https://prayerandbibleexpo.blogspot.com/
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.
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.
Daniel 8: Daniel’s
Vision of a Ram and a Goat
Chapter 8 records the second vision of Daniel pertaining to a
portion of time within the previous vision. The Medo-Persian and Greek empires
are depicted respectively as a ram with two horns and a male goat with a single
horn that eventually breaks off and becomes four horns. The angel Gabriel
interprets the vision as pertaining to the time of the end. The king of Greece
who arises in the latter period of the reign of the four kings oppresses the
Jews, foreshadowing the Antichrist of future history. Daniel is exhausted and
sick for days because of the astounding vision about which he is told to keep
secret.
Daniel 9: Daniel’s
Prayer and Prediction of Seventy Sevens
Chapter 9 is divided into two parts. Verses 1-19 record Daniel’s
prayer and verses 20-27 provide God’s response delivered through the angel Gabriel.
Based on Jeremiah’s prophecy that the exile would last seventy years (Jer 25:12; 29:10), Daniel seeks
God by prayer and supplications, with fasting, confessing the sins of the
nation and seeking God’s compassion for His people who are called by His name.
The angel Gabriel delivers God’s message that includes a prophecy
of seventy seven-year periods (490 years) that are ordained for God’s people. The
first sixty-nine periods (483 years) are completed at Messiah’s first advent.
The final seventieth period (7 years) is of principal importance as it pertains
to the Tribulation period that transpires just before the second advent of Messiah
Jesus.
Daniel 10–11: Heavenly
Messenger’s Appearing and Political Predictions
Chapters10–11 record Daniel’s fourth
and final predictive revelation made known through a direct encounter with a
heavenly messenger. The angel explains that his coming was delayed by a conflict
with an emissary of Satan who withstood him for twenty-one days until Michael,
the chief archangel, came to his defense. The messenger’s appearing is for the
purpose of imparting information concerning the periods of Medo-Persia, Greece,
and the future Tribulation, periods also covered in Daniel’s second vision
(Chap. 8).
While chapter 10 presents details of
Daniel’s actual encounter with the messenger, chapter 11 provides the
predictive prophecy imparted in this final revelatory message. The political
predictions emphasize the activities of Antiochus Epiphanes and the future Antichrist.
The detail provided in the historical predictions contains some of the most
remarkable predictive prophecies in all of Scripture.
Daniel 12: Conclusion
The book of Daniel concludes with
final words concerning the Tribulation age and beyond to the resurrection of
the righteous and the wicked. The heavenly messenger brings the revelation to
its conclusion, directing Daniel to conceal and seal the words until the end of
time. At the conclusion of his life, Daniel himself will enter his rest and
rise again to receive his allotted portion at the end of the age.
STUDY QUESTIONS
1.
Who will arise during the Great Tribulation at the end of the age?
Over whom does he stand guard? How is this time of distress described? Who will
be rescued? (12:1) (O) Why do you think that Michael will arise at this time?
Who will be persecuting Daniel’s people?
2.
How do the following verses describe the Tribulation (the final
seven years of the present age)?
Isa 13:6, 9
Ezek 30:3
Joel 1:15
Isa 13:6, 9
Ezek 30:3
Joel 1:15
Joel 2:1, 11
Dan 9:27
Matt 24:21-31
Mark 13:14-23
Dan 9:27
Matt 24:21-31
Mark 13:14-23
3.
What do the following verses reveal about the Antichrist or
antichrists?
Dan 7:7-8, 11
Dan 9:26-27
Dan 11:36-45
Dan 7:7-8, 11
Dan 9:26-27
Dan 11:36-45
1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3
2John 7
2John 7
Rev 13:1
Rev 19:19-21
Rev 19:19-21
4.
(C) What do the following verses reveal about the book of life?
Ex 32:32 Luke 10:20
Ps 69:28 Rev 20:12
Ex 32:32 Luke 10:20
Ps 69:28 Rev 20:12
5.
Into what two everlasting conditions will many of those who sleep
in the dust awake? (12:2)
Job 14:11-14
Job 19:25-27
Ps 16:10
Ps 49:15
Isa 25:8
Isa 26:19
Hosea 13:14
John 5:29
John 11:24-25
Acts 24:15
John 11:24-25
Acts 24:15
1Cor 15:12
Phil 3:10-11
Heb 11:17-18
Rev 20:5-6
Heb 11:17-18
Rev 20:5-6
7.
How will those who have insight and those who lead the many to
righteousness shine? (12:3)
8.
(A) What are some things that you could do to seek greater insight
into the things of God? How many people have you led to righteousness? Who do
you know that needs to be led to righteousness today? How could you be more
intentional about leading others to righteousness?
9.
For how long are Daniel’s words to be concealed and the book sealed
up? As many go back and forth, what will increase? (12:4)
10. Who does Daniel
see standing on two banks of the river? (12:5) What question does one ask the
man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river? (12:6)
11. What does the
man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his
right hand and his left toward heaven, swear by Him who lives forever? (12:7)
When will all these events be completed? (12:7)
12. What question
does Daniel ask because he could not understand? (12:8) In his response, what
does the man in linen say about these words? (12:9) What will happen to many?
What will happen to the wicked? Who will understand? (12:10)
13.
How many days will there be
between the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of
desolation is set up? (12:11) How many days will the blessed keep waiting?
(12:12)
14.
What final assurance is
given to Daniel? (12:13)
15. (A) How can you know with certainty that you
will rise again at the end of the age to take your place in the kingdom of
Messiah Jesus? If you do not have the assurance of salvation by God’s grace
through faith alone in Jesus, what is stopping you from believing that Jesus is
the Messiah, the Son of God Who came in the flesh to take away the sins of the
world. Will you pray right now to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord of your
life? If you still have questions, who will you contact this week? (Feel free
to reach out right now to Jessica at jessicataylor333@sbcglobal.net.)
16.
What do you learn about God in Daniel 12?
17.
How could you apply what you have learned about God this week?
18.
How has the study of Daniel changed the way you think about God and
how you will live in response to the truth of what God has made known?
Write a prayer response to the book of Daniel.
BIBLE TEXT: DANIEL 12 (NASB)
Dan. 12:1 “Now at that time Michael, the
great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise.
And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a
nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found
written in the book, will be rescued. 2 “Many of those who sleep in
the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to
disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3 “ Those who have insight
will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who
lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4
“But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end
of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”
Dan. 12:5 Then I, Daniel, looked
and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the
other on that bank of the river. 6 And one said to the man dressed
in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these
wonders?” 7 I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the
waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven,
and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half
a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people,
all these events will be completed. 8 As for me, I heard but
could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of
these events?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these
words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. 10 “Many will
be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of
the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. 11
“From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of
desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 “How blessed
is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! 13 “But as
for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise
again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”
