Why doesn’t the Bible tell us exactly when the Lord will return?

Question

Why doesn’t the Bible tell us exactly when the Lord will return?

Answer

When the disciples asked the Lord a question concerning the future restoration of Israel, ‘Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?,‘ He answered, ‘It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power’, Acts. 1. 7. Although men are not permitted to know the exact timing of future events, the Lord has revealed all that is necessary for men to enter into the blessings of His salvation, by acknowledgement of their sin and faith in Christ. All who trust in His finished work at Calvary are secure for the future and will be associated with Christ at His Second Coming and subsequent millennial reign. God leaves it to the individual choice of each person to respond to the gospel in this present day, with the knowledge that Christ could return to rapture the church at any moment. This must therefore be a test of men generally, i.e. how will they respond to the gospel of His grace? Will they acknowledge their sin and by faith trust Him for salvation knowing that the Lord has gone to a ‘far country’, Matt. 21. 33, but could return at any moment. It is suggested therefore that the reason the Lord has not communicated to men the exact timing of the Rapture and Second Coming is to keep them expectant. If unbelievers knew the date of His return they might be tempted to continue in sin until shortly before His return? Believers, too, should be living in an attitude of expectancy; are we serving Him as if each day might be our last on this earth?