The Importance of the Olivet Discourse
The Olivet Discourse, contained in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, is the most straightforward teaching regarding the end of the age found anywhere in Scripture, and is the cornerstone of all New Testament eschatology. New Testament writers referred to, and based their eschatology on, Jesus' own teaching to His disciples about the end of the age. In successive articles, we will demonstrate the strong dependence on Jesus' Olivet Discourse from Peter's and Paul's teaching on the rapture, as well as from Revelation. Reliance on the Olivet Discourse by the Apostles is extremely important to the post-trib view, because it demolishes the pre-trib claim that this discourse does not concern the "Church." If the Apostles referred their Christian readers to the Olivet Discourse to answer their questions about the rapture, the connection between Jesus' eschatological teaching and Church doctrine is assured.

The Setting and Sequence of Events
None of the four Gospels give us a complete picture of Jesus' life, actions, or teachings. Details in one Gospel are not always found in the others. This holds true for the Olivet Discourse as well. Only by examining each account and syncronizing them together, can we reconstruct the fullest possible account of what Jesus taught.

One common mistake has been to assume that Luke 21 is another account of the Olivet Discourse. But, a careful examination of Luke 21 reveals that this discourse was delivered on the Temple Mount earlier in the day before Jesus and His disciples went out to the Mount of Olives in the evening. Luke 21 is sometimes referred to as The Great Temple Discourse. In that discourse Jesus outlined the following future sequence covering the entire age.
1. the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
2. the scattering of the Jews among the nations "until the times of the Gentiles" are fulfilled
3. an upheaval among the nations
4. certain cosmic signs
5. Jesus' return to set up His Kingdom

It is significant to notice that in Luke's account, Jesus gave specific instructions to His disciples concerning their escape from the Roman seige of Jerusalem that came in AD70, some 40 years into this dispensation. The early Church historian, Eusebius, recorded that the early Christians heeded Jesus' warnings and fled the city when they saw the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem, and were spared. It is obvious then that Jesus' instructions to His disciples in this discourse concern the Church. Yet, in the same discourse Jesus spoke of the turmoil of the end of the age, and the cosmic signs that would anounce His coming to set up His Kingdom. He told the very same people whom He instructed to "flee to the mountains" when the Roman seige arrived, that they would know that His post-trib coming was near by watching the signs. He also told them to pray that they might be counted worthy to escape all these things. By observing HOW the early Christians escaped the seige and destruction of Jerusalem, we have a good idea of how we can expect to escape the events of the last days - not by rapture but by fleeing when appropriate.

No Confusion of the Destruction of the Temple and the End of the Age
While the disciples no doubt were interrested in the destruction of the Temple foretold by Jesus (and Daniel in Dan. 9:26), their real concern was His second coming and establishing His Kingdom. The disciples could not have missed the fact that these two events were clearly distinguished by Jesus, and separated by a significant period of time. Not only did He distinguish the destruction of the Temple and the second coming in Luke 21's Great Temple Discourse earlier that day, but Matthew also recorded something Jesus said on the Temple Mount that Luke did not mention. Prior to their leaving for the Mount of Olives Jesus said this:

Matt 23:37-39
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
(KJV)

Here again, Jesus has clearly separated the destruction of the Temple from His second coming to set up His Kingsom. Most commentators claim that the disciples' question "when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age" presupposes that both occur at the same time. But that is not the case. Jesus clearly put Israel's rejection of Him, the desolation of the Temple, and the dispersion of Israel among the nations, before His second coming.

On the Mount of Olives
On the Mount of Olives later that evening, four of the disciples privately asked Jesus specifically about the signs of His coming and the end of the age. Their interest was more than academic. They expected to live to see His coming. And, they wanted to know how they would recognize when this event was approaching. In this discourse, Jesus answered their question in the most straightforward way, outlining a sequence of events up until the end of the age, and His coming in glory. He gave a series of SIGNS to watch for, including; wars, famines, earthquakes, the Gospel being preached among all nations, the abomination of desolation, and finally, the cosmic signs which will announce His coming after the tribulation. This graphic sequence ended with the following words;

Matt 24:29-31
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(KJV)

Here we see that at Jesus' coming after the tribulation, He will sound a trumpet, and dispatch His angels to gather together "His elect." In Mark's account of this statement, it is clear that Jesus' elect will be gathered from both earth and heaven [Mark 13:27]. Now, notice verse 33;

Matt 24:33
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. (KJV)

Jesus' words clearly indicate that only after all of these signs He gave were fulfilled, could they expect Him to come.

