So often what we receive is a thin layer of Christian doctrine, history, and overall understanding of God’s word, but there is so much more. As you dive into God’s word, it comes alive and I am constantly amazed at the depths of the wisdom and the foreshadowing that is on every page of the Bible when we take the time to explore it.
It really is true, “seek and ye shall find”.
Jack Kelly does a great job unpacking the Olivet Discourse as you may not have heard it before.
Remember, the darker it gets, the brighter and farther our little light shines!
Maranatha, Lord come quickly!
myblessedhope
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The Olivet Discourse…Luke’s Version
By Jack Kelley
Students of prophecy often pay more attention to Matthew’s version of the Olivet Discourse because of its greater length and detail. But when we bypass Luke’s account, we miss one third of the Lord’s message. That’s because the disciples asked the Lord three questions and in Matthew 24 He only answered the last two. Also, it’s Luke’s answer to their first question that confirms the whole message as it relates to the end times.
Here’s why: When a prophet revealed events that would take place beyond the lifetimes of the people he was speaking to, the Lord often provided a short term partial fulfillment to validate the distant prophecy. This is because He had told the people that if what a prophet said didn’t come true, then the people were not to fear him, for he hadn’t spoken for the Lord (Deut 18:21-22).
There are numerous partial fulfillments in Scripture that would serve as good examples of this, but perhaps the clearest one comes from John 5:43. Speaking to Israel, Jesus said, “I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.” He was referring to the Antichrist, who many in Israel will believe to be the Messiah when he comes on the scene at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week.
But just before Jesus was handed over to be executed, Pilate offered to free Him as a sign of Roman mercy, traditionally expressed on Passover. He gave the people a choice, the innocent Jesus who came in His Father’s name or a convicted killer named, Barabbas, who came in his own name. The people chose Barabbas. It was the partial fulfillment that validated the Lord’s prophecy of Israel and the Antichrist in the 70th Week.
And as we’ll see, the destruction of Jerusalem in 69AD was the partial fulfillment that validated the Lord’s prophecy of the End Times. Let’s take a look.
Luke 21:5-36
“Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.’ ‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘When will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?’” (Luke 21:5-7).
According to Mark 13:3, it was Peter, James, John and Andrew who asked. And in Matt. 24:3 we can read their complete question. “When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
This is our first hint that things will be different in Luke’s account. He only has the disciples asking the first question, the one about their immediate future.
myBlessedHope 