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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 - September 11, 2000

Elijah #5

Practical sanctification (1Th 5:12-25). God is preparing us for something greater. Israel was worshipping many gods. Elijah summoned all the people to Mount Carmel. Though Ahab accused him, Elijah pinpointed the trouble of Israel to be Ahab (1Ki 18:16-20). Evil leadership of Ahab was worse than the string of kings before (1Ki 16:33). The word used for "evil" is akar meaning there are harmful social implications to the actions taken. Confession is necessary, but we also have to deal with consequences (Heb 12:15, Pro 11:17, Prov 11:29, Pro 15:27). Trouble are brought on yourself -- (Jos 7:25, 1Ch 2:7, Pro 15:6, Exo 20:5). The consequence of Ahab was felt 150 years later (Mic 6:16). Restatement of the ten commandments (Deu 5:6-21) which is the preamble to the law of Moses. The first five commands are God-ward and second five relate to those around us. Ahab violated all the commands. God's favor cannot be restored until the source of error removed (Pro 28:13). God wants us to be set aside for His purpose (1Th 4:3).

Scripture References: Joshua 7:25, Proverbs 15:27, Proverbs 28:13, Proverbs 11:29, Deuteronomy 5:6-21, Proverbs 11:17, Micah 6:16, Hebrews 12:15, Exodus 20:5, Proverbs 15:6

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