Jesus’ Own Outline of the Future – The Olivet Discourse Four Periods of Time – Matthew 24:9-14

We mention this key passage here even though some of the same information has already been given above. It holds special importance because it was Jesus’ own explanation of things to come.

Beginning of Birth Pains (Matthew 24:4-8) – Jesus warns about false messiahs, predicts an increase in wars and rumors of wars, as well as famines and earthquakes before the beginning of the Tribulation. The list of signs given in the parallel passage in Luke’s Gospel includes plagues, fearful events, and signs in the heavens (Luke 21:9-11). In the later writings of the Apostle Paul, after the mystery of the Church Age had been revealed, he added another facet of the final days. He said the times would be characterized by apostasy, the “falling away” of the Church from its devotion to the Lord and to its commitment to biblical principles. As a result of the Church’s failure to be the champion of morality, the culture will slip into greater sin (1 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Timothy 3:1-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 6-7; 2 Timothy 3:1-8). The Revelation given to the Apostle John agrees that the Church at the end of the Church Age–the Laodicean Church–will be “lukewarm” and ineffective (Revelation 3:12- 22). The apostasy in so many churches in the past 50 years is shocking. In many cases it appears that only a small remnant is aware of what God is doing in history. This was the state of affairs in Israel when the Lord came the first time. There are many more false teachers running around now, and wilder legends and folklore are being taken seriously–as the fabric of our civilization collapses and as all truth appears to be relative. Breakouts of anarchy and revolt in the world are easier to understand when the things men once believed disappear. True Christianity is increasingly marginalized and a false world religion appears necessary to help hold the fragile world culture together.

The Tribulation (Matthew 24:9-14) – The first half of the seven years of turmoil will be characterized by a growing polarization between good and evil, with believers being severely persecuted. You might notice that Jesus does not explain the rapture of the Church because the subject of the Church was a mystery not revealed in the Old Testament. It was gradually explained by Jesus and his Apostles in the days to come. Several chapters are devoted later to the explanation of the Mystery of the Church, its history and the rapture (See Chapters 3 through 6).

The Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:15-28) – Jesus gave a preview of the horrifying events at the middle of the seven years of the peace treaty. According to the Book of Revelation, the first half would have already been a time of distress since true believers would have been persecuted and driven underground or killed. But then, the Beast will have an image of himself set up in the “Holy Place” in the newly rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem. This is the “Abomination of Desolation” predicted by Daniel, and it will lead to the institution of a world-wide economic dictatorship and the dreaded “Mark of the Beast.” See Chapter 11 – The Great Tribulation. As mentioned above, there is a promise of Jesus’ return in power and great glory, gathering the faithful together to enjoy His restored kingdom.

Are We There Yet? Where is the Promise of His Coming? First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” – 2 Peter 3:3-4 Skeptics in our day are already saying this. “Where is the coming he promised?” In the following verses Peter explains that it is like it was in Noah’s days. A flood had not come during the hundred years it took for Noah to build the ark. They mocked him for believing in a flood. But, as Peter says, to the Lord, ―One day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day.‖ And besides, he doesn’t want people to perish if they would believe, so he is giving them every opportunity to repent (1 Peter 3:5-8). Here are some of Jesus’ answers to the problem of doubt about prophecy…

Jesus’ Guidelines – We should be able to interpret the signs of the times. Jesus said that His listeners should be able to recognize the obvious signs of the times. There is something wrong with them if they miss the obvious proofs that the end of this age is near. The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.‖ – Matthew 16:1-3 – It is futile to try to pin down exact dates and details about how the prophecies will be fulfilled. About date-setting, Jesus simply said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). This makes a great deal of sense if you think about his first coming into the world. Even though some sixty different categories of prophecy were fulfilled by his birth and life, it would not have been possible for even the strongest believer and best student of prophecy to have written His Story in advance. Every detail matches the prophecy, but no one could have imagined all the richness of his story, including exact dates of his advent or of his death.

-Most people will ignore the facts until it is too late for them. 3As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. – Matthew 24:37-39 The amazing thing about Noah’s days is that, in spite of his work on the Ark, and his preaching to people for 100 years, his generation did not want to hear the truth until it was too late! In our days, many, even of the 41% who expect Jesus to return by the year 2050 still do not live like they believe it is true.

-The Lesson of Fig Tree shows that we are living in the last generation. Could this really be the last generation before the end of this age? Look at what Jesus said: “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.‖ – Matthew 24:32-35 The word for “generation” (Gr. genea), can have several meanings. Some think it means the Jewish people will not become extinct before these prophecies are fulfilled. However, the most obvious meaning is the generation of people who are living when these events begin to come to pass in startling succession. The first and most amazing fulfillment is the rebirth of the nation of Israel. The fig tree is one of the symbols of Israel. Since Israel became a nation in 1948, we have every right to consider ourselves the last generation of this age. But how long is a generation? Thirty-five years? Forty years? There are various biblical possibilities. It has now been more than 60 years since this great event. But notice that Jesus said this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened! If the rebirth of Israel is the starting point, this generation will not have passed away until the last person living at that time has died. That gives another 60 years or so! But we can seriously expect His return any day. Some of us have believed this for many years now, but in any case, his return is nearer now than it ever was before! Now let’s take a quick look at the violence in the Middle East that is top news day after day. This information will be expanded in Chapter 7 – Historical Developments.

War and Peace in the Middle East Current Events: This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: 2 “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.‖ – Zechariah 12:1-3 Various versions of this passage translate the expression about the cup as ―a cup of reeling,‖ ―a cup of staggering,‖ or ―an intoxicating drink.‖ There are other prophecies in the Bible that compare God‘s wrath to the stupefying effects of drunkenness (Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:22). It is a fitting picture of the confusion that faces world leaders today over the tensions in the Middle East.