Olivet Discourse

Let’s pause for a moment to reorient ourselves, especially regarding the overall theme of this blog series—the Great Commission and prophecy.  Jesus, in His Olivet Discourse, foretells the temple’s fall (Matt 24:1–2). The disciples, in response, ask for signs of that event (Matt 24:3). Jesus gives preliminary signs (Matt 24:4–14)…

I’m attempting to show how a simple model of biblical prophecy arises out of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse. So far, I’ve taken the following steps: (1) Showed how our understanding of prophecy affects how we understand the Lord’s Great Commission and His Model Prayer; (2) explained why we should begin discovering…

Our view of prophecy affects how we view the Lord’s model prayer and Great Commission. He taught us to pray for His kingdom to come and, toward that end, told us to make disciples of the nations. We cannot fully understand His meaning without an accurate understanding of biblical prophecy.…

Unintended consequences plague Elder Michael Ivey’s division of the Olivet Discourse. After Jesus foretold the temple’s fall, the disciples asked two questions: when would it happen and what signs would precede it (Matt 24:1–3). The Lord answered by giving the signs (Matt 24:4–31) and their timeframe (Matt 24:32–36). He then…

The Olivet Discourse (Matt 24–25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5–38) determines biblical prophecy. If we misunderstand it, we will distort “the gospel of the kingdom” that is “a witness to all the nations” (Matt 24:14). This distortion will affect our view of the Great Commission. Jesus said, “Go into all the…

I published Elder Michael Ivey’s essay on the Olivet Discourse in two previous posts (here and here). It contradicts my prophetic framework (i.e., inmillennialism) and, therefore, my view of Paul’s “rapture passage” (1 Thess 4:13–5:11). I am responding to that essay: last week’s post contained Part 1; here, I will…

I published Elder Michael Ivey’s essay on the Olivet Discourse in my last two posts (here and here). It contradicts my prophetic framework (i.e., inmillennialism) and, therefore, my view of Paul’s “rapture passage” (1 Thess 4:13–5:11).  None of the popular prophetic models accept my thesis regarding the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24–25;…

Introduction (by Mike Rogers) Elder Michael Ivey responded, in a Facebook group, to my recent blog posts on Paul’s “rapture passage” (1 Thess 4:13–5:11). In them, I claimed that “the word of the Lord” (1 Thess 4:15) in that passage is Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (Matt 24–25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5–38).…

Introduction (by Mike Rogers) Elder Michael Ivey responded, in a Facebook group, to my recent blog posts on Paul’s “rapture passage” (1 Thess 4:13–5:11). In them, I claimed that “the word of the Lord” (1 Thess 4:15) in that passage is Jesus’ Olivet Discourse (Matt 24–25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5–38).…

One of my goals in this series of posts on Thessalonians is to show that Paul wrote from the prophetic perspective I call inmillennialism. This prophetic model arises from Jesus’ Olivet Discourse and Paul’s discussion of the kingdom of God in 1 Corinthians 15. I have documented inmillennialism in previous blog…