Glossary
Olivet Discourse
In the days just prior to the Last Supper, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives and responded to questions His disciples asked concerning the end of the age. In historical terms, this is known as the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24), and it grants valuable insight into the events that will immediately precede the Second Coming of Christ. When His disciples asked Him what the sign of His return would be, Jesus answered with a number of signs—wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, persecution of Christians, a proliferation of false prophets, lawlessness, a pervading lack of love, and the gospel being preached in every nation. This period will lead up to a time of great tribulation, followed by the resurrection and rapture of all Christians (Matthew 24:3–31; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).