Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Olivet Discourse: Three Questions

Dr. David R. ReaganPDFBy Dr. David R. Reagan


The discourse was prompted by one of Jesus' disciples as they were leaving the Temple where Jesus had been teaching. The disciple, obviously overwhelmed by the beauty of the Temple, said, "Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings" (Mark 13:1). Jesus' immediate response was a startling one: "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another which will not be torn down" (Mark 13:2).

A Series of Questions

This statement must have greatly perplexed the disciples of Jesus, because later, after they had ascended the Mount of Olives and had stopped to rest, they asked Jesus: "Tell us when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3).

Note carefully the three questions Jesus was asked:

  1. "When will these things be?" That is, when will Jerusalem and the Temple be destroyed?
  2. "What will be the sign of Your coming?" That is, what event will signal Jesus' return?
  3. "What will be the sign of the end of the age?" That is, what event will mark the consummation of history and the launching of a new world order?

Jesus' Answers

Jesus does not address the first question in his discourse as it is recorded in Matthew 24. His response can be found only in Luke's account, in Luke 21:20-24. The answer is that Jerusalem and the Temple will suffer destruction when the disciples "see Jerusalem surrounded by armies" (Luke 21:20). This occurred 40 years later in 70 A.D. when the Romans besieged the city and then destroyed it. Jesus referred to this event as "days of vengeance" (Luke 21:22).


The third question is answered in Matthew 24:30. The sign of the end of the age will be the appearance of Jesus in the heavens, "coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory."

Signs of the Tribulation



According to Jesus, the climactic sign of the Tribulation would be the erection of what the prophet Daniel had called "the abomination of desolation," which would be situated "in the holy place" of the Temple (Daniel 11:31 and Matthew 24:15).

So, what about it? Is Matthew 24 history or prophecy? Find out as we continue with the next segment in this "Olivet Discourse" series!


hartdawg said...

there are many interpretations on matt 24. here`s mine (for those who care:) jesus starts with events that characterize the entire church age. thats indicated by the statement "these things must come but the end is not yet" he then goes on to the beginning of birthpangs, then describes tribulation events. from the beginning of birth pangs to the 2nd coming is one generation.

hartdawg said...

tho many scholars believe the fig tree to represent isreal, i`m not sure thats in the context. i`m more inclined to think when jesus gave the lesson of the fig tree and the final generation he was saying the generation that sees the beggining of these birth pangs will still be alive at the 2nd coming.

Anonymous said...

So hardawg, can you point to the start of the birth pangs if there is no difinitive start like Israel becoming a nation? If they are like labor... then there is a first pain. I still lean to 1948 and Israel being the starting point.

C~ in Salem

hartdawg said...

sure anon, the start was none other than 1948! many things started happening that year isreal being one of them. one could point out isreal being the sign and many things occuring that year, proving isreal is the sign, or one could turn the arguement around and say many things occured that year proving isreal is just A sign. i`m 50/50 on it cuz it seems the context of the fig tree is signs previous mentioned.

hartdawg said...

any way you look at it, c-in salem, 1948 is the beginning of the final generation. so whether the fig tree is isreal or not (and i`m 50/50 on it cuz there is STRONG evidence on both sides) is acedemic. after world war 2 we saw the inception of the E.U. (in 1948) the birth of computers (in 1948) the start of t.v. (in 1948) the list goes on.

hartdawg said...

1 more thing, in lukes gospel it says "and all the trees". in my opinion, it may or may not be isreal but we`re close any way you slice it!

Gideon said...

I tend to lean towards 1948 being the beginning of birth pangs too.

son of thunder said...

Hal Lindsey calls 1948 "The Hinge of History."

Rodney said...

The Fig Tree represents national Israel, the other trees represent the Gentile nations. Israel and the Gentile nations will arrive at their prophetic destiny at the same time. Israel to restoration and redemption, the Gentile nations to wrath and destruction for their treatment of Israel.

The generation that witnessed the capturing of Jerusalem and additional territory witnessed the Fig Tree bloom. This generation will not pass to all things be fulfilled. The Lord gave the example of the Fig Tree to pinpoint the generation being the life span of that particular tree. The Fig Tree does not bear fruit until 7 years of age, at age 50 it reaches maturity. Thus we have 1967
+ 50 years equals 2017.

Expected Imminently said...


I missed this Fig Tree comment until now. It seems too much like 'date setting' to me?

(That is 'calendar dates' not the sticky, yummy kind) :)