Olivette Discourse Part 1

Recap

Jesus has finished his testing by the religious leaders of the day. He even tested them one last time.

What we are about to study is what’s called the Olivette Discourse. Simply put, it’s Jesus’ last sermon which is taught from the mount of Olives. This was a very appropriate place to give this sermon because it is the location where He would return at the end of the age.

As Jesus and His disciples leave the temple, the disciples must have turned to look back at the spectacular view of what they knew and saw as the Temple of Yahweh, only, HE didn’t reside there. Unlike tabernacles of old and Solomon’s temple which was build around 952BC and destroyed in 586 BC, this temple had been built by Zerubbabel and Ezra in 516, after 70 years of exile, but the Spirit of the Lord had left the temple in Ezekiel’s day. God’s promise hadn’t changed though, but His new covenant was yet to be established in Jesus blood.

The thing was, the disciples were still missing the fact that Jesus was going to die and be resurrected. They seem to have come out of the temple thinking, “Wow, that was intense, look at all that beauty and splendor, I wonder when we will return with Jesus for Him to rule over Jerusalem?

This is where we start with Jesus’ description of the beginning of the end.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Bible is made up of about 28% prophecy and a pattern of prophecy is to have a short term fulfillment of a prophecy and a long term fulfillment of prophecy. This will come up repeatedly throughout this discourse, and all of Bible prophecy as well. This is what I think has caused so many controversies amongst believers on “the sign of the end times” over the centuries.

As I’ve been studying, the central question about chapter 24 seems to be, “what is the central pivoting point in this discourse that seems to be the clear “sign of the end”? With that said, lets dive in!

No Stone Left Upon Another

Matthew 24:1–2 ESV

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

“Josephus the Jew (Antiquities 15.14) tells us that for eight whole years together he kept 10,000 men a-work about it; and that for magnificence and stateliness, it exceeded Solomon’s temple.” (Trapp)

After Herod’s work, the temple was huge: nearly 500 yards or meters long and 400 yards or meters wide. Herod’s plan for rebuilding started in 19 B.C. and was only completed in A.D. 63, taking more than 80 years. The temple was finished only seven years before it was destroyed.

But the Second Temple wasn’t just big; it was also beautiful. The Jewish historian Josephus said that the temple was covered with gold plates, and when the sun shone on them it was blinding to look at. Where there was no gold, there were blocks of marble of such a pure white that from a distance strangers thought there was snow on the temple.

It’s so easy for us to stand back and look at man made creations and marvel Isn’t it? A beautiful house, a red sports car, a jacked up diesel truck, what ever it is, we can get very taken up with things that we’ve made.

Here the disciples are drawing Jesus’ attention back to the beauty of the Temple, and I wonder of they were thinking, that’s all going to be yours some day Jesus. But what did Jesus see? Not only did he see what would come of the temple, he saw what had already become of it. The temple was void of His presence, but so were most people’s lives.

The temple may have stood as an edifice of power, riches, and prestige, but that means nothing when the God of the people who built it just wants their hearts.

There will not be left here one stone: Some 40 years after Jesus said this, there was a widespread Jewish revolution against the Romans in Palestine, and they enjoyed many early successes. But ultimately Roman soldiers crushed the rebels. In AD 70 Jerusalem was leveled, including the temple — just as Jesus said would happen.

Bi“Titus (it is said) would have preserved the temple, as one of the world’s wonders, from being burnt, but could not; such was the fury of his soldiers, set a-work by God doubtless.” (Trapp)

It is said that at the fall of Jerusalem, the last surviving Jews of the city fled to the temple, because it was the strongest and most secure building in the city. Roman soldiers surrounded it, and one drunken soldier started a fire that soon engulfed the whole building. Ornate gold detail work in the roof melted down in the cracks between the stone walls of the temple, and to retrieve the gold, the Roman commander ordered that the temple be dismantled stone by stone. The destruction was so complete that today they have true difficulty learning exactly where the foundation of the temple was.

“Josephus says the stones were white and strong; fifty feet long, twenty-four broad, and sixteen thick. Antiq. b. 15. c. xi.” (Clarke)

The reality of what Jesus had told the disciples is what prompted their next question.

Two Questions or One?

