Will God Reveal the Time of Jesus' Return?

I do not know the specific time and date of Jesus' return from these passages, as the focus remains on the events surrounding His appearance and the character of those who are prepared to meet HimEW 15.1+1.

The Appearance of the Son of Man

The return of Jesus is heralded by a small black cloud in the east, about half the size of a man's handEW 15.2. As this cloud draws nearer to the earth, it becomes lighter and more glorious until it is a great white cloud with a base like fire and a rainbow over itEW 15.2. The Son of Man sits upon this cloud, surrounded by ten thousand angels singing a lovely songEW 15.2. He is described with hair that is white and curly, eyes like a flame of fire, many crowns upon His head, and feet like fireEW 15.2. In His right hand, He carries a sharp sickle, and in His left hand, He holds a silver trumpetEW 15.2.

The Experience of the 144,000

Those who are ready for His return possess specific characteristics and experiences:

• Unity and Sealing: The 144,000 are perfectly united and sealed with the names of God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name written on their foreheadsEW 15.1.

• Protection from Enemies: When the wicked rush violently to imprison God's people, the saints stretch forth their hands in the name of the Lord, causing their enemies to fall helpless to the groundEW 15.1.

• Divine Love: The "synagogue of Satan" is forced to acknowledge that God loves His people—those who wash one another's feet and salute with a holy kiss—and they worship at the feet of the saints Revelation 3:9EW 15.1.

The Standard of Readiness

As the Son of Man approaches, the holiness of the moment causes deep soul-searching among the peopleEW 15.2.

• The Question of Standing: As faces gather paleness and those rejected by God gather blackness, the cry is raised, "Who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless?" Joel 2:6+1EW 15.2.

• The Divine Assurance: Jesus provides the answer to this solemn inquiry, stating that those with clean hands and pure hearts shall be able to stand, for His grace is sufficient for themPsa 24:3-4+1, 2 Corinthians 12:9.

• Joyful Response: Upon hearing these words, the hearts of the faithful are filled with joy, their faces light up, and the angels sing even louder as the cloud draws closerEW 15.2.

Yes, God’s people will be given the specific day and hour of Jesus' coming directly by His own voice just before He appears in the clouds of heavenLDE 272.2+1.

The Announcement of the Time

Shortly before the second advent, during a period of great commotion in nature where the earth shakes and the sky opens and shuts, the voice of God will be heard from heaven3SM 112.2+1. Like peals of loudest thunder, this voice rolls through the whole earth, delivering the everlasting covenant and declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ returnDD 49.3+1. The living saints, numbering 144,000, clearly hear and understand this announcement, while the wicked perceive it only as thunder or an earthquakeLDE 272.2+1.

The Effect on the Saints

When the day and hour are spoken, the experience for God's people is one of solemn triumph:

• Holy Joy: At the end of every sentence spoken by God, the saints shout, "Glory! Alleluia!"LS 102.3+1.

• Glorified Countenances: Their faces are lighted up with the glory of God, shining so brightly—much like the face of Moses when he descended from Sinai—that the wicked are unable to look upon themDD 49.3+1.

• Victory Over the Beast: This divine announcement is followed by a mighty shout of victory for those who have honored God by keeping His Sabbath holyDD 49.3+2.

Important Clarifications on Time-Setting

While God will reveal the time at the very end, there are vital warnings regarding human efforts to calculate this date:

• No Human Reckoning: It is not according to God's providence that any finite man should use figures or symbols to know the definite period of the Lord's coming10MR 272.1.

• The Error of Repeated Date-Setting: Those who repeatedly fix a definite time for the advent before the final events occur are following unsound views that weaken the faith of God's peopleGC 456.1+1.

• The Secret and the Revealed: While "of that day and hour knoweth no man" regarding human study, the "secret things" belong to God until He chooses to reveal them through His voice or His prophets Matthew 24:36+1FE 335.1+1.

Soon we heard the voice of God [The voice of God is heard repeatedly during the period immediately preceding Christ's return. See The G...— LDE 272.2 (1992)

The voice of God is heard from Heaven declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and delivering the everlasting covenant to his people. Like peals of loudest thunder, h...— 4SP 458.1 (1884)

In the time of trouble, we all fled from the cities and villages, Ezekiel 7:15, 16. Luke 17:30-36. See Campbell's translation.] but were pu...— WLF 19.2 (1847)

The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and delivering the everlasting covenant to His peopl...— DD 49.3 (1997)