Jesus meant the Kingdom would surely come, but He deliberately hid the timing from the disciples.
Les Feldick teaches that Jesus did not refute the disciples' expectation of an earthly Kingdom (Acts 1:6-7). Instead, He confirmed that it would happen, but said the times or seasons were not for them to know. The Father alone holds that authority. This shows the Kingdom's certainty while keeping its schedule a mystery.
Acts 1:7 — Jesus directly answers the disciples' question about restoring the Kingdom, saying it's not for them to know times or seasons.
In Acts 1:6-7, the disciples ask Jesus if He will restore the kingdom to Israel. Jesus replies, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power" (KJV). He does not correct their premise that a kingdom is coming; He only withholds the timing. Elsewhere, in Matthew 24:36, Jesus states that no one knows the day or hour of the end of the age, not even the angels, but only the Father.
Les emphasizes that Jesus never denied the disciples' expectation of an earthly Kingdom. In fact, He affirms that they will rule the twelve tribes of Israel (Clip 1, Clip 5). The only thing withheld is the time. Les explains that Jesus spoke from His humanity side, so He could honestly say He didn't know the day or hour, while as God He did know (Clip 6). Furthermore, the prophetic program of 490 years was interrupted; the remaining 7 years could have begun immediately after the ascension, but Israel's rejection caused God to stop the clock (Clips 0, 7). The church age was not hinted at anywhere in the Old Testament or Gospels (Clips 2, 4).
Les Feldick explains that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. When He said He didn't know the day or hour, He spoke from His humanity side. As a man, He genuinely didn't know, but from His deity side, He knew exactly when these events would happen. This is why Jesus could honestly say, "no man knoweth the hour" (Clip 6).
Les teaches that the prophetic program consists of 490 years, 483 years culminating at the cross. The remaining seven years could have started immediately after His ascension, meaning Jesus could have returned soon. But Israel rejected the prophetic program, so God paused the clock. This explains why Jesus could say the times were not for them to know—the timetable was not fixed at that moment (Clips 0, 7).
Les emphasizes that there is no hint of the church age or God turning to the Gentiles in the Old Testament, the Gospels, or even the early chapters of Acts. This was a mystery hidden in God. Jesus knew of it from His deity side, but He never revealed it to the disciples. The disciples understood only the prophetic program of the Kingdom (Clips 2, 4).
Prophetic Program Could Have Begun Immediately
Les teaches that after the ascension, the remaining seven years of the 490-year prophecy could have begun right away, but Israel's rejection delayed it. This explains why the timing was hidden.
Jesus Doesn't Refute the Earthly Kingdom
Jesus does not deny the disciples' hope for an earthly Kingdom; He only says the timing is not theirs to know. This directly answers the question by showing that the Kingdom's certainty remains.
No Hint of the Church Age
Les notes that nowhere in the Old Testament, Gospels, or Acts is the church age mentioned. This supports that the disciples were only looking for the prophetic Kingdom, and the delay of the Kingdom's timing was part of God's hidden plan.
Why the Church Age Is Hidden in the Old Testament
And yes, the King is coming one day. He's going to set up that Kingdom in Jerusalem, and God knows the hour. But He says to the eleven, it's not for you to know. Why? Well, now let's go back in Scripture again and pick up the reason that Jesus, in all fairness, even though I'm sure He knew from His God side the exact day and hour, I want Genesis 21, yet He could honestly tell the eleven that it wa…
Jesus' Teaching on the End of the Age
Les points out that Jesus never revealed a 2,000-year gap between His first and second comings, which is why He could speak of the end of the age as near. This aligns with the disciples' not knowing times or seasons.
Kingdom Promise and the Holy Spirit's Power
Les confirms that Jesus tells the disciples they will still rule the twelve tribes, but the time isn't for them to know. The Holy Spirit gives them power to continue the ministry.
Jesus Spoke from His Humanity
Les explains that Jesus, as a man, genuinely did not know the day or hour, but as God He did. He could honestly say "no man knoweth the hour" because He spoke from His human side.
God's Clock Stops at the Cross
Les uses the analogy of God's time clock: 483 years up to the cross, then the clock stops short. The prophetic program and the Kingdom were postponed, so the disciples were not given the times.
Acts 1:7: 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.
This verse is Jesus' direct answer to the disciples' question about restoring the Kingdom to Israel.
Acts 1:6: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
The disciples' question reveals their expectation of an earthly Kingdom, which Jesus does not correct.
Matthew 24:36: But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Jesus teaches that even He (in His humanity) does not know the exact timing of the end of the age.
Genesis 21:33: And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
Les references this verse as part of the reason Jesus could honestly say He didn't know the timing—likely pointing to the everlasting nature of God's plans.
No, according to Les Feldick, Jesus did not deny it. In Acts 1:6-7, the disciples ask about restoring the Kingdom, and Jesus only says the timing isn't for them to know. He confirms the Kingdom will come by promising they will rule the twelve tribes (Clip 1, Clip 5).
Les teaches that the prophetic program of 490 years could have been completed soon after the ascension, but Israel's rejection interrupted it. The church age was hidden, and the timing of the Kingdom's restoration is in the Father's authority alone (Clips 0, 7).
Les explains that Jesus spoke from His humanity side. As a man, He genuinely didn't know the exact timing, but as God He did. This allowed Him to honestly say "no man knoweth the hour" (Clip 6).
Watch the Teaching: Why the Twelve Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem — Acts 1 & 8