In our previous section of lessons, Jesus and the disciples were seated together in the Upper Room the night before the crucifixion.  In this current section of lessons, Jesus and the disciples are seated together on the Mount of Olives in an intimate question/answer time concerning the coming destruction of the Temple and events surrounding the end times.  Bear in mind that these  “Mt. Olivet Discourse” discussions are being held earlier in that same week of Passover, shortly after Jesus had entered the city and been welcomed with shouts of “Hosannah!”

Jesus has just finished talking with them about one of two scenarios.  Some scholars hold that He has just described the days of the soon coming fall of the city of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple in AD70 at the hands of the Romans.  Others make a case for the events surrounding the seven year period of great tribulation described in the Revelation between the rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ.  Because Jesus loved His disciples and sought to prepare them for the imminent days of the rapid buildup of the early church followed by the great persecution they would face as apostles of the Savior, it seems logical that He was speaking of the more current events. 

Beginning in verse 23, the scene does appear to shift more toward the events described in the Revelation that have to do with the return of Christ.  Jesus warns them of many who would come claiming to be the Messiah.  False prophets and false “Christs” would arise and display great signs and wonders that would seem so valid that even believers would be duped into following their leadings. Jesus is now answering the second part of their question concerning the end time events.

Jesus had been born in the tiny, relatively obscure, town of Bethlehem in Judah. His first coming was announced by angels to shepherds with very little additional human fanfare. A Roman census taker would have counted Joseph and Mary and then added a “plus one” newborn to his record keeping book. 

The first coming of the Messiah was a quiet affair.  The second coming of the Messiah will be a quite different event:  sudden, unexpected, powerful and seen by all of the “tribes” of the earth who are living at that time.  Jesus tells them that the sun, moon and stars will be cataclysmically affected.  The powers of the heavens will be shaken.  There will be a sign in the sky as the Son of Man returns on the clouds of the sky with power and with great glory.  Those who have trusted in Jesus during the seven years of the Great Tribulation will be gathered by the angels from the four winds of the earth.  This is a reference to the four compass points—north, south, east, west—indicating that the whole earth will hear the sound of the trumpet and will surrender those who believe in Jesus as they are gathered by the angels.

This final week of the life of Jesus had certainly thrown lots of curve balls in the lives of the disciples.  Each day of that week, they saw and heard things that brought great concern to them.  They would look back and probably say, “…well, that welcome parade was a high point but things sorta went downhill from that moment!”  Jesus cleansed the temple with righteous violence.  He had several very telling encounters with the Pharisees.  There would be a betrayal.  There would be a denial.  They would have heard Jesus say that He was going away.  For these men who left everything to follow Jesus, this was a highly stressful few days. 

Their simple, honest, questions on the Mount of Olives were laced with a dose of spiritual panic.  Jesus did not leave them in the lurch with no game plan.  He continues to answer them honestly, openly and scripturally.  This one and only Son of Man sought to calm their fears.  Once again, we must remember:  There will be an end.  Only the Father knows when.  We must be faithful until then!