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NOTES
Daniel 1: The Introduction
Chapter 1 introduces the historical context of Daniel’s deportation
to Babylon following Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem in 605 BC. Daniel was
among the royal Jewish captives first extradited to Babylon.
Upon Daniel’s arrival, he and three companions were confronted with
a difficult choice between defiling themselves with the king’s appointed ration
of choice food and wine or risking their lives by abstaining from the food for
the sake of remaining undefiled in the sight of God. God rewards Daniel’s
righteous decision to abstain by granting him favor and compassion in the sight
of the commander of the officials. God also endows Daniel and his three
companions with exceptional knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence that results in
the honor of entering into the king’s personal service.
Daniel 2: Daniel’s Interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s First Dream
Chapter 2 explains God’s supernatural equipping of Daniel to reveal
Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream and its interpretation, demonstrating God’s
covenant attentiveness to His exiles. The dream reveals four successive Gentile
dominions preceding the establishment of God’s messianic kingdom that will
never be destroyed. After Daniel reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its interpretation,
Daniel is promoted as ruler over Babylon and chief prefect over all its wise
men.
Daniel 3: Nebuchadnezzar’s Command and the Courageous Response of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego
Nebuchadnezzar erects a great image of gold, commanding peoples, nations and men of every language to fall down and worship the golden image when hearing musical instruments. The king’s decree includes the penalty of being immediately cast into a furnace of blazing fire for anyone refusing to worship the image.
Nebuchadnezzar erects a great image of gold, commanding peoples, nations and men of every language to fall down and worship the golden image when hearing musical instruments. The king’s decree includes the penalty of being immediately cast into a furnace of blazing fire for anyone refusing to worship the image.
After the Chaldeans report the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego to worship the image, Nebuchadnezzar gives urgent orders for them to
be cast into a furnace of blazing fire. The three men are tied up and cast into
the furnace. When Nebuchadnezzar and his high officials look into the furnace,
they are astounded to see four men walking unharmed in the midst of the fire.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego exit the fire unsinged. Nebuchadnezzar then
issues a decree forbidding an offensive word to be spoken against the God of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, whom the king causes to prosper.
Daniel 4: Daniel’s Interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
Predicting the King’s Insanity
Chapter 4 provides Nebuchadnezzar’s narrative of his second dream and
Daniel’s interpretation of the dream as a prediction of the king’s temporary
insanity. The dream is of a great spreading tree that a messenger from heaven
commands to be cut down. Daniel interprets the tree as Nebuchadnezzar himself,
predicting that Nebuchadnezzar would dwell among the beasts of the field for a
seven-year period before finally ascribing glory to God. Afterwards, his mental
health and kingdom are restored.
Daniel 5: Daniel’s Interpretation of the Miraculous Writing on the
Wall
Chapter 5 records Daniel’s interpretation of a mysterious
inscription on the palace wall of Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, coregent
with Nabonidus (556–538 BC), and son of Nebuchadnezzar. During a great feast on
the eve of the Persian conquest of Babylon (538 BC), Belshazzar was drinking
out of the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the
temple in Jerusalem when a hand emerged and began writing on the palace wall.
Seeing the hand, Belshazzar becomes alarmed and calls for the wise men.
After the wise men fail to interpret the inscription, Daniel is
brought to Belshazzar, at the queen’s request. Daniel interprets the message to
read, “‘MENE’ – God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. ‘TEKEL’ –
you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. ‘PERES’ – your kingdom
has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians” (Dan 5:26-28).
Belshazzar is slain that same night and Darius the Mede receives the kingdom,
fulfilling the words spoken by Daniel.
Daniel 6: Daniel
in the Lion’s Den
Chapter 6 tells the familiar narrative of Daniel in the lion’s den.
As a result of the plotting of his political subordinates, Daniel is cast into
the lion’s den by King Darius the Mede for defying the injunction against
petitioning a god or man except the king. Just as God had miraculously
protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the furnace of fire, God closes
the lions’ mouths so that they do not harm Daniel. While Daniel is delivered
and enjoys success, his accusers are thrown into the den and crushed by the
lions.
Daniel 7: Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts
Chapter 7 marks the transition from historical narrative (Dan 1–6)
to predictive prophecy (Dan 7–12). The predictions in Daniel 7–12 concern
events that extend from the days of Daniel to the coming of Messiah, including
predictions of his first and second advents. The predictive prophecy is revealed
through four visions of Daniel that occurred during the period of history
covered in the first six chapters.
Chapter 7 describes and interprets the first vision of Daniel which
occurs in the first year of Belshazzar (553 BC). Daniel is about 67-years old
when he receives the first vision of four beasts symbolizing Babylon (Lion),
Medo-Persia (Bear), Greece (Leopard), and Rome (Strong Beast). The vision
extends into the last days during the reigns of ten kings (ten horns) and the Antichrist
(little horn), culminating with the reign of Messiah to Whom the Ancient of
Days gives an everlasting dominion which will not be destroyed.
STUDY QUESTIONS
1.
What does Daniel see in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign over
Babylon? (7:1) (D) Why do you think that God gave Daniel a predictive dream and
visions during this time of the exile of Judah?
2.
What does Daniel see as he is looking in his vision by night? What
comes up from the sea? (7:2-3)
3.
Describe the four beasts:
1st beast (7:4)
1st beast (7:4)
2nd beast (7:5)
3rd beast (7:6)
4th beast (7:7)
4.
While Daniel is contemplating the horns, what comes up among them?
What are pulled out by the roots before it? Describe this horn. (7:8)
5.
(C) What additional information do the following verses provide
concerning the little horn that comes up on the 4th beast, who is commonly
called the Antichrist?
