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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 03

Passover (Exo 12:5) using an unblemished male lamb a year old is a picture of our Lord (Joh 1:29). Blood on the door (Exo 12:7) had to be applied to provide deliverence. In the roasting and eating of the flesh(Exo 12:8), it's a picture of believing in Christ (Joh 6:53-58). Unleavened bread symobolically is the sinless saviour. We need to remember (2Pe 1:9). Passover now looks back as a memorial; deliverence by blood and power. Lord's Table supercedes the passover and it will be at the initiation of the kingdom of the Father (Luk 22:16).



"I urge you" (Rom 12:1) presents redeeming time having a sense of urgency (Ecc 3:1-8) not haste. Man is primarily arrogant; affliction drives us to humility. David being pursued in dessert is good example. Time is a rare commodity. Haste violates time and pays the highest price. What God does is at His own pace. Spiritual maturity takes time and dedication. Serenity and tranquility belongs to those with wisdom who understand God's pace for them.  God cannot be rushed; Jesus illustrates this. Job 5:23-27 illustrates the pace of wisdom: "you will be in league with the stones of the field". Hebrew idiom for being in sync with the Creator and creation. Stones can be a great blessing or great obstacle at different times. Pharisees stumbled over the Cornerstone. Christ is "the Rock of our Salvation" but also "a Rock of offense" or "Cornerstone" or "stumbling stone". In nature there can be no hurray. Farmers have to wait. It takes patience. In our plans we work toward a goal and expect results in time, but must be subject to faith; God has alloted that time period specifically for a purpose (Ecc 3:2) -- realizing that means redeeming the time. God's harvest (taking a loved one home) should a time of rejoicing (Job 5:26). Anxiety is the "partner" of haste. Our expectations must align with God's. "The time is short" (1Co 7:29); we should not be distracted in devotion to the Lord (Mat 6:33-34). God has given to us sufficient Grace to handle today (2Co 12:9). We need to know how to manage time (Jam 4:13, Rom 9:4-5). Jews wasted 2000 years with the convenants and law and priesthood and ended in destruction (Luk 21:32). Realize God has a Will for time, place, duration, and motive - prove God's Will by being in sync (Jam 4:13-15, 2Pe 1:9). We cannot ignore the brevity of life, and God's purpose for us. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart" (Psa 37:4). We must delight ourselves in Him -- submerge our plans, goals, and objectives in Him. 



Scripture References: Luke 22:16, Matthew 6:33-34, John 6:53-58, Job 5:26, Psalms 37:4, Exodus 12:8, Ecclesiastes 3:2, James 4:13-15, Exodus 12:7, Job 5:23-27, Luke 21:32, John 1:29, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Romans 9:4-5, Exodus 12:5, Romans 12:1, James 4:13

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