The Book of Daniel

The glory days of Israel were over. The kingdom had fallen to the invading Babylonians. Daniel and his friends represented a new generation of runners in the race of faithfulness to Jehovah, but like runners in a race, they had to the endure qualifying trials before entering the main event.

1. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted several young Israelite men who were of noble birth and of high quality to be educated for the king’s service. Daniel 1:3-4

2. They were to train for three years and eat from the king’s table. Daniel 1:5

3. Daniel and his three friends wanted to remain faithful to Jehovah by keeping their diet Kosher. But Ashpenaz was afraid that their condition would deteriorate without the royal food. Daniel 1:6-10

4. Daniel challenged him to a ten day trial period. Daniel 1:11-14

5. After ten days they looked better than all the others. After three years the king found them to be ten times wiser and knowledgeable then all the others. Daniel 1:15-20

6. God gave Daniel the gift of interpreting dreams and used him until the end of the exile. Daniel 1:21

So then, if we, like Daniel, are faithful to the Lord, He will enable us to not only finish the race but to excel at what God has sent us to do.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

Much is said about knowing your abilities and, in Christian circles, knowing your spiritual gifts. But, Daniel needed more than his gifts and abilities when serving a pagan king who couldn’t sleep.

Vss.1-6

1. Apparently, Nebuchadnezzar had his doubts about his magicians and astrologers, demanding they reveal as well as interpret his dream.

Vss. 7-11

2. They knew they couldn’t tell the king what his dream was. They rightly said only a god could do that. They wanted time to conspire on an answer.

Vss. 12-13

3. When they insisted that the king reveal the dream first, he ordered their execution.

Vss. 14-18

4. Daniel asked permission to interpret the dream and wanted time to pray for revelation.

Vss. 19-24

5. When God showed the dream to him, Daniel praised God and then pleaded for all the wise-men of Babylon because he knew they were lost.

So then, Daniel knew that his gifts were limited but that his God was not. God is glorified when we use His gifts and even more so when we allow our weakness to reveal His strength .

“And [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me….For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

The lives of all the wise-men of Babylon were now in Daniel’s hands, including his own. As Daniel stood before the king, Nebuchadnezzar asked him if he could tell him what the dream was, as well as interpret it. Daniel’s answer reveals his heart.

Vss. 26-29

1. Daniel said, “I cannot reveal the dream but Elohim can and has shown you the future.”

Vs. 30

2. Daniel said, “God showed me the mystery not because I’m smarter but so that you would understand.”

Vss. 31-33

3. The dream consisted of a statue with a head of gold, chest & arms of silver, torso of bronze, and legs & feet of iron & clay.

Vss. 34-35

4. A rock, not carved by man, destroyed the statue by hitting the feet, and then became a huge mountain, that filled the whole world.

Vss. 36-45

5. Daniel interpreted the head to be Babylon, followed by three other kingdoms (Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome). The rock from heaven is God’s kingdom that will destroy all other kingdoms and last forever.

Vss. 46-49

6. Nebuchadnezzar bowed to Daniel’s God and rewarded him. Daniel shared his new authority with his friends.

So then, God chose to reveal the future to a pagan king. Daniel knew that his purpose was simply to help him understand God’s plan.

“Praying always …for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds...”

Ephesians 6:18-20

King Nebuchadnezzar had learned that Daniel’s God was superior but he had no idea how powerful. Remembering the statue in his dream, he built one of his own to be worshiped.

Vss. 1-7

1. All the people and officials of the empire were ordered to participate.

Vss. 8-12

2. Astrologers informed the king that Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s image or gods.

Vss. 13-18

3. Threatened with death, they said their God would protect them but if not, they still would not bow to false gods.

Vss. 19-23

4. In fury, Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown in and turned up the heat so much that it killed the soldiers who escorted them.

Vss. 24-27

5. Nebuchadnezzar saw four men walking in the flames and only the ropes were burned.

Vss. 28-29

6. He praised their faith and resolve, declaring that their God was powerful and was to be honored.

So then, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah demonstrated a faith that trusted God in deliverance and in death. God did not take away their trial, He only took away their bondage in it. They trusted God, no matter what.

“Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him….

Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Job 13:15 Matthew 22:21

Nebuchadnezzar had another dream and again, only Daniel could interpret it. But the fulfillment of this dream will make him change his theology – forever.

