Menu
Harmony of Bible records of Jesus’ Prophecy on the Mount of Olives
By Mark Morgan | Harmonies
There were only two days left before Jesus was to be betrayed and crucified when his disciples commented on the glorious construction of the temple in Jerusalem.
Jesus surprised them by telling them that the temple they were admiring would be completely destroyed.
Naturally, the disciples wanted to know when this disaster would take place, and asked if it was linked to his return and the end of the age.
Jesus’ answer gave details of events that would take place in years that stretched far beyond their lifetimes – in fact we are still waiting today for some of this prophecy to come to pass. These prophecies give details of Jesus’ return from heaven to earth, so they are vitally important to all followers of Jesus.
The Bible passages which record the prophecies are as follows:
The gospel records of these prophecies can be interleaved and combined – and many people have attempted to do so. Here is another attempt.
The harmonisation is presented in a table format and is best viewed on a screen that is wider than it is high.
The Bible text is taken from the World English Bible (WEB) which has been released into the public domain.
(Harmony last revised 12 April 2023)
Matthew Chapter 24 |
Mark Chapter 13 |
Luke Chapter 21 |
| 1 Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. | 1 As he went out of the temple, | |
| His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. | one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!” | 5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, |
| 2 But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.” | 2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down.” | he said, 6 “As for these things which you see, the days will come in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.” |
| 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, | 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, | |
| the disciples came to him privately, saying, | Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, | 7 They asked him, |
| “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” | 4 “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?” | “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?” |
| 4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ | 5 Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 6 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ | 8 He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ |
| and, ‘The time is at hand.’ | ||
| and will lead many astray. | and will lead many astray. | Therefore don’t follow them. |
| 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, | 7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, | 9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, |
| but the end is not yet. | but the end is not yet. | but the end won’t come immediately.” |
| 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; | 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. | 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. |
| and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. | There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. | 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. |
| There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. | ||
| 8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. | These things are the beginning of birth pains. | |
| 9 “Then they will deliver you up to oppression and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake. 10 Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray. 12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. | 9 “But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them. 10 The Good News must first be preached to all the nations. 11 When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved. | 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 It will turn out as a testimony for you. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict. 16 You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death. 17 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. 18 And not a hair of your head will perish. 19 “By your endurance you will win your lives. |
| 20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. | ||
| 15 “When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), | 14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), | |
| 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. | “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, | 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. |
| Let those who are in the middle of her depart. | ||
| 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house. | 15 and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house. | |
| 18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. | 16 Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak. | Let those who are in the country not enter therein. |
| 22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. | ||
| 19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! | 17 But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days! | 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! |
| 20 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter nor on a Sabbath, | 18 Pray that your flight won’t be in the winter. | |
| 21 for then there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. | 19 For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be. | For there will be great distress in the land and wrath to this people. |
| 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. | ||
| Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. | ||
| 22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened. 23 “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. | 20 Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days. 21 Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 23 But you watch. | |
| 25 “Behold, I have told you beforehand. | “Behold, I have told you all things beforehand. | |
| 26 “If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; or ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it. 27 For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, that is where the vultures gather together. | ||
| 29 “But immediately after the suffering of those days, | 24 But in those days, after that oppression, | |
| the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, | the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, 25 the stars will be falling from the sky, | 25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; |
| and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; 26 men fainting for fear and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world, | ||
| and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; | and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. | for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. |
| 30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. 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. | 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. | 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. |
| 28 But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” | ||
| 31 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. | 27 Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky. | |
| 32 “Now from the fig tree learn this parable: When its branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near. | 28 “Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near; | 29 He told them a parable. “See the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near. |
| 33 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors. | 29 even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors. | 31 Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near. |
| 34 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are accomplished. | 30 Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. | 32 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. |
| 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. | 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. | 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. |
| 36 “But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. | 32 “But of that day or that hour no one knows—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. | |
| 37 As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, 39 and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. | ||
| 34 “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. 35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. | ||
| 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left. | ||
| 42 Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. | 33 Watch, keep alert, and pray; | 36 Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.” |
| 44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come. | for you don’t know when the time is. | |
| 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. 47 Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. 48 But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, 51 and will cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be. | ||
| 34 “It is like a man traveling to another country, having left his house and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming—whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning; 36 lest, coming suddenly, he might find you sleeping. | ||
| 37 What I tell you, I tell all: Watch!” |
We hope that this harmony of Bible records of Jesus’ prophecy on the Mount of Olives is useful. If you have any questions or comments, please Contact us.
This harmony of Bible records of Jesus’ prophecy on the Mount of Olives is one of many articles on a wide range of subjects published as back-up material for our Bible-based fiction. If you enjoyed the article, you may like to sign up for our newsletter where we publish these articles first along with some free Bible-based fiction and special deals on our new publications.
[ More information about our books | Purchase ]
Subscribe to our newsletter
Enjoyed this article? Articles on this site summarise the research we do in writing our Bible-based fiction. If you enjoy reading real Bible-based fiction or are willing to give it a try, enter your name and email address in the fields below, then click "Subscribe". You'll get a new micro-tale, or an informative article every week, as well as occasional special offers from Bible Tales Online. You can unsubscribe at any time.
See our Privacy Policy.