Dominant Emphases of the Olivet Discourse

Driving home: God's method in prophecy is to prophesy an event, then in his providence to bring it to pass, and then to give accurate perception and understanding after the fact that it is a prophetic portion.

God's method in prophecy is to prophesy an event, bring it to pass, and then give accurate understanding after the fact, implying that full certainty often comes post-fulfillment.

to remind you of the peculiar danger of such portions. According to 2 Peter 3, 15-17, it is prophetic portions which are difficult to be understood, which are most frequently twisted, to the destruction of the souls of men. And then, thirdly, to underscore the principle that ought always to be in front of us when dealing with prophetic portions of the Word of God, that God's method in prophecy is to prophesy an event, then in his providence to bring it to pass, and then to give accurate perception and understanding after the fact that it is a prophetic portion. And so, we must never look upon ...

10:03 - 10:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Never wrench the subsequent teachings of the Olivet Discourse loose from the initial imperative to 'take heed,' recognizing its practical, not speculative, nature.

Just as a wise teacher or preacher repeats key instructions, Jesus repeats 'Take heed' four times because He knows human nature is prone to speculation and distraction from practical concerns.

And then verse 33. Take heed. So in a real sense, the entire discourse is held together by the Holy Spirit. I wonder why the Lord kept repeating it. I've got a sneaking suspicion as to why. He knows what we're

34:15 - 34:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that the Lord's directives regarding the 'abomination of desolation' are for the preservation of His people, not for esoteric speculation.

The fig tree putting forth tender branches and leaves indicates summer is near, not a precise date, but a clear sign. This illustrates how certain events are signs of Christ's coming, indicating nearness without giving an exact time.

Verses 28 and 29. Now from the fig tree learn her parable. When her branches become tender and puts its leaves, know that the sap is beginning to flow. Summer's near.

45:39 - 45:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not claim to know the date of Christ's return, as this blasphemously asserts knowing more than the Son of God.

Prophecy is like seeing great mountain peaks of what God will do, but one cannot measure the exact distance between them, only that one comes before another, illustrating fixed order but indefinite chronology.

Watch, watch, watch. So you see in the passage, there is indeed a fixed order, but there is an indefinite timeframe, and that is precisely how prophecy, predicted prophecy, comes to us in major sections of the Old Testament as well. So that the people of God may see, as it were, the great mountain peaks of what God will do, but they cannot get around the side and measure the exact distance between peak one, peak two, and peak three. They see them this way, one against the other.

58:19 - 58:54 Read in full sermon