DESTRUCTION IS DECREED (An Introduction to the Olivet Discourse)

Today, I would like to give you 2,019 reasons why I want Christ to return in 2019! NOT! I still remember a book which came out in 1988 — 88 reasons why Christ will return in 88. My initial response to the title was: “I guess we can definitely say that the rapture of the church will NOT happen in 1988.” Why is that? Because of what Jesus stated in

Matthew 24:36 NASB95PARA

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

Today,

Though I do not really plan to give you 2,019 reasons today, I sure do hope that He does return for His bride this year. All that aside, today we begin a study of the Olivet Discourse. The interpretation of this discourse is one of the most highly disputed things in all of the NT. And that is because it has to do with the doctrine of eschatology, which is the study of end times. And there are commentators whom I dearly admire who take opposing views on this subject.

While I don’t want to take a lot of time to discuss the various viewpoints, I will mention that in OT prophecy there is often a near fulfillment as well as a distant fulfillment. And I believe that same for this passage as well.

My take is that focuses on What will Happen. And focuses on So What? As David L. Turner so aptly wrote:

“The knowledge of what God will do in the future must have a profound effect upon God’s people in the present.”

It is important for us to not divorce this chapter from what happened in the previous narration. And so we will begin by looking at where

Another form of interpretation is sometimes called futurism. This means that the things prophesied in this passage will be fulfilled in the future and were not fulfilled in 70 AD. The primary group with this system of interpretation is dispensationalists. Our church, historically, belongs to this group. Men such as John Waalvord, Warren Weirsbe, and John MacArthur hold this view.

Though there are several other groups that could be mentioned, I’ll just state that there is a group, known as progressive dispensationalists, who teach that the first century destruction of the temple is a typological event which points to the fulfillment in the end of history. I probably belong to this group, although I have yet to read the book on progressive dispensationalism.

The Fate of “This Generation” is Announced

“This generation” is the first dividing point among commentators.

Most people will acknowledge that “this generation” in refers to the generation of Israel who rejected their Messiah. The dividing point comes in where the same terminology is used. Some believe that it is still in reference to first century Israel, while others believe that it is in reference to the generation that is alive at the end of the age, just prior to Christ’s second advent.

The Glory of God Has Abandoned the Temple

Notice for a moment. I didn’t dwell on this statement last week, but the term translated “desolate” can also be translated as “abandoned.” There is a strong sense in which the glory of God abandoned the Temple in Jerusalem when Jesus came out of the temple. (). Just like in Ezekiel’s vision of the glory of God leaving the temple,

Matthew 23:38 NASB95PARA

Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!

Matthew 24:1 NASB95PARA

Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him.

Ezekiel 11:23 NASB95PARA

The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city.

Jesus was the Only begotten of the Father, and His apostles beheld His glory as the Word who became flesh. And it was the glory of Christ that should have struck the apostles in verse 1 of our text, rather than the glory of Herod’s temple.

Herod’s temple was considered to be the greatest work of this architectural genius. It is not surprising that the apostles marveled at it’s stones, some of which were 40 x 12 x 12, and weighed up to a hundred tons.

One thing to keep in mind is how the apostles may have perceived what Jesus was saying. As with the OT prophets and the many rabbis of their day they did not understand that there would be two advents of Christ. They had thought that since Jesus had just presented Himself to the nation, to the applauding roar of many, and since He had just shut the mouths of the religious establishment, that He would now set up His kingdom and deliver them from their enemies. And they were looking forward to having a high rank in His administration since they had left all to follow Him. So when Jesus stated in verse 2 that the temple was going to be leveled, they were probably filled with expectation of the commencement of their dreams.

Two Questions

This brings us to the two questions the apostles asked, which the rest of this discourse was based upon:

When will these things happen?

Not answered until verse 36, and then very vaguely

What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?

Answered in verses 4-35

The Signs of the End of the Age, part 1

I’ve called this part 1, because we will pick up with this theme next week as well, I believe. Jesus did not answer these questions in the order they came, but He answered the second question first.

The first signs are referred to as birth pangs.

False Christs

Wars

Natural Disasters

Persecution

Apostasy

Betrayal

Love grows cold

The Believer’s Response to Birth Pangs

Another dividing point is whether this was spoken of the Church or of Israel

In a large scale all Scripture is written for the edification of the Church. In the word’s of Paul

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

And yet, if we understand things correctly, the Church will have been raptured before the events beginning in verse 15 occur. And so those believers that are mentioned in this passage are most like people who have come to faith in Christ during the seven year Tribulation period.

Even if the church does not experience the events of the Great Tribulation, we still will experience many similar things, since there is a sense in which the things listed in verses 4-14 have been rather common occurences throughout the history of the church. Jesus had told His followers that because the world hated Him, it would hate us as well, since we belong to Him. So how can believers prepare for localized oppression and persecution?

Christians Must Patiently Wait for the End of the Age

Christians should not be surprise or frightened by Birth Pangs

Christians Must Endure Through Times of Persecution

Christians Must be Engaged in the Great Commission

Let’s pray.

Closing Song:

#762 — What a Day That Will Be

Jude 24–25 ESV

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.