BSN: The Olivet Discourse

  • The Olivet Discourse was Jesus’ explanation of the end times for Israel and the coming of His kingdom.
  • He gave it to a subset of His twelve apostles (Peter, James, John, Andrew per Mk 13:3) in response to their questions about the fate of Israel.
  • The Mount of Olives – where Jesus and His disciples were located at the time He gave them this discourse – was a mountain just outside Jerusalem’s eastern wall; the garden of Gethsemane was at its base; also called Olivet. From this location, the temple complex could be viewed from distance. The disciples were greatly impressed with the buildings and asked Jesus what He thought of them. He responded that they would be destroyed. This prompted questions from them, which prompted His discourse.
  • The buildings were indeed destroyed when the Roman razed the city in 70 AD (Key Dates for Ancient Israel). Jesus did not specify a specific year in His prophecy. Rather, He said it would happen before that generation passed away. From about 33 AD to 70 AD certainly qualified as the same generation.
  • The Olivet Discourse can be found in Mt 24:1 – 25:46 (two full chapters); Mk 13:1-37; Lk 21:5-36
  • For more comments on what Jesus said see the BSN notes on the Gospel of Mark. Additional notes on it can be found on the BSN notes for the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. (Search on [olivet] in each, or else scroll to the chapter and verse numbers shown for the Olivet Discourse above.)
  • The Olivet Discourse is where Jesus mentions “the abomination of desolation” first mentioned by the prophet Daniel in the Old Testament. (Mt 24:15-16; Mk 13:14; Lk 21:20-24)
  • The point in the Olivet Discourse when Jesus ties His coming (which is the main point of the discourse) to Dan 7:13-14 is Mt 24:30; Mk 13:26; Lk 21:27. Related: The Second Coming

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