Jesus’ Olivet Discourse focused on future events that were connected with his second coming. Jesus’ disciples wanted to know when these future events were going to take place, but Jesus told them, “no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Instead, Jesus identified signs that would indicate the end was close at hand. Jesus said:
“See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Mark 13:5-8)
Jesus used the analogy of childbirth to describe the events leading up to his second coming. What we know about childbirth is that the labor pains usually come unexpectedly. They might start out as being barely noticeable, but they inevitably gain strength and become more frequent as time goes on. The Greek word that is translated birth pains, odin (o-deenˊ) is “used in the plural when warning of the sorrows that would follow wars, famines, and other catastrophes” (G5604). Odin is similar to the word odune (od-ooˊ-nay) which means “grief” (G3601).
Jesus indicated that “the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations” before the end would come and warned his disciples that, “brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:12-13). Childbirth is a very strenuous process and a woman may have to go through hours or even days of labor without any food or water. Endurance is necessary to make it to the end of the process and deliver the baby. The Greek word that Jesus used, hupomeno (hoop-om-enˊ-o) means “to stay under” in the sense of bearing trials, having fortitude, and persevering (G5278). Hupomeno is also translated as patient and suffer and is used in Hebrews 12:2 to describe what Jesus went through when he died on the cross. The reason why Jesus said “the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13) may have been because every woman has to go through the process of childbirth in order for a baby to be born. Jesus told a man named Nicodemus, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). You cannot separate the process of childbirth from the end result. Although the birth pains may not be felt at the beginning of the process, you will inevitably experience them if you are a child of God.
Jesus set the stage for his second coming with the appearance of a man he referred to as “the abomination of desolation” (Mark 13:14). When this man arrives on the scene, Jesus said, “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, and let the one who is in the field not turn back or take his cloak” (Mark 13:14-16). The sudden appearance of “the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be” (Mark 13:14) triggers the final escape of those who expect to be saved (Mark 13:20). Jesus warned his disciples about a last ditch effort to trick believers into abandoning their faith. Jesus said, “And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ! Or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand” (Mark 13:21-23). Being on guard means that you have to pay attention to what is happening around you. It is connect to and dependent on the faculty of sight (G991).
Jesus talked about spiritual eyesight and the ability to discern spiritual truth in the context of understanding God’s word. After Jesus told the parable of the sower he explained to his disciples why he spoke to the people in parables. Jesus said:
This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matthew 13:13-17)
“Jesus spoke in parables to explain spiritual truths, but those who had already rejected Jesus did not have divinely enlightened minds with which to perceive these truths, and no amount of explanation would make them understand (1 Corinthians 2:14). They could watch and hear Jesus with their physical eyes and ears, but they were not capable of understanding the truth in their hearts because they had rejected him (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4). Those who accept the true light they have been given will receive even more light, while those who turn away from the light will continue to be increasingly shrouded in darkness (Matthew 13:12). The word ‘for’ at the beginning of Matthew 13:15 should be understood as having the same meaning as ‘because.’ People do not hear and see because their hearts are full of wickedness; consequently, they fail to understand the truth that has been given them. They are so opposed to God’s message that they harden themselves against it, lest they should understand it and ask forgiveness of God. Once they reject Jesus, they also reject the possibility of understanding the parables that Jesus told (Isaiah 55:6-8)” (note on Matthew 13:10-17).
The filling of the Holy Spirit is essential for believers’ to be able to stay focused on the kingdom of God (Hebrews 3:7-11). Believers are warned in Hebrews 3:12-15 to not let their hearts become hardened. It states:
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
The writer of Hebrews indicated that our hearts become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. It is not the sin itself that harms us, but the way that we deal with it. Hardening of the heart is basically stubbornness that is left unchecked. The Greek word that is translated deceitfulness, apate (ap-atˊ-ay) means “delusion” (G539) and is derived from the word apatao (ap-at-ahˊ-o) which means “to cheat” (G538). When a husband cheats on his wife, he usually deludes her into believing that everything is alright. He may even compensate by being overly attentive and affectionate to give her the impression that she is the most important person in his life. The more successful a spouse becomes at deluding his or her partner, the more stubborn they usually become in refusing to give up their sin of adultery.
