OLIVET DISCOURSE Part 2

Overview of End Time Events

Matthew 24:1-14

As mentioned earlier, the Olivet Discourse is Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ two questions.[1] But Jesus chooses to answer their second question first: “What will be the sign of Your coming [advent] and of the end of the age?”[2] Thus in verses 4-14 we find His description of end time events – concluding with the words “then the end will come”. The disciples, of course, were familiar with Old Testament prophecy but this is certainly new revelation.

The Term “Advent”

It is worthwhile to consider the word for “coming” which the disciples used in their question. This is the Greek word “παρουσία” [parousia][3] which actually has two types of meanings in the standard dictionaries.[4] The first type of meaning is “the state of being present in a place” or more simply “presence”. The second type of meaning is “arrival as the first stage in presence”. In other words, the word parousia does NOT refer simply to an arrival but clearly covers SPAN OF TIME. As it happens, there is an English word which is roughly similar to the meaning of this Greek word. It is the word “ADVENT”. Thus when we speak of the First Advent or Second Advent of Jesus Christ the words suggest not merely His ARRIVAL but also His subsequent PRESENCE in the world. This corresponds perfectly with what is presented in this discourse.  That is, the Second Advent begins unexpectedly when the judgments of God begin.[5] However, it is disclosed [openly revealed] by “the sign of the Son of Man” – namely, by the appearing of Jesus Christ in “the clouds of the sky” when the Great Tribulation is over.[6]

“Beginning of Birth Pains” (verses 4-8)

Though, of course, events like those described in these verses DO occur in our age this is NOT what Jesus is referring to. His statement was: “These are the beginning of birth pains”.[7] This is an eschatological[8] term which is regularly used in the Old Testament in connection with end-times events.[9] Thus Jesus is speaking here of the agonies which will give birth to a new age in human history.[10] Jesus connects these events to Daniel’s prophecy – often called the seventieth week of Daniel – found in Daniel 9:27.[11] But in verses 4-14 He describes the events on the earth which will ultimately lead to His manifestation to the world. These calamities [judgments] will begin unexpectedly at the beginning of Jesus’ advent[12] and will increase in intensity until the end [of the tribulation].[13] These early cataclysmic events will include wars, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places all over the earth.[14]

Persecution, Martyrdom, and Witness (verses 9-14)

Then begins a period of intense persecution and martyrdom – and a worldwide witness for Jesus Christ.[15] BUT the focus in this period is NOT ON THE CHURCH but on THE NATION OF ISRAEL! This will be clarified at a later point in this discourse but it is hinted at even in these verses. In verse 9 Jesus states “You will be hated by all the nations [Greek: gentiles]” and in verse 14 that “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations [Greek: gentiles].[16] This certainly implies that the evangelization of the Gentile world is again in the hands of JEWS.[17] In verse 15 Jesus quotes the Jewish prophet Daniel[18] and gives instructions concerning Judea and the Sabbath.[19] NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN TO GENTILE BELIEVERS even though the Great Tribulation [Travail] is worldwide and threatens the extinction of humanity itself. These instructions are for Israelis! We will see at a later point in this discourse the reason for this shift in focus - and why the people described in Matthew 24:15-22 are born-again Israelis living under the law of Moses. Suffice it to say that these directions to Israel are not contained in Old Testament prophecy – but this is new revelation from Jesus, God’s Prophet.

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[1] Found in Matt. 24:3.

[2] It is worthwhile to note that the disciples’ questions implied that they were thinking of more than just of the destruction of the temple (Cf. vs. 1-2) because of the phrase “these things”. They were thinking in terms of the “End Times” by their referral to “Your advent” and “the end of the age”.

[3] This word is to be distinguished between other words translated “coming” such as the Greek word “ἔρχομαι” erchomai  used in Matt. 24:30. Parousia is used in Matt. 24:3, 27, 37, 39.

[4] See, for example, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Third Edition [BDAG], pg. 780.

[5] Matt. 24:36-39. This is the beginning of the “Day of the Lord” [”that day”].

[6] Matt. 24:29-30. It is very clear that the Apostles also understood Jesus’ words in this way. Peter, for example, says that the “parousia” will come as “a thief in the night” [Cf. 2 Pet. 3:4, 10] and Paul refers to it in an almost identical way [1 Thess. 5:1-10; parousia is used in 1 Thess. 4:15].

[7] Matt. 24:8. Jesus picks up their word “these things” in verse 3.

[8] That is, belonging to last time events [derived from the Greek word ἔσχατος eschatos = last].

[9] This is the Greek word ὠδίν odin = birth pain(s). Cf Ps. 48:6, isa. 26:17, 13:8,  But odin is also used in the New Testament for end-times events [Cf. 1 Thess. 5:3]. These will be followed by more severe worldwide agonies – as Jesus prophecies in Matt. 24:15-31. The ones mentioned in verse 8 are only the beginning of birth pains.

[10] The Kingdom of God will be visibly present on earth. The world will have a period of anguish until the birth of that wonderful age is fully realized.

[11] Matt. 24:15. See accompanying charts. Also the word θλῖψις thipsis = tribulation is used in both Dan. 12:1 and Matt. 24:9, 21, 29. θλῖψις is also used of the travail pains [prolonged, definitive] of a woman in childbirth (John 16:21).  Though the Old Testament prophets knew about these final calamities, none of them gives near as detailed a description as Jesus does here.

[12] See Matt. 24:36-39.

[13] Matt. 24:21-22.

[14] Matt. 24:6-7. They are called “the beginning of birth-pains” in verse 8. They also correspond closely to that which we read in Revelation chapter 6 [although these judgments go to the very end of the period (comparing Rev. 6:12ff with Matt. 24:29-31)].

[15] Verses 9-14. This begins in verse 9 with the Greek word τότε tote = at that time. This word is also used in verse 10 and later in verses 16, 21, 23 referring to that particular point in time. In verse 15 Jesus clarifies exactly when this period will begin – namely, at the mid-point of the Tribulation when the world ruler sets up an abomination [himself being worshipped in the Holy of Holies in the Temple]. This will cause Jerusalem to become desolate because of fleeing Jewish believers.

[16] The Greek word ἔθνος ethnos = nations, gentiles.

[17] This also seems to fit the description given in the book of Revelation in which Israel is the center of gospel witness to the world [note Rev. 12:17, Rev. 7 and Rev. 14].

[18] Referring to Daniel 9:27.

[19] Cf. Matt. 24:15-22.