The Olivet Discourse or Olivet prophecy is a biblical passage found in the Synoptic Gospels in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21. It is also known as the Little Apocalypse because it includes the use of apocalyptic language, and it includes Jesus' warning to his followers that they will suffer tribulation and persecution before the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of God. The Olivet discourse is the last of the Five Discourses of Matthew and occurs just before the narrative of Jesus' passion beginning with the anointing of Jesus. In all three synoptic Gospels this episode includes the Parable of the Budding Fig Tree. It is unclear whether the tribulation Jesus describes is a now past, present or future event. Some believe the passage largely refers to events surrounding the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and as such is used to date the Gospel of Mark around the year 70. Setting The discourse is widely believed by scholars to contain material delivered on a variety of occasions. In the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark, Jesus spoke this discourse to his disciples privately on the Mount of Olives, opposite Herod's Temple. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus taught over a period of time in the Temple and stayed at night on the Mount of Olives. Biblical narrative According to the narrative of the synoptic Gospels, an anonymous disciple remarks on the greatness of Herod's Temple. Jesus responds that not one of those stones would remain intact in the building, and the whole thing would be reduced to rubble. The disciples asked Jesus, "When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus first warns them about things that would happen: Some would claim to be Christ (see also Antichrist); There would be wars and rumours of wars. Then Jesus identifies "the beginnings of birth pangs": Nations rising up against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms; Earthquakes; Famines; Pestilence; Fearful events. Next he described more birth pangs which would lead to the coming Kingdom: False prophets; Apostasy; Persecution of the followers of Jesus; The spread of Jesus' message (the Gospel) around the world. Jesus then warned the disciples about the abomination of desolation "standing where it does not belong". After Jesus described the "abomination that causes desolation", he warns that the people of Judea should