The Olivet Discourse--Part I
And Outline of the Centuries Culminating in the Second Coming of Christ
AS WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN, the Lord Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on Sunday, went immediately to the Temple, inspected everything, engaged in a healing ministry, and was welcomed by the children. The Pharisees, on the other hand, being very jealous, opposed Him. In the afternoon He returned to Bethany where He lodged that night. Returning to the city the next day, he cursed the fig-tree, which had leaves but no fruit. Then He proceeded to the Temple and drove out the money changers and those who were making merchandise of the truth of God and His service. Monday afternoon He returned to Bethany where he lodged that night and then returned to the city the next day. It was probably Tuesday when He was met by the chief priest, the scribes and the elders, who challenged the validity of His actions on the preceding days. Possibly that afternoon He sat in the treasury and took note of the many people who were making offerings. Among those putting in their donations were many rich persons who made large gifts. A poor widow put in two of the smallest Roman coins. Our Lord's comment concerning her generosity was that she had given more than all the other worshipers together. This account appears in the first four verses of Luke, chapter 21. It also is recorded in Mark as the last paragraph of chapter 12.
There are three accounts of the Olivet Discourse. They are found in Matthew, chapters 24 and 25, Mark, chapter 13, and Luke, chapter 21. Most believing scholars identify these as three different accounts of the same discourse. I am thoroughly aware of the fact that there are those--usually of the liberal school--who reject this identification. Nevertheless, the earmarks of identity are so very clear that it is almost impossible not to recognize them and to see that the three accounts are records of the one message.
Prediction Regarding the Destruction of the Temple
As Jesus was leaving the Temple on the last day of His public ministry, the disciples called His attention to the many gifts that had been deposited in the Temple by pious, godly worshipers. They also called attention to the large and beautiful stones that had been used by Herod in his reconstruction of Zerubbabel's Temple. According to the accounts of Josephus it was built upon a far more magnificent scale than it had been when it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel. The Apostles, being devout and loyal Jews, naturally would be interested in the national shrine. This was especially true since they did not have the light of the truth of the gospel as we have it today.
Taking note of their interest in it, Jesus immediately made a prediction concerning the destruction of the Temple. "And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (Luke 21:5-6). In connection with this verse the reader also should examine Matthew 24:1,2 and Mark 13:1,2. Note the fact that the prediction is very specific. The days will come when one stone shall not rest upon another that has not been thrown down. This prediction means that the Temple would be completely destroyed, even to the tearing up of the foundation, so that one stone would not remain upon another that had not been thrown down. He did not say that one stone should not remain upon another, but rather that one stone should not remain upon another that had not been thrown down. This prediction was literally fulfilled by the Romans who destroyed the Temple at the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Not withstanding the fact that Titus gave positive instructions that the sacred shrine should not be touched by anyone, but that it should remain inviolate, one of the Roman soldiers--infuriated at the stubborn and fanatical resistance of the Jews who had retired to the sacred structure as a last resort--became enraged and threw a burning fagot into the building. The tapestries caught on fire and the Temple was destroyed. The gold on the Temple was melted, and, of course ran down between the rocks constituting the foundation and into all other crevices. Later the Romans, in quest of the melted gold, literally dug up the foundation and removed stone from stone so that the prediction of the Master was accurately fulfilled. All the predictions of God's Word are to be taken at their face value, without addition, subtraction or modification in any way. Of course, allowance must be made for the figurative language that may have been used by the prophets. The fact that figures of speech sometimes occur in some predictions is no justification for our evaporating or spiritualizing the prophecy. Whatever figures are used stand for realities and are to be interpreted as the same expressions in any other type of language are understood.
Questions Asked by the Apostles
The Saviour and the Apostles walked up the western slope of the mount of Olives and reached the summit. Upon arrival Jesus sat down and looked back at the Temple, from which He had just come. Knowing the situation, and realizing that He had made His last speech in the Temple to the people, he doubtless thought of the blindness of the people and what would happen as a result of their obstinate rejection of Himself and of the truth.
While He was seated on the Mount of Olives four of His disciples, Peter, James, John, and Andrew (Mark 13:3), came and asked Him several questions concerning the prediction that He had just made regarding the complete demolition of the Temple. Their coming and inquiring for more light reminds one of another occasion when Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables. The Apostles and those nearest Him did not understand fully the meaning. They therefore came and asked Him. He then explained all things thoroughly to them (Mark 4:34). When we are reading the Scriptures and do not get their meaning, we should do as the Apostles did--go to Him in earnest prayer and ask for further light on the subject. The Lord opens the eyes of the honest truth seekers, who are desirous to know the will of God--nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.
