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The Olivet Discourse

Last Updated: 02/25/2009 02:15                                                                                                                                           Bookmark at Del.icio.us | Print This Page

I've noticed some confusion in harpazo discussions because of Luke 21:7-28. There are some similarities that many quickly associate this passage and the time it is speaking of with Matthew 24:1-31 and Mark 13:1-27. I believe there is error in doing so that confuse the timeline of prophetic events and obscure understanding Bible prophecy. There are different sections that will be separated by color:

  • Maroon = This is describing the things leading up to the end when everything spoken should come to pass found paralleled in the following scriptures:
    • Matthew 24:1-7 (Transition marked by "All these are the beginning of sorrows" as compared to "Before all these things.")
    • Mark 13:1-13 (Transition marked by "seeing the abomination of desolation" as compared to "Jerusalem compassed with armies")
       
  • Dark Blue = Separate time as stated "Before these things," meaning the maroon section that matches Matthew 24 and Mark 13 accounts. While Luke talks about this time before the wars and rumors of wars, etc., Matthew 24:8-28 and Mark 13:14-23 speak directly to the abomination of desolation. This section in Luke 21 happens before both the maroon and green sections of scripture.
     
  • Green = The sun/moon/star event, or 6th seal with the following scriptural parallels:
    • Matthew 24:29-31 (Here we see the sun/moon/star event of the 6th seal, powers of heaven shaken (which is the wrath of God according to Isaiah 13:10-13), and the appearing of Son of man in great glory)
    • Mark 13:24-27 (We see here as well the same sun/moon/star event of the 6th seal, powers of heaven shaken (which again is the wrath of God according to Isaiah 13:10-13), and appearing of Son of man in great glory, just like Luke 21:25-27)

Luke 21:5-28
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Luke 21:24 should be sufficient to show that this time being talked about is not the abomination of desolation and therefore doesn't mirror the time that Matthew and Mark are talking about, even though there are some similarities. We have a starting and ending point for a diversion from the original timeline in Luke 21.

Start of diversion: Luke 21:12 "But before all these, (speaking of verses 7-11) they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake." This is a picture of the beginning church after Christ's crucifixion. Nobody is delivered up to Jewish synagogues now, but back then, Christians were persecuted very much by the Jews, who viewed Christians as a threat to their belief.

End of diversion: Luke 21:24 "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." As you can see in the abomination of desolation study, Israel won't be led captive into any nations at that time, 2/3 will be killed (Zechariah 13:6-9) and 1/3 will escape into the wilderness. (Revelation 12:12-14) After the end of this diversion, verse 25 picks up with Matthew and Mark talking about the sun/moon/star event (6th seal), the powers of heaven shaken, and seeing the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Body of diversion: Luke 21:13-23 So now that we've seen the beginning and end, just what does this section talk about? I believe Christ was referring to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD It was at that point that Israel was led captive into all nations and Jerusalem has been trodden underfoot by the Gentiles (Muslims) ever since. They still have control of the Temple Mount.

As you can see, there are distinct differences that cannot be ignored which separate the Luke 21:13-23 account (talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and temple in 70 AD) from Matthew 24:8-28 and Mark 13:14-23 (Speaking directly to the abomination of desolation and focused on a time yet future when the beast will start his 42 months as ruler of the world. (Revelation 13:4,5)


"all things which are written may be fulfilled"

This time is God's wrath upon this people Christ prophesied at the triumphal entry.

Luke 19:40-44
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

What's pretty amazing is that it was also written already in the Old Testament, waiting to be fulfilled...

Jeremiah 11:16-23
The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal. And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings. But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause. Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine: And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.


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