Minister Kenneth Chukwuali
Tuesday October 11, 2011
Olivet Discourse
Our reading is Matthew 24.
1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25Behold, I have told you before.
26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29Immediately 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:
30And 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.
31And 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.
32Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24
END
Brothers and sisters, the greatest and most important prophecy that Jesus ever gave the Church was the one that He gave His disciples while seated on the mount of Olives. This prophecy is often referred to as the Olivet Discourse and is documented by Matthew in Matthew 24. Matthew 24 is in the context of Matthew 23, which ends with these words: “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39For 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.” (Matthew 23:38-39), thus creating a perfect setup for what is to transpire in Matthew 24.
It was those words of Jesus that prompted his disciples to point out the beautiful Temple buildings, and as Jesus was leaving the Temple his disciples privately approached him to draw His attention to the Temple architecture. I can imagine the disciples trying to impress on Jesus the aesthetics and structural features of the Temple buildings. To their dismay however, the Lord Jesus responded by saying that those well-adorned Temple buildings would be completely demolished to the extent that no stone would be left on top of the other. This marked the beginning of the narrative of the most central bible prophecy ever recorded in the history of the Church.
It is incredible that this most important prophecy was recorded in three out of the four glorious gospels of the bible. While Matthew records it in chapter 24, Mark documents it in chapter 13, just as Luke records it in chapter 21. But, as one would think that John totally missed it in his gospel, one quickly realizes that John actually received that revelation as presented in the book of Revelation chapter 6. We will see in a future sermon that this is indeed the case. John, who was the youngest of the apostles, received the revelation he documented in the book of Revelation at an old age. The fact that he did not write Olivet Discourse in the gospel but wrote it in the book of Revelation shows that the Holy Spirit was indeed in charge at all times.
When Jesus pointed out that the Temple would be completely demolished to the extent that no stone would be left on top of another, the disciples (because of the discussion that just ended in Matt 23) were quick to perceive that He was hinting at His second coming and the end of the age. It is this realization that eventually prompted his disciples to ask him, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? ”
In response to their quest for greater understanding of this critical matter, the Lord Jesus gave the most important prophecy yet, ever recorded in the bible. In a surprise reply, Jesus answered them by giving the following prophecy when he said: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name claiming ‘I am the Christ’, and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4-5). The Lord continued to caution them by saying that they would hear of wars and rumours of wars, but that they should see to it that they be not alarmed. Such things he said would have to happen while the end was still to come. Jesus further added that nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. In concluding his first unveiling to them, the Lord even reiterated that there would be famines and earthquakes in various places, creating a phenomenon that would be referred to, as the beginning of birthpains. In advancing this crucial prophecy to his disciples, the Lord Jesus further highlighted that his followers would be handed over to be persecuted and put to death and be hated by all nations, because of his name.
In Matthew 24:10, as Jesus continued to advance this prophecy, he underscored that at that time many will turn away from the faith, and hate and betray each other. This, he said, would propagate many false prophets that would appear and deceive many. To crown it all, the Lord asserted that because of the increase of wickedness that would manifest at that time, the love of most would grow cold and yet he also gave hope to those who would stand firm to the end; the hope of salvation. As that happens, the Lord Jesus also promised that the gospel of the kingdom would be preached to the whole earth, as a testimony to all nations, and then the end would come. It is this mighty prophecy on the Coming of the Messiah that redefines and creates a critical threshold on all biblical events. Precisely, all other prophecies in the bible revolve around this major prophecy on the Coming of the Lord.
Brothers and sisters, we are in the end-times and we are the end-time Christians and we are now in a true end-time Church. Do you now see yourselves in this prophecy? If you are like most Christians you believe in a pre-Tribulation rapture. That is good but it is advisable to be prepared for other scenarios. I know this is a controversial area but I do not shy away from controversies. The rapture of the Church could be a pre-Wrath event as Rev 7:3 and then Rev 7: 9 suggest, meaning we may see part of the Great Tribulation which would have started earlier in Rev 6. If this is the case then we better be prepared for what is coming. As I said we will discuss Rev 6 in a future sermon and show that it interprets the Olivet Discourse. The discourse is generally viewed as referring both to the rapture as well as the second coming of Christ, but the many scholarly opinions about which verses refer to which event remain divided and complex.
END
SALVATION PRAYER
If you are reading this and you don't yet know the Lord...
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE JESUS CHRIST THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE?
I invite you to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life by praying this prayer aloud and meaning it in your heart:
“O Lord God, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Your Word says, "…whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
I ask Jesus to come into my heart to be the Lord of my life. I receive eternal life into my spirit and according to Romans 10:9, “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God had raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved,” I declare that I am saved; I am born again; I am a child of God! I now have Jesus Christ dwelling in me, and greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world! (1 John 4:4). I now walk in the consciousness of my new life in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!”
CONGRATULATIONS! You are now a child of God. Welcome to the family of God!
