Olivet Discourse: A Few Parables and a Warning

Introduction

Last time, we covered False Messiahs and False Prophets who will come. Today we will look at several parables that Yeshua uses to describe the end times to his Talmidim.

Before we go into the specific parables that Yeshua compares to the end times, we need to understand some things about the genre of parables.

The Fig Tree

To cover the parable of the Fig tree, we will read from Mark 13:28-32.

Mark 13:28–32 TLV

“Now learn the parable from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things happening, know that it is near, at the door. Amen, I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, except the Father.

Days of Noah & Lot

Luke 17:26–36 TLV

As it was in the days of Noah, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. “It was just the same in the days of Lot. They were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. But on the day Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed them all. Things will be the same on the day when the Son of Man is made fully known. In that day, the one who is on the roof, and his possessions in the house, must not go down to take them away. In the same way, the one who is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life will preserve it. “I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken along and the other left. There will be two women grinding at the same place. One will be taken and the other left.”()

The Faithful Servant

Matthew 24:45–51 TLV

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master put in charge of his household to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whose master finds him so doing when he comes. Amen, I tell you, his master will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking a long time,’ and he begins to beat his fellow servants, and he eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. And he will cut him in two and assign his place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Summary & Application

We covered a lot of milestones in today’s study. We can certainly see that there have been many false messiahs and false prophets throughout the years. And based upon the reference in Revelation, we should expect this to continue until Yeshua returns.

So let us summarize and have another look at the Summary slide and the Timeline.