We are about to embark on a long journey….with Jesus leading the way! The Olivette Discourse is known as the “Little Apocalypse” or the “Synoptic Apocalypse” because it includes Jesus’ descriptions of the end times, the use of apocalyptic language, and Jesus’ warning to his followers that they will suffer tribulation and persecution before the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of God.
The setting of the Olivet Discourse occurred just after His warning of hypocrisy and pronouncemnt of the seven woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees and just prior to the narrative of Jesus’ annointing and passion (or death on the cross). In this narrative is a discourse or sermon, given by Jesus, given to the disciples on the Mount of Olives, in response to their asking Him about the end of days…..hence the name, “Olivet Discourse”.
We will study the Olivette Discourse which is found in Matthew 24:1 through Matthew 25:46, Mark 13:1-37, and Luke 21:5-36 as well as parts of the Old Testament book Daniel and the visions of John the Apostle in the last book of the Bible…Revelation.
THE INTENT OF THIS JOURNEY:
There are many varying opinions among scholars concerning the end times. Most of the most vocal opinions draw from the the visions revealed in the books of Revelation and Daniel and include opinion based on the Olivette Discourse….a discourse of Jesus words in response to the questions of His disciples concerning the end times. I intend to look from a different angle.
First, I believe that there are no contridictions in the Bible. I beleive that through the study of context (historical, cultural, textual, etc.) that all of the Bible is reconciled. On this particular subject (the end times), I believe that one of the contextual lenses that we look through is the starting point of the journey.
I suspect that much scholarly opinion draws it’s conclusions concerning the end times in this order, using Revelation as a starting point, then Daniel and finaly the words of Jesus in response to questions about the end times in the Olivette Discourse.
Revelation
Daniel
The Olivette Discourse
I want to study the end times from a different angle and want to see what we find. I place the strongest weight on the words of Jesus…God in the flesh. All other Scripture concerning the end times must then be reconciled with and through His words. I would also place the strongest weight (or starting point) on the actual words of Jesus in response to questions by the Apostles (The Olivette Discourse), next the words of Jesus imparted to the Apostle John in his vision (Revelation) and then to the prophecies of the Old Testament (Daniel).
The Olivette Discourse
Revelation
Daniel
I would note that we will also look at other Scriptures in the New Testament that shed light on the end times.
I have no intention of predicting when Jesus will come again:
Matthew 24:36 (TNIV)
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
Before we start we will look at the definitions of many terms that will be used as the end times has it’s own unique vocabulary and we will look briefly at the schools of thought concerning the thousand years during which Christ is to rule the world. This popularly known as the millennium, also known as millennialism.
I pray that you will join me on this journey and that we will have many conversations as we, together, wrestle with Scripture and look at the words of Jesus in a different light.
Jan, as many Christians wonder about the end times and when Jesus comes, I am VERY interested in this. Will be following you as you discuss this subject. Thanks for always doing a great job with bringing out the Word and how you study it.