Introduction

† One of the strongest evidences that Revelation describes the same events as the Olivet Discourse is the remarkable agreement between Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, and the Revelation given to John.
† Jesus first delivered these prophecies on the Mount of Olives while overlooking the Temple and Jerusalem. (Matthew 24:1-3)
† Decades later John recorded the Revelation of Jesus Christ, expanding upon the same themes of judgment, tribulation, persecution, vindication, and the coming of the Son of Man. (Revelation 1:1)
† Luke often provides details that clarify statements made by Matthew and Mark, especially regarding the Abomination of Desolation and the destruction of Jerusalem. (Luke 21:20)
† When these accounts are studied together, they reveal a unified message centered upon the end of the Old Covenant age and the judgment that fell upon Jerusalem. (Luke 21:22)

FALSE CHRISTS
Matthew 24:4-5
And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people.

Mark 13:5-6
And Jesus began to say to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and they will mislead many.

Luke 21:8
And He said, "See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them.

Revelation 6:1-2
Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come!" I looked, and behold, a white horse, and the one who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. † Jesus warned that deceivers would arise before the destruction of Jerusalem. (Matthew 24:4-5)
† Luke adds that some would even claim the time had already arrived. (Luke 21:8)
† The first seal in Revelation introduces the beginning of a series of judgments that would unfold upon that generation. (Revelation 6:1-2)
† Josephus recorded numerous false prophets and deceivers who misled the people before the war with Rome. (Josephus, Wars 6.5.2)

WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS
Matthew 24:6-7
And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Mark 13:7-8
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are only the beginning of birth pains.

Luke 21:9-10
And when you hear of wars and revolts, do not be alarmed; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,

Revelation 6:3-4
When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come!" And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that people would kill one another; and a large sword was given to him.
† Jesus warned His disciples not to mistake every conflict as the immediate end. (Matthew 24:6)
† The Roman Empire experienced increasing unrest, revolts, and civil conflicts during the years leading up to AD 70. (Luke 21:9-10)
† Revelation portrays peace being removed from the land through warfare and bloodshed. (Revelation 6:3-4)
† The sequence in Revelation mirrors the sequence Jesus outlined on the Mount of Olives.

FAMINES. PESTILENCES, AND EARTHQUAKES
Matthew 24:7
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Mark 13:8
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are only the beginning of birth pains.

Luke 21:11
and there will be massive earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.

Revelation 6:5-8
When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come!" I looked, and behold, a black horse, and the one who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine."
When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come!" I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and the one who sat on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and famine, and plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.
† Luke adds pestilences and terrors to the list of coming judgments. (Luke 21:11)
† Agabus foretold a great famine that occurred during the reign of Claudius. (Acts 11:28)
† Revelation's black horse pictures famine and scarcity while the pale horse pictures death and devastation. (Revelation 6:5-8)
† These events were not signs of the end of the world but signs leading up to Jerusalem's judgment.

PERSECUTION OF THE SAINTS
Matthew 24:9
Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

Mark 13:9
But be on your guard; for they will hand you over to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.

Luke 21:12
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors on account of My name.

Revelation 6:9-11
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who live on the earth?" And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told that they were to rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, was completed also.
† Jesus spoke directly to His first-century disciples concerning persecutions they would personally face. (Luke 21:12)
† The book of Acts records arrests, imprisonments, beatings, and executions of believers. (Acts 4:1-3; Acts 8:1)
† Revelation reveals the heavenly perspective of those who had been martyred for their testimony. (Revelation 6:9-11)
† Their cry for justice would soon be answered in the judgment about to fall upon apostate Jerusalem.

THE TEMPLE MEASURED BEFORE DESTRUCTION
Matthew 24:1-2
Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. But He responded and said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down."

Mark 13:1-2
As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, look! What wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another, which will not be torn down."

Luke 21:5-6
And while some were talking about the temple, that it was decorated with beautiful stones and vowed gifts, He said, "As for these things which you are observing, the days will come when there will not be left one stone upon another, which will not be torn down."

Revelation 11:1-2
Then there was given to me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the courtyard which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations; and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
† The Olivet Discourse begins with the prediction of the Temple's destruction. (Matthew 24:1-2)
† Revelation still shows a Temple standing and awaiting judgment. (Revelation 11:1-2)
† Both passages point to the same Temple that was destroyed in AD 70.
† The trampling of the holy city corresponds with Jesus' warnings concerning Jerusalem's coming desolation.

THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
Matthew 24:15
Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place - let the reader understand -

Mark 13:14
Now when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be - let the reader understand - then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

Luke 21:20
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.

Revelation 11:1-2
Then there was given to me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the courtyard which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations; and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
† Matthew and Mark mention the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel. (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14)
† Luke explains the sign by identifying Jerusalem surrounded by armies. (Luke 21:20)
† This is one of the clearest examples of Scripture interpreting Scripture.
† Revelation describes the nations trampling the holy city during the same period of judgment. (Revelation 11:2)

THE FLIGHT FROM JUDEA
Matthew 24:16-20
then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house. And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! Moreover, pray that when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.

Mark 13:14-18
Now when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be - let the reader understand - then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down, nor go in to get anything out of his house. And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! Moreover, pray that it will not happen in winter.

Luke 21:21
Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city;

Revelation 12:6
Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for 1,260 days.

Revelation 12:14
But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent.
† Jesus instructed believers in Judea to flee when they saw the warning sign. (Luke 21:21)
† Revelation depicts God's covenant people fleeing into a place of protection. (Revelation 12:6, 14)
† Eusebius records that Christians departed Jerusalem before its destruction and escaped the horrors of the siege.
† The agreement between the Olivet Discourse and Revelation is too strong to be ignored.

Historical References
† Josephus recorded numerous false prophets who deceived many people during the years leading up to Jerusalem's destruction.
† Josephus recorded increasing unrest, civil conflict, and warfare throughout Judea before the Roman siege.
† Josephus described famine, suffering, and internal violence that plagued the nation before and during the war with Rome.
† Eusebius recorded that Christians remembered Jesus' warnings and fled Jerusalem before its destruction.
† These historical accounts closely align with the warnings Jesus gave in the Olivet Discourse and the judgments described in Revelation.

How It Applies To Us Today
† Jesus accurately foretold the events that would lead to Jerusalem's destruction.
† Fulfilled prophecy confirms the reliability and authority of Scripture.
† We can trust Christ because He fulfilled exactly what He promised.
† God's people should remain faithful regardless of the circumstances around them.
† The fulfillment of these prophecies reminds us that God's Word never fails.

Q & A Appendix
Q Why compare the Olivet Discourse with Revelation?
A Because both describe the same sequence of events leading to Jerusalem's judgment, including false christs, wars, famines, persecution, and the coming tribulation.
Q Why is Luke's account important?
A Luke provides details that clarify statements found in Matthew and Mark, especially regarding Jerusalem being surrounded by armies. (Luke 21:20)
Q What was the purpose of these warnings?
A Jesus gave these signs so His followers would recognize the approaching judgment and respond accordingly. (Matthew 24:15-16)
Q Did these events happen to the first-century disciples?
A Yes. Jesus spoke directly to His disciples and warned them about events they would witness during their generation. (Matthew 24:34)

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.

Source Index
† Matthew 24:1-9, 15-16; Mark 13:1-9, 14-18; Luke 21:5-12, 20-21; Revelation 6:1-11; Revelation 11:1-2; Revelation 12:6, 14
† Historical Writers: Josephus, Eusebius