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 #14
Wilderness experience written about the Children of Israel sets a pattern of the Christian experience. We can respond with doubt (Exo 5, 6), fear (Exo 14), complaining (Exo 15, 16), outright disobedience (Exo 16). The Jews did not benefit from the word because they didn't mix it with faith (Heb 4:2). Faith when tested brings glory to God (Jam 4:1, Rom 5:2-3, 1Pe 1:6-7). Complaining gives birth to slander (Exo 16:3). When we malign leadership we are maligning God. The divine response to their grumbling is mercy e.g. (Exo 16:4-8). Divine response: (1) Provision -- undeserved in Grace (2Ti 2:13); (2) Testing -- whether they will walk in His word (2Co 5:7, Eph 4:17, Eph 5:16, 1Ki 17:5); (3) Conditions for blessing -- they had to gather the amount they needed day by day; (4) Corrections -- (Exo 16:6-8, Jer 17:9); (6) Instruction -- (Exo 16:9-19) -- we can avail ourselves of it or not. Instruction includes the fact He's listening (Mat 12:36) but He also reveals their ignorance (Psa 106:15); the all-sufficiency of His grace (Exo 16:18); everyone gets enough to be able to pass it on (2Co 8:15); when we hoard God's blessings the supply will dry up (Exo 16:19-20). Disobedience is always visible (Heb 3:7, Heb 3:17). The test brings a response and motivates a memorial -- the sabbath rest (Exo 16:22-35). When there is no provision the purpose is to instruct, to humble, to test (Deu 8:1-4); what is going on in our lives "that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live". (Heb 3:7-11). We test God while He tests us (Heb 3:9) if we do not respond appropriately, namely that we are trained for our profit (Heb 12:10-11).
Scripture References: Deuteronomy 8:1-4, Exodus 16:4-8, Matthew 12:36, Exodus 16:22-35, Exodus 16:3, Exodus 16:9-19, Hebrews 3:17, Romans 5:2-3, Jeremiah 17:9, Hebrews 3:7, James 4:1, Hebrews 12:10-11, Exodus 16:6-8, Exodus 16:19-20, Hebrews 4:2, Hebrews 3:9, Ephesians 5:16, Exodus 16:18, Exodus 15:16, Hebrews 3:7-11, Ephesians 4:17, Psalms 106:15, Exodus 5:6
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