When Jesus said only the Father knows the hour, did this statement mean that Jesus is not God?
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Matthew 24:36
This statement presents problems for Muslim apologists because if they believe that Jesus does not know the hour, they must also believe that in it Jesus says he is the Son of God, who in essence is God. We believe that although the Son and the Holy Spirit are equally God in essence, the Son and the Holy Spirit are subservient to the the Father. They are both sent by the Father.
If Jesus says it is the prerogative of the Father to know the hour then we don’t have any issues with it, considering that a just few verses earlier in the same chapter, Jesus makes yet another more obvious statement that he is God:
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
Matthew 24:30-31
In this same chapter Jesus gives detailed prophecies about what will happen in the end times and what specifically his role will be but gives the prerogative of the knowledge of the hour to the Father.
Throughout scripture clouds are used to to symbolize the presence of God. It is God who comes on the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. No prophet comes on the clouds of heaven.
What is the response from Jesus which led to his crucifixion?
‘But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
Matthew 26:63-64
The Jewish high priests were not only angered by Jesus saying his is the Son of God, but they knew very well the importance of clouds in symbolising the presence of God. When Jesus said he would come down on the clouds of heaven, the high priests understood that he was stating that he is God.
When God came down on Mount Sinai, he did so by means of a cloud:
‘and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud’.
Exodus 24:16
God also told Moses to tell Aaron his brother (the priest) that when he came, he would “appear in a cloud over the mercy seat” Leviticus 16:2
As you would also know, God led the Israelites out Egypt to the promised land in the form of a pillar of cloud.
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted.”
Exodus 40:34-37
A cloud also came and overshadowed those present at the transfiguration.
“While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
Luke 9:34-35
The last place in which clouds play a significant role is in the ascension and in the return of Christ. After his resurrection, Jesus took his disciples up to a high mountain where “he was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). Jesus’ ascension on the clouds was foretold by Daniel (Dan. 7:13-14). He is the Son of Man ascending on the clouds of heaven and coming to the Ancient of Days to receive the Kingdom that was promised to him.
Likewise, the Scriptures tell us that “He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced him. (Rev. 1:7). The Scriptures promise that he will “come in like manner” as that by which he ascended to glory (Acts 1:11).