Mount of Olives (Jerusalem, Israel)

City:

Jerusalem

State, Province, Region, or District:

Jerusalem District

Country:

Israel

Overview

The Mount of Olives plays a significant role in Scripture and is located just opposite the Temple Mount on the east side offering a spectacular view of the Old City and its surrounding area. Rising to more than 2,600 feet, the Mount of Olives is sometimes referred to as “Olivet” in the KJV (2 Samuel 15:30; Acts 1:12) or “the mount facing Jerusalem” (1 Kings 11:7). The mount is a ridge running along the east side of Jerusalem, separated from the city walls by a ravine and the Brook Kidron. The Mount of Olives was the site of many events in the Bible and will be the site of a yet-future fulfillment of prophecy.

The Mount of Olives is mentioned once in relation to King David. When David’s son Absalom wrested control of Jerusalem, David and his loyal followers fled the city via an eastern route, weeping as they went up the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:30). Later, King Solomon used the Mount of Olives for idol worship (1 Kings 11:7). In one of Ezekiel’s visions, the prophet sees the glory of the Lord depart from Jerusalem and come to rest “above the mountain east of it” (Ezekiel 11:23).

Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives to rest and pray (Luke 31:37; John 18:2). He went down the Mount of Olives on His triumphal entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, on the way weeping over the city’s future destruction (Luke 19:29-44). In a major address to His disciples on the mount, Jesus foretold His Second Coming (Matthew 24:27-31). He prayed there with his disciples the night before he was arrested (Matthew 26:30-56), and He ascended into heaven from there (Acts 1:1-12). Immediately following Jesus’ ascension, two angels told the disciples on the Mount of Olives that “this same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). According to the prophet Zechariah, Jesus will return not only in the same way, but to the same place. In a prophecy related to the end times, Zechariah declares, “On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south” (Zechariah 14:4). The very location where David wept in defeat and where Jesus was betrayed and rejected will be the place where Jesus returns in triumph over all His enemies.

Alternate Names

Olivet (2 Samuel 15:30; Acts 1:12), Mount Olivet, Har HaZeitim, "the mount facing Jerusalem” (1 Kings 11:7), "Mount of Corruption" (Hebrew: Har HaMashchit) (1 Kings 11:7-8)

Geography & Location

The Mount of Olives is located just opposite the Temple Mount on the east side of Old City Jerusalem.

Biblical, Historical, & Archaeological Background Information

The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge located to the east of the Old City of Jerusalem in Israel. It is named after the olive groves that used to cover its slopes. The mount has religious significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and has been a site of pilgrimage for thousands of years.

Architecture

The Mount of Olives features diverse architecture, including the teardrop-shaped Church of Dominus Flevit by Antonio Barluzzi, Byzantine-era structures, and the large Church of the Ascension, which was originally built by Constantine. Today, the area is also characterized by numerous tombs in its large historic cemetery and modern chapels, such as the Pater Noster Convent.

Biblical & Historical References

When David’s son Absalom wrested control of Jerusalem, David and his loyal followers fled the city via an eastern route, weeping as they went up the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:30).

Spiritual Lessons and Application

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives before his crucifixion, and it was there that He was betrayed and arrested. After His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives, which is viewed as the "conduit into heaven" where He returned to His Father. His ascension from this spot is a reminder of the promise that Jesus will "so come in like manner" as he was taken up. It is seen as a beacon of hope for his second coming.