Immediately preceding the Olivet Discourse, Jesus provided three specific answers as to the timing of three specific events that were still in the future, when a certain question was asked of Him by His disciples.

The disciples may or may not have realized it at the time, but they were asking a very relevant three part question about three specific future events.

First they asked about the timing of the destruction of the second temple that they were currently admiring, which was completed in 516 B.C. and subsequently renovated by Herod the Great. The second temple was reduced to rubble by the Romans in 70 A.D.

The disciples also asked two subsequent questions:

“And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3b).

It is these two questions about the sign of Christ’s coming and of the end of the age that we will investigate further in this article.

Jesus proceeded to provide two different answers to these two different questions while at the same time providing an answer to the disciple’s first question about the destruction of the second temple.

Even though the specific elements of the Church Age had not yet been divulged to the disciples when the Lord gave the Olivet Discourse, He still provided details to be better understood at a later time, as revealed through the coming ministry of the Holy Spirit along with the ministry of the Apostle Paul and others.

As an example, throughout the Olivet Discourse the Lord merged details surrounding the siege of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D. with a similar siege that will occur during the Tribulation period.

In the study of prophecy we often see that the Lord explains an early partial fulfillment of a specific prophecy while also explaining a later, final fulfillment.

Now, as to the question of His coming, Jesus provided the world with aspecific timeframe as to when His Second Coming will occur.

He said that the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven and the world will see Him coming on the clouds immediately after the Tribulation.

No one will be caught by surprise when the Lord returns immediately after the end of the Tribulation:

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:29-30).

So this explanation provides a specific timeframe of Christ’s coming after the Tribulation but what about His coming at the end of the age?

The question then is, exactly what “age” did the Lord provide an answer to that would end with His return? It may be that the Lord was alluding to the end of the Church Age which is also called the Age of Grace.

The followers of Christ would experience intimate knowledge and understanding of the Church Age after the ascension of Jesus and beginning on the day of Pentecost as revealed through the Holy Spirit.

However, Jesus clearly taught early on during His earthly ministry that Law was about to be fulfilled through Him:

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

The Lord even referred to the church as a local assembly during His earthly ministry:

“And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:17).

As mentioned above, the Lord would reveal even more intimate details about the Church Age through the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit as time went on.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14).

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:25, 29, 32).

Back to the Olivet Discourse, Jesus also clearly said that His return would not be expected at the end of the Age.

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).

I believe that in the Olivet Discourse the Lord taught us that the end of the Church Age will happen suddenly and without warning as opposed to His coming at the end of the Tribulation which will happen immediately thereafter (Matthew 24:29-30).

I believe this explains why many in  the Church  repeatedly say that the signs specific to the restoration of the millennial earthly kingdom of Israel are to be of no concern to us as they are not specifically relevant to the Church at this time.

“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8).

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2).

It then makes perfect sense that the Lord referred to two specific phases of His return during the Olivet Discourse:

1st Phase: His return at the close of the Church Age.

2nd Phase: His return at the close of the Tribulation which will begin the millennial kingdom of Israel.

The sign of His coming immediately after the Tribulation will be as lightning flashing from one end of the sky to the other.

“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27).

However as for what signs to look for of His coming at the Rapture of the Church and the end of the Church Age we are taught the following:

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:37).

“Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:41-42).

I believe no specific signs will precede the end of the Church Age. The end of the Church Age will occur without warning in similar fashion to the Flood during the days of Noah.

In conclusion, we see that the teachings of Christ during His Olivet Discourse are in perfect keeping with the further teachings revealed to the Church as to the timing of the end of the Church Age and the Rapture of the Church.

Church Age believers are exhorted to remain sober, watch, and pray that we through the Rapture will escape the Tribulation about to come upon the whole earth, so that we can stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36).

Take courage, your Lord and Savior will return for His Church and He willtake you to be with Him in heaven before the coming Tribulation!

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

I am both saddened and sickened to see just how publicly depraved America has now become. As a young man growing up in the 70s and 80s I witnessed plenty of depravity, yet that same wickedness was condemned behind the pulpits of the churches that I attended as a youth.

Not so in the vast majority of churches in America today. It is the feeble foolishness of fearing the rejection of a wicked human society rather than fearing the rejection of a holy God that has led to the replacement of the tough and meek preachers with effeminate and weak preachers.

You are very blessed if you are able to attend a church that is still guided by the truth and courageous leadership.

A courageous preacher will boldly proclaim:

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due” ( Romans 1:26-27).

…and he will continue:

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Tragically in America today we instead have churches that leave the definition of sin and God up to the feelings and emotions of those warming the pews with itching ears.

The feel good message of the lukewarm church is quenching the fire of the gospel. Those who are seeking the God of the Bible with a true heart are left confused by the Laodicean church.

They are not being taught the balance of the vengeful righteousness of the God of the Bible with His grace and forgiveness. Satan perverts the true nature of our righteous and loving God by hijacking one side (righteousness) against another (infinite love) to confuse the masses.

He gathers unbelievers (or undisciplined believers) to opposite sides of the street. On one side they hold up signs that proclaim: “GOD HATES FAGS” (please forgive the crudeness).

Meanwhile, across the street they hold up signs that read: “IT IS AGAINST MY RELIGION TO HATE” and “GOD INCLUDES EVERYONE.”

The true Church needs to step in and proclaim what the sign of the God of the Bible really says.

They say: “I cannot fathom a god who hates ‘good’ people.”

I say: “I cannot fathom a God who loves bad people.”

Let me explain…

A false god is being purported to be the real God by those hateful signs proclaiming: “God Hates (people).”

That is the opposite of the truth: “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16).

If they try to claim that God only loves the part of the world that is filled with Christians then they have to explain why He used the Greek word “kosmos” in John 3:16. The Greek word kosmos is the original word for our English word “cosmos.”

In John 3:16 God clearly proclaims that He loves mankind. He obviously does not love men’s vile sins or the wicked world system. Instead, He loves people, and “He is not willing that any should perish:”

“Say unto them, ‘As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live’” (Ezekiel 33:11).

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 John 2:2; 1 Timothy 2:4).

Likewise, a false god is also being purported to be the real God by the cowardly signs proclaiming: “God Includes Everyone”.

“Outside are dogs, sorcerers, immoral people, murderers, idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15).

Those who are unwilling to simply yield their hearts to Christ and read the Bible for themselves are left confused by the messages of Satan.

We are all sinners in the world of people that God says He loves. Gay people are not the only sinners in the world. I’m a sinner and I certainly wouldn’t go around claiming that God hates me.

The difference is that I have asked Jesus to forgive me and save me from my sins. God still loves people who have not yet repented and asked Him so save them.

As soon as any sinner repents and receives Christ as their Savior their sins are then covered by the sacrifice of Jesus. Even though they may still sin they can receive forgiveness through confession to God.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

If anyone claims that God only loves those who are not gay then they are wrong.   If someone else claims that God only hates sinners, then they are also wrong. I believe that the God of the Bible loves all people in the entire world.

Does He really love all people, both good and bad? No, actually He doesn’t…

He only loves the bad ones because there are no “good” ones:

“There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

We should stop reading signs written by sinners and start heeding the signs written in the Bible.

“Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold” (Matthew 24:10-12).

The courageous preacher will also boldly guide his flock to love and support one another:

“Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door” (James 5:9).

True Christians, let’s not let our current depraved society define the Holy and loving God that we worship. Let us proudly and boldly proclaim His fierce righteous judgment along with His amazing grace, and forgiveness!

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1).

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16a).

“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).