The Bible does not reveal the year, day, or hour when the Lord Jesus will return. Scripture explicitly prohibits date-setting and instead emphasizes that the second coming will be unexpected and that believers should live in constant readiness.
Matthew 24:36 states, "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only."
Acts 1:7 indicates that it is not for believers to know the times or seasons the Father has fixed by His own authority.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 and similar verses, say that the day of the Lord will arrive suddenly and unexpectedly, much like a thief in the night.
In his human nature, Jesus voluntarily chose not to use his divine knowledge to know the date of his return, fully submitting to the Father's timeline.
This limitation highlights Christ's true humanity, allowing him to be a sympathetic mediator who experiences the same human limitations as his followers.
Because the date is unknown, believers are commanded to watch and be prepared at all times rather than to calculate dates.
While Matthew 24 mentions signs before the destruction of Jerusalem, the final advent of Christ in verses (24:36–25:46) is a "single" event that is meant to take the world by surprise.
The return of Christ is considered "imminent," meaning it could happen at any moment, and no prophecy must be fulfilled before he returns.
the Bible is clear that the year is not known, and focusing on predicting the date is a distraction from the true calling of the church to work and serve while waiting for Christ's return.
"the second coming will be unexpected"
False. It will be unexpected ONLY for those who are not watching because they do not believe Him and therefore are not waiting for Him. We SHOULD know the times and season. Paul taught this everywhere, yet pastors today abandon this teaching requirement.
1Th 5:1
But concerning
the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
1Th 5:4
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief
Rev 3:3
“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.
Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you
"In his human nature, Jesus voluntarily chose not to use his divine knowledge to know the date of his return"
I don't believe that is the proper interpretation. Jesus is omniscient and always knows everything all of the time, and certainly knows the mind of the Father. Jesus is referring to the distinction of roles in salvation history.
Personally, I see this as an intertwining of the entire "end-time" prophetic matrix of rapture - man of sin revealed - time of Jacobs trouble - day of the Lord all packaged together in one terse saying.
Mat 24:36
But of that day and hour knoweth no
man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mar 13:32
But of that day and
that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Jhn 14:2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if
it were not
so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
1Th 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
"fully submitting to the Father's timeline"
This is true and follows the Hebrew wedding protocol perfectly.
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And YES, certainly, the fig tree is intended to be a symbolic reference to the nation Israel. The evidence is overwhelming.
And we should be WATCHING the "fig tree", the nation Israel, as they THEMSELVES, in and of themselves, are a SIGN to the entire world, and always will be. Therefore men are WITHOUT EXCUSE in the matter of "watching" and responding appropriately.
FIG TREE / FIGS — ISRAEL PASSAGES
Book of Hosea 9:10
“I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time…”
Book of Jeremiah 24:2–3, 5, 8
“One basket had very good figs… and the other basket had very naughty figs…”
“Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah…”
“And as the evil figs… so will I give Zedekiah… and the residue of Jerusalem…”
Book of Jeremiah 8:13
“I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree…”
Book of Joel 1:7
“He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree…”
Book of Micah 4:4
“But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree…”
First Book of Kings 4:25
“And Judah and Israel dwelt safely… every man under his vine and under his fig tree…”
Second Book of Kings 18:31
“Eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree…”
Book of Isaiah 34:4
“…as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.”
(Used in judgment imagery tied to the land/people)
Book of Nahum 3:12
“All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs…”
NEW TESTAMENT — ISRAEL CONTEXT
Gospel of Luke 13:6–9
“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard…”
“Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none…”
Gospel of Matthew 21:18–19
“Now in the morning… he came to a fig tree, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only…”
“Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.”
Gospel of Mark 11:13–14, 20–21
“And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves… he found nothing but leaves…”
“No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever…”
Optional (often INCLUDED in Israel discussions, but debated)
Gospel of Matthew 24:32–33
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree…”
Gospel of Luke 21:29–30
“Behold the fig tree, and all the trees…”
