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 36
The purifying hope comes from the love of God -- the power of being His child(1Jo 3:1-3, Joh 1:12). The Spirit has been given to produce the character and presence of Jesus Christ. The attitude God the Father has toward us is the same He has toward His Son Jesus Christ (1Jo 3:2). We don't know what we'll be in heaven (1Co 2:9). We must abide in Him by faith to understand what we are.. and "not shrink away from Him at His coming" (1Jo 2:28-29). If we live expectantly, we purify ourselves (1Jo 3:3). "Purify" is not the same Greek word for cleansing by washing (1Jo 1:9, Eph 5:6). Hagnizo is in the active voice (we need to make a decision) and means to "keep on keeping on"; indicative mood is the mood of reality -- we have the hope of Christ's return which dominates our perspective and attitudes. Paul's life illustrates this (2Ti 4:8). (1) Central teaching of Old and New Testament is hope (Act 26:6). (2) Hope is illustrated by life of Abraham -- his hope was the belief that the promise would happen (Rom 4:13-20, Gal 3:16). (3) Hope increases the longer you have it (Mat 5:16). Hope is unique to the Christian faith (Rom 5:2-5). We start with the hope of glory in salvation (Rom 5:2) and progress to a hope that is visible (1Pe 3:15). (4) Hope is focused on the unseen (Rom 8:24-25, Heb 6:19, Act 14:21). (5) The word of God was written to give us hope (Rom 15:4, Rom 15:13); giving us hope is one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit. (6) Hope is the bridge to love (1Co 13:13). (7) Call of the believer is the call to hope (Eph 1:18). (8) Hope is the "helmet" of our soul (1Th 5:8). (9) Hope is the bridge from your present trials to your future glory (Heb 11:1-40). Their faith was living; they had hope and lived expectantly(2Co 5:7).
Scripture References: Hebrews 11:1-40, Ephesians 5:6, Romans 5:2, Ephesians 1:18, John 1:9, Romans 5:2-5, Romans 15:13, John 3:3, Matthew 5:16, Romans 15:4, John 2:28-29, Galatians 3:16, Acts 14:21, John 3:2, Romans 4:13-20, Hebrews 6:19, John 1:12, Acts 26:6, Romans 8:24-25, John 3:1-3
More Messages from Gene Cunningham...
January 8, 2000
The Divine Mentor #2
Gene Cunningham
John 16:12-14, Ecclesiastes 3:11, 1John 2:17, Jeremiah 17:5-9, Jeremiah 42:1-6, Jeremiah 44:16-17, Genesis 28:20-21, 1Kings 13:1-34, 1Corinthians 11:1, Acts 8:1-5, Acts 10:19, Acts 16:7