Understanding the Olivet Disco

The biblical passage known as the Olivet Discourse is the most prominent prophetic teaching of Jesus in the New Testament. At a time when His earthly ministry and presence was coming to a conclusion, Jesus gave the disciples, and through the account in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt. 24-25), future readers such as ourselves, important knowledge about God's prophetic plan. All three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) contain some of all of the Olivet Discourse. It is a central teaching in Bible prophecy. In this passage, Jesus laid out an overview of key events that will take place during the seven-year tribulation culminating in His return to earth known as the second coming (24:4-31). Christ then speaks a series of parables to show the lessons to be learned as a result of His prophetic discourse (24:32-25).