that the classification of the children of light or people of darkness at the time of His coming will be determined by the knowledge of PLACE and TIME, as was the case in the past from groups of people who claimed to long for the coming of a Messiah to free them from sin and Roman. To those who are classified as children of light, it is explained that His coming will not be felt as a sudden coming. For them His coming will be the same as the experience of the shepherds of Bethlehem and the Megi, they receive the light, do every task that is stated, wait, contemplate and when the TIME comes, they come to the PLACE of birth, not the other way around, close the eyes of the SIGNS OF TIMES, EASE, DREAMING OF PEACE AND SAFETY.

The explanation of the Spirit of prophecy is very clear, so that if we hold on to just one or two verses of the Bible that speak of His coming like a thief without paying attention to the entire writings of other prophets or apostles who talk about related events, then we will not be able to see the differences between the two groups of people who will be involved. The understanding that has been firmly held so far that the Time Setting is an act that is prohibited or against the law and considers only the Father who knows, is clearly a narrow view, undeveloped and even basically they violate the procedure for studying God’s word. For this we are reminded:

Christ’s Object Lessons, Chapter 11 – Things New and Old, p.130, edition 1900:

This experience gives every teacher of truth the very qualifications that will make him a representative of Christ. The spirit of Christ’s teaching will give a force and directness to his communications and to his prayers. His witness to Christ will not be a narrow, lifeless testimony. The minister will not preach over and over the same set discourses. His mind will be open to the constant illumination of the Holy Spirit.

When we eat Christ’s flesh and drink His blood, the element of eternal life will be found in the ministry. There will not be a fund of stale, oft-repeated ideas. The tame, dull sermonizing will cease. The old truths will be presented, but they will be seen in a new light. There will be a new perception of truth, a clearness and a power that all will discern. Those who have the privilege of sitting under such a ministry will, if susceptible to the Holy Spirit’s influence, feel the energizing power of a new life. The fire of God’s love will be kindled within them. Their perceptive faculties will be quickened to discern the beauty and majesty of truth.

Why Perish, p. 74,75:

This resort, however, only gives sharper point to the truism that it is never fair for one to assume a stand on an issue, solely on the weight of opinion derived from one or two verses, without first considering the verses in the light of the whole chapter, yes, even of the entire Bible; for if one’s interpretation of the Scriptures is not supported by every sentence of Holy Writ, it is a fallacious interpretation, a blind conclusion, without Bible foundation.

Chap. 46 – The Blessings and the Curses, p. 504:

Every chapter and every verse of the Bible is a communication from God to men. We should bind its precepts as signs upon our hands and as frontlets between our eyes. If studied and obeyed, it would lead God’s people, as the Israelites were led, by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.

Through the above explanation, it is now clear what Mrs. Ellen G. White said:

Maranatha, July, Chap. 212 – High Time to Awake! p. 220:

This knowledge of the nearness of Christ’s coming should not be allowed to lose its force, and we become careless and inattentive, and fall into slumber—into an insensibility and indifference to realities. In slumber we are in an unreal world, and not sensible of the things which are taking place around us….

Knowing the events leading up to His second coming is not sufficient, for if so then some of the people who claim to be the holders of the truth have known and understood it. But it turns out that as the day of His coming approaches, this knowledge of “the near second coming of Christ” must be meant to the knowledge of HIS PLACE and TIME.

The words, THEY WERE WITHOUT EXCUSE IF THEY DID NOT KNOW, from the example of the experiences of the people in the Jesus’s first advent that Mrs. Ellen G. White described in the book Maranatha above, should be a stern warning and a remedy of awareness for those leaders of the Adventist church and its followers as an anti-type of the leaders of the past Jewish, because there is no other lifesaver alternative provided for the last days people if they are not willing to humble themselves, receive the light of the truth about the PLACE and TIME of His second coming which will happen like a thief at night for those who do not know it.

Mrs. Ellen G. White warns us with regard to the knowledge of “the near of second coming of Christ”:

The Great Controversy, Chap. 37 – The Scriptures a Safeguard, p. 594:

……So in the prophecies the future is opened before us as plainly as it was opened to the disciples by the words of Christ. The events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for the time of trouble, are clearly presented. But multitudes have no more understanding of these important truths than if they had never been revealed…..