Vss. 1-8

1. Nebuchadnezzar was telling a story. He believed in many gods.

Vss. 9-18

2. He dreamed of a huge tree that was cut down.

Vs. 19

3. Daniel was scared and hesitated but then gave the interpretation when the king reassured him.

Vss. 20-27

4. Nebuchadnezzar was very powerful but he would lose his authority and be made to live like an animal until he acknowledged that Jehovah ruled everything. Daniel advised him to repent.

Vss. 28-34

5. The dream came true one year later as he was admiring his own power and glory. He lost his authority and sanity until he acknowledged that Elohim is sovereign.

Vss. 34-36, 1-3

6. Nebuchadnezzar was so overwhelmed when he was restored that he testified to everyone.

So then, God had Nebuchadnezzar’s attention.

He used Nebuchadnezzar to teach His chosen people the same lesson, that Jehovah God is in charge!

Prov.16:9, 21:1 Jeremiah 40:1-4

“…praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”

Daniel 4:37

Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, Belshazzar, now ruled Babylon. Once again a pagan king receives a warning from God. How will he respond?

Vss. 1-6

1. Belshazzar was mocking God using goblets from the temple when the fingers appeared and wrote on the wall.

Vss. 7-16

2. When no one could read or interpret it, Daniel was brought in and the terrified king offered him riches & power.

Vs. 17

3. Daniel told him to keep his junk.

Vss. 18-24

4. First, Daniel reminded the king of his grandfather’s experience with Elohim and made him aware of his sin.

Vss. 26-28

5. He then interpreted the writing to say “Your days are numbered, you don’t measure up, and your kingdom is given to Medo-Persia.

Vss. 29-31

6. Belshazzar did not repent and Babylon was lost.

So then, Belshazzar chose to ignore the warnings and the lessons of the past.

Does mene, mene, tekel, uparsin speak to America?

How long do we have?

Joshua 24:15

Now that another king, Darius the Mede, rules over Babylon, an older Daniel must again, prove his faith in his God. And as before, this threat to his faith also threatens his fate.

Vss. 1-4

1. Daniel’s jealous co-workers were unable to find any fault in his life or ethics.

Vss. 5-9

2. They used King Darius’s ego to trick him into making a seemingly reasonable law that would make Daniel’s religion illegal.

Vss. 10-11

3. Daniel would not compromise his faith for even a limited time.

Vss.12-17

4. The king tried to find a way out but was forced by his own word to throw Daniel to the lions.

Vss. 18-24

5. King Darius was worried but then he was thrilled to find Daniel safe and immediately executed the deceivers with their own scheme.

Vss. 25-28

6. King Darius then altered the law to declare that Daniel’s God is God. And Daniel lived to serve the king who would begin the restoration of Jerusalem.

So then, God used Daniel’s faith to cause pagan kings to acknowledge Jehovah as Lord and to obey Him.

Are we willing to trust our fate to faith?

“He is the living God, And steadfast forever.” Daniel 6:26

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Job 13:15

Daniel now goes back in time and begins to describe visions that God had been revealing directly to him.

He begins with a vision that is a panorama of history and the future.

Vss. 1-3,17

1. Out of struggle came a series of four creatures (nations).

Vss. 4-7, 15-18

2. A lion (Nebuchadnezzar) was given a heart (he believed Jehovah). The bear (Medo-Persia) consumed three kings. The leopard (Greece) has four horns (four way split). The beast with iron teeth (Rome) had ten horns (sections).

Vss. 8, 19-15

3. A little horn (anti-christ) rises up out of the ten, is very boastful and makes war against the saints.

Vss. 9-10

4. While he is boasting, God’s court of judgment is set up.

Vss. 11-14, 22, 26-28

5. Then God’s Messiah destroys him and sets up an eternal kingdom with His saints.

Daniel was very disturbed by seeing all the tyranny and destruction in the future. But God had also shown him His Messiah who would bring eternal life to His saints.

“…the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God…Therefore, comfort one another with these words!”

1 Thessalonians 4:16,18

Two Years later, Daniel was given another vision of the future. Some of the information is new and some is repeated for emphasis.

Vss. 1-8, 20-22

1. He saw a ram in Shushan with one horn longer than the other (Medo-Persia). A goat with a big horn came from the west (Greece) and defeated the ram. The big horn [Alexander] was broken and replaced by four horns.

