WHAT IT’S LIKE WHEN JESUS RETURNS Daniel 12

What’s it going to be like when Jesus returns? Last week, we heard from Andrew Otte about what was involved in the seven seals of judgement being opened and so we have pretty good idea on that at any rate. Get the sermon if you missed it on our website or YouTube. But Daniel the prophet also had a fair bit to say on what things will be like before Jesus returns. These are his last words of his book and refer to the end of days on the earth.

Jesus quoted Daniel as we shall see, which is very telling. So, here we are in the last chapter of Daniel. Michael, an arch angel (Jude 1:9) will arise; it shall be a time of trouble as has never been seen before. (verse 1) Revelation 12 tells of this time and the battle that will ensue. (Revelation 12:7-10) “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world---he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

At that time Daniel’s people, the Jews will be delivered. This will come through tribulation where Revelation 11:13-15 says, “there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come. Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, " The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." Daniel’s description is that 3rd woe; Satan is hurled to the earth – a horrible time.

This is half way through the 7-year tribulation period that Andrew Otte spoke about last week: the 70th week of Daniel. The Antichrist will break his covenant with the Jewish people, hell on earth will be released and Daniel asks (verses 6,7), “"How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?" And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.” The antichrist will break his covenant with the Jewish people and the most intense period of persecution will begin for them. Daniel is told in verse 11, “And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.” (Or 3 and a half years) These are the final years of the tribulation just before Jesus comes back, particularly for the Jewish believers and those who believe their testimony.

Jesus spoke of this time in Matthew 24:15-21, “"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” This is a horrible statement, considering the Holocaust caused the death of 6 million Jews; this will supersede that – absolutely horrific.

The Church will be taken out at this point. (Matthew 24:38-42) “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”

But tribulation for Israel will remain for 3 and a half years after this point. John said, again in Revelation 12:13, 14, “And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.”

Daniel added to the comment at this time. Israel, the Jewish people will be both persecuted and protected, then after this time, “Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days.” (verse 12) Our Lord will return to earth and destroy the works of the antichrist, the devil and tragically many on earth will die in judgement.

This is where we pick up in Daniel 12:2, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” John tells us in Revelation 20 that there is 1000 years between these 2 states. “I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.”

But between now and that point Daniel was told that “those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3) This is your job, the role of the church and the individual Christian, hence the need for priorities and resources for the church to do this job.

How do we know this time is sooner rather than later? By this one line in our text, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (verse 4) Surely this describes our age and generation. We run to and fro; increasing in knowledge. Air travel and knowledge through the internet have made this earth accessible to all. Knowledge shall increase, what knowledge? – 2 forms of knowledge, 1. Biblical and 2. secular knowledge. There is the knowledge that comes from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil – this world, the creation – things seen.

Then there is an increasing knowledge of what we are talking about this morning – Biblical prophecy – people gaining an interest, and therefore a knowledge, of what the Scriptures speak about referring to the return of Christ and the events surrounding it.

The greatest knowledge required, of course, is the knowledge that Jesus is in control of His return. He is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end. The knowing of Christ as the Son, the saviour of your soul, is the only knowledge to have leaving this earth. (1 John 5:13-20) Know the Son! Know that you have eternal life.