Matthew 24:3 ESV

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

To the disciples, this probably was one question in their minds. Hearing the news of the destruction of the temple must have meant that Jesus would have finally conquered and was ready to reign in His new kingdom. If that’s the case, they might have thought, what will be the sign of your coming into power and the end of the age?

Their understanding of the end of the age and what Jesus would describe were two different things.

They were thinking, the end of the age of oppression by Rome and what Jesus will mean by what He says, end of all things before His millennial reign.

The quick answer about when will the temple be destroyed was easy, 70 AD. The problem that many run into with this happening when it did is they tend to view the rest of 24&25 as already having been fulfilled as of 70 AD, but hopefully we will all start to realize that this just isn’t the case. Remember, there is often a short term fulfillment of a prophecy and then a long term, future fulfillment.

Birth Pangs

Matthew 24:4–8 ESV

4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

The first part of Jesus answer starts with the most important part! He starts out by saying, make sure you don’t drift off course, that no one leads you astray. See that no one deceives you! How will they disceive you? By coming in “MY NAME” saying “I AM the Christ”. In this context, Jesus says, many will be led astray, away from the truth to follow false Jesus’ or to be led into false teachings about Jesus.

This is all part of the mission of the devil. His desire is to see as many of God’s created image bearers end up with him in Hell as possible and he will try to accomplish this through misleading people, even by using the name of Jesus Christ.

Many, MANY, have either come saying they were the real Messiah or Christ to lead others astray. Millions have been led astray by the Mormon church 1830 as well as Jehovah Witnesses 1872 who both teach about a son of God named Jesus but it’s not the same person. Not one of these false religions believes that Jesus is fully God and fully Man. Not one! As I’ve said many times, that’s the one detail that everyone changes.

On top of false Christs, Jesus also warned that they would also come in “my name”. What this can and does also mean, is in the authority of the name of Jesus Christ.

How many have been lead astray by “Christian leaders” who deceive many?

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.

Isn’t it interesting that these three huge things happened in the 1800’s? It’s like the ball starts to roll faster and faster, deceiving more and more people as the time gets closer to the end.

Wars and Rumors of Wars, Ethnicity against Ethnicity, Nation against Nation

As soon as many hear this statement, they are quick to say, “oh, we’ve been waring for centuries. Israel has always been fighting with someone. THis isn’t new. That doesn’t mean it’s the end!” and they’d be right to an extent. Wars and rumors of wars nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, doesn’t show to be a sign of the end of the age. These have always been in place since the beginning of time but, I think we could all agree, if we are paying attention, that even the amount of these wars or rumors of wars seem to be at the highest level ever.

Israel isn’t just fighting Hamas, they are surrounded by nations that want them dead. They have a few friends to the south that see them as allies but most everyone sees them as a people, ethnicity, that needs to go away. Be eliminated. Muslim leaders have stated for years, “first we need to take out the Saturday people, the Jews, and then we will deal with the Sunday people.” Russia is supplying arms to Iran, and Syria. Let’s just say this, all of the nations of the Ezekiel 38 war have been assembled, and are on point looking at Israel as target #1.

Ethnicity against ethnicity: has that been a thing in our world lately? The world wants to make it all about Race, but there is only one race, the human race, but Satan has used the color of people’s skin to divide for millennia. Our country is divided as we speak on so many levels.

Kingdom against Kingdom: right now as we speak we have Russia warming against the Ukraine, China and N Korea fighting over who will take out Taiwan. Multiple nations are wanting to wage war with Israel and we have a crisis at our borders as people of all ethnicities infiltrating our country. These are unprecedented times, but look what Jesus says, this is still not the end, just the beginning of birth pangs.

In my opinion, with the escalation of such events, especially with them happening closer together and in rapid succession, that points to the reality that time is getting short.

When Jesus said at the end of Revelation 22 that “I am coming soon” or quickly he used the Greek word tachy, which is the word we get tachometer from. Faster in rapid progression, more revolutions per minute. That’s why, I think, that things seem to be spinning out of control and everything is happening all at once it seams.

What we are seeing today are birth pangs, contractions that lead up to the birth that is the end of times.

Endure to the End

Matthew 24:9–14 ESV

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Jesus seems to turn a page here in verse 9 as he stops with generalities and turns his attention to his disciples and those that would believe in Him.