Brethren, NONE OF THE PRIESTS and SCRIBES at the first coming of Jesus were found to have prepared, watched apart from THE SHEPHERDS OF BETHLEHEM AND THE MAGI. Furthermore, the Spirit of Prophecy says that THE MESSAGE OF THE SECOND ADVENT WAS NOT COMMITTED TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS. Obviously the type meet the anti-type, like the Saviour’s birth, the message of the second advent was not committed to the religious leaders of the people. Learning from the failures of the leaders of the Jewish in the past, Mrs. Ellen G. White has warned us the events that we will face in the future if we again waste the opportunities that is still open today. All of this should have been able to give us an idea of the need to have knowledge of the TRUTH OF THE PLACE and TIME for His second coming especially His sudden or unexpected coming, because obviously all other knowledge and obedience as the priests and scribes used to be in vain, all of them are not taken into account, will not be able to relief us from His wrath.

Back to our question at the beginning, “how far are we allowed to know the TIME of the second coming of Jesus?” Can someone do a TIME Setting? Is Time Setting’s against the law? The explanation of the Spirit of Prophecy above is very clear, especially the experience of a William Miller who has revealed the prophecy of Daniel 8:14. Then also from the experience of the Jewish leader and his followers at the time of Jesus first coming as the son of man in Bethlehem. PLACE and TIME are not only may be known but REQUIRED or MANDATORY to be known before the event is taking place so that we are found as a people who are WATCH OR READY.

With regard to the words REQUIRED or MANDATORY, the Lord’s servant Mrs. Ellen G. White says:

The Great Controversy, Chap. 20 – A Great Religious Awakening, p. 370-371:

“No man knoweth the day nor the hour” was the argument most often brought forward by rejecters of the advent faith. The scripture is: “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36. A clear and harmonious explanation of this text was given by those who were looking for the Lord, and the wrong use made of it by their opponents was clearly shown. The words were spoken by Christ in that memorable conversation with His disciples upon Olivet after He had for the last time departed from the temple. The disciples had asked the question: “What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Jesus gave them signs and said: “When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Verses 3, 33. One saying of the Saviour must not be made to destroy another. Though no man knoweth the day nor the hour of His coming, we are instructed and required to know when it is near. We are further taught that to disregard His warning and refuse or neglect to know when His advent is near, will be as fatal for us as it was for those who lived in the days of Noah not to know when the flood was coming. And the parable in the same chapter, contrasting the faithful and the unfaithful servant, and giving the doom of him who said in his heart, “My Lord delayeth His coming,” shows in what light Christ will regard and reward those whom He finds watching, and teaching His coming, and those denying it. “Watch therefore,” He says. “Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.” Verses 42, 46. “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” Revelation 3:3.

From the explanation of the servant of God Mrs. Ellen G. White above, it becomes clearer the understanding of “FATHER KNOW ONLY”. As in William Miller’s Day, the question is, whose side was God on? is it on the MOCKER, the opposes of Time Setting?

Thus, Matthew 24:36 is not meant to undermine other Jesus’s words. The statement of the Lord’s servant Mrs. Ellen G White that the experiences of past Jewish leaders will be repeated in the last days, type will be encountering anti-type, are not ineligible because of narrow minded understanding and WRONG USE of Matthew 24:36. INSTRUCTIONS have been given and MANDATORY, meaning that it is our humbleness only that can enable each of us to finally know the PLACE and TIME. Our fate is equated to people in the days of the Noah. It is clear that knowledge of PLACE and TIME is very important in determining our salvation from among the people in Laodicean.

In explaining these important event, the Lord’s servant, Mrs. Ellen G. White uses the verses we have collected above regarding the sudden or His thief-like coming above, thus it becomes very clear that JESUS UNEXPECTED OR THIEF LIKE COMING will only be experienced by those who squander and neglect the opportunity to receive the light of heaven, not for everyone (people of darkness and children of light) as almost all Christians including the Adventist church have understood.

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