Wednesday, March 9, 2011

The Olivet Discourse

For a full and very clear discussion of this topic please visit Ariel Ministries and read their excellent analysis of the text of Matthew 24 and 25: The Olivet Discourse according to Matthew 24 and 25.

Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum also has a dissertation which is available in manuscript form and as an appendix in his excellent book The Footsteps of the Messiah, on pages 621 to 650. Please read this book, and the relevant portions of scripture, for yourself.

    The Olivet Discourse, recorded in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21, is one of the most important prophetic utterances in the Scriptures. If one has a clear understanding of this prediction, one will have an outline into which almost all other subjects of prophecy will fit perfectly.1

Notes: (taken entirely from the Olivet Discourse by Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum)2

  1. The discourse is recorded in three of the four Gospels. Matt 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21:5-36

  2. Purpose: To answer the the question When and how would the Messianic Kingdom come into being?

  3. Israel had just rejected the Messiah, so the Kingdom could not be set up at that time.

  4. Matthew 23:37-39 - denounced Israel's leadership, He would not return again until Israel requested Him to.

  5. Question: What circumstances would cause this invitation to be issued?

  6. All Gospels must be studied to get the answer to the question

  7. Three questions asked by disciples:

    Tell us, when shall these things be? These things refer to:

    1. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple;
    2. What shall be the sign of your coming? This question concerns the second coming and not the rapture which is imminent;
    3. What shall be the sign of the end of the world? This is a question about the end of the age, rabbinic theology recognised two ages, this age, and the Messianic age. So the question is what is the sign that the last days of this age have begun and that will lead to the Messianic Age?

  8. Things that were NOT signs:

    1. The Rise of False Messiahs
    2. The Existence of Local Wars

  9. The Sign of the End of the Age (Answer to Third question)

    1. Matt 24:7-8, Mark 13:8 and Luke 21:10-11 - World wide wars will indicate that the end had begun
    2. Fulfilled by World War I and World War II
    3. Nation will rise against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom is a Jewish idiom which means world wide war

  10. Personal Experiences of the Apostles

    1. Mark 13:9-13, Luke 21:12-19 - But before all these things...
    2. There will be a time of suffering, and a successful ministry

  11. The Sign of the Fall of Jerusalem (Answer to First Question)

    1. Luke 21:20-24

    2. Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies. When this happened they were instructed to get out of Jerusalem.

      A. D. 66 Cestus Gallus surrounded Jerusalem, but noticed his supply lines were not secure. He lifted the siege and returned to Caesarea. The Jewish believers left Jerusalem.

    3. A. D. 68 Vespasian and his Son Titus surrounded and, in A. D. 70, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.
    4. 1,100,000 Jews were killed in this assault. Not one Jewish believer died.
    5. Jerusalem will not be free of Gentile nations until her Messiah returns.

  12. The Great Tribulation

    1. Matt 24:9-26, Mark 14-23
    2. Matt 24:9-14 - first half of Tribulation
    3. Matt 24:9-14 is not dealing with the same events as Mark 13:9-13 and Luke 21:12-19
    4. Matt 24:15-28, Mark 13:14-23 - second half of Tribulation

  13. The Sign of the Second Coming of the Messiah (Answer to Second Question)

    1. Matt 24:29-30, Mark 13:24-26, Luke 21:25-27
    2. Preceding the sign of the second coming there will be a blackout
    3. The sign of the Son of man will appear in Matt verse 30a
    4. This sign will be coupled with God's glory and will be the Shechinah Glory

Footnotes:

  1. Dr. David L. Cooper, The Olivet Discourse according to Matthew 24 and 25, Downloaded from http://www.ariel.org/dlc/dlc-wg-43.htm 5 March 2011, Copyright © 2009 Ariel Ministries. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
  2. Dr Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, Copyright © 2003,2004 Ariel Ministries. All rights reserved. Used by permission. pp 621 - 650

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