20160409 Saturday, April 9 2016
Mark 13: The Mount Of Olives View Of The Messiah's Return

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven"

The Mount of Olives at Jerusalem is a very special place. After His Crucifixion and Resurrection (see The Passover To Pentecost Connection), the Messiah ascended to the Throne of God in heaven from the Mount of Olives (see The Ascent From Bethany and What Happened When The Messiah Arrived In Heaven?). The Mount of Olives will also be "ground zero" of the return of Jesus Christ (see Trumpets: The Prophecy Of The Return Of Jesus Christ).

"1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey." (Acts 1:9-12 KJV)

"14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south." (Zechariah 14:4 KJV)

With modern technology, everyone on Earth could witness the return of the Messiah - not to beg and plead with the arrogant rebels of this world in their dead-end, do-it-yourself religions and buffoon-politics toy countries (a "Babylon" state of mind that began long ago; see The Politics And Religion Of The Lost Ten Tribes and The Cure For Confusion), but to rule the world, and the humanity that He Created for it, in the Kingdom of God (see The Patriotism Prophecy and The First And Last Nation).

The apostles (and the prophets before them, including King David; see King David's Zion Prophecy and Zechariah: He Shall Stand Upon The Mount Of Olives), were also given to witness the return of the Messiah - as a sure vision of the future. The Messiah's famous Olivet Prophecy (named after the Mount of Olives) was given by Him on the very place where He would ascend and return. The prophecy also includes many details of the state of the world in the time just prior to the return (see the Fact Finder question below).

"13:1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

13:2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

13:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 13:4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: 13:15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: 13:16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. 13:17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 13:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." (Mark 13:1-31 KJV)

Many "leaders" in the corporate churches of God (see Who Did God Choose As The Messiah's Wife?) have made the foolish mistake (as plainly stated below, the Messiah said not to do it - defying His command and doing it anyway is foolish) of "setting dates" - when the Messiah Himself awaits to be told by the Father when the return will happen. The only time-factor sign, that we are actually given, that the return is imminent will be the beginning of the 42-month ministry of the "two witnesses" who will be martyred at the end of their ministry - upon which, a short time later, the return of the Messiah will happen (see the Fact Finder question below).

"13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Mark 13:32-37 KJV)

Fact Finder: When the ministry of the "two witnesses" begins, the return of the Messiah will be a little more than 42 months away. What does the Holy Bible actually say about that?
See The Lampstand And Olive Trees Of The Messiah's Return and The Battle Of The End-Time Prophets