Mount Olivet

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 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, where the Lord often withdrew to pray. There, He was also betrayed.

The most significant of all important events is that our Lord ascended to heaven from this mount - on the southeastern slope - at the entrance to Bethany. 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: