Journey Through The Bible

Journeythroughthe BibleBook by bookBible studyDanielGod is Sovereign over men & nationsImportance and Structure of Daniel! Historically, Daniel served under twogreat nations, Babylon and Persia! Prophetically, Daniel covered two timeperiods, the Old Testament era, andend times, “ the last days.”Key/Theme Verses“In the days of those kings the God ofheaven will set up a kingdom which willnever be destroyed, and that kingdomwill not be left for another people; it willcrush and put an end to all thesekingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.”(2:44)“So that the living may know that theMost High is sovereign over thekingdoms of men and gives them toanyone he wishes” (4:17)

Two-fold Structure of DanielDaniel 1-7!Images prevail!Historic!Gentile focus!Immediate!Babylon!Aramaic!Human agentsDaniel 8-12!Visions prevail!Prophetic!Focus on Israel!Far reaching!Medo-Persian!Hebrew!Angelic agentsOutstanding prophecies"Times of the GentilesTiming of Jesus’ first adventTribulation events and timingAntichrist- “abomination”Resurrection of “saints”Role of angels in world affairsKey chapters in Daniel1 Daniel’s preservation & rise2 Image of Nebuchadnezzar4 Tree dream of Nebuchadnezzar5 Fall of Babylon7 Vision of four beasts (4 O.T. empires)8 Ram & goat (inter-testament)9 Seventy “weeks” (490 years)10-12 Panorama of future eventsDaniel: God Is Sovereign Over the Kingdoms of MenKey verse: 4:17, that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of menin BabyProphetic Historyof the Gentile Nations2812Panorama of the Future 10-12The Seventy WeeksTimes of the Gentiles far 98The Ram and the GoatPersia and Greece nearBelshazzar’s feast and fall745Nebuchadnezzar’s treedream and humiliationDaniel s visions:3Nebuchadnezzar’s imageof gold the fiery furnaceVision of the four beasts2Hebrew(chaps. 8-12)Nebuchadnezzar’s image:Four Gentile kingdomsAramaic(2:4-7:28)Dreams and images of others1Prophetic Historyof Israel under Gentiles7Hebrew(1:1-2:3)Daniel captive in BabylonGod Is Sovereign!Darius, Medes, and PersiansDaniel in the lion’s den61I srael t(s)lonKey words:Daniel605-535 BCIsrael andGentileNations

Whose God is greater?In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakimking of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king ofBabylon came to Jerusalem and besiegedit. And the LORD delivered Jehoiakim kingof Judah into his hand, along with some ofthe articles from the temple of God. Thesehe carried off to the temple of his god inBabylonia and put in the treasure houseof his god. (1:1-2)Is Babylon’s god greater than Judah’s!Assimilation by “brain washing”Then the king ordered the chief of his courtofficials, to bring into the king’s service someof the Israelites from the royal family and thenobility—young men without any physicaldefect, handsome, showing aptitude for everykind of learning, well informed, quick tounderstand, and qualified to serve in the king’spalace. He was to teach them the languageand literature of the Babylonians. The kingassigned them a daily amount of food andwine from the king’s table. (1:3-5)Daniel had a crucial choice to make!“But Daniel resolved not to defile himselfwith the royal food and wine and he askedthe chief official for permission not to defilehimself this way.” (1:8)Daniel excelled in truth/education“To these young men God gave knowledgeand understanding of all kinds of literatureand learning. And Daniel could understandvisions and dreams of all kinds.” (1:17)Daniel was a : manof God in a hostile environment manof purpose with firm convictions manof prayer with strong faith manof courage with staying power manof prophetic vision manof integrity with absolute honesty manof consistency who persisted

Nebuchadnezzar’sDream Image - 2“The great God hasshown the king whatwill take place in thefuture. The dream istrue and theinterpretationtrustworthy.” 2:45Daniel persisted in upholding truthDaniel’s preservation in exile is a patternfor God’s preservation of Israel in exile andof believers today when they are living in asecular, materialistic, and atheistic society.Daniel’s example of upholding truth ineducation is an encouragement and patternfor christians who face atheistic educators.Daniel 210 Toes of Rome RevivedThe Rock Christ’s EternalKingdomWorld empires are in God’s hands!“Praise be to the name of God for ever;wisdom and power are his.He changes times and seasons;he deposes kings and raises up others.He gives wisdom to the wise andknowledge to the discerning.He reveals deep and hidden things” (2:20–22)“Surely your God is the God of gods and theLORD of Kings” (2:45)

