Chapter 23—Beware of Any Time Setting
“It is not for you to Know the Times or the Seasons”
[
Sermon at Lansing, Michigan, September 5, 1891.
]
“He shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible
proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with
them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem,
but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard
of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized
with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 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” (
Acts 1:3-7
).
The disciples were anxious to know the exact time for the revelation
of the kingdom of God; but Jesus tells them that they may not know
the times and the seasons; for the Father has not revealed them. To
understand when the kingdom of God should be restored, was not the
thing of most importance for them to know. They were to be found
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following the Master, praying, waiting, watching, and working. They
were to be representatives to the world of the character of Christ. That
which was essential for a successful Christian experience in the days
of the disciples, is essential in our day. “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 after the Holy Ghost was come upon
them, what were they to do? “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” (
Acts 1:7, 8
).
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