'The Olivet Discourse'
See diagram below...
Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 are often collectively called 'The Olivet Discourse' because they are considered simply different accounts of a speech Jesus gave on the Mount of Olives during his Passion week. While that's mostly accurate there are some differences that should be taken into account in order to understand better what Jesus is teaching around this time. The topic is Jesus' description of some end time events and conditions and it is very relevant to us today.
The accounts of Matthew and Mark are fairly similar and are delivered during the evening to the disciples, and, yes, on the Mount of Olives. But the account of Luke has some key differences as it was delivered at a different time and place (in the temple during the day) to a different audience (crowds in the temple area, a much more multicultural bunch during Passover time). This should not be surprising because many speakers today deliver a message that's very similar multiple times, but they adjust it each time according to the audience and purpose. This is what I believe the comparision of this account with especially Luke's account reveals.
What I haven't really included in this diagram is the section in each about 'no one knows the day or the hour' because the space is limited and it's hard to know where to place that. Having gone through creating this diagram I developed a sense that these sections (Matt 24:36-51, Mark 13:32-37 and kind of Luke 36:34-36) are an overview of what Jesus had just said, partly because just prior to each case (Matt 24:34, Mark 13:30, Luke 21:32) Jesus gives a summary statement about 'all these things'. Therefore, to apply 'no one knows the day or the hour' to a part beyond the beginning of the whole thing, like the Rapture, may not be right. But I am very tentative on this conclusion. Concerning the Rapture, too, there doesn't seem to be any clear statement about it anywhere in these accounts (in terms of a translation of believers to meet Jesus in the air with new bodies). Not to say it's not implied at all, but that perhaps Jesus simply doesn't specifically mention it in these speeches.
Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 are often collectively called 'The Olivet Discourse' because they are considered simply different accounts of a speech Jesus gave on the Mount of Olives during his Passion week. While that's mostly accurate there are some differences that should be taken into account in order to understand better what Jesus is teaching around this time. The topic is Jesus' description of some end time events and conditions and it is very relevant to us today.
The accounts of Matthew and Mark are fairly similar and are delivered during the evening to the disciples, and, yes, on the Mount of Olives. But the account of Luke has some key differences as it was delivered at a different time and place (in the temple during the day) to a different audience (crowds in the temple area, a much more multicultural bunch during Passover time). This should not be surprising because many speakers today deliver a message that's very similar multiple times, but they adjust it each time according to the audience and purpose. This is what I believe the comparision of this account with especially Luke's account reveals.
What I haven't really included in this diagram is the section in each about 'no one knows the day or the hour' because the space is limited and it's hard to know where to place that. Having gone through creating this diagram I developed a sense that these sections (Matt 24:36-51, Mark 13:32-37 and kind of Luke 36:34-36) are an overview of what Jesus had just said, partly because just prior to each case (Matt 24:34, Mark 13:30, Luke 21:32) Jesus gives a summary statement about 'all these things'. Therefore, to apply 'no one knows the day or the hour' to a part beyond the beginning of the whole thing, like the Rapture, may not be right. But I am very tentative on this conclusion. Concerning the Rapture, too, there doesn't seem to be any clear statement about it anywhere in these accounts (in terms of a translation of believers to meet Jesus in the air with new bodies). Not to say it's not implied at all, but that perhaps Jesus simply doesn't specifically mention it in these speeches.