† In Parts 1 and 2 we examined many of the major parallels between the Olivet Discourse and the book of Revelation, including false christs, wars, famines, persecution, the destruction of Jerusalem, the Great Tribulation, the coming of the Son of Man, and the judgment of the great city.
† In Part 3 we continue exploring additional parallels that are often overlooked, including the preaching of the gospel before the end, the endurance of the saints, the fig tree lesson, watchfulness, the nearness of the kingdom, reward and judgment, and the harvest imagery of the Son of Man.
† These subjects are not isolated themes. They continue the same prophetic narrative Jesus delivered on the Mount of Olives and John later expanded upon in Revelation.
† As these passages are compared side by side, we find the same message repeatedly emphasized: remain faithful, recognize the signs, trust God's promises, and understand that the kingdom of Christ was drawing near.
† The consistency between the Olivet Discourse and Revelation provides further evidence that both books describe the same first-century events from different perspectives.

THE GOSPEL PREACHED BEFORE THE END

Matthew 24:14
This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

Revelation 14:6-7
And I saw another angel flying in midheaven with an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people; and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth, and sea and springs of waters."
† Jesus declared that the gospel would be preached throughout the world before the end arrived. (Matthew 24:14)
† Mark records the same requirement before the coming judgment. (Mark 13:10)
† Revelation depicts the gospel reaching every nation immediately before the hour of judgment. (Revelation 14:6-7)
† Paul later declared that the gospel had been proclaimed in all creation under heaven. (Colossians 1:23)

ENDURANCE OF THE SAINTS
Matthew 24:13
But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved.

Mark 13:13
And you will be hated by everyone because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

Luke 21:19
By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Revelation 13:10
If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

Revelation 14:12
Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
† Jesus repeatedly called His disciples to endure through the coming tribulation.
† Luke emphasizes steadfast faithfulness during persecution. (Luke 21:19)
† Revelation echoes the same message by highlighting the endurance of the saints. (Revelation 13:10; Revelation 14:12)
† Both accounts focus on remaining faithful until God's judgment was completed.

THE FIG TREE LESSON
Matthew 24:32-33
Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near; so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.

Mark 13:28-29
Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. So you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door.

Luke 21:29-31
And He told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees: as soon as they put forth leaves, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near. So you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.

Revelation 6:13
and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.
† Jesus used the fig tree as a lesson about recognizing the nearness of fulfillment.
† His disciples were expected to observe the signs and understand what they meant. (Matthew 24:33)
† Revelation likewise employs fig tree imagery within the context of approaching judgment. (Revelation 6:13)
† Both passages emphasize that the signs were intended to be recognized.

WATCHFULNESS
Matthew 24:42-44
Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

Mark 13:33-37
"Watch out, stay alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is. It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. Therefore, stay alert - for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning - so that he does not come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all: 'Stay alert!'"

Luke 21:34-36
"But be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that this day will not come on you suddenly, like a trap; for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth. But stay alert at all times, praying that you will have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Revelation 3:3
So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Then if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

Revelation 16:15
"Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame."
† Jesus repeatedly warned His disciples to remain watchful.
† The warning was directed to those who would face the approaching judgment. (Luke 21:36)
† Revelation repeats the same thief imagery and the same call to watchfulness. (Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15)
† The message is consistent from beginning to end, be prepared and remain faithful.

THE KINGDOM IS NEAR, THE KINGDOM HAS COME
Luke 21:31
So you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.

Revelation 11:15
Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."
† Jesus taught that the kingdom was near when the predicted signs appeared. (Luke 21:31)
† Revelation announces the arrival and victory of that kingdom. (Revelation 11:15)
† The two passages complement one another perfectly.
† What Jesus said was near, Revelation declares as accomplished.

REWARD AND JUDGMENT
Matthew 24:45-51
Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household slaves, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My master is not coming for a long time,' and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and he eats and drinks with those habitually drunk; then the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, and he will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Revelation 11:18
And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.

Revelation 22:12
Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves.
† Jesus contrasted the faithful servant with the unfaithful servant.
† Revelation likewise presents both reward and judgment. (Revelation 11:18)
† Faithfulness is rewarded while rebellion receives judgment.
† Both passages emphasize accountability before God.

THE SON OF MAN HARVEST
Matthew 24:30
And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

Mark 13:26
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

Luke 21:27
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Revelation 14:14-16
Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Put in Your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe." Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.
† Jesus described the coming of the Son of Man in clouds with power and glory.
† Revelation presents the Son of Man upon a cloud bringing the harvest of judgment. (Revelation 14:14-16)
† Both passages draw directly from Daniel's vision of the Son of Man. (Daniel 7:13-14)
† Revelation expands upon the same coming described in the Olivet Discourse.

Historical References
† Josephus recorded the spread of the gospel movement throughout the Roman world before Jerusalem's destruction.
† Eusebius recorded the perseverance of Christians during periods of persecution.
† Early Christian writers repeatedly emphasized watchfulness and readiness in anticipation of the events Jesus foretold.

How It Applies To Us Today
† Fulfilled prophecy confirms the truthfulness of Christ's words.
† God's people are still called to faithfulness, endurance, and watchfulness.
† The kingdom Christ promised is a present reality.
† We can confidently trust every promise God has made because He fulfilled what He foretold.

Q & A Appendix
Q Did the gospel have to be preached before the end Jesus described?
A Yes. Jesus said the gospel would first be proclaimed throughout the world and then the end would come. (Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10)
Q Why is endurance emphasized in both the Olivet Discourse and Revelation?
A Because believers would face persecution and needed to remain faithful through the coming tribulation. (Matthew 24:13; Revelation 14:12)
Q Why does Revelation use the same thief imagery as Jesus?
A Because both passages describe the same coming judgment and the need for continual watchfulness. (Matthew 24:43-44; Revelation 16:15)

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

Source Index
† Matthew 24:13-14, 30, 32-45, 51; Mark 13:10, 13, 26, 28-37; Luke 21:19, 29-36; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 6:13; Revelation 11:15, 18; Revelation 13:10; Revelation 14:6-16; Revelation 16:15; Revelation 22:12
† Historical Writers: Josephus, Eusebius