END-TIME EVENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

THE OLIVET DISCOURSE

In Matthew Chapters 24-25, Jesus responded to three questions from His disciples concerning future events, in what has become known as "The Olivet Discourse."  In Mt. 24:1-3, we read:

"And Jesus went out, and departed from the Temple:  and His disciples came to Him for to show Him the buildings of the Temple.  And 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.  And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, [1] when shall these things be?  [2] And what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and [3] of the end of the world?"

First, note that Jesus does not answer their first question.  However, History records the destruction of the Temple, by Rome, in A.D. 70.  Jesus answered their third question first [The King James Version says "the world," but the Greek is αἰών (aiōn), from which we get the word "ion" meaning "an age."] Verse 14 says:  "And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Here, the word "world" is the Greek οἰκουμένη (oikoumenē), which refers to our planet, Earth.  In other words, verses 4-14 describe the events leading up to "the end of the age."  The "end" itself, is described in verses 15-28.

It is clear from several passages, that the "age" to which Jesus is referring, is not the "Church Age."  According to Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Thes. 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; and Rev. 3:10, the Church will be removed prior to the events in Mt.24-25.   Because "The Tribulation" (Mt. 24:29) the period described in verses 15-28, is also known as "The Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7) and "Daniel's Seventieth Week" (Dan. 9:24-27), I believe the age to which Jesus is referring, is the Mosaic Age.  After all, what He is teaching refers to a people awaiting their Messiah (Mt. 24:5, 23-24); those "in Judaea flee into the mountains" (v. 16), and the Sabbath restrictions are part of the Mosaic Law (v. 20)!

In Matthew 24:29 - 25:46, Jesus answers their second question, and describes His Second Coming, and the events which lead up to the establishment of His Millennial Kingdom.  Verses 24:7, 14; and 25:1, 14, 34; specifically mention His Kingdom as yet future.  That Kingdom, the 1000 year reign of Christ on this earth, is the subject of Revelation 20:1-15.  Note that the Church is last mentioned at the end of Chapter Three, and Chapters 6-18 describe the Tribulation itself.  This is significant, in that, the Book of Revelation is in chronological order:  Church Age; Tribulation; Millennium; New Heaven and New Earth.  This can also be seen in Matthew:  Jesus uses the words "then shall" to show the order of events eleven times (24:9, 10, 14, 21, 30, 40; 25:1, 31, 34, 37, 41)!

THE TIMING OF END-TIME EVENTS IS FAR LESS IMPORTANT THAN

THE QUESTION, "DO YOU BELIEVE JESUS DIED FOR YOUR SINS, THAT

HE WAS BURIED, AND THAT HIS FATHER RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD?"

IF YOU HAVE ACCEPTED HIM AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, THEN

REJOICE, FOR YOUR REDEEMER "DRAWETH NIGH!"