The Olivet Discourse is one  that has been given many differing interpretations…there is more to it that meets the eye, as it was one of Y’shusa’s later instructions to His disciples, shortly before his death.

The accounts are at Matt.24, Mark 13, & Luke 21.

I believe that some of these events occured during the 1st century, shortly after His death, with more happening throughout the gospel age, & just a few yet to happen.

To coin a phrase I’ve just recently come across; “To know the end, we must return to the beginning”.

To begin with, Matt.24:29-31; “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31 “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

Mark 13:24-27; ” But in those days, after that tribulation, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, 25 AND THE STARS WILL BE FALLING from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 “Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory. 27 “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.”

Luke 21:25-28; “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 “Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. 28 “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Please notice one unmistakable thought in all three accounts; “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars”.

Compare this thought with that of Genesis 1:14 “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years”

We will notice that in the beginning, at creation, YHWH placed the “heavenly bodies” in the expanse not only for “day & night” but also for “signs, seasons, days & years. I feel that this is “very significant”, & is very relevant to the “end times” where we now find ouselves living. Perhaps these “signs” will give us a warning just prior to the Parousia.

Notice also that these events in the above quoted verses, all state that these signs in the heavens occurs, “after ALL the other signs have been fulfilled” & are a separate event! This is just the beginning of a major & very important study that affects all humanity.

Please give your thoughts on this topic, so we can discuss it together.

Amos

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8 Comments on The Olivet Discourse

  1. andrew says:

    I feel JWs and christendom in general have misinterpreted this very important discourse. Most people believe that Jesus gave some composite sign the would mark some future generation just before his arrival and before the end of the world. But notice Jesus initial warning in Matt 24:4 and Mark 13:5 and Luke 21:8.

    Jesus first warning is one of caution about false predictions and claims. Then he mentions wars, famines, earthquakes etc. and says in effect “these things will occur but don’t get too excited its just normal everyday part of life.” (mark 13:7) The society and christendom in general do the exact opposite. They say “look at the wars, diseases, earthquakes etc. the end has to be close!” But in reality can we really say there are more earthquakes or war or famines now than in any other time period in human history? So much so that they would set our time period as unique? In reality during the last 100 yrs, never have more people had a higher standard of living than they have now. For instance in the middle ages at times 1/2 the population was wiped out by disease. Jesus said we shouldn’t look at earthquakes, or wars or diseases and use them to say “the time is near” (Luke 21:8)

    Furthermore, Jesus had just said the temple would be destroyed. (luke 21:5,6) The disciples then were interested in when this would happen. The whole first part of Jesus answer centers on the time from then until the temples destruction in 70 CE. Jesus uses Jewish words that would have meaning for the Jews living during that generation not some future generation. sanhedrin (mark 13:9 ; sabbath (matt. 24:20) ; synagogue (luke 21:12)

    The book of Acts has the fulfillment of Jesus predictions in Matt 24:9-14. Matt 24:14 is misapplied I believe by JWs as marking them as special but you can see it was also fulfilled in the first century if you read: Col. 1:6,23 ; Acts 2:5 ; 13:47 ; Rom 10:18 1:8

    The great trib. mentioned by Jesus would seem to have 2 fulfillments, as Revelation mentions other great tribulation. Starting in vs. 29 of Matt. 24 we see what will happen after the latter great tribulation.

    So we cannot say the end must come within 20 yrs or 50 yrs or even a thousand. Every generation of christians has believed that they lived close to the time of Jesus return our generation is no exception. What is important is not that it come during our lifetime but that we be ready for it.

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    • Amos says:

      Thank’s for your reply Andrew, my sentiments exactly.

      Matt.24:24; “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 “Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 “So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them.”

      Mk.13:21; “And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; 22 for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.”
      There have been many false predictions about our Lord’s Parousia.

      With reference to Matt.24:14, what the WTS fail to recognize is the number of “churches” that do a worlwide ministry. Many do it under the guise of a “health program”, otherwise they would be refused entry into some countries.

      The WTS have hidden much truth about what has been going on around the world.

      I totally agree with your summary, that it is not where we are in the stream of time that is important, but where we stand with our loving Creator…are we ready for the end?

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  2. Dennis says:

    “With reference to Matt.24:14, what the WTS fail to recognize is the number of “churches” that do a worlwide ministry. Many do it under the guise of a “health program”, otherwise they would be refused entry into some countries.”

    I believe this was fulfilled in the first century. Between the biblical record and secular sources it becomes apparent to me at least that most, if not all of the Roman world and beyond (even up into Russia – See, “The Search for the Twelve Apostles”) received the Gospel. I suspect (but can’t prove) that as a percentage of population, a higher percent had heard the Good News then than have today.

    I have heard the first part of Matt. 24 called “The Non-Signs” to which I concur. I have often thought that Matt.24:24 today could read; “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 “Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 “So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms’, or (BEHOLD HE IS INVISIBLY PRESENT) do not believe them.”

    Dennis

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    • Amos says:

      Thank’s Dennis,

      I do agree with you concerning Matt.24:14, but was stating it with reference to WTS thinking.

      I also agree with your summation of M.24:24, as to the Parousia.

      Amos

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      • Dennis says:

        Hi Amos, yes I got your point as to the Watchtower view of Matt. 24:14. It is as if you don’t go from door to door for the prescribed amount of time each month then your ministry doesn’t count or is inferior in some way. Having visited other churches, one thing I can honestly say is that most are involved in some sort of ministry to one degree or another. It just takes a different form than the WTBTS. All of us here know that there is also a tremendous ministry effort on the Internet. Do these not count because it doesn’t take place from door to door? Of course not.

        Dennis

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  3. andrew says:

    Dennis,
    I liked your comment on Matt. 24:24-26. It will be as Jesus said in vs. 27″For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west so will be the coming of the Son of Man” Lightning is discernible by all and lights up completely the night sky, as the text says from east to west. There will be no mistaking Jesus arrival. If only a few could perceive his arrival, why would all people beat themselves in lamentation?

    I’ve realized the watchtower’s teaching on Jesus coming or parousia is so strange. The bible teaches one coming and subsequent prescence. The Society teaches he came in 1914 then a few yrs. later he came to judge christendom then a few decades later he will destroy Satan’s world. The bible just doesn’t allow for all these comings.

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  4. Reader says:

    Olivet prophecies there are TWO,

    first in the morning; public [literal end of Jerusalem]

    second on mount of Olives in the evening private [End times, Last days]

    Luke 21 v 37,38

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