The Mount of Olives is a prominent ridge located east of Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley. It holds deep spiritual and prophetic significance in both the Old and New Testaments.
In the Old Testament, the Mount of Olives is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 15:30, when David fled from Absalom. He went up the Mount of Olives weeping, with his head covered and barefoot, a symbol of humility and sorrow. This scene foreshadowed Jesus’ own anguish on the same mount centuries later.
The prophet Zechariah foretold a future event involving the Mount of Olives: “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives… and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two” (Zechariah 14:4). This prophecy points to the return of the Messiah at the end of the age and a dramatic change in the landscape as part of God’s judgment and deliverance.
In the New Testament, the Mount of Olives features prominently in the ministry of Jesus:
Teaching and prophecy: Jesus delivered the Olivet Discourse on this mount, speaking about the end times, His second coming, and the signs that would precede it (Matthew 24–25).
Prayer and agony: Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives to pray (Luke 22:39). In the Garden of Gethsemane, located on its slopes, He prayed in deep agony before His arrest, submitting to the Father’s will (Luke 22:40–44).
Ascension: After His resurrection, Jesus led His disciples out as far as Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, and from there He ascended into heaven (Luke 24:50–51; Acts 1:9–12). The angels present declared that He would return in like manner.
The Mount of Olives is a place of intimacy, instruction, sorrow, and glory. It served as a setting for prophetic fulfillment, divine revelation, and the anticipation of Christ’s return. Its continued role in prophecy affirms that it will remain a central location in God’s redemptive plan.
