Every continent and local area has seasons of hot and cold, rain and dry; and weather suitable for sowing and reaping (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).  Farmers need a reasonable degree of certainty about these seasons so that they can decide when to invest their seed and when to harvest.  Failure of the rains, or cold at the wrong time, will make the farmer's life difficult.  If the seasons were totally haphazard, agriculture would be impossible to the point of famine.  

Not only does the weather help us decide about when to sow and reap, but we can also tell which season we are in by the condition of the plants and trees.  In the same way that farmers and sailors need to assess the seasonal weather, Jesus urged His disciples to carefully assess the state of the world and rejoice when they see evidence that Christ will come again (Luke 21:28).  Their observation of the state of the world should lead believers to the conclusion that only Jesus can sort it out – and long for Him to come to do so (2 Peter 3:11-13).  Yet for those who have no interest in His Kingdom, even though they may see the signs, they do not understand the significance of the day when Jesus will come again (Matthew 16:2-4).

Over the years various Christians have tried to predict the date of the second coming of Christ.  They have all been proved wrong so far.  If it had been necessary for the disciples to know, then Jesus would have told them.  God is not going to give us that information because it would cause us to live by sight and not by faith … we are called to live in dynamic relationship with Jesus - in which the solution to every uncertainty is His grace and our obedience to His Word (Romans 1:5).  No, the date of Jesus’ return is God’s secret.  Jesus said, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mark 13:32).  He does not tell us because it will not help us to live by faith, and He will not tell angels or demons lest they misuse the information – so every occult prediction of that great moment is also wrong.

Instead, Jesus instructed the disciples to be on guard, be alert and keep watch (Mark 13:32-37).  In the same way, He expects the whole church to live each day in the expectation that He will come back at any moment (1 Thessalonians 5:2).  Those who do so will notice tell-tale signs just before His return.  Those signs are to strengthen and encourage the believers that God will certainly fulfil His promise, in the same way that Simeon recognised the infant Jesus (Luke 2:25-32).  Until His return we have to live by faith, and not by sight, through some dark and difficult days of misunderstanding, hostility and persecution (2 Corinthians 1:8-11).  But we are able to bear the troubles because of our hope that our Redeemer will come, and not a day later than He has planned.