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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 - January 28, 2003

Hebrews 17

Hebrews 17

Will you become an over-comer, by grace through faith, or will you become a complainer? Exodus generation had more evidence of God’s care and power than any other generation, and yet they complained at every turn, and they tested God. Heb 3:7-11 Psa 95:7-11 In any temptation, there is a test, there is a divine solution to overcome it. The Exodus generation decided to test God to see if He was good. Any believer who refuses to remember the faithfulness of God is doing the same thing. “Why would God let this happen to me?” You only see works after the fact. You see His ways ahead of time, before the work comes. Psa 103:7 Knowing His ways means to know the Person. It’s more than academic understanding. The information needs to lead us from the written Word to the Living Word, and a deeper experiential knowledge of Him. How well do we know experientially Jesus Christ? How deep do we know His character? Seven steps of Exodus generation, and 70AD generation 1. process of hardening - Heb 3:8, Heb 3:12, Heb 3:15 We become accountable to what we hear in the Word 2. rebellion - Heb 3:15 3. great loss of His rest - Heb 3:11 you can lose everything, but the only security there is is a rest built on trusting God 4. lives of no profit - Heb 4:2 They saw no profit because they did not act in faith Gal 5:2 5. dull of hearing - Heb 5:11 it became a burden to hear the Word of God 6. stunted spiritual life - Heb 5:12 spiritually stunted and immature 7.they run the danger of no return - Heb 6:1-6 The more we know Him, the more we see how much we have lost of opportunities and tests Exo 17:1-7 Rephidim was meant to be a place of rest because of God’s faithfulness They tested God by complaining, finding fault with His plan. In every deliverance, there is a picture of Christ’s work on the cross. Heb 5:11 Num 20:1-13 There is no rest for anyone who doesn’t believe God. Getting along with others is one of the hardest things you can do, and it takes a lot of forgiveness. A home is a measure of how much that family knows His mercy. Psa 103:1-22 Rom 12:1-3 How merciful are we to others is a measure of how well we know of God’s mercy. Eph 4:32 If we can pass the test of being merciful, we will go leagues in deepening and understanding the ways of Jesus Christ. It is so easy to judge others. Phi 2:3-11 When someone in your presence becomes a test to you, get in God’s presence. Moses failed because he knew God’s ways, and was angry that they didn’t. 1co 10:4 1co 10:9 Heb 11:26 Isa 53:1-12 To strike the Rock again, to crucify Christ again, instead of speaking to the Rock. Speak to the Rock and rest. 1Pe 5:6-7 Heb 4:16 Our boldness is because of Christ’s mercy, because of who He is, we can speak confidently before Him, knowing that He hears, and can lift our burdens, that He is near. We can be care-free because He cares for us.

Scripture References: Hebrews 3:11, Exodus 17:1-7, Hebrews 3:7-11, Philippians 2:3-11, Hebrews 3:15, Hebrews 6:1-6, Ephesians 4:32, Hebrews 3:15, Hebrews 5:12, Romans 12:1-3, Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 5:11, Psalms 103:1-22, Hebrews 3:8, Hebrews 4:16, Galatians 5:2, Numbers 20:1-13, Psalms 103:7, Isaiah 53:1-12, Hebrews 4:2, Hebrews 5:11, Psalms 95:7-11, Hebrews 11:26

Related Topics: Discipleship, Spiritual Maturity | More Messages from Gene Cunningham | Download Audio

 

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