The Olivet ProphecyThe Olivet Prophecy19th & 26th November 2008, Laindon19th & 26th November 2008, Laindon

Format of our studyFormat of our study

• Where we find the prophecy

• Its context

• The framework of the disciples three questions

• A detailed consideration of the prophecy

• Lessons for us

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The Olivet ProphecyThe Olivet Prophecy

• Matthew 24:1-44

• Mark 13:1-37

• Luke 21:5-36

• Plus associated parables (faithful and wicked servant, wise and foolish virgins, talents and sheep and goats) see Matthew 24:45 ‒ 25:46

3Olivet prophecy

The context of the prophecyThe context of the prophecy

• At the end of Jesus’ ministry

• On the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem

• In the context of Jesus’ opening statement: “all these things shall come upon this generation” Matthew 23:36-39

• Answering the disciples three questions Matthew 24:3

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The Mount of OlivesThe Mount of Olives

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Mount of Olives

The disciples three questionsThe disciples three questions

• “When shall these things be?”

• “What shall be the sign of thy

coming?”

• “And of the end of the world?”

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“When shall these things be?”“When shall these things be?”

• “These things” refers to the destruction of the Temple – “There shall not be left here one stone upon another”

• The destruction of the Temple also signified the dissolution of the Jewish commonwealth and dispersion of its people

• Remember: “all these things shall come upon this generation” Matthew 23:36

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“What shall be the sign of thy coming?”

“What shall be the sign of thy coming?”

• “Coming” = Greek word parousi/a$ or parousias which means presence, being at hand (cf e)leu/sontai or erchomai which means “the act of coming” see Matthew 24:5)

• Jesus’ presence would be signified when he sends his armies (the legions of Rome) cf Matthew 22:7

• “There will the eagles be gathered together Matthew 24:27-28

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Last Days of Judah’s Commonwealth

Last Days of Judah’s Commonwealth

“The Roman armies were the military embodiment of the power of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, for the destruction of the Mosaic Commonwealth: so that where the Roman power was, there was the anointed Prince Royal of Judah, whether he was visible to mortal eyes, or not. He worked by the Roman army, and came in their coming; but as to his visible, personal presence, there is no testimony of eye-witnesses extant to prove it, though of his invisible personal presence at the siege, the testimony is ample and sufficient. In the sense, then, of being near the scene of action, Jesus taught his disciples to expect him before they had finished the work that he gave them to do” Brother John Thomas in ‘Last Days of Judah’s Commonwealth’

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“And of the end of the world?”“And of the end of the world?”

• Greek words for ‘world’:– 24: 3 ai)w=no$ or aion = an age or

dispensation of time– :14 oi)koume/nh| or oikoumenee = the

habitable earth – :21 ko/smou or kosmos = an order or

arrangement of things

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The Aion of Sin and Death, 7000 years

The Aion of Sin and Death, 7000 years

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Beyond

Source: Eureka

Fall Flood Exodus AD70 Judgement Little season

7000 years

Creation

1st Aion 2nd Aion 3rd Aion

Pre-flood Mosaic Millennial

Destruction of Jerusalem in AD70

Destruction of Jerusalem in AD70

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The detail of the Olivet Prophecy in Matthew’s gospel (1)

The detail of the Olivet Prophecy in Matthew’s gospel (1)

• 24:1-2 Jesus speaks of the destruction of the Temple

• :3 On the Mount of Olives the disciples ask three questions

• :4-5 Warning of false Christs• :6-8 The tribulation that will come upon

Judah• :9-13 The tribulation that will come upon the

disciples and the ecclesiaOlivet prophecy 13

The Olivet ProphecyThe Olivet Prophecy19th & 26th November 2008, Laindon19th & 26th November 2008, Laindon

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The detail of the Olivet Prophecy in Matthew’s gospel (2)

The detail of the Olivet Prophecy in Matthew’s gospel (2)

• :14 Spread of the Gospel• :15-22 The time of the end of the Jewish

Commonwealth (aion)• :23-26 More warnings of false Christs• :27-28 The coming of Christ’s judgements on

Jerusalem• :29 The immediate effect of these judgements• :30-31 The second coming of Jesus Christ

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Flight of Christians to PellaFlight of Christians to Pella

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The detail of the Olivet Prophecy in Matthew’s gospel (3)

The detail of the Olivet Prophecy in Matthew’s gospel (3)

• :32-34 The parable of the fig tree• :35 The end of the Jewish Commonwealth or

the Mosaic aion• :36-41 Signs of Jesus’ second coming in

judgement• :42-44 Exhortation to all faithful disciples to

watch

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Structure of the three Gospel accounts

Structure of the three Gospel accounts

Matthew Mark Luke

:1-3 Introduction :1-4 Introduction :5-7 Introduction

:4-29 Primarily speaking of events to AD70

:5-25 Primarily speaking of events to AD70

:8-24 Primarily speaking of events to AD70

:30-31 Second coming of Christ

:26-27 Second coming of Christ

:25-27 Second coming of Christ

:32-35 A warning for Jesus’ disciples but also an exhortation for the last days of the Gentile times

:28-31 A warning for Jesus’ disciples but also an exhortation for the last days of Gentile times

:28-33 A warning for Jesus’ disciples but also an exhortation for the last days of Gentile times

:36-41 Primarily signs of Jesus’ second coming

:32-37 All faithful disciples to watch for his coming

:34-36 All faithful disciples to watch for his coming

:42-44 All to watch

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A way to think of the ProphecyA way to think of the Prophecy

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Christ’s coming in AD70

A shadow of Christ’s second coming

Christ’s secondcoming

Exhortation to all disciples to watch for the coming of Jesus Christ

The associated parablesThe associated parables

• 24:45-51 The faithful and evil servant

• 25:1-13 The wise and the foolish virgins

• :14-30 The talents

• :31-51 The parable of the sheep and goats OR

The judgement of the nations of the world

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Lessons for us (1)Lessons for us (1)

• The signs of Jesus’ coming are there both to reassure us and to warn us

• We must prepare so that we are ready for his return

• We must not allow ourselves to be distracted by the here and now

• We must serve our brothers and sisters, supporting and helping them

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Lessons for us (2)Lessons for us (2)

• Time is short, even though this has been said for many years it has never been more true than it is today

• Let us heed these lessons whether we believe the prophecy to be talking of AD70 or the second coming

• ‘Carpe diem’ – ‘seize the day’

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