Hosea 6:1-3 - "After Two Days..." (III)

Dual Fulfillment

Of OT prophecies that have a dual fulfillment, we can especially notice these:

1. in the coming of Christ (some aspects fulfilled in the first, and some in the second coming)
2. in the coming of Elijah (some aspects fulfilled in John the Baptist, others in Elijah at the 2nd coming)
3. as in the coming of the kingdom (some aspects fulfilled in the church, others at the 2nd coming)

Date Setting

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." (Matt. 24:36 nkjv)

This statement of the Lord does not condemn all efforts to know when Christ is coming again. What it condemns is anyone knowing the "day" and "hour" of the Lord's return. It does not condemn the idea that disciples may know whether "that day," the day of Christ's return and of the resurrection of the just, is near or far. It did not condemn the idea that disciples will know the month, year, time and season, of "that day." To prove this we only have to look at these words of the Apostle Paul:

"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 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. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." (I Thess. 5:1-4 kjv)

Those who know the word of God know "the times and seasons" though they know not "the day and the hour." There is no real contradiction here. We cannot affirm that Christ meant, by his words "no man knows the day nor the hour," that one could not know the "times and seasons." We can see this by examining the analogy of a woman experiencing labor pains as signs of her immanent delivery.

Christ returns and his return will follow the birth pangs. So, just as when a woman becomes pregnant, doctors are able to determine the "expected" time of birth, generally in the ninth month. Thus one may know the general time and season for the birth, though he will not know the day nor the hour. So, likewise, students of the word of God in relation to the second coming of Christ will see signs of his coming, will see the birth pains (travail of creation, etc.) preceding his coming. Don't you see?

Paul says that it is only upon the lost that Christ comes totally unexpected, as a thief in the night. He says positively that this is not so in regard to the truly saved who know their bibles, for that day will not overtake them as a thief!

"So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near." (Luke 21: 31 nkjv)

These words of Jesus show us that the disciples who see "these things happening" may see the time and season for the coming of the Lord is "at the door" (Matt. 24:33). Wrote Paul:

"that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." (II Thess. 2:2)

When we see this "falling away" and the coming of Antichrist, then we know Christ coming is imminent.

Consider these facts also as it relates to knowing the date or time of the Lord's first coming. The Hebrews had the prophecy of Daniel concerning the 70 weeks which was a time line taking them "unto the Messiah" (Dan. 9). And, though they should have known the year for the Lord's 1st coming, they would not have necessarily known the day or hour.