Day 2: The Olivet Discourse
Notes
Transcript
INTRO:
INTRO:
AG: From the outset, Jesus warned the disciples that many would be deceived as they anticipated His return. There have been times in the history of the church when rash predictions were made and then relied upon resulting in great disappointment, disillusionment, and falling way.
One notable example of this was the prophetic expectation in 1844 with William Miller in the United States. Because of his prophetic interpretations, calculations, and publications, there were hundreds of thousands in the United States who were convinced that Jesus would return in 1844. When He did not, there was great disappointment, with some falling away, and some cultic groups spawned from the prophetic fervor.1
TS: On Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus’ last week on Earth before crucifixion, Jesus explained the sign of the fig tree He had cursed on Monday, returned to the Temple and confronted the scribes and pharisees, and then went to the Mount of Olives and delivered a major sermon on the future, the Olivet Discourse. (Mt 24-25) It is that sermon about the future which we examine today.
This is one of the more difficult passages of Scripture to interpret properly. There are several reasons for this.
One is a general lack of understanding about Christian eschatology.
Another is the tendency for interpreters to favor symbolic or allegorical interpretation instead of literal interpretation.
Another is the confusion over timing of the events:
Rapture - (next event on the timeline)
Tribulation – 7 years
Second Coming – Final return and judgment
RS: Mt 24:1-3 sets the stage for this amazing look at the future (or is it our time?!) We still await the unfolding of the events taught here and in related passages.
Jesus’ prediction- It will all end
Disciples’ questions- when? And what signs?
We are nearing the end of our study of Mt 24 in our Wednesday night Bible Study. In the first few verses, Jesus describes the world of the end. Since we have done that, we won’t discuss these verses in detail, but notice how Jesus described them:
Mt 24:4-14
Sounds like today, doesn’t it?
Now, we look to the future:
The bulk of mt 24 and 25 deal with the second coming of Christ and the end of the age. This even occurs AFTER the 7-year tribulation. The rapture isn’t necessarily in focus here.
I. Jesus Answers with Increasingly Close Signs
I. Jesus Answers with Increasingly Close Signs
A. The Abomination of Desolation Mt 24:15-20
1. The event Mt 24:15
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),
Originally mentioned in Dan 9:27; 11:31
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
2. The urgency to flee Mt 24:16-20
“then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.
And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
B. Great Tribulation Mt 24:21-22
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
C. More deception by false christs, prophets, and signs Mt. 24:23-26
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
See, I have told you beforehand.
“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
II. Jesus Answers with THE Sign of His Coming and the End Mt. 24:27-31
II. Jesus Answers with THE Sign of His Coming and the End Mt. 24:27-31
A. It will be obvious, like lightning and carrion birds Mt 24:27-28
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
B. Disturbance of the heavenly bodies Mt 24:29
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
C. The sign is the Son of Man coming in the clouds Mt 24:30a
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
D. The people of the earth will mourn Mt 24:30b
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
E. The angels are sent to gather the elect in the earth Mt 24:31
And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
III. Jesus Answers with THE Sign of His Coming and the End Mt 24:27-31
III. Jesus Answers with THE Sign of His Coming and the End Mt 24:27-31
A. It will be obvious, like lightning and carrion birds Mt 24:27-28
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
B. Disturbance of the heavenly bodies Mt 24:29
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
C. The sign is the Son of Man coming in the clouds Mt 24:30a
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
D. The people of the earth will mourn Mt 24:30b
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
E. The angels are sent to gather the elect in the earth Mt 24:31
And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
At the end of the Tribulation, the second Advent of Christ will be obvious!
The King will take His thrown the Millennial Kingdom will begin
IV. Jesus Answers the “When” Question Mt 24:32-25:30
IV. Jesus Answers the “When” Question Mt 24:32-25:30
A. Parable of fig tree: the “when” will be evident Mt 24:32-35
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Signs of the times approach are around us
We recognize the approaching season
When these hard labor pains are upon us, those alive (This generation) will not pass away until all is fulfilled.
Is that our generation? Perhaps!
B. Fact: no one knows the day or hour Mt 24:36
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
Resist the urge to try and set dates
Many have fallen for this since Christ ascended to heaven
NOBODY knows!
C. Consequently, you must be ready Mt 24:37-25:30
Jesus now uses several illustrations to stress the point of being ready
1. Illustration of the days of Noah Mt 24:37-39
But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
2. Sudden devastating judgment demands readiness Mt. 24:40-44
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
3. Illustration of faithful and evil servants:
be ready Mt. 24:45-51
4. Parable of virgins:
be prepared for delay and be ready Mt. 25:1-13 5.
5. Parable of the talents:
be ready by being faithful Mt. 25:14-30
AP: Jesus’ parable stress to us the importance of always being ready
How do be ready?
1) Be saved
2) Pursue Christlikeness
Imagine walking by the Crystal Sea with Joshua, Noah, or Peter and being asked, “What were you doing when Christ called?”
What if the answer is having an affair?
What if it was sleeping off a hangover instead of going to church?
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Live every minute of life with the thought it could be your last.
Make it a good one!
3) Work faithfully for Christ
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’
But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Keep working for the Kingdom
Keep serving
Keep the lamp full and wicks trimmed.
V. Judgment of Gentiles: Immediately After the Second Coming Mt. 25:31-46
V. Judgment of Gentiles: Immediately After the Second Coming Mt. 25:31-46
A. The nations separated into two groups Mt 25:31-33
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
B. Judgment of the sheep on the right-hand Mt. 25:34-40
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
C. Judgment of the goats on the left-hand Mt. 25:41-46
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’
Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
AP: Judgment is coming, where do you stand?
Sheep or Goat?
Sheep- child of God
judgment is for reward
Goat- those who have rejected God
judgment for punishment
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
We still would like to know: WHEN?
Some have stated all of this already occurred (AD 70)
However, while many terrible things happened in AD 70, they didn't rise to the levels depicted in these descriptions. Most likely, all that Jesus describes in these passages is set to happen in what is till the future.
The only question remaining is, “Are you ready?”
Works cited:
https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/24/Matthew-chapter-24.html
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/matthew-24/
OutlineMatthew24and25.pdf (fbcaa.org)