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 - February 13, 2000
Cross to the Crown #4
Three stages of discipleship (1Jo 2:12-14). "I am the Way, Truth, and Life" (Joh 14:6). Nurture stage -- spiritual infancy (1Jo 2:12) is marked by keen awareness of forgiven sins; we have a sense of their Father (Rom 8:15). Spiritual Infant focus is spiritual self awareness; what they have; God as "the giver of good gifts"; must grow up (1Co 13:11); believers focused on themselves (1Co 3:1). Spiritual infants need: (1) to know their eternal security (Joh 10:28-29, 1Pe 1:5); (2) children need cleansing (1Jo 1:9, Gal 6:1); (3) children need nourishment (1Co 3:2, 1Pe 2:2, ); (4) a child needs training/exercise (Heb 5:11-14, 1Th 2:7-11). Young men (1Jo 2:14) have tasted victory at times; the Word abides in them. Key is spiritual exercise and productivity (Heb 5:13-14, Joh 15:7-8). Fathers refers to mature believers -- they know the Father intimately (Phi 3:10-13, 2Ti 4:8).
Scripture References: John 2:14, John 14:6, Hebrews 5:11-14, John 2:12-14, Galatians 6:1, John 1:9, Philippians 3:10-13, John 10:28-29, John 15:7-8, Romans 8:15, Hebrews 5:13-14, John 2:12
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