Delivered by Jesus on the Mount of Olives, the Olivet Discourse is a key prophetic message about the end times, recorded in Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21. It outlines events leading to and during the Great Tribulation, culminating in Christ’s second coming. Understanding this discourse through Revelation, apostolic teachings, and Old Testament prophecies provides a clearer picture of these end-time events.
Word Count: 1248 / Time to read: 7 minutes
The Olivet Discourse was Jesus’ response to His disciples’ question about the future, following His prediction of the temple’s destruction. “When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). Delivered on the Mount of Olives, a significant prophetic location (Zechariah 14:4), this discourse outlines key future events.
Timeline of the Great Tribulation
Beginning of Sorrows (Matthew 24:4-8; Mark 13:5-8; Luke 21:8-11)
Jesus warned of deception, wars, and natural disasters, calling these the “beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:4-8). These events, starting in the church age and possibly extending post-Rapture, precede the Antichrist’s peace covenant (Daniel 9:24-27). They signal the start of greater sorrows leading to the Great Tribulation.
Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15-22; Mark 13:14-20; Luke 21:20-24)
Jesus highlighted the abomination of desolation, as foretold by Daniel, marking the Tribulation’s midpoint. The Antichrist’s desecration of the temple (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 13:14-15) triggers the Great Tribulation, a period of severe distress.
Revelation Correlation:
- First Seal: The Antichrist’s rise (Revelation 6:1-2).
- Second Seal: Wars (Revelation 6:3-4).
- Third Seal: Famine (Revelation 6:5-6).
- Fourth Seal: Death and Hades (Revelation 6:7-8).
Old Testament Prophecies:
- Isaiah: “See, the day of the Lord is coming—a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger” (Isaiah 13:9).
- Jeremiah: “It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7).
- Ezekiel: “I send upon Jerusalem… sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence” (Ezekiel 14:21).
- Daniel: “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle… he will set up an abomination that causes desolation” (Daniel 9:27).
- Zechariah: “I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations” (Zechariah 12:3).
The Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-28; Mark 13:19-23; Luke 21:23-24)
Jesus warned of unparalleled distress during the Great Tribulation, stating, “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).
Revelation Correlation:
- Fifth Seal: Martyrdom (Revelation 6:9-11).
- Sixth Seal: Cosmic disturbances (Revelation 6:12-14).
- Seventh Seal: Silence and preparation for trumpet judgments (Revelation 8:1).
Old Testament Prophecies:
- Joel: “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill… a day of darkness and gloom” (Joel 2:1-2).
- Amos: “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord… That day will be darkness, not light” (Amos 5:18).
- Zephaniah: “The great day of the Lord is near… a day of wrath… a day of clouds and blackness” (Zephaniah 1:14-15).
- Isaiah: “See, the day of the Lord is coming… to destroy the sinners within it” (Isaiah 13:9).
- Jeremiah: “A time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7).
- Daniel: “There will be a time of distress… not happened from the beginning of nations until then” (Daniel 12:1).
Apostolic Teachings:
- Paul: The Antichrist exalts himself over everything that is called God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
- Peter: “The day of the Lord will come like a thief… the elements will be destroyed by fire” (2 Peter 3:10).
- James: “Be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near” (James 5:8).
- John: “He is coming with the clouds… all peoples on earth will mourn” (Revelation 1:7).
- Peter: “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal… as though something strange were happening” (1 Peter 4:12).
The Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8-9; 11:15-19)
- First Trumpet: Hail and fire, a third of the earth burned (Revelation 8:7).
- Second Trumpet: Great mountain in the sea, a third of the sea turns to blood (Revelation 8:8-9).
- Third Trumpet: Star falls, contaminates a third of rivers and springs (Revelation 8:10-11).
- Fourth Trumpet: A third of the sun, moon, and stars darkened (Revelation 8:12).
- Fifth Trumpet: Locusts torment those without God’s seal (Revelation 9:1-11).
- Sixth Trumpet: Four angels released, a third of mankind killed (Revelation 9:13-21).
- Seventh Trumpet: The kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of the Lord (Revelation 11:15-19). These judgments intensify, leading to widespread destruction and suffering.
The Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16)
- First Bowl: Painful sores on those with the beast’s mark (Revelation 16:2).
- Second Bowl: Sea turns to blood, all life in it dies (Revelation 16:3).
- Third Bowl: Rivers and springs turn to blood (Revelation 16:4-7).
- Fourth Bowl: Sun scorches people with heat (Revelation 16:8-9).
- Fifth Bowl: Darkness and pain in the beast’s kingdom (Revelation 16:10-11).
- Sixth Bowl: Euphrates dries, preparing for the kings of the East (Revelation 16:12-16).
- Seventh Bowl: Massive earthquake and hailstorm devastate the earth (Revelation 16:17-21). These final judgments complete God’s wrath.
The Return of Christ (Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-28)
Jesus prophesied His return following great distress: “The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken… all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds” (Matthew 24:29-31).
Revelation Correlation:
- The Second Coming: Jesus returns, defeats the Antichrist, and establishes His millennial kingdom (Revelation 19:11-21).
Old Testament Prophecies:
- Zechariah: “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives… the Mount of Olives will be split in two” (Zechariah 14:4).
- Isaiah: “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light” (Isaiah 13:10).
Apostolic Teachings:
- John: “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him” (Revelation 1:7).
- Jude: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness” (Jude 1:14-15).
Conclusion: Interconnected Prophecies and the Great Tribulation
The Olivet Discourse, when examined alongside the Book of Revelation, apostolic teachings, and Old Testament prophecies, provides a detailed and interconnected picture of the Great Tribulation. Jesus’ warnings about false prophets, wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution are mirrored in the judgments described in Revelation. The apostles and prophets reinforce these themes, emphasizing the severity of God’s judgment and the need for repentance and steadfast faith.
This period of intense tribulation serves as both a final judgment on an unbelieving world and a call to redemption for those who turn to Christ. The events of the Great Tribulation highlight the seriousness of sin, the righteousness of God’s judgments, and the ultimate hope of redemption through Jesus Christ. As the world endures these unprecedented trials, believers are reminded to remain vigilant, faithful, and hopeful, anticipating the glorious return of the Savior.
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.’
Revelation 11:15
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
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