1

“The  Olivet  Discourse”  Matthew  24:1-­‐14  

   Message  by  Michael  J.  Barnard                                                                                                                                                            June  28,  2015      Teaching  Aim:    To  examine  the   first  part  of  “The  Olivet  Discourse”  and  see  how   it  applies   to  both  the  first  century  and  the  first  half  of  the  Great  Tribulation.    To  realize  Bible  prophecy  is  like  the  parallel  rails  on  a  railroad  track,  each  rail  represents  a  partial  fulfillment  of  the  full  prophecy.    The  first  rail  relates  to  events  at  the  time  of  the  writing,  the  second  to  the  prophecy’s  ultimate  fulfillment  during  the  end  times.    

DIGGING  DEEPER  INTO  GOD’S  WORD  (BIBLE  STUDY)  Part  I:    The  departure  of  Jesus  from  the  temple  grounds  (Matt.  24:1-­‐2)  1. After   a   prolonged   confrontation   with   the   scribes   and   Pharisees,   Jesus   departed   from   the   temple  

grounds.    What  impressed  the  disciples  as  they  were  walking  out  of  the  temple  courts    (vs.  1)?    Why  were  the  disciples  so  fascinated  by  these  buildings?    Besides  being  a  psychopathic  killer,  what  was  Herod  the  Great  famous  for?      

             2. Do  you  think  Jesus  was  impressed  by  the  construction  of  Herod?    Why  or  why  not?    (See  John  1:1-­‐4;  

Col   1:15-­‐17;  Heb.   1:10-­‐12)    What   startling   prophecy   did   Jesus  make   in  verse   2?    Why  would   this  prophecy   be   so   shocking   to   His   disciples?     What   time   of   year   was   it?     What   did   that   mean   for  Jerusalem  and  the  temple  courts?  

               Part  II:    What  will  be  the  sign  of  your  coming?  (Matt.  24:3-­‐8)  1. Leaving  the  temple  grounds,  Jesus  and  His  disciples  made  the  short  walk  across  the  Kidron  Valley  to  

the  Mount  of  Olives,  approximately  one  mile   (vs.  3).    What  made  the  Mount  of  Olives  the  perfect  location  for  Jesus  to  sit  and  give  His  disciples  an  object  lesson  on  the  end  times?    (See  Ezek.  11:22-­‐23;  Acts  1:9-­‐12;  Zech.  14:4)        

             2. According  to  Mark  13:3-­‐4,  which  disciples  came  to  Jesus  privately  and  asked  him  when  these  things  

would   occur?     Did   the   disciples   understand   at   that   time   that   the   kingdom   of   God   would   not  immediately  take  effect?        (See  Acts  1:6)      

         

2

3. Matthew  does  not  record  Jesus’  answer  as  to  when  these  things  would  take  place,  but  Luke  does  in  his  gospel.    What  key  point  does  Jesus  bring  out  about  the  Gentiles  in  Luke  21?    (See  Luke  21:20-­‐24)    Is   it   possible   this   may   have   occurred  with   the   end   of   the   Six   Day   War   in   1967   when   the   Jews  regained  control  of  Jerusalem?    Why  or  why  not?  

               4. What  warning  does  Jesus  give  to  His  disciples  in  verse  4?    Is  this  a  warning  for  His  disciples  alone,  or  is  

it   for   us   today   as  well?    What   is   the  motivation   behind   the   teachings   of   false   prophets   and   false  teachers  today?    (See  2  Tim.  4:3-­‐4)  

               5. How  many  people  in  your  own  lifetime  can  you  think  of  who  claimed  to  be  the  Christ  (vs.  5)?    What  

happened  to  their  followers?    Do  you  think  these  individuals  really  believed  they  were  the  Messiah?    Why  or  why  not?    Who  will  the  ultimate  counterfeit  Christ  be?    (See  Rev.  6:1-­‐2)  

6. Matthew  24:3-­‐14  is  similar  in  nature  to  the  first  four  seals  of  Revelation  6  which      covers  the  first  3  ½  

years  of  the  Great  Tribulation.    How  long  has  war  been  a  problem  in  the  world  (vs.  6)?    How  long  will  it  be  a  problem?    In  what  way  has  war  changed  over  the  years?    What  does  the  2nd  seal  of  Rev.  6:3-­‐4  reveal  about  what  will  happen  in  the  first  half  of  the  Tribulation?      Who  will  finally  bring  true  peace  to  the  world?    (See  Isa.  9:6-­‐7)                  

7. According  to  Jesus,  what  can  we  expect  as  we  approach  the  end  times  (vs.  7)?    Are  we  seeing  some  of  this   today?     How   can   we   know   when   the  Great   Tribulation   arrives?     Did   the   disciples   have   any  concept  of  a  future  rapture?    (See  1  Cor.  15:5;  1  Thess.  4:13-­‐18)    Why  or  why  not?    When  do  you  believe  the  rapture  will  occur?    Why?  

