If Jesus is God, how come he doesn’t know when the world will end?
Question:
If Jesus is completely God, then how come the Bible says that not the son, nor the angels in heaven, but only the Father knows of the second coming? I don't remember the verse but you probably recognize which one I'm talking about.
Answer:
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone" (Matthew 24:36).
A common mistake people make is stretching characteristics to the absurd. For example, people will ask if God can create a rock He can't lift to argue that God isn't really omnipotent (all-powerful). The fact that what is being proposed is not possible never seems to enter the person's head. In the same way, if God is omniscient (all-knowing), then can He know the unknowable?
People forget that somethings cannot be known until it occurs. When Abraham was about to swing the knife to sacrifice Isaac, God said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me" (Genesis 22:12). The "now" is extremely important. Until Abraham made up his mind and committed himself to complete the act there was no way to know in advance whether he would change his mind. His decision was in the realm of "unknowable" but notice that once he decided, God knew what he determined, even before the knife came down.
Jesus said that decision to end the world is the Father's choice. Until the Father makes up His mind, when the world will end is unknowable. Once the Father does decide, Jesus will know since he is a part of the Godhead, but he cannot know before the decision is made. I suspect that in part the Father is waiting to see how many more will turn to Him. "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9).
