1) Notes on The Olivet Prophecy
We have been given 3 accounts they are recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. They are 3 eyewitness accounts and when put together can give a more complete picture of what was said.
The Bible never wastes one word. These 3 accounts are not repeats. They are 3 eyewitness accounts and put together can give a more complete picture of what was said, but this witness is a secondary purpose. The first purpose is to leave a record for all time of a message Yahweh wants the followers of Yahshua to have and understand. This prophecy covers the future of the servant of Yahshua from the day he spoke until he returns visibly to the earth.
The prophecy has a break. An analysis will show clearly the break in each record. It will also show that each record has a different focus. The table is to show what is different.
|
Matthew |
Mark |
Luke |
|
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (Mat 24:15) |
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: (Mar 13:14) |
|
|
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Mat 24:22) |
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. (Mar 13:20) |
|
|
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. (Mat 24:23) |
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: (Mar 13:21) |
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. (Luk 21:8) |
|
For 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. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore 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. (Mat 24:24-26) |
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. (Mar 13:22-23) |
|
|
For 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. (Mat 24:27) |
|
|
|
For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (Mat 24:28) |
|
|
|
Immediately 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: (Mat 24:29) |
But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. (Mar 13:24-25) |
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. (Luk 21:9) 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. (Luk 21:10-11) |
|
Luke 's record shows that Yahshau adds information regarding the wars and earthquakes but Luke does not write that Yahshua spoke of the sun being darkened- he lumps this together as the “great signs”. |
||
|
Matthew |
Mark |
Luke |
|
|
|
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. (Luk 21:12-19) |
|
|
|
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. (Luk 21:20-24) |
|
Clearly here Luke gives a piece of information neither Matthew or Mark do- and this is the break in the prophecy that turns out to be close to 2000 years. Therefore only Luke gives information relating to after the time when the “times Gentiles are fulfilled. |
||
|
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: (Mat 24:30) |
|
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. (Luk 21:25-26) |
|
The records match here.
|
||
|
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. (Mat 24:30) |
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. (Mar 13:26) |
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luk 21:27) |
|
Matthew |
Mark |
Luke |
|
And 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. (Mat 24:31) |
And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. (Mar 13:27) |
|
|
|
|
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luk 21:28) |
|
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Mat 24:32-35) |
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Mar 13:28-31) |
And he spake to them a parable;
Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Luk 21:29-33) |
This table shows that Matthew and Mark are very similar in their focus, but Luke is very different in his focus. Matthew and Mark give a summary that focuses on the events relating to Israel and the symbols. Luke is far more interested in the detail, and especially the detail of events relating to Jerusalem. Luke does not mention the detail, however, of the false Christs.
When all three are together it can been seen that Yahshua's discourse was quite detailed and it covered some points and then referred back to itself. For example Luke records that Yahshua said “that all things which are written may be fulfilled”, and this, refers back to the statement regarding Daniel's prophecy, which Matthew and Mark mention that Yahshua had explained previously.
Luke tells us that Yahshua spoke of “great signs from heaven”, this seems to be a summary of what Matthew and Mark say Yahshua said,
“The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.”
Yahshua here in the context is clearly speaking of the Jewish world of AD 70. At that time the Jewish “Sun” the political structure was eliminated, and the religious order was removed including the temple, so there was no Jewish “light” at all. In addition all the minor rulers, the Sadducees and Pharisees were disposed and dispersed, relating the the removal of the “stars”. Their fear that the Romans would take away their “place and nation” (John 11:48) was realised.
Then only Luke goes on to record what Yahshua says of the detail of the capture of Jerusalem. Luke then records a critical prophecy, that neither Matthew or Mark do, that Jerusalem would be ruled by Gentiles until a specific time in the future. Neither Matthew or Mark mention it, but then Yahshua goes on to speak again of the sun moon and stars, but note what he says is very different. This time the sun, moon and stars are not “darkened” but rather show “signs”. This matches Matthew 20:30 which speaks of the “sign” of the son of man.
According to Matthew's account Yahshua says the “sign of the Son of man” precedes his actual return. Therefore, at the time of the “sign of the Son of man” there are “signs” in the sun and moon and stars.
If there is a sign in the same “sun” that was “darkened” or politically extinguished in AD 70, then it follows that same “sun” must be in existence and “shining” again. The “sun” darkened in AD 70 was the Jewish nation. Therefore as Israel exists, the Jewish “sun” is “shining” again. This matches Luke's account that Jerusalem would cease to be in Gentile hands before Messiah returns. The “sign of the son of man” is therefore the re-establishment of Israel as a nation. This “sign” was such a great sign that many called it a “miracle”. Israel was a remarkable miracle as no other nation has been voted into existence in the United Nations, which is the place of National rule, which in the language of the Bible is “heaven”. Truly this “sign” or miracle occurred in “heaven” or the place of rule by the National powers. History now shows us that there was some time until Jerusalem was again in Jewish hands after the “sign of the son of man” was in place. Luke tells us that Yahshua said that after this point when Jerusalem was in Jewish hands there would be distress of nations. It is 1967 that began the era of protests. It was this year that paved the way for the controversy over Jerusalem that even now is bringing all nations to war.
The last interesting point is the difference in the parable of the fig tree. Matthew and Mark are almost word for word. Luke uses different terms entirely. Matthew and Mark speak of the branch being “tender”and the putting forth of the leaves, but Luke speaks of the “shooting forth” or of a rapid growth. These are distinctly different terms. Matthew and Mark say that Yahshua said “Now learn” but Luke says Yashua said “behold the fig tree”. Luke is always precise. The simple explanation is it is possible the full parable had two iterations. Luke adds “and all the trees” and that Yahshua said “when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” Neither Matthew or Mark mention other trees or use the term “kingdom of God”.
Therefore there is something special about Luke's account. It is possible Luke's account is a special inspiration written for us in this generation, or it could be there was two iterations of the parable. Most teachers do repeat themselves, however, Yahshua never wastes one word. It could also be that Matthew and Mark heard both iterations but focus on the point that their generation would not pass that would see the darkening of the Jewish sun. Their record has been left for us as it is useful. We can now look back with confidence and understand.
Luke by contrast focuses on another, second, generation in the future who would see the end of the rule of Jerusalem by Gentiles and see at the same time the “shooting forth” or rapid growth of “all the trees”. That generation also would not pass before the fulfilment of Yahshua's words, this time they would see, not the destruction of Jerusalem, but rather the coming of the kingdom of God.
For more
Untill the end of the times of the Gentiles
We were asked what early documents establish that Rosh of Ezekiel 38 is Russia. The answer is in 2 parts, as we explain the trajectory from fulfilled prophecy in history to prophecy yet to be fulfilled.
The Revelation 12 Sign
There is much written about the sun, moon and planets aligning on in September 2017. We have many reasons for suspecting that 2017 will be a prophetically significant year, and the time of the Jewish feast of Sukkot could be more significant than any other time, but we need to understand the scripture before we consider the stars.
The crown placed on the head of Elizabeth 11 is thought to contain 4 pearls from Elizabeth 1. There seem some interesting parallels between the 2 Elizabethan ages.
Whoa! Has the Creator made a comment?