There is a tremendous debate between pre-tribbers and post-tribbers about whether this "gathering" is for the Church. However, let me just suggest that you read this chapter, and take special note of all the places Jesus used the personal pronouns "you," "ye," "yourselves," etc. In doing so, it will become obvious, that Jesus' answer to His disciples, assumed that they could survive to see His coming. How can this be? Simply because Jesus Himself did not know when He would return [Mark 13:32]. And, we know from several other passages, that the early Christians, including Paul, expected to survive until the second coming [John 21:20-23, 1 Thess. 4:15]. In fact, the entire New Testament is written with the assumption that the second coming of Jesus could come in the first century. This fact is important in recognizing the continuity of the Olivet Discourse, and how it flows throughout the present age until the second coming.

Of course, pre-tribbers doubt that this passage refers to the followers of Jesus [the Church]. They think the disciples, in this chapter, represent another group, perhaps certain elect Jews in the tribulation. To settle this issue, I think the Great Commission is of utmost importance. Jesus told His disciples;

Matt 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(KJV)

We must bear in mind, that these are the same disciples who, just a few weeks earlier, asked Jesus about His second coming, and sat at His feet while He instructed them to watch for all the signs, and His gathering His elect "immediately after the tribulation." In the above passage, Jesus further commanded them to take His teaching into all the world and make converts. Of special note are the words; "teaching them to observe ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU." Jesus commanded these men to teach you and me everything He taught them. If we are to take Jesus seriously here, this must include His teaching in the Olivet Discourse, about watching for the signs of His coming after the tribulation. So, we see two important things from these passages;

1. Jesus never mentioned a pre-trib rapture before His coming in glory after the tribulation. He spoke of His disciples going through the tribulation, and watching for the signs of His coming after the tribulation. This is when He will "gather together His elect."

2. The Gospel He commanded the Apostles to preach, did not include a pre-trib rapture, but instead included teaching concerning watching for His post-trib coming. [which included a post-trib rapture].

Compare the Olivet Discourse to the Great Commission in the following passages.

Jesus defined the term "end of the age" in the Olivet Discourse, by identifying it with the end of the tribulation. Jesus placed the "great tribulation" just before the "end of the age" [Matt. 24:3,21,29]. It is apparent then, that the "end of the age" in the Great Commission, is also at the end of the tribulation. We are commanded to preach the gospel to all nations until the "end of the age." Therefore, we must continue with the Great Commission until the end of the tribulation. This is the logical conclusion of these passages.

In Mark's account of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus ended with a clear warning, and instruction for Christians to watch for His post-trib coming.

Mark 13:24-27
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven....
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
(KJV)

In my judgment, this passage shows that Jesus was speaking to the Church in the Olivet Discourse. Notice, His "leaving His house," refers to Jesus' ascension to heaven. He elsewhere told the disciples He was "going away," but would return for them. Next, He "gave authority to His servants," and, "to every man his work." This is unquestionably referring to the Great Commission, which was given to the Church. Then, He commanded them to "watch" for His coming. Again, there is absolutely no question that Jesus was referring to the period of time between His ascension and second coming, [or the "Church age" to borrow a pre-trib term]. He was referring to Christians when He said to "watch." The question then is, watch for what? The context answers this question in verses 24-27. We, as Christians, are to be watching for Jesus' coming "after the tribulation."

For an in-depth discussion of the Olivet Discourse, see our verse by verse commentary on Matthew 24.

Mark 13:1-37
1 Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!"
2 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
4 "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?"
5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you.
6 "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many.
7 "But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
8 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
9 "But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
10 "And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
11 "But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12 "Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
13 "And you will be hated by all men for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
14 "So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
15 "Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house.
16 "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his garment.
17 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
18 "And pray that your flight may not be in winter.
19 "For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.
20 "And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
21 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it.
22 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
23 "But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
25 "the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in heaven will be shaken.
26 "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 "And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.
28 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
29 "So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near-- at the doors!
30 "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
31 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
32 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33 "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
34 "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
35 "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming-- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning--
36 "lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.
37 "And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"
(NKJ)[Back]