Matthew 24:1-3; Mark 13:1-4; Luke 21:5-7

Matthew records three sermons of Jesus that are connected with the Kingdom of Heaven, by which we refer not only to the rule of God over all things but also the earthly rule of His Son in Zion, on the throne of David.  Those sermons are:

·        Mt. 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount, the Kingdom announced.

·        Mt. 13: The Mysteries of the Kingdom, the Kingdom in abeyance.

·        Mt. 24-25: The Olivet Discourse, the Kingdom anticipated.

Mark and Luke record significant portions of the Olivet Discourse, but the entirety of Matt. 25 is found only in Matthew’s writings. 

Ø The setting for the Olivet Discourse.

As they observed the magnificent temple area across the Kidron from Olivet, Jesus said a time was coming when not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.  His disciples, privately, ask three questions.

·        When will these things be?  Matthew does not record Jesus’ answer to this question but Luke does in 21:20-24.

·        What will be the sign of your coming? Coming (Grk. parousias) emphasizes presence and arrival.  The disciples are asking about the physical coming of the Messiah to rule from David’s throne.  Matthew records Jesus’ answer to this in 24:29-31.

·        What will be the sign of the end of the age?  The word end (Grk. suntelios) is spoken of in 24:6,13,14 (Grk. telos).  The plan of God was that His Son would come to rule His enemies, a reign from David’s throne.  The end of the age refers to the time when the enemies are subdued.  

Ø The chronology of the Olivet Discourse.

Daniel 9:24-27 describes Daniel’s 70^th Week, a seven-year period, divided in half by an event called the abomination of desolation.  The Olivet Discourse speaks of this event in 24:15.  What precedes the event is called the beginning of sorrows (24:8).  Then Jesus says, “they” (the enemies of Messiah) will deliver “you” (Israel, the people of Messiah) to tribulation.  Remember Jesus spoke before the Church began at Pentecost and He spoke of His coming kingdom. 

What follows the abomination is great tribulation (24:21).  Thus this is commonly called the tribulation period: the beginning of sorrows followed by tribulation and then great tribulation.  Because these events revolve around Israel (as Daniel 9 indicates) it is also called the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7).  

Ø The outline of Matthew 24-25 (Matthew’s gospel will be the primary record.)

·        The sermon setting, 24:1-3.

·        The tribulation period, 24:4-28.

·        The second coming, 24:29-31.

·        The practical encouragement, 24:32-51.

·        The coming judgments, 25:1-46.