Vss. 9-12, 23-24

2. They were followed by another horn that became so powerful that he made himself to be God and persecuted God’s people.

Vss. 13-14

3. Daniel heard an angel tell another that the time period of the last horn is over six years.

Vss.15-22

4. Gabriel told Daniel that his vision was about the end times and named some of the kingdoms.

Vss. 23-25

5. After a time of peace the last horn will cause all the destruction take a stand against God but will lose.

Vss. 26-27

Daniel was so disturbed by what he saw he became ill for several days. But God had once again shown him that it would take God’s intervention to end the tyranny of human rulers.

Isaiah 2:4 Joel 3:10 Micah 4:3

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand…” Matthew 24:14-15

Forty-seven years after the fall of Jerusalem, Babylon has now fallen to the Persians. While an aged Daniel prayed, he was given another vision that actually revealed time references for the events he had seen.

Vss. 1-23

1. As Daniel was confessing his and Israel’s sins and pleading for God’s mercy, God sent Gabriel with an answer.

Vs. 24

2. It would take seventy sevens or weeks of years (490 years) for the events of the vision to take place.

Vss. 25-26

3. There would be sixty-nine sevens (483 years) from the restoration of Jerusalem to when the Anointed One (Messiah) is cut off.

Vs. 27a

4. The evil ruler will negotiate and sign a seven year peace treaty.

Vs. 27b

5. Half way through that time he will stop all worship and place an abomination in the temple until the prophecies against him are fulfilled.

All the things that Daniel saw, through the cut off of the Messiah, have been fulfilled.

Be on the lookout for a worldwide peace treaty!

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:44

Daniel received more information about the future. He prayed so intensely that a very special warrior left the spirit battlefield to come explain the battle plan to him.

Vss.1-3

1. As Cyrus was having the Temple rebuilt, Daniel fasted and prayed for three weeks because of a frightening revelation of a great conflict.

Vss. 4-12

2. In a terrifying vision, a man of incredible appearance and a magnificent voice came in response to Daniel’s prayer to explain.

Vss. 13-14

3. He described the spiritual warfare taking place around Cyrus’ effort to help Daniel’s people. He wouldn’t leave until Michael came.

Vss. 15-19

4. He touched an overwhelmed and exhausted Daniel, and strengthened him.

Vss. 20-21a

5. He was about to go to defeat the demon of Persia, then the demon of Greece would come, but he would first tell Daniel what was already determined for the future.

Vss. 21b-11:1

6. The angel Michael was assisting in the protection of God’s people.

In his vision, Daniel learned that God is personally involved in human history but He takes the time to answer prayer.

“…Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world….Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

1John 4:4; James 5:8

The pre-incarnate Messiah continued His vision to Daniel. This time, He gave future information that is so precise that critics deny that this could be prophecy.

Vs. 2

1. The last, most powerful king of Persia would be Darius the Persian.

Vss. 3-4

2. Alexander the Great would lead a victorious Greece over Persia.

Vss. 5-20

3. There would be conflict between the Ptolemy dynasty of Egypt, and the Selucid dynasty of Syria.

Vss. 21-31

4. Antiochus (IV) Epiphanes would rise and rule in great tyranny. The Roman navy will bring armies to diminish his power and he will turn his fury against Israel and desecrate the temple.

Vss. 32-25

5. A time of great faith, bravery and restoration of Temple worship would be accomplished during the time of the Maccabees.

So then, the precision of the prophecies that have become history, are there to inspire us to trust the prophecies of Messiah’s return, which are yet future.

“…He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

Matthew 24:31

Daniel’s final vision of the future continues. The time frame shifts to the end of time, the most evil king of all time, and a wonderful promise.

11:36-39

1. This evil king will blaspheme and make everyone worship him.

11:40-44

2. He will rule most of the world and will go into a great battle to try to conquer more.

12:1

3. There will be a time of trouble like no other time in history but those who are written in the book of life will be rescued.

12:2

5. The dead will rise, some to eternal life and others to judgment.

12:3-6, 8-10

6. There will be great reward for those who lead many to God but those who are lost cannot understand these things.

12:7, 11

7. The time of trouble will last for 3 ½ years.

12:12-13

So then, at the end of his vision, Daniel is given the same promise as new testament believers, resurrection into eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”