"Taken" & "Left"

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daq said in post 20:

What is the final statement and "punch line" of the Olivet Discourse in the Gospel of Matthew?

Are you thinking of Matthew 24:44-51? If so, Matthew 24:44, like Matthew 24:36,42, refers to Jesus' 2nd coming (Matthew 24:37,42,44), which Jesus had just finished saying won't happen until immediately after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31). So in Matthew 24:42,44, Jesus can mean that only if believers don't watch (stay awake, spiritually) during the tribulation, the 2nd coming will happen at an hour they don't know/think not (cf. the if principle of Revelation 3:3b). In the context of Matthew 24:36,42,44, Jesus suggests that it is possible for believers to know when the 2nd coming will occur and to watch for it (Matthew 24:43-44a; 1 Thessalonians 5:4).

Also, Jesus says "of that day and hour knoweth no man" (Matthew 24:36), he doesn't say "of that day and hour no man will know". So it's possible that at a certain point in our future, some believers will come to know the date (as in the year, month, and day) of the 2nd coming before it happens. Also, if we mistakenly think that Jesus can come today or tomorrow (as is sometimes claimed by the pre-tribulation and symbolicist views), then how can we also claim that he will come when nobody thinks he will (Matthew 24:44)?

Also, compare the following: "of that day and hour knoweth no man" (Matthew 24:36), "the things of God knoweth no man" (1 Corinthians 2:11). If we claim that the first verse means that no man will ever know the date of the 2nd coming until it happens, then to be consistent we would have to also claim that the 2nd verse means that no man, not even believers, can know the things of God until the 2nd coming. But who would say that? For the Holy Spirit can currently reveal to believers the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). He can currently guide them into all truth and show them what will happen in the future (John 16:13), including the date of the 2nd coming. For, again, Jesus suggests that it is possible for believers to know when the 2nd coming will occur and to watch for it (Matthew 24:43-44a; 1 Thessalonians 5:4). Also, what Amos 3:7 says would include the 2nd coming: Surely God the Father won't send Jesus back without having first revealed to some believers the secret of the date of the 2nd coming.

Jesus could return on the 1,335th day after the abomination of desolation (possibly a standing, android image of the Antichrist) is set up in a 3rd Jewish temple (Daniel 12:11-12, Revelation 16:15, Daniel 11:31,36, Matthew 24:15).

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Coming to know, at a certain point in our future, the date of Jesus' 2nd coming, will help believers to hang in there during the worst time of the future tribulation for believers. As an analogy, imagine that during a persecution of believers you're thrown naked into a walk-in freezer. The door is locked and the lights are turned off and you're just left there to slowly suffer the freezing cold. You could freak out at this if you have no idea how long you're going to have to be in there. But what if right after they turn the lights off, you see a little light in the corner. And you walk over and see a small note on the wall: "You will be let out and set free in 13.35 minutes" (cf. the 1,335 days of Daniel 12:11-12). This would greatly help you to remain calm and hang in there patiently for the whole time, even though you might suffer terribly from the cold. In the same way, knowing exactly when Jesus' 2nd coming will occur (Daniel 12:11-12, Revelation 16:15) will help believers, during the worst time of the future tribulation for believers, to endure to the end (Matthew 24:13).
 
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daq

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Are you thinking of Matthew 24:44-51?

Nope. Keep reading. :)

But what if right after they turn the lights off, you see a little light in the corner. And you walk over and see a small note on the wall: "You will be let out and set free in 13.35 minutes" (cf. the 1,335 days of Daniel 12:11-12).

Actually if you want to know the truth about that you will need to find the final statement of the Olivet Discourse in the Gospel of Matthew, (and likewise be willing to believe what it says if and when you begin to understand it). But concerning the 1335 yamiym-hours they run from the opening dawn of 10 Abib-Nisan, (6PM) to the third hour of the day, (9AM) of Shavuot-Pentecost in Acts 2. In addition it was 45 hours after the dawning of 10 Nisan, (11 Nisan at 3PM in the afternoon) that Judas Sakariy, ("my price", Zechariah 11:12 Hebrew Text) was "covenanting" with the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver to betray the Son of man. When he betrayed the Son of man with a kiss he walked right up and stood in the holy place without even taking off his shoes, (wheresoever the Son of man stands, Joshua 5:15, Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:7). Judas however does not make it to the 1335 yamiym, (neither that Judas nor the one to come). :)
 
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