Sermon Tone Analysis

The Olivet Discourse is the name given to the orderly and extended teaching given by Jesus Christ on the Mount of Olives.

His subject is the end times.

This discourse is recorded in Matthew 24:1 – 25:46.

Parallel passages are found in Mark 13:1-37 and Luke 21:5-36.

The Mount Olivet discourse is the last of the Five Discourses of Matthew and occurs just before the narrative of Jesus' passion beginning with the anointing of Jesus .

In all three synoptic Gospels this episode includes the Parable of the Budding Fig Tree.

There are four quite different Christian eschatological views.

Preterism is the belief that all of these predictions were fulfilled by the time Jerusalem fell in 70 AD.[20]

Preterism[3] considers that most, if not all, prophecy has been fulfilled already, usually in relation to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70CE.

Partial preterism says that most (but not all) Bible prophecy, including everything within Matthew 24, Daniel, and Revelation up to chapters 19 or 20, has already been fulfilled when Jerusalem was destroyed.[21]

Since it still includes belief in a future physical Second Coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the last judgment, partial preterism falls within the parameters of orthodoxy because it conforms to the early Christian creeds.

Full preterism says all biblical prophecy was fulfilled by 70CE.

It does not hold to a future judgment, return of Christ, or resurrection of the dead (at least not for non-Christians).

Due to the belief that all biblical prophecy has been fulfilled, it is sometimes considered "radical" and usually described as "unorthodox" because it goes against the ecumenical creeds of early Christianity.

Historicism considers that most prophecy has been or will be fulfilled during the present church age.

It was the chief view of Protestants from the Reformation until the mid-19th century.

Only among Seventh-day Adventists is historicism applied to current conservative Christian interpretation of Tribulation understanding.[3]

Futurism is the belief that the future Jesus predicted is the unfolding of events from trends that are already at work in contemporary human society.[22]

Futurism typically holds that all major unfulfilled prophecies will be fulfilled during a global time of catastrophe and war known as the Great Tribulation, in which many other prophecies will be fulfilled during or after the Millennium Reign of Jesus Christ.

According to many futurists, many predictions are currently being fulfilled during the Church Age, in which lawlessness and apostasy are currently plaguing secular society.

This is seen as a major sign of the approaching fulfillment of all other prophecies during the Tribulation.

Within evangelical Christianity over the past 150 years, futurism has come to be the dominant view of prophecy.

Jesus’ instruction to His disciples from the Mount of Olives is one of the Bible’s most important texts because it not only provides the Lord’s final discourse but also His most extensive prophetic teaching.

It reveals His interpretation of crucial Old Testament prophetic passages concerning Israel and the nations and serves as an inspired master outline of end-times events.

Furthermore, it explains God’s judgment on Israel, especially His promised restoration of it at the advent of King Messiah and the establishment of His Messianic rule.

If properly interpreted, the Olivet Discourse enables the church in this age to [understand] the events that will characterize that time immediately preceding Christ’s return to Earth.

Jesus Answers a Question

The First Sign is Deception

He Covers It Twice - Important

Matthew 24:4-5 Amplified Bible 4 Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error].

5 For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many.

Over 60% of born-again Christians in America between the ages of 18 and 39 believe that Jesus isn't the only way to Heaven — and that Buddha and Muhammad also are valid paths to salvation, the Christian Post reported.

Over 30% say they either believe that Jesus sinned just like other people or aren't sure.

The study, which interviewed 3,100 Americans ages 18 to 55 in 2020 and looked at various other previous studies, saw a drop in "basic biblical worldview" — God's attributes, the accuracy of the Bible, salvation and Jesus being sinless — from 47% in 2010 to 25% in 2020 among born-again Christians.

The drop in the "expanded biblical worldview" — beliefs about Satan and morals being objective — went from 32% in 2010 to 16% in 2020.

"So, the percentage of Born Again Christians with a biblical worldview (of either type) has been cut in half over the last decade," the study says, according to the Christian Post, adding that it compared the 18-29 age group from 2010 with the same age group 10 years later, now 30-39.

"This result is a startling degradation in worldview beliefs of born-again Christians over just 10 years."

Kerby Anderson, president of Probe Ministries, said that means even born-again Christians "can have a false view of Jesus Christ and embrace a pluralistic worldview" and that "pastors and church leaders just can't assume any longer that the members of their church or Christian organization have a biblical worldview," the outlet reported.

The Christian Post said Anderson attributes the disturbing fall of biblical views — especially among younger Christians — to the media.

He said they are "not paying attention" and are "focused — nearly exclusively, it seems — on their phones, social media and other content they deem more compelling," the outlet said.

Anything else?

The Christian Post added that an article about the study's findings on the Probe Ministries website explains that in the Roman Empire in AD 60, biblical-worldview Christians made up fewer than 1% of the population — but "three hundred years later, virtually the entire empire was at least nominally Christian."

"If we will commit ourselves to 'proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light,' God will bring revival to our land," the article adds, the outlet noted.

Misappropriating His name:

Some questions I found:

Would Jesus....

...Be an EMO?

What would Jesus do about inequality?

...wear a mask and be vaccinated?

…wear a Rolex on his television show?

…be a socialist?

What would Jesus do in today’s world?

I honestly can't tell you - and you can’t tell me with certainty.

We Can only Counter Deception With Truth

But I can tell you some things He said in His Word:

Context of John 8 - the woman caught in the act of adultery

The Truth Won’t Change the World Without Love

Jesus Promises to Guide Us in Difficult Times