Jesus’ most dramatic prophecy.

One week before He was crucified, Jesus made some startling statements about the end. He left no doubt that something truly significant was about to happen. His prophetic words are paramount to understanding the “last days” and end-time prophecy. Although they have puzzled and perplexed humankind for nearly 2,000 years, they need not. We have only to compare his prophecy with Habakkuk’s and Daniel’s–and take Him at this word–to arrive at his proper meaning.

While sitting on the Mount of Olives, looking across the valley at the beautiful Jewish Temple, Jesus stunned his disciples by prophesying that this entire complex of buildings, an awesome structure “famous throughout the world” (2 Maccabees 2:22 NRSV), would be totally destroyed. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down” (Matt. 24:2). His disciples asked, “When will this happen?” (Matt. 24:3) and He answered, “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” (Matt. 24:34). Not only was something significant about to happen, it was to happen in their lifetime. To top it off, He told them about many other “last days” or end-time events that would also take place within that same time period. Included in Jesus’ “all these things” were:

• The end of the age and the sign of his coming (parousia) (vs. 3)
• The gospel preached in all the world . . . to all nations (vs. 14)
• The end will come (vs. 14)
• The abomination of desolation standing in the holy place (vs. 15)
• The hearers fleeing for their lives (vs. 16-20)
• A great tribulation, unequaled in history before or after (vs. 21)
• False Christs and false prophets appearing, performing great signs and miracles and deceiving even the elect—if that were possible (vs. 24)
• The coming (parousia) of the Son of Man (vs. 27)
• The sun and the moon darkened, stars falling from the sky and the heavenly bodies shaken (vs. 29)
• The sign of the Son of Man appearing in the sky (vs. 30)
• Their seeing the Son of Man coming on the clouds (vs. 30)

This passage of Scripture is recognized as Jesus’ longest and most dramatic prophecy. It is also his most problematic and contested teaching. It contains the promise of what many considered to be his biggest, baddest, and best coming of all. Scholars call it the Olivet Discourse, since Jesus gave this end-time prophecy while sitting on the Mount of Olives during the last week of this life. We suggest you read Jesus’ prophetic words for yourself before continuing. Three similar but slightly different versions are recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

Sources:

1 The Perfect Ending for the World by John Noe

2 The Last Days According to Jesus by R.C. Sproul

3 Last Days Madness by Gary DeMar

4 The Works of Josephus translated by William Whiston

5 Josephus the Essential Writings by Paul L. Maier