You will be delivered up to tribulation. Notice it’s not saying to The Tribulation or the Great tribulation. This isn’t talking about the last 7 years before Jesus second coming, Jesus is warning the Jews that they will face tribulation and death, and be hated by all nations because of their affiliation with Yahweh And more specifically, Jesus. Because of this many will fall away, betray one another and hate one another.

One thing I know we see is the increase in lawlessness and the love that even American’s have had for one another, it’s grown cold.

“Here is something to tremble at: ‘Because iniquity shall abound,’ — that is worse than pestilence; ‘the love of many shall wax cold,’ — that is worse than persecution. As all the water outside a vessel can do it no hurt until it enters the vessel itself, so outward persecutions cannot really injure the Church of God, but when the mischief oozes into the Church, and the love of God’s people waxes cold, — ah, then the barque is in sore distress.” (Spurgeon)

The problem with this cooling off of our love for many is that it will hinder our witness to a lost and dying world. Our zeal to take the gospel of Jesus to every nation. Don’t let that cause you to think for a second that God will not accomplish what He sets out to accomplish.

Many mission organizations have committed to translating the Bible into every known language and tongue as fast as possible. This is a mixture of two things I believe, their readiness to see Jesus return and their desire to be found working hard and faithful when he does return. We don’t need to think that we need to work really hard in order to bail God out on fulfilling His promises. He will accomplish everything He sets out to.

Revelation 14:6–7 ESV

6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

The Pivot Point

This all leads up to the point at which I believe Jesus is saying everything pivots. It’s also controversial. I hope as we look at the whole of scripture and what it says about this event, the abomination of desolation, we will be able to see how things really unfold here in chapter 24.

Matthew 24:15 ESV

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

In the vocabulary of Judaism of that time, an abomination was an especially offensive form of idolatry. Jesus described a gross form of idolatry, In His words, “standing in the holy place”, that brings with it great destruction (desolation).

“The desolating sacrilege is a literal Greek rendering of the phrase…An ‘abomination’ in Old Testament idiom is an idolatrous affront to the true worship of God.” (France)

So, why is this the pivotal moment of the end times? because it marks the middle of the 7 year tribulation, 3-1/2 years before the abomination of desolation and 3-1/2 after.

Why 3-1/2 years because that’s what Daniel predicted by the word of the Lord. Daniel 7 was the start of all of the visions, one that would stack on top of the other, depicting what would happen historically leading up to the end times.

It is the sign of the consummation of all things in Daniel 9:27.

Daniel 9:27 (ESV)

27 And he (the prince that is to come) shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

It is the sign foreshadowed by Antiochus Epiphanies and will be later fulfilled by the Antichrist in Daniel 11:31.

Daniel 11:31 (ESV)

31 Forces from him (the prince that is to come) shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.

It is the precise marker of days to the end in Daniel 12:11.

Daniel 12:11 (ESV)

11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.

It is the revelation of the man of sin in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (ESV)

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

It is the image of the beast in Revelation 13:14-15.

Revelation 13:14–15 ESV

14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.

Essentially, the abomination of desolation, this event, speaks of the ultimate desecration of a Jewish temple, the establishment of an idolatrous image in the holy place itself, which will inevitably result in the judgment of God. It is the abomination that brings desolation.

Matthew 24:15–28 ESV

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

“A refugee’s lot is hard enough without extra impediments.” (France)

Then let those who are in Judea flee: This is because at the appearance of the abomination of desolation, the desolation will first be poured out at Judea, and because the church will not be a factor at this time.

No one should be deceived about the nature of Jesus’ coming. It will not be secret or private, but as plain as lightning that flashes across the sky. But in the midst of such tribulation, there will be a temptation to look for false messiahs (false christs and false prophets will rise).

“Christ’s coming will be sudden, startling, universally visible, and terrifying to the ungodly.” (Spurgeon)

Here’s the application for us as believers today as I reflect on what Jesus is telling His disciples and us in the verses, we should be mindful and aware of the signs leading up to the beginning of the Tribulation period of 7 years. This tribulation will be proceeded by the rapture of Jesus’ church, but we don’t know when that will be. As we will read on in Matthew 24, no one knows the hour of Jesus Return for his church. It is eminent. The Abomination of Desolation is simply the time indicator for when Jesus will fulfill the answers he gave as to when He will return and when the end will come.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 ESV

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

2 Thessalonians 2:13–17 ESV

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.