               

3

8. From  the  creation  of  Adam  it  took  until  the  late  1800’s  to  reach  a  world  population  of  1  billion  people.    What   is  the  world  population  today?     (Google:    World  Population  Clock)    How  quickly   is  the  world  population   growing   today?     How   might   this   staggering   population   growth   be   tied   to   the   future  famines  prophesied  by  Jesus  (vs.  7)?    How  does  verse  7  relate  to  the  3rd  seal  of  Revelation  6?    (See  Rev.  6:5-­‐6)  

               9. How   does   war   affect   food   supplies?   Why?   Has   there   been   a   marked   increase   in   earthquakes  

worldwide  (vs.  7)?    How  do  large  earthquakes  impact  the  communities  they  are  centered  in?    How  do  they  affect  the  economy?    Have  you  ever  experienced  a  large  earthquake?    If  so,  what  was  it  like?    What  do  you  think  the  earthquakes  will  be  like  in  the  latter  days?    (See  Rev.  6:12-­‐17)  

               10. The  word  “sorrows”   in  verse  8  can   literally  mean  “birth  pangs”.    What  does   the  expecting  mother  

experience  as  she  gets  ready  to  give  birth?    Is  the  time  of  labor  a  painful  or  pleasant  one?    How  do  things  change  following  the  birth?    How  does  this  picture  illustrate  the  difference  between  the  Great  Tribulation  and  the  Millennial  Kingdom  of  Christ?    According  to  the  4th  seal  of  Revelation  6,  what  can  those  living  expect  during  the  first  half  of  the  Great  Tribulation?    (See  Rev.  6:7-­‐8)  

               Part  III:    Trials  and  tribulations  during  the  first  half  of  the  Great  Tribulation  (Matt.  24:9-­‐14)  1. What  does  Jesus  promise  His  followers  during  the  Tribulation  (vs.  9)?    (Notice  the  words:    “hated…for  

My   names   sake”)    Depending   on   your   school   of   “eschatology”   (End   Time   doctrine),   this   passage  refers   either   to   believing   Jews   (Pre-­‐Tribulationism)   or   believing   Jews   and   Christians   in   the   Great  Tribulation   (A-­‐Millennialism  &  Post-­‐Millennialism).      Which   school   of   eschatology   do   you  believe?    Why?  

2. The  word  “offended”  in  verse  10  can  be  translated  “made  to  stumble”.    According  to  verse  10,  what  

can  be  expected  during  the  first  half  of  the  Great  Tribulation?    (See  Mark  13:9-­‐10)    Who  will  people  be  able  to  trust  during  the  Tribulation?    How  is  the  description  found  in  verse  10  similar  to  the  living  conditions  for  Christians   in  Muslim  countries  today?    Could  this  kind  of  persecution  happen   in  the  U.S.  in  our  own  day?    How  is  the  judicial  system  and  the  media  treating  Christians  today?  

   

4

3. What  are  false  prophets  and  why  are  they  so  dangerous  (vs.  11)?    How  are  false  prophets  and  false  teachers   deceiving   people   today?    What   is   the   best   defense   to   protect   you   from   false   teaching?    (See  2  Tim  2:15;  1  John  4:1)    Are  you  spending  time  in  God’s  Word  daily?    Why  or  why  not?    What  are  some  steps  you  can  take  to  develop  a  closer  walk  with  the  Lord?  

             4. According  to  verse  12,  what  will  the  first  half  of  the  Great  Tribulation  be  like?    The  King  James  Version  

of  the  Bible  translates  verse  12,  “And  because  of   iniquity  shall  abound,  the   love  of  many  shall  wax  cold.”    What  does   the  phrase  “wax  cold”  mean?    How  does   this   image   relate   to  people  being   led  astray?    Can  you  think  of  anyone  you  know  whose  love  for  Christ  has  “waxed  cold”  because  of  sin?    (Don’t  share  names)    What  are  some  things  you  can  do  to  help  them  get  back  on  the  right  track?  

               5. What   is   every  believer   in  Christ   encouraged   to  do   in  verse  13?    Does   this  mean  Christians  have   to  

“endure”   in   order   to   earn   their   salvation?     (See   Eph.   2:8-­‐9)     What   does   it   mean?     (See  Commentaries)  Who  will  endure  until  the  end?    (See  John  10:27-­‐28)  

           6. What  is  “the  Gospel  of  the  Kingdom”  (vs.  14)?    Why  is  it  so  important  for  the  gospel  to  get  out  to  the  

entire  world?    (See  John  3:16;  14:6;  Acts  4:12)    How  is  the  gospel  reaching  parts  of  the  world  today  that  could  never  be  reached  before?    What  are  you  doing  to  share  Christ  with  others?  

           7. Have  you  received  Jesus  Christ  as  Savior  and  Lord?    If  not,  why  not  do  so  in  prayer  right  now?      MINER’S  CORNER  ~  Manna  to  live  by!  • The  disciples  were   impressed  by   the   construction  projects  of  Herod   the  Great,  but   Jesus  wasn’t,  He  

created  the  entire  universe.  • Jesus  sat  on  the  Mount  of  Olives  and  gave  His  disciples  an  object  lesson  on  the  end  times.  • Wars  have  always  been  and  will   continue   to  be,   but   they  will   get  worse   and  worse   in   the   last   days  

leading  up  to  the  Second  Coming  of  Jesus  Christ.    • Jesus  relates  the  “birth  pangs”  of  a  woman  to  the  Great  Tribulation  &  Millennium.  • False  prophets  and  false  teachers  are  Satan’s  servants  leading  people  astray.  • The  best  protection  against    false  teaching  is  to  know  Christ  and  His  Word  intimately.    (See  2  Tim.  2:15)  • The  true  believer  in  Christ  will  be  faithful  to  Him  and  endure  to  the  end.  

5