Recently I was thinking back over all we have covered in our challenging Return of the Lord Jesus study, and I am so grateful. Grateful for all you joining me on this journey --- and hanging in there! --- and grateful for the faithfulness of the Lord as He met us each week through His Word!

As I was thinking about how to wrap up the study for myself I was drawn to read Daniel 11 and 12. These chapters are the only two places in the Old Testament where the Abomination of Desolation is explicitly mentioned. As we learned, this will be the seminal event that Jesus pointed to in the Olivet Discourse --- this is the event that basically kicks off the Great Tribulation. We must pay attention and not miss it --- Jesus told us ahead of time so that we would be watching. So I wanted to look at those chapters one more time before I put this study on the shelf.

As I read these two chapters I had several reactions. The first is that this is starting to make sense to me! Over the years of reading these chapters I have never had any grasp of the text other than a superficial understanding ---- but this time, reading through Daniel 11 and 12, I am beginning to “get it”! This is huge.

My second is that the Lord loves us so much that He told Daniel about all of this so long ago so that we could pick up his ancient book, read it today and be instructed. Jesus wants us forewarned and not caught by surprise. He wants to equip us for the time we live in.

Lastly, Daniel is the passage where the Bible says the book of Daniel was to be sealed up --- rendered unfathomable --- until the end of the age, Daniel 12:4, 9. Even Daniel who wrote these words did not understand them. When he asked for interpretation, the Lord basically told Daniel not to worry, go your way, these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.

As we might say, “Don’t worry your pretty head about all of this, Daniel.” But, there will come a day when those words will be vitally important — and we may be “there” now. We may be in the days when the revelation given to Daniel will be unsealed. When this happens, there will be some who read and search out these words and are given insight and understanding and they will share that with many. Daniel 11:33 “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven and will lead many to righteousness....”Daniel 12:3
Doesn’t that make your heart leap?

Don’t you want to be one who has insight and understanding? Don’t you want to be someone who leads many to righteousness?

This happens because the Lord gives insight and understanding into the passages in Daniel (and, by extension, the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 and 25) It happens because we share what we learn. This can be you and me!

My prayer is that you will not really close the book on this study but that the truths you have learned will take root in your hearts and lives. I pray that the Lord will open doors for you to share your insights and that you will shine brightly and lead many to righteousness.

We have noticed that the seal judgments of Revelation 6 parallel the signs that Jesus gives us in Matthew 24. Below is a chart of these similarities.

Parallels between Matthew 24 and the Seal Judgments of Revelation 6

False Christ’s - Mt. 24:5-6 - 1st Seal Rev 6:1-2 White horse
Wars - Mt. 24:6-7 - 2nd Seal Rev 6:3-4 Red Horse
Famine/Pestilence - Mt. 24:8 - 3rd Seal Rev 6:5-8 Black Horse
Death - Mt 24:9 - 4th Seal Rev 6:7-8 Ashen Horse
Martyrdom - Mt. 24:9 - 5TH Seal Rev 6:9-11
Celestial Occurrences - Mt. 24:27 - 6th Seal Rev 6 Celestial Occurrences