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 - October 12, 2000
Biblical Chivalry #5
King David’s men 2Sa 8:39. The goal of Chivalry is to prepare men for: battle, society, courtship. At Chivalry’s core is the principle of love others greater than self. Chivalry’s object is to develop character. 1Ki 2:2 Be a man GOD’s way. Manhood begins in the soul (i.e. character/how you think). Character of Jesus Christ Psa 15:1-5 You are what you do in the dark; Not what get from ancestors, but what you leave for your descendants; Lives pure, speaks true, follows the King, Lightens others load. 3 Battlefields for each man: soul, family, world. Duty of a solider: obedience, endurance, sacrifice. Character is a result of decisions. Character is what you build today. Psa 15:1-5 Who? Those who live the Christian life. How? Execute the Christian walk by redeeming the time. 1Co 4 Faithfulness equals: Courage to stand by principal; Humility to subordinate to higher; Purity, no compromise for temporary gain. We need a cause greater than ourselves. How to become faithful? 1. Jesus Christ 2. Grow in his WORD. Faithfulness is quality of a servant; it implies a trust. A steward is a trusted servant or a law keeper of a house. 1Ti 1:11-12 Trust what? Truth (Word of GOD), your spiritual gift 1Co 12:7, Ministry to world 2Co 5:10, Spiritual wealth Eph 1:3 Eph 3:8-16.
Scripture References: Ephesians 3:8-16, Ephesians 1:3, Psalms 15:1-5, Psalms 15:1-5
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