There were three questions, asked by the Apostles, that are given by the Evangelists. They may have asked regarding other matters, but these are the only ones that are recorded. The first one was this, "When, therefore, shall these things be?" (Luke 21:7a, Matt. 24:3a, Mark 13:4a). What are the things concerning which they asked? The answer is, the things foretold in the prophecy which He had just made, namely, the destruction of the Temple--even to the tearing up of the foundation. All three of the Synoptic writers place this as the first question.
The second one is, "And what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass?" Mark states this question as follows: "And what shall be the sign when these things are all about to be accomplished?" Though there is a little variation in the words, the thought is identical. The Apostles understood that there would he some sign or some event that would serve as a sign whereby, when it would be accomplished or fulfilled, those having the information and observing the event would know that the destruction of the Temple was at hand. Mark and Luke are the only ones who record this second query (Luke 21:7b and Mark 13:4b).
The third question was thus stated, "And what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?" (Matt. 24:3c). Matthew is the only one who gives us this third question. There can be no reasonable doubt concerning their having asked it, although Matthew is the only one who records the fact. Matthew was guided by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and states that that question was asked, and we believe it.
The Infallible Sign of the Second Coming and the End of the Age
The Apostles asked concerning the sign of His coming. They used the Greek definite article, which makes the word "sign" most specific. The word rendered "coming" literally means "presence." Jesus had spoken of His departure and going back to the Father, but He had promised that He would come again and be with them. It was this coming again and being with them concerning which they asked. An examination of this word shows that in some instances it refers to the coming of Jesus Christ for His saints before the Tribulation bursts forth upon the world. (On this point see I Thessalonians 4:13--5:11.) In other connections it refers to the glorious visible, bodily return of Jesus to the earth at the end of the Tribulation (I Thess 3:11-13). Thus the context must be consulted in each instance to determine the meaning intended. In this instance, as we shall see in the unfolding of the prophecy, it refers to the glorious coming at the end of the Tribulation. The same sign that would be indicative of His coming would also be prophetic of the end of the world. But what is meant by the term "world"? There are three Greek expressions that are translated by the one English word "world." One of these refers to the physical globe upon which we live. They did not use this term. Another signifies this earth, but lays emphasis upon the inhabitants. Neither did the Apostles use this term. The third word means literally an age, a dispensation, or a period of time. This is the one which they employed. The American Standard Version, 1901 edition, in the footnote renders our phrase "the consummation of the age."
Why did the Apostles ask for the sign of His coming and the end of the age, since Jesus had simply foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, which was accomplished in A.D, 70? What is the connection between these events--one already past and the other in the future? The mention of the destruction of Jerusalem evidently was associated in the Apostles' minds with His return to earth, the close of the age, and the introduction of the new era, for the mention of the one suggested the other two. Are these three events associated together in any prophecy? The answer is, yes, in Zechariah, chapter 14. A careful study of this passage shows that there is a prediction that, in the day of Jehovah, the Tribulation Period, Jerusalem will be besieged by the armies of the world, and half of the city will be destroyed. At that time the Lord Jesus will return and His feet will stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives. Then, the present era will pass away, and the new dispensation of the Kingdom Age will be ushered in. Jesus mentioning the destruction of the Temple suggested this passage and caused them to think of the other two outstanding events of this prediction, namely, the second coming and the end of the age, culminating in the introduction of the new era.
Matthew is the only one of the three writers who gives us Christ's answer to the third question. Since in this series of studies we are examining the Gospel of Luke alone, I cannot go into details concerning this marvelous prediction. The reader should procure a copy of my book, Future Events Revealed, which goes into it very extensively.
Christ's Answers to the First Two Questions
In view of the fact that the Apostles were very much interested in His return, Jesus warned them against being lead astray by false messiahs who would appear, claiming that they are the true Messiah of Israel. "And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them" (Luke 21:8). Jesus recognized that there was a possibility that a deceiver could come and lead astray even His true disciples unless they were on the alert against such impostors. They would, said our Lord, make the claim, "I am he." The meaning of this assertion is that these false messiahs would claim to be the true Messiah, the Deliverer of Israel and the Saviour of the world. Moreover, Jesus affirmed, that they would assert that the time is at hand. This statement recognizes the fact that there is a divine schedule for Messiah's reappearance. In different ways these false messiahs would try, by manipulation of facts and figures, to prove that the time is ripe for the fulfillment of the predictions concerning the return of the Messiah. Matthew, in recording our Lord's warning, said that these false messiahs would lead many astray.
Throughout the entire Christian Dispensation there have arisen, at various times, men who have claimed that the time for Israel's deliverance had come, and that they were the promised Messiah. Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, in his book, Messianic Speculations in Israel, has shown the leading false messiahs who have appeared, and who have led many in Israel astray. Christ's warning against these false messiahs is found in Luke 21:8, Mark 13:5,6, and Matthew 24:4,5. These accounts should all be studied in connection with this phase of our subject.
