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If Jesus is God, then why doesn't He know the time when He is going to return?

  My question is about the trinity. If the trinity is true then that means they we have to believe that God the Father God the son and God the holy sprit are all one and equal with each other. Well if that is the case then how can you explain Matthew 24 verse 36 where God the son Jesus can't tell the disciples when the Great tribulation is going to come, because the only one that knows that is God the Father so how can they be all one and equal with each other when God the Father knows that and God the Son does not know.

  We must first look at the clear facts. I John 5:7 says, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, THE FATHER, THE WORD, and THE HOLY GHOST: and THESE THREE ARE ONE." John 14:6-9 says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and FROM HENCEFORTH YE KNOW HIM, AND HAVE SEEN HIM. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? HE THAT HATH SEEN ME HATH SEEN THE FATHER; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" John 10:30-33 says, "I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that THOU, BEING A MAN, MAKEST THYSELF GOD."

Because we may not fully understand all of the details of a truth, does not change the facts. I do not understand how a microwave oven, a cellular phone, and a computer work, but I am not foolish enough to deny that they exist or work. Much more so, I accept that what God says is true, whether I fully understand it or not. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

The passage you brought up, Matthew 24:29-36, says, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, BUT MY FATHER ONLY."

It is in Mark 13:32-37 that it mentions that the Son does not know the time. "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, NEITHER THE SON, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 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. 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: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."

Notice that this passage emphasizes the SON OF MAN. The "son of man" is a phrase that was used 108 times in the Old Testament, of which Isaiah 51:12 is one: "I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of THE SON OF MAN which shall be made as grass." As you can see, it emphasizes the earthly, the fleshly, and the temporary.

The phrase "son of man" is used 88 times in the New Testament. In the New Testament, we find that many people stumbled over Jesus’ humanity, and did not recognize His deity (that He is God). Matthew 9:1-6 is a good example. "And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that THE SON OF MAN hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house."

This "Son of Man" was not just a man, but was God in the flesh. John 1:14 says, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." The Trinity is a very clear truth taught in the Scripture, but it is just hard to fully understand from the human realm. It simply must be believed by faith.

Jesus was upon earth as God in the flesh. Matthew 1:23 says, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US." Hebrews 2:14-17 says, "Forasmuch then as the children are PARTAKERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily HE TOOK NOT ON HIM THE NATURE OF ANGELS; BUT HE TOOK ON HIM THE SEED OF ABRAHAM. Wherefore in all things it behoved him TO BE MADE LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."

We are living in a realm of very limited human knowledge. Yes, God has given unto us all of the information that we need to live this life according to His perfect will. II Timothy 3:16,17 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

But those verses do not say that God has given us a fullness of knowledge about everything. Only God knows everything. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."

We do not fully understand this realm (the physical), let alone the realm which we cannot see (the spiritual). Scientists are still speculating on what is out in space, and the rules that govern how things act out there. A company recently mapped the gene, even though they admit that they have to learn how to use the map now! If we have not even begun to master the physical universe, how can we understand the rules that govern the spiritual realm which we cannot even see?

John 3:9-13 says, "Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. IF I HAVE TOLD YOU EARTHLY THINGS, AND YE BELIEVE NOT, HOW SHALL YE BELIEVE, IF I TELL YOU OF HEAVENLY THINGS? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."

Jesus was saying that He had come down from heaven, and yet was in heaven at that very moment! Jesus was giving Nicodemus an EARTHLY fact — ye must be born again. That seemed to be too much for him to understand. Then how would he ever understand a HEAVENLY fact — that Jesus was ON EARTH and IN HEAVEN at the same time?

Notice the difference in the terms in the following passage. Matthew 26:62-66 says, "And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou TELL US WHETHER THOU BE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see THE SON OF MAN sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death."

In Jesus’ reply, He switched the phrase "Son of God" to "Son of Man." Jesus was trying to point out something to the high priest, that he was going to one day see THE SON OF MAN come in the clouds; in other words, "This same Jesus." Acts 1:6-11 says, "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, 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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? THIS SAME JESUS, which is taken up from you into heaven, SHALL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER as ye have seen him go into heaven."

Notice how the matter is brought up again about "times" and "seasons." Those have been left in the Father’s power.

Philippians 2:5-8 summarizes this whole matter, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be EQUAL WITH GOD: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him THE FORM OF A SERVANT, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, even the death of the cross."

Jesus, the Son of God, was sent to this earth with a mission — that mission was salvation. John 3:16-18 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Although equal with God, Jesus, in His role as Son of Man, fulfilled it perfectly as an obedient, humble Son and servant. In that role, the decision-making was perfectly and rightly left with the Father. Let us NOT stumble over His obedience, and thus foolishly deny He is God Almighty.

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