The Mount of Olives and Christ

Today, the world talks about the Strait of Hormuz because of wars, oil supplies, and global business concerns. But God's people should be thinking about the Mount of Olives, because it is connected with Christ's prophecies and His return.
The Importance
The Mount of Olives lies east of Jerusalem and is at about 800 meters above sea level. From there, one can see the entire city of Jerusalem. About forty years after Jesus prophesied the Roman commander Titus reportedly used this mountain to study Jerusalem before destroying the city.
     From the Mount of Olives, Jesus was not only looking at Jerusalem but prophetically viewing the future of the whole world. That is why He spoke about all nations and peoples witnessing His return.
The First Mention
The first major mention of the Mount of Olives in the Bible is found in 2 Samuel 15:30. When David's son Absalom rebelled against him, David crossed Jerusalem barefoot, weeping as he climbed the Mount of Olives.
     David wept as he was rejected by his own son and people. Similarly, Jesus, the Son of David, also wept while looking toward Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. David wept because he lost his throne, but Jesus wept because He foresaw Jerusalem's future destruction.
     The three-and-a-half-year earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ revolves around the Mount of Olives.
1. A Place of His Abode
At the end of John 7, people went to their own homes, but John 8:1 says that Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Others had homes, but Jesus often spent His nights in the olive grove, praying and communing with His Father. It was a place of rest and fellowship with God.
     This teaches believers that after the activities of life, they should seek God's presence.
2. A Place of His Announcement
According to Luke 21:37, Jesus regularly went to the Mount of Olives. It was part of His daily spiritual routine, just as attending the synagogue and teaching God's Word were.
     In Matthew 24:3-14, while Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, His disciples came to Him privately and asked: "When will these things happen? What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?"
     Jesus answered that many false Christ' and false prophets would arise and deceive many people. There would be wars, rumours of wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecutions. These would be only the beginning of sorrows. This prophetic message given by Jesus on the Mount of Olives is known as the Olivet Discourse.
3. A Place of Quiet Time Alone
The Garden of Gethsemane, located on the Mount of Olives, was where Jesus spent His final night before His crucifixion. His life began in the humble surroundings of Bethlehem, and His final night before suffering was spent on the Mount of Olives.
4. A Place of His Agony
In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed repeatedly: "Not My will, but Yours be done." Even under great agony, He completely submitted Himself to the Father's will.
5. A Place of His Arrest
Jesus was arrested on the Mount of Olives. Soldiers came with swords, clubs, torches, and lanterns. When Jesus said, "I am He," His authority was revealed. He could have called thousands of angels to rescue Him, but He willingly surrendered in obedience to His Father's plan.
6. A Place of His Ascension
According to Acts 1, after His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days with His disciples and then ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives.
7. A Place of His Arrival
According to Zechariah 14, when Jesus returns to the earth, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.
     The mountain will split into two, and God will defeat His enemies. This location is closely connected with Christ's Second Coming.
A Call to Be Ready
Jesus warned that false prophets and deceivers would come before the end. Yet He also gave an important command: "Do not be troubled." Believers are encouraged not to fear but to prepare for Christ's return. The Bible closes with Jesus' promise: "Surely I am coming quickly."
     For the world, the coming judgments may be frightening news, but for believers, Christ's return is a blessed hope! Jesus promised in John 14 that He would prepare a place for His followers and come again to receive them to Himself.
     We, the believers who study Matthew 24, need to watch the signs of the times, remain faithful, and be ready for the return of Jesus Christ. G&P