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This series of short lessons attempts to detail Jesus’ Roadmap for the Future. It starts with the last lessons Jesus gave the disciples on the Mount of Olives, and ends with teachings from the Apostle Paul about the Rapture.

As an introduction, the Olivet Discourse was aimed at the consequences of Israel’s rejection of Jesus as Messiah, and anticipated the destruction of the nation (70 A.D.) and the final Tribulation period. Remember that the Church Age is an intercalation—meaning an insertion, like a parenthesis, into the Age of Israel. This means that with the Rapture of the Church, the Tribulation picks up where 70 A.D. leaves off. This is why the Church Age is called a “mystery” (Rom. 11:25; 16:25; Eph. 3:1–13; Col. 1:26–27), which is a graduate course to “the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10).
The Olivet Discourse reveals the consequences of Israel’s rejection of her Messiah (compare Matt. 23:37–39 and Rom. 9:1–5; 10:1–4; 11:25). These consequences are defined by Paul as “wrath … to the uttermost” (1 Thess. 2:15–16).
The outline is actually given by Jesus Himself, by using certain key words as markers of the divisions. Perhaps the most obvious of these words is “Then,” a time-word indicating a sequence of events. We find this in Matt. 24:1, 9, 11, 16, 21, 23, 29, 40; 25:1, 7, 16, 24, 34, 37, 41, 44, 45. With the exception of its use in Matt. 24:1, where it connects Jesus’ departure from the Temple with the following discourse, in all the subsequent times, it is used specifically to refer to the Tribulation period followed by His Second Coming. It is worth quoting Mark, here, for the statement he includes:
“For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.” Mark 13:19
In Matthew 24, Jesus gives us an outline, speaking of “tribulation” (Matt. 24:9), followed by “the abomination of desolation” (Matt. 24:15, see Dan. 11:31; 12:11), which is then followed by “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21) and, finally, “after the tribulation of those days” (Matt. 24:29) by the return of Christ to Earth (Matt. 24:30–31). Although both Mark 13 and Luke 21 include portions of this message, only Matthew gives us such a clear picture of the chain of events.

Gene Cunningham - May 23, 2000

Living Sacrifice 02

A sense of urgency is important (Rom 12:1-2, Ecc 3:1-8) because time is short and ordered. God's plan appointed our time and it's comprehensive. There's a right thing to do at any time. God has planned these things. Sometimes God is planting spiritual seed, but other times uprooting -- plowing up the ground of our soul (Ecc 3:2b). An appropriate time for emotion (Ecc 3:4, 1Co 13:11). A time to pick up stones and time to use them -- example David (Ecc 3:5a). Don't be hypocritical (Ecc 3:5b, Rom 12:9). There's a time to keep silent and to speak (Ecc 3:7). Example is when someone is being slandered -- we should speak up. Time is fleeting (Psa 90:12). Failure to manage time with a sense of urgency (Jam 4:13-15). Don't let a sense of urgency turn into haste. (1) dangers in haste -- "haste makes waste" (Psa 31:22, Psa 116:11). "He who trusts in Him will not make haste" (Isa 28:16); (2) God has established four limits for us (Job 14:5): space, matter, intellect, time. (3) When we make haste we violate the limits (e.g. time) hurry casues accidents. (4) When you're in a hurry, you pay the highest price for common things. Ask God to show you the pace you should have for your life.

Scripture References: James 4:13-15, Ecclesiastes 3:2, Psalms 90:12, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Ecclesiastes 3:7, Job 14:5, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 12:9, Isaiah 28:16, Ecclesiastes 3:5, Psalms 116:11, Ecclesiastes 3:5, Psalms 31:22, Ecclesiastes 3:4

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