Olivet Discourse
Our reading is Matthew 24.
1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25Behold, I have told you before.
26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29Immediately 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:
30And 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.
31And 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.
32Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24
END
Brothers and sisters, the greatest and most important prophecy that Jesus ever gave the Church was the one that He gave His disciples while seated on the mount of Olives. This prophecy is often referred to as the Olivet Discourse and is documented by Matthew in Matthew 24. Matthew 24 is in the context of Matthew 23, which ends with these words: “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39For 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.” (Matthew 23:38-39), thus creating a perfect setup for what is to transpire in Matthew 24.
It was those words of Jesus that prompted his disciples to point out the beautiful Temple buildings, and as Jesus was leaving the Temple his disciples privately approached him to draw His attention to the Temple architecture. I can imagine the disciples trying to impress on Jesus the aesthetics and structural features of the Temple buildings. To their dismay however, the Lord Jesus responded by saying that those well-adorned Temple buildings would be completely demolished to the extent that no stone would be left on top of the other. This marked the beginning of the narrative of the most central bible prophecy ever recorded in the history of the Church.
It is incredible that this most important prophecy was recorded in three out of the four glorious gospels of the bible. While Matthew records it in chapter 24, Mark documents it in chapter 13, just as Luke records it in chapter 21. But, as one would think that John totally missed it in his gospel, one quickly realizes that John actually received that revelation as presented in the book of Revelation chapter 6. We will see in a future sermon that this is indeed the case. John, who was the youngest of the apostles, received the revelation he documented in the book of Revelation at an old age. The fact that he did not write Olivet Discourse in the gospel but wrote it in the book of Revelation shows that the Holy Spirit was indeed in charge at all times.
When Jesus pointed out that the Temple would be completely demolished to the extent that no stone would be left on top of another, the disciples (because of the discussion that just ended in Matt 23) were quick to perceive that He was hinting at His second coming and the end of the age. It is this realization that eventually prompted his disciples to ask him, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? ”
In response to their quest for greater understanding of this critical matter, the Lord Jesus gave the most important prophecy yet, ever recorded in the bible. In a surprise reply, Jesus answered them by giving the following prophecy when he said: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name claiming ‘I am the Christ’, and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4-5). The Lord continued to caution them by saying that they would hear of wars and rumours of wars, but that they should see to it that they be not alarmed. Such things he said would have to happen while the end was still to come. Jesus further added that nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. In concluding his first unveiling to them, the Lord even reiterated that there would be famines and earthquakes in various places, creating a phenomenon that would be referred to, as the beginning of birthpains. In advancing this crucial prophecy to his disciples, the Lord Jesus further highlighted that his followers would be handed over to be persecuted and put to death and be hated by all nations, because of his name.
In Matthew 24:10, as Jesus continued to advance this prophecy, he underscored that at that time many will turn away from the faith, and hate and betray each other. This, he said, would propagate many false prophets that would appear and deceive many. To crown it all, the Lord asserted that because of the increase of wickedness that would manifest at that time, the love of most would grow cold and yet he also gave hope to those who would stand firm to the end; the hope of salvation. As that happens, the Lord Jesus also promised that the gospel of the kingdom would be preached to the whole earth, as a testimony to all nations, and then the end would come. It is this mighty prophecy on the Coming of the Messiah that redefines and creates a critical threshold on all biblical events. Precisely, all other prophecies in the bible revolve around this major prophecy on the Coming of the Lord.
Brothers and sisters, we are in the end-times and we are the end-time Christians and we are now in a true end-time Church. Do you now see yourselves in this prophecy? If you are like most Christians you believe in a pre-Tribulation rapture. That is good but it is advisable to be prepared for other scenarios. I know this is a controversial area but I do not shy away from controversies. The rapture of the Church could be a pre-Wrath event as Rev 7:3 and then Rev 7: 9 suggest, meaning we may see part of the Great Tribulation which would have started earlier in Rev 6. If this is the case then we better be prepared for what is coming. As I said we will discuss Rev 6 in a future sermon and show that it interprets the Olivet Discourse. The discourse is generally viewed as referring both to the rapture as well as the second coming of Christ, but the many scholarly opinions about which verses refer to which event remain divided and complex.
END
SALVATION PRAYER
If you are reading this and you don't yet know the Lord...
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE JESUS CHRIST THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE?
I invite you to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life by praying this prayer aloud and meaning it in your heart:
“O Lord God, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Your Word says, "…whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
I ask Jesus to come into my heart to be the Lord of my life. I receive eternal life into my spirit and according to Romans 10:9, “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God had raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved,” I declare that I am saved; I am born again; I am a child of God! I now have Jesus Christ dwelling in me, and greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world! (1 John 4:4). I now walk in the consciousness of my new life in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!”
CONGRATULATIONS! You are now a child of God. Welcome to the family of God!
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