The message of The Olivet Discourse doesn’t conclude until a man returns from a long journey.
So, how long is the journey, and who is the man who makes that long trip?
This article continues our look at the Olivet Discourse, which was an informal teaching Jesus gave to some of his close friends. It was just days away from his trial and crucifixion. The Lord was on the temple grounds and his friends asked him some questions regarding the end of the age. Most of the discussion took place in the garden area on the Mount of Olives, thus we have the name Olivet Discourse.
Because the answers come directly from Jesus, this teaching on the subject of prophecy is as important as any other passage in the Bible. Matthew 24 is the passage we often look at but the Gospels of Mark and Luke also include important texts that help us understand Jesus’ end-times perspective.
In Mark, chapter thirteen, as the writer concludes his portrayal of the Olivet Discourse, we read about a man going on a long journey. And the context of the verse deals with Jesus’ interpretation of the last days. So, if we are going to believe anyone we should believe him. He knows how the story started and he knows how it will end.
In all three synoptic gospels, the writers include many similar features of Christ’s teaching regarding the end of the age. Each writer lists a series of tribulation events that ultimately conclude with the dramatic return of Christ after a spectacular sign in the heavens.
Jesus is the man
It’s clear that the man on the long journey is a symbol or allegory for Jesus. The Lord went back to heaven and will return at the appointed time. The King James version of the Bible includes the term Son of Man in this verse, Mark 13:34. But that’s not in the early and best manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel. So we can conclude it was added but for obvious reasons. Still, the context clearly points to Jesus as the one who goes on the journey.
But how long is the journey? If you lean toward the preterism model of Bible prophecy, the journey wasn’t very long. It was just days really. The preterist sees the days of Pentecost as the time in which Christ set up his kingdom upon the earth. But that neglects the solid biblical teaching that suggests Christ’s kingdom will be an actual kingdom on earth — not just spiritual.
And of course, the return of Israel to the Promised Land blows holes in the Preterist model. The return of the Jews wasn’t supposed to happen from the Amillennialist’s point of view.
In the futurist model of Bible prophecy, a much longer period of time is needed for the journey. And of course, as stated above, the journey is a reference to the time between Christ’s departure and his return.
Just below, I’ve put the verse in Mark. I’ve included four different translations. As a Bible student, one of the best tools you can apply to your study habits is to read from various translations. It immediately gives you a broader perspective of a passage before you dive deeper into your study tools.
So let’s take a look at the verse.
Mark 13:34
King James Bible
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.
New American Standard Bible
“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 on the alert.
English Standard Version
It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.
New International Version
It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
I’ve highlighted in red, the key phrase I’m considering in the verse. The NIV refers to Jesus’ departure as “a man going away.” But how long was/is the journey? The Preterist believes the journey was finished in the first century. The futurist believes Christ’s return is still in the future. All three Synoptic Gospels appear to reference an extended period of time. Luke is most commonly used to prove the point that everything pointed to the destruction of Jerusalem. But significantly Luke also refers to the time of the Gentiles. How long is that time of the Gentiles?
Well, the writer of the Gospel of Luke tells us the time of the Gentiles will conclude just before the climactic sign in the heavens. When the world sees that sign in the heavens, Christ is returning. The sign didn’t occur in the first century. The times of the Gentiles are ongoing. Israel is back in the land, just as the prophets predicted, but Jerusalem is still trodden underfoot by the Gentiles.
I don’t know how much longer before Jesus returns. Nobody else does either. But the great sign of Christ’s return didn’t happen in the first century. It is a future event. So the long trip continues. It won’t end until the great sign of Christ’s return.
Without that sign, the times of the Gentiles continue.
When Jesus returns, he will bring rewards with him, such as a white stone.
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