Blog post March 31, 2026

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age?" Matthew 24:3

These questions begin what is known as the Olivet discourse. Tradition has it that this was delivered on Tuesday of Jesus' final week in Jerusalem. It has become known as Holy Tuesday.

Jesus gave some general "signs of the times" and "end of the age". A time when lawlessness would abound and the love of many would grow cold. But then He gave some specific signs. A time of tribulation followed by a time of great tribulation. Some interpret the tribulation to be a future seven year period with the great tribulation beginning 3 1/2 years into it. A time where signs and wonders will be taking place and the deception will be so great that if possible even the elect would be deceived.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. And the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

I can imagine how the disciples hung on every word Jesus was saying. No words like this had ever been spoken. Imagine hearing the words "they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My names sake." Would you remain faithful after hearing this was your future? You would if you believed this all to be true.

Jesus concluded His teaching by saying "some would go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Just a few days away from the cross. Jesus wants His followers to know what to expect. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) we are getting a glimpse of the level of deception. It is so hard today to tell what is true versus someone trying to scam you or sway your thinking.

"If possible the very elect will be deceived." Thank You God that the righteous have the Holy Spirit and the word of truth today. Only be the leading of both of those can we decipher truth from fiction. Thank You in Jesus name. AMEN