All three of the gospel versions of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (Matthew, Mark, & Luke) contain the same key conclusions within Jesus’ message: 1) we will see Jesus coming in the clouds (Matthew 24:30; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:26), 2) we will see certain things taking place that will let us know his return is near (Matthew 24:33; Mark 13:29; Luke 21:31), and 3) the day will come upon everyone suddenly and will affect the whole earth (Matthew 24:37-39; Mark 13:36-37; Luke 21:34-35). Luke recorded this depiction of Jesus’ return:
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25-28)
Luke used the phrases straighten up and raise your head to convey the impact that Jesus’ return should have on believers. Mark’s record of Jesus’ parable of the fig tree emphasizes the confidence that believers should have as they see the evidence of his imminent return. Jesus told his disciples:
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Mark 13:28-31)
Jesus pointed to the fig tree as evidence of his return. Previously Jesus used the fig tree to teach his disciples a lesson about faith and his final public rejection by Israel (Mark 11:12-14, 20-26). It is likely that Jesus intended his disciples to think about both of these things as they prepared for his return. Matthew’s exposé on Jesus’ second coming linked the event with the flood that occurred in the days of Noah. Noah’s great faith contrasted with the unbelief of everyone around him is an indicator that there will be a stark contrast between believers and unbelievers in the final days before Jesus’ return. Matthew also connected Jesus’ parable of the tenants (Mark 12:1 12) with his account of what would happen in the end. Matthew recorded these words from Jesus’ message:
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:36-51)
Jesus’ indicated that no one knows the day or hour or his return, not even himself, “but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Jesus encouraged his followers to “stay awake” (Matthew 24:42), a phrase that is repeated three times in Mark’s brief account of Jesus’ final words (Mark 13:32-37). The Greek word gregoreuo (gray-gor-yooˊ-o) appears to be connected with the activities of a guard who stands watch at night while everyone else is asleep (G1127). Gregoreuo is derived from the word egeiro (eg-iˊ-ro) which conveys the idea of “collecting one’s faculties” and is used figuratively to refer to wakening from “obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence” (G1453). Egeiro was used by Jesus in the context of the authority of the Son and rising from the dead. Jesus said, “For as the Father raises (egeiro) the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will” (John 5:21).
Luke’s conclusion of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse suggests that some Christians may go through the Great Tribulation and some may escape. Luke stated, “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36). Luke said that believers need to pray for strength in order to escape the things that are going to take place. The King James Version of Luke 21:36 states it differently. It says, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things…” Paul used the same phrase in his second letter to the Thessalonians where he talked about the judgment at Christs coming. Paul said, “This is the evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:5-8).
Paul’s clarification of what happens in the end makes it clear to us that God’s judgment is intended for those who do not know him and for those who do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Based on this, it would make sense that being counted worthy would mean that you do know God and have obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, but Jesus indicated the real problem was not knowing when he would return. He said, “Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake” (Mark 13:35-36). The night before Jesus was crucified he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew tells us, “And he came to his disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:40-41). The issue that Jesus addressed was the conflict between our spirit and our flesh. Jesus said the spirit inside of us is willing to do what God wants us to, but our flesh, the part of us that makes us human, is unable to resist temptation, it tends to vacillate in opinion and/or faith (G772). Staying awake means that you have to be spiritually alert and pay attention to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus used his parable of the ten virgins to convey the importance of the filling of the Holy Spirit when it is clear the end is near. Jesus said:
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13)
The sudden and unexpected arrival of the bridegroom caught all of the ten virgins off-guard, but the five that had kept their lamps full and were ready to leave when the time came were able to enter the marriage feast before the door was shut. The interesting thing to note was that the five foolish virgins returned after filling their lamps, but they were not allowed to enter because the bridegroom didn’t recognize them. The command to watch suggests that after Jesus arrives believers will no longer be able to rely on the filling of the Holy Spirit to keep them in fellowship with God. The only way believers will be able to distinguish themselves is by not taking the mark of the beast and therefore, being willing to die for their faith (Revelation 13:16-17; 14:12-13).
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