4. The things then which are seen shall pass
away, and there shall come the things which are looked for, things
fairer than the present; but as to the time let no one be
curious. For it is not for you, He says, to know times
or seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power Acts i. 7.. And venture not thou to declare when
these things shall be, nor on the other hand supinely slumber.
For he saith, Watch, for in such an hour as ye expect not the Son of
Man cometh
Matt. xxiv. 42,
44; Ib. v. 3.. But since it
was needful for us to know the signs of the end, and since we are
looking for Christ, therefore, that we may not die deceived and be led
astray by that false Antichrist, the Apostles, moved by the divine
will, address themselves by a providential arrangement to the True
Teacher, and say, Tell us, when shall these things be, and what
shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the
world Ib. vv. 3 and
4.? We look for
Thee to come again, but Satan transforms himself into an Angel of
light; put us therefore on our guard, that we may not worship
another instead of Thee. And He, opening His divine and blessed
mouth, says, Take heed that no man mislead you. Do you
also, my hearers, as seeing Him now with the eyes of your mind, hear
Him saying the same things to you; Take heed that no man mislead
you. And this word exhorts you all to give heed to what is
spoken; for it is not a history of things gone by, but a prophecy of
things future, and which will surely come. Not that we prophesy,
for we are unworthy; but that the things which are written will be set
before you, and the signs declared. Observe thou, which of them
have already come to pass, and which yet remain; and make thyself
safe.