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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 - June 9, 2000

Life of Moses #15

The Jews thought of works as the means of salvation; Jesus corrects that (Joh 6:28-29). The work of God is faith, but also faith is the evidence of His work in us. The crowd was still thinking of the feeding of five thousand (Joh 6:30-34). Jesus straightens their application of manna. e.g. Moses gave it to the Jews (Joh 6:35-40). (1) Manna is a type of Christ; (2) it was a supernatural provision of Grace; (3) The manna had to be gathered daily; (4) Manna met the need according to their hunger; (5) It was profitable only as they acted in obedience. Testing was for their benefit (Deu 8:16). Israel did not learn a thing; testing God is failure to trust Him (Exo 17:1-7). In Exodus 16, Manna is a picture of Jesus incarnation. In Exodus 17, water from the rock is a picture of the Crucifixion. In Numbers 20, Moses is told to speak to the rock -- a picture of Christ resurrected. The water of the rock -- Christ is the source of never-ending blessings. (1) trials are designed to bring them/us to the end of themselves/ourselves to the cross -- a picture of general Grace (Rom 2:4, Act 17:27, Gal 4:3). When we come to the cross we find rest. When God guides us to the finished work of Christ, He guides us to rest (Mat 11:28, Heb 4:3). This is the foundation of the faith-rest life -- a journey of stages the Lord directs us to rest in trial. "Learn from Me, and you'll find rest for your souls" (Mat 11:29, Heb 4:9, Heb 4:11). Faith-rest is in stages of spiritual growth -- "faith to faith" (Rom 1:17); "strength to strength" (Psa 84:7); "glory to glory" (2Co 3:18, 1Pe 1:7). We start at the cross, are led into spirituality, then sanctification (Rom 12:1-2) and spiritual growth (2Pe 3:18), then service. It's impossible to learn without testing -- no water (Exo 17:2-3). Moses took his problems to God. You cannot learn faith-rest in conditions of comfort. Faithfulness of God in the past provides a promise to rely on in testing (Exo 16:23). Testing produces growth (Rom 5:3, Jam 1:2-5, 1Pe 1:6-7). The children of Israel tested God for 40 years; they saw His works but not His blessings (Heb 3:8-9). Heart of unbelief is evil and departed from God (Heb 3:12, Psa 106:14-15). Christ is the rock (Deu 32:15, Mat 16:18, 1Pe 2:4-8, 1Co 10:4); the water is the Holy Spirit (Joh 7:37-39). The Lord is our banner (Exo 17:8-16 Psa 60:4); He provides the victory (Gal 5:17, Rom 8:14).

Scripture References: Hebrews 3:12, Matthew 11:28, Psalms 60:4, Psalms 84:7, John 6:30-34, Hebrews 3:8-9, Galatians 4:3, Exodus 17:8-16, Romans 1:17, John 6:28-29, James 1:2-5, Acts 17:27, John 7:37-39, Hebrews 4:11, Romans 5:3, Romans 2:4, Matthew 16:18, Hebrews 4:9, Exodus 16:23, Exodus 17:1-7, Deuteronomy 32:15, Matthew 11:29, Romans 8:14, Exodus 17:2-3, Deuteronomy 8:16, Psalms 106:14-15, Hebrews 4:3, Galatians 5:17, Romans 12:1-2, John 6:35-40

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