Revelation 13:5-8
Revelation 13:5-8
Revelation 17:11-14
6.
As Daniel keeps looking, what is set up? Who takes His seat?
Describe the following:
The Ancient of Days (7:9)
His Throne (7:9-10a)
His Attendants (7:10b)
The Books (7:10c)
The Ancient of Days (7:9)
His Throne (7:9-10a)
His Attendants (7:10b)
The Books (7:10c)
7.
(C) Describe the following from the Book of Revelation:
The One Sitting on the Throne (Rev 4:2-3; 21:5-7)
The Throne (Rev 4:2-6)
24 Elders around the Throne (Rev 4:4, 9-11; 5:14)
The One Sitting on the Throne (Rev 4:2-3; 21:5-7)
The Throne (Rev 4:2-6)
24 Elders around the Throne (Rev 4:4, 9-11; 5:14)
4 Living Creatures (Rev 4:6-9, 5:14)
Book with Seven Seals (Rev 5:1-5)
The Lamb (Rev 5:6-10)
Book with Seven Seals (Rev 5:1-5)
The Lamb (Rev 5:6-10)
His Attendants (Rev 5:11-12)
The Books (Rev 20:11-15)
8.
Why does Daniel keep looking? How long does Daniel keep looking?
(7:11)
9.
(C) Describe the destruction of the beast at the second advent of
Jesus. (Rev 19:19-21)
10.
What happens to the rest of the beasts? (7:12)
11.
As Daniel keeps looking in the night visions, who comes with the
clouds of heaven? Before Whom is the Son of Man presented? What is given to the
Son of Man? For how long? (7:13-14)
12.
(C) Who takes the book out
of the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne? (Rev 5:1-8)
How long will the Lamb receive blessing, honor, glory, and dominion? (Rev 5:13)
How long will the Lamb receive blessing, honor, glory, and dominion? (Rev 5:13)
13.
How does Daniel respond emotionally to the visions? Who does Daniel
ask to give an interpretation of these things? (7:15-16)
14.
Who are the four great beasts? (7:17) Who will receive the kingdom?
How long will they possess the kingdom? (7:18)
15.
About what three things does Daniel desire to know the exact
meaning? Describe them. (7:19-20) For how long does that horn wage war and overpower
the saints of the Highest One? (7:21-22) Explain the following:
4th Beast (7:23)
10 Horns (7:24)
11th Horn who Arises after the 10 Horns (7:24-26)
4th Beast (7:23)
10 Horns (7:24)
11th Horn who Arises after the 10 Horns (7:24-26)
16.
After the dominion of the Antichrist is taken away, annihilated,
and destroyed forever, to Whom is the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of
all the kingdoms under the whole heaven given? How long will His kingdom
endure? Who will serve and obey Him? (7:27) After the revelation ended, how
does Daniel respond? (7:28) (O) Why do you think that Daniel responds this way?
17.
What do you learn about God in Daniel 7?
18.
How could you apply what you have learned about God this week?
Write
a prayer response to Daniel 7.
BIBLE TEXT: DANIEL 7 (NASB)
Dan. 7:1 In the first year of
Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then
he wrote the dream down and
related the following summary
of it. 2 Daniel said, “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold,
the four winds of heaven were
stirring up the great sea. 3 “And four great beasts were coming up from the sea,
different from one another. 4 “The first was like a lion and had the wings of
an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up
from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. 5 “And
behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on
one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus
they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ 6 “After this I kept
looking, and behold, another one, like
a leopard, which had on its back four
wings of a bird; the beast also had four
heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 “After this I kept looking in
the night visions, and behold, a fourth
beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron
teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet;
and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 “While I was
contemplating the horns, behold, another
horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were
pulled out by the roots before it; and behold,
this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.
Dan. 7:9 “I kept looking
Until
thrones were set up,
And
the Ancient of Days took His seat;
His
vesture was like white
snow
And
the hair of His head like pure
wool.
His
throne was ablaze with flames,
Its
wheels were a burning
fire.
10 “A river of fire was flowing
And
coming out from before Him;
Thousands upon thousands were attending
Him,
And
myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
The
court sat,
And
the books were opened.
11 “Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I
kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to
the burning fire. 12 “As for the rest of the
beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to
them for an appointed period of time.
Dan. 7:13 “I kept looking in the night visions,
And
behold, with the clouds of heaven
One
like a Son of Man was coming,
And
He came up to the Ancient of Days
And
was presented before Him.
14 “And to Him was given dominion,
Glory
and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men
of every language
Might
serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which
will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which
will not be destroyed.
Dan. 7:15 “As for me, Daniel, my
spirit was distressed within me, and the
visions in my mind kept alarming me. 16 “I approached
one of those who were standing by
and began asking him the exact meaning
of all this. So he told me and
made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘These great
beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise
from the earth. 18 ‘But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the
kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’
Dan. 7:19 “Then I desired to know
the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from
all the others, exceedingly dreadful,
with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured,
crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet, 20 and the
meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn
which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn
which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its
associates. 21 “I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them 22
until the Ancient of Days came and judgment
was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time
arrived when the saints took possession
of the kingdom.
Dan. 7:23 “Thus he said: ‘The
fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different
from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it
down and crush it. 24 ‘As for the ten horns, out of this
kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be
different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. 25 ‘He
will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend
to make alterations in times and
in law; and they will be given into his
hand for a time,
times, and half a time. 26
‘But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. 27 ‘Then the sovereignty,
the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole
heaven will be given to the people of the
saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions
will serve and obey Him.’
Dan. 7:28 “ At this
point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”
