When Moses explains that 1000 years are as a day, he also includes a watch in the night. Jesus picks up on this and uses a watch in the night story to reveal the season of his return.
In a passage dealing with his own eventual return, Jesus gives us another interesting clue as to the time of his return. This one, unlike the others, is vague as to when exactly he is referring, but he is referring to our current period in history.
This time Jesus uses the other clue from Psalm 90, that with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, or a watch in the night.
43 Luke 12:35
43 Luke 12:35-48
35ܢܗܘܘܢ ܐܤܝܪܝܢ ܚܨܝܟܘܢ ܘܡܢܗܪܝܢ ܫܪܓܝܟܘܢ ܀
36ܘܗܘܘ ܕܡܝܢ ܠܐܢܫܐ ܕܡܤܟܝܢ ܠܡܪܗܘܢ ܕܐܡܬܝ ܢܦܢܐ ܡܢ ܒܝܬ ܡܫܬܘܬܐ ܕܡܐ ܕܐܬܐ ܘܢܩܫ ܡܚܕܐ ܢܦܬܚܘܢ ܠܗ ܀
37ܛܘܒܝܗܘܢ ܠܥܒܕܐ ܗܢܘܢ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܢܐܬܐ ܡܪܗܘܢ ܘܢܫܟܚ ܐܢܘܢ ܟܕ ܥܝܪܝܢ ܐܡܝܢ ܐܡܪ ܐܢܐ ܠܟܘܢ ܕܢܐܤܘܪ ܚܨܘܗܝ ܘܢܤܡܟ ܐܢܘܢ ܘܢܥܒܪ ܢܫܡܫ ܐܢܘܢ ܀
38ܘܐܢ ܒܡܛܪܬܐ ܕܬܪܬܝܢ ܐܘ ܕܬܠܬ ܢܐܬܐ ܘܢܫܟܚ ܗܟܢܐ ܛܘܒܝܗܘܢ ܠܥܒܕܐ ܗܢܘܢ ܀
39ܗܕܐ ܕܝܢ ܕܥܘ ܕܐܠܘ ܝܕܥ ܗܘܐ ܡܪܐ ܒܝܬܐ ܒܐܝܕܐ ܡܛܪܬܐ ܐܬܐ ܓܢܒܐ ܡܬܬܥܝܪ ܗܘܐ ܘܠܐ ܫܒܩ ܗܘܐ ܕܢܬܦܠܫ ܒܝܬܗ ܀
40ܐܦ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܗܟܝܠ ܗܘܘ ܡܛܝܒܐ ܕܒܗܝ ܫܥܬܐ ܕܠܐ ܤܒܪܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܐܬܐ ܒܪܗ ܕܐܢܫܐ ܀
41ܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܫܡܥܘܢ ܟܐܦܐ ܡܪܢ ܠܘܬܢ ܐܡܪ ܐܢܬ ܠܗ ܠܡܬܠܐ ܗܢܐ ܐܘ ܐܦ ܠܘܬ ܟܠܢܫ ܀
42ܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܝܫܘܥ ܡܢܘ ܟܝ ܐܝܬ ܪܒܝܬܐ ܡܗܝܡܢܐ ܘܚܟܝܡܐ ܕܢܩܝܡܝܘܗܝ ܡܪܗ ܥܠ ܬܫܡܫܬܗ ܕܢܬܠ ܦܪܤܐ ܒܙܒܢܗ ܀
43ܛܘܒܘܗܝ ܠܗܘ ܥܒܕܐ ܕܢܐܬܐ ܡܪܗ ܢܫܟܚܝܘܗܝ ܕܥܒܕ ܗܟܢܐ ܀
44ܫܪܝܪܐܝܬ ܐܡܪ ܐܢܐ ܠܟܘܢ ܕܢܩܝܡܝܘܗܝ ܥܠ ܟܠܗ ܩܢܝܢܗ ܀
45ܐܢ ܕܝܢ ܢܐܡܪ ܥܒܕܐ ܗܘ ܒܠܒܗ ܕܡܪܝ ܡܘܚܪ ܠܡܐܬܐ ܘܢܫܪܐ ܠܡܡܚܐ ܠܥܒܕܐ ܘܠܐܡܗܬܐ ܕܡܪܗ ܘܢܫܪܐ ܠܡܠܥܤ ܘܠܡܫܬܐ ܘܠܡܪܘܐ ܀
46ܢܐܬܐ ܡܪܗ ܕܥܒܕܐ ܗܘ ܒܝܘܡܐ ܕܠܐ ܤܒܪ ܘܒܫܥܬܐ ܕܠܐ ܝܕܥ ܘܢܦܠܓܝܘܗܝ ܘܢܤܝܡ ܡܢܬܗ ܥܡ ܗܢܘܢ ܕܠܐ ܡܗܝܡܢܝܢ ܀
47ܥܒܕܐ ܕܝܢ ܐܝܢܐ ܕܝܕܥ ܨܒܝܢܐ ܕܡܪܗ ܘܠܐ ܛܝܒ ܠܗ ܐܝܟ ܨܒܝܢܗ ܢܒܠܥ ܤܓܝܐܬܐ ܀
48ܗܘ ܕܝܢ ܕܠܐ ܝܕܥ ܘܥܒܕ ܡܕܡ ܕܫܘܐ ܠܡܚܘܬܐ ܢܒܠܥ ܡܚܘܬܐ ܙܥܘܪܝܬܐ ܟܠ ܓܝܪ ܕܐܬܝܗܒ ܠܗ ܤܓܝ ܤܓܝ ܢܬܬܒܥ ܡܢܗ ܘܠܗܘ ܕܐܓܥܠܘ ܠܗ ܤܓܝ ܝܬܝܪܐܝܬ ܢܬܒܥܘܢ ܒܐܝܕܗ ܀
(SYP)
43 Luke 12:35-48
35Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47And that servant, which knew his lords will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.(KJV)
43 Luke 12:35-48
35Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38And if he shall come in watch 2, or come in watch 3, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.(KJV/NC)
43 Luke 12:35-48
35Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning;
36and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him.
