The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge about two miles long running parallel along Jerusalem's Old City eastern wall. It rises as much as 2,700 feet above sea level. Between the eastern wall and the western ridge of the mount runs the Kidron Valley. Fifteen miles to the east of the mount lies the Dead Sea. At 1,300 feet below sea level, this dense body of water has the distinction of being the lowest spot on earth.
Significant historical events took place on the Mount of Olives. In Old Testament times King David fled Jerusalem by way of the mount when he learned that Absalom was bent on overthrowing his kingdom. Years later the Shekinah glory of God's presence departed the temple by way of the mount (Ezekiel 11:23).
The most important events on this mount took place during our LORD's earthly ministry. The LORD Jesus crossed the mountain many times in His travels to and from Jerusalem. At the foot of the mount, opposite the Golden Gate, lies the Garden of Gethsemane. There, the LORD often resorted to pray. "And in the day time He was teaching in the temple; and at night He went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives." Luke 21:37. There, He was also betrayed.
The most significant of all important events is that our LORD ascended to heaven from this mount - on the south eastern slope - at the entrance to Bethany. "He led His disciples as far as to BETHANY ... and it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven" (Luke 24:50, 51).
In the future, our LORD will set His feet again on this mount when He returns to judge the nations that come against Jerusalem to battle (Zechariah 14:1-4).
Zechariah 14:1-4
"Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; ... Then shall the LORD go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. AND HIS FEET SHALL STAND IN THAT DAY UPON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, which is before Jerusalem on the east."
REFERENCES TO
THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
New Testament
Matthew 21:1 "And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,"
Matthew 24:3 "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"
Matthew 26:30 "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."
Mark 11:1 "And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,"
Mark 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,"
Mark 14:26 "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."
Luke 19:29 "And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,"
Luke 19:37 "And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;"
Luke 21:37 "And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives."
Luke 22:39 "And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
John 8:1 "Jesus went unto the mount of Olives."
Acts 1:12 "Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey."
Old Testament
Zechariah 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."
Ezekiel 11:22, 23 "Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city."
2 Samuel 15:30 "And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up."