The Smiting Stone of 2:44-45:Prior Old Testament Revelation1. The promise to David of a king whosereign would be eternal, (2 Samuel 7:16)2. The Messiah as world ruler (Psalm 2)3. Messiah will be God, yet come from theline of David! (Isaiah 9:6-7)4. The Messiah will regather believersand rule all people/nations (Isaiah 11)Interpretation of Daniel 2:44-451. Christ is the “stone” who smites the image,brings it to an end. (“cut out of the mountainwithout hands” — His divine origin andnature, there is no human role in this victory;it is entirely God’s doing).2. The smashing of the image will be followedby the establishment of Christ’s kingdomwhich will be eternal, “never be destroyed.”3. The stone will become a great mountain andfill the whole earth (2:35)— that is, Christ’skingdom will be universal; cf. Psalm 72:8-11.The Furnace of Fire – Chap. 3There are things worth dying for!“If you do not worship the image I have made,you will be thrown into a blazing furnace.” If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, theGod we serve is able to deliver us from it, andhe will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.But even if he does not, we want you to know,Your Majesty, that we will not serve your godsor worship the image of gold you have set up.”(3:17–18)

But God chose to spare their lives!Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be tothe God of Shadrach, Meshach andAbednego, who has sent his angel andrescued his servants! They trusted in himand defied the king’s command and werewilling to give up their lives rather thanserve or worship any god except their ownGod. no other god can save in this way.”(3:28-29).Nebuchadnezzar’s Tree Dream, 4A lesson learned the hard way!“This is the interpretation, You will be drivenaway from people and live with wild animals Seven years will pass by for you until youacknowledge that the Most High issovereign over all the kingdoms on earthand gives them to anyone He wishes. Your kingdom will be restored to you whenyou acknowledge that heaven rules.Therefore, renounce your sins by doing whatis right, (4:24-29).You can’t take God’s placeand you can’t steal His glory!“Is not this the great Babylon I have built, bymy mighty power and for my own glory.” God does as He pleases, with the powers ofheaven and the peoples of the earth. Now I praise, exalt and glorify the King ofheaven, because everything He does is rightand all His ways are just. Those who walk inpride He is able to humble.” (4:29-37)

The Handwriting on the Wall 5You can’t take God’s placeand you can’t steal His glory!“Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the goldand silver goblets taken from the temple inJerusalem. As they drank the wine, theypraised the gods of gold and silver, ofbronze, iron, wood and stone. Suddenly thefingers of a human hand appeared andwrote on the plaster of the wall, His faceturned pale and he was so frightened thathis knees knocked together and his legsgave way. (5:2-6).A tough lesson learned too late!“You have not humbled yourself, instead,Belshazzar, you have set yourself upagainst the LORD of heaven.” You didnot honor the God who holds your lifeand all your ways in His hand. Therefore, That very night Belshazzar, king of theBabylonians, was slain, and Darius theMede took over the kingdom. (5:22-31)Daniel in the Lion’s Den, 6

Your character and actions matter!“Daniel distinguished himself by hisexceptional qualities.” The administratorstried to find grounds for charges against him inhis conduct of government affairs but wereunable to do so. We will never find anybasis for charges against Daniel unless it hassomething to do with the law of his God.” So they threw Daniel into the lion’ den. Theking said to Daniel, “May your God, whom youserve continually, rescue you!” (6:1–16)God is able to shut the lions mouths!Daniel answered, “My God sent his angel,and he shut the mouths of the lions nowound was found in him, because he trustedin his God.”“He is the living God and he endures forever;His kingdom will not be destroyed, herescues and he saves; he performs signsand wonders in the heavens and on theearth. He has rescued Daniel from the powerof the lions.” (6:21-27)Summary of Daniel 2 & 7HeadBabylonLionBreast & ArmsMedo-PersiaBearBelly & ThighsGreeceLeopardLegs & FeetRome 1Rome 2MonsterSmiting StoneThe KingdomSon of Man

Christ will be King over all mankind!As I looked, thrones were set in place,and the Ancient of Days took His seat. The court was seated, the books were opened. .There before me was one like a son of man,coming with the clouds of heaven. Heapproached the Ancient of Days and was ledinto His presence. He was given authority,glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nationsand men of every language worshipped Him.(7:9-14)A glimpse of the future tribulationThe fourth beast is a fourth kingdom thatwill appear on earth. The ten horns areten kings who will come from this kingdom.After them another king will arise, differentfrom the earlier ones; he will subdue threekings. He will speak against the Most Highand oppress his holy people and try tochange the set times and the laws. Theholy people will be delivered into his handsfor a time, times and half a time. (7:24–25)Lessons to be Learned1. God is sovereign over men and nations!2. One must choose between conforming toprevailing culture and following God.3. God is able to protect His children, but4. There are some things worth dying for!5. No man or nation, no matter how great, candefy God or thwart His plan and purpose!See you next week!Daniel, 8-12God’s hand on human history!

and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” (1:17) Daniel excelled in truth/education man of God in a hostile environment man of purpose with firm convictions man of prayer with strong faith man of courage with staying power man of prophetic vision man of integrity with absolute honesty