37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.
38And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find them so blessed are those servants.
39But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through.
40Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
41And Peter said, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even unto all?
42And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
43Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.
45But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful.
47And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;
48but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.
(ASV)
43 Luke 12:35-48
35Let your girdle be fastened on your loins, and your lamps lighted.
36And be like men who expect their master when he will return from the wedding house; so that when he comes and knocks, they will immediately open the door for him.
37Blessed are those servants, whom their master, when he comes. finds awake; truly I say to you that he will gird himself and make them sit down, and come in and serve them.
38If he should come in the second or the third watch and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39But know this, that if the master of the house knew at what watch the thief would come, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be plundered.
40Therefore, you also be ready; for the Son of man will come in that very hour which you do not expect.
41¶ Simon Peter said to him, Our Lord, do you speak this parable to us or also to all men?
42Jesus said to him, Who is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will appoint over his household to give supplies in due time?
43Blessed is that servant, whom his master when he comes will find so doing.
44Truly I say to you that he will appoint him over all his wealth.
45But if that servant should say in his heart, My master has delayed his coming; and begins to beat the menservants and maidservants of his master, and then begins to eat and drink and get drunk;
46The master of that servant will come in a day and at an hour that he does not expect or know; and he will severely punish him, and place him with those who are not trustworthy.
47And the servant who knows the wishes of his master, and does not make ready according to his wishes, will receive a severe beating.
48But he who does not know, and does what is worthy of punishment will receive less beating. For to whomever more is given, of him more will be required; and to whom much is entrusted, more will be required of his hand.
(LAM)
43 Luke 12:35-48
35"Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning,
36and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks.
37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them.
38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants!
39But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.
40You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour."
41Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?"
42And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
43Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing.
44Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
45But if that servant says to himself, `My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful.
47And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating.
48But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.(RSV)
43 Luke 12:35-48
35"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,
36like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.
39But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
41Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"
42The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But suppose the servant says to himself, `My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
47"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.(NIV)
43 Luke 12:35-48
35'Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.
36BeP like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.
37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most assuredly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them.
38They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so.
39But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into.
40Therefore beP ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that youP don't expect him.'
41Peter said to him, 'Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?'
42The Lord said, 'Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? 43Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. 44Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has. 45But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, 46then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn't expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn't know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. 47That servant, who knew his lord's will, and didn't prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, 48but he who didn't know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whoever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.(WEB)
43 Luke 12:35-48
35'Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.
36Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.
37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them.
38They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so.
39But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into.
40Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don't expect him.'
41Peter said to him, 'Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?'
42The Lord said, 'Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? 43Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. 44Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has. 45But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, 46then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn't expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn't know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. 47That servant, who knew his lord's will, and didn't prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, 48but he who didn't know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whoever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.(WEB/HNV)
43 Luke 12:35-48
35Let your belt be fastened on your loins, and your lamps lit.
36And be like men who expect their master when he will return from the wedding house; so that when he comes and knocks, they will immediately open the door for him.
37Blessed are those servants, whom their master, when he comes, finds awake; truly I say to you that he will gird himself and make them sit down, and come in and serve them.
38If he should come in the 2nd or the 3rd watch and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39But know this, that if the master of the house knew at what watch the thief would come, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be plundered.
40Therefore, you also be ready; for the Son of man will come in that very hour which you do not expect.
41Simon Peter said to him, Our Lord, do you speak this parable to us or also to all men?
42Jesus said to him, Who is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will appoint over his household to give supplies in due time?
43Blessed is that servant, whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
44Truly I say to you that he will appoint him over all his wealth.
45But if that servant should say in his heart, My master has delayed his coming; and begins to beat the male servants and female servants of his master, and then begins to eat and drink and get drunk;
46The master of that servant will come in a day and at an hour that he does not expect or know; and he will severely punish him, and place him with those who are not trustworthy.
47And the servant who knows the wishes of his master, and does not make ready according to his wishes, will receive a severe beating.
48But he who does not know, and does what is worthy of punishment will receive less beating. For to whom more is given, more will be required; and to whom more is entrusted, more will be required of his hand.
(BRB)
The gap between the second and third watch is the gap between the second and third sets of 1000 years, ie: around 2000 years from His first visit.
Like other passages dealing with his return, like Acts chapter 1, Jesus buries within the discourse a clue as to the exact date of his return.
Does this clue give us a specific date? No, we can only get that from other passages. This only echos what we already know from so many other places.
We've looked at various 1000 years stories that point at this immediate period in history. There are others, but you'll have to find them yourselves.
We leave this style of story and turn our attention to a set of stories from the Book of Daniel. These stories are not of the same nature, they deal with a different set of math and point us at the same place. Once we've gotten through them we'll be ready to look at the day for a year map.