The bible - Book of Daniel

1. The Bible - Book of Daniel – 1st
February 2017
“Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked.
None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.”(Daniel 12:10).
The Book of Daniel identifiesthe ProphetDaniel asitsauthor as we can see in Daniel 10:1-2, “In the
third year of Cyrus king of Persia,a revelationwas givento Daniel (whowas called Belteshazzar).Its
message was true and it concerned a great war. The understandingof the message came to himin a
vision.’2
At that time I, Daniel,mourned forthree weeks.” We can alsolearnthat inthe New Testament
JesusmentionsDaniel asthe author as well inMatthew24:15.
The life of the prophet Daniel is recorded in the book that shares his name. Daniel means "God
is my judge." There is not much know about the early years of his life, but he appears to have
been of the upper class, perhaps even from a royal family. It is recorded that he was taken to
Babylon as a teenager in 605 B.C. He began service to the royal court and abstained from
unclean food (Daniel 1:8-16). Three years later, Daniel was brought before the King to interpret
the King's dream. The king was pleased and made Daniel "ruler over the whole province of
Babylon" and "chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon" as we learn from Daniel 2:48,
“Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him
ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.”
The Book of Daniel waslikelywrittenbetween540 and 530 B.C. In 605 B.C.,NebuchadnezzarKingof
Babylonhadconquered Judahanddeportedmanyof itsinhabitantstoBabylon – Daniel included.Daniel
servedinthe royal court of Nebuchadnezzarandseveral rulerswhofollowedNebuchadnezzar.The Book
of Daniel recordsthe actions,prophecies,andvisionsof the ProphetDaniel.
Chapter1 describesthe conquestof Jerusalembythe Babylonians.Alongwithmanyothers,Daniel and
histhree friendswere deportedtoBabylonandbecause of theircourage andthe obviousblessingsof
God uponthem,theywere “promoted”inthe king’s service aswe canlearnfrom Daniel 1:18-20, “ At
the end of the time set by the king to bringthem into hisservice, the chief official presentedthem to
Nebuchadnezzar. 19
Theking talked withthem, and he foundnone equal to Daniel,Hananiah,Mishael
and Azariah;sothey entered the king’sservice. 20
Inevery matter ofwisdomand understandingabout
whichthe kingquestionedthem, he foundthem ten timesbetter than all the magicians and
enchanters inhis wholekingdom.”
Chapters2-4 record Nebuchadnezzarhavingadreamthat onlyDaniel couldcorrectlyinterpret.
Nebuchadnezzar’sdreamof agreat statue representedthe kingdomsthatwouldarise inthe future.
Nebuchadnezzarmade agreat statue of himself andforcedeveryone toworshipit.Shadrach,Meshach,
and Abednegorefusedandwere miraculouslysparedbyGoddespite beingthrownintoafieryfurnace.
NebuchadnezzarisjudgedbyGodfor hispride,butlaterrestoredonce he recognizedandadmitted
God’ssovereignty.
Daniel chapter5 recordsNebuchadnezzar’ssonBelshazzarmisusingthe itemstakenfromthe Temple in
Jerusalemandreceivingamessage fromGod,writtenintothe wall,inresponse.OnlyDaniel could
interpretthe writing,amessage of comingjudgmentfromGod.Daniel isthrownintothe lions’denfor
refusingtoprayto the emperor,butwasmiraculouslyspared.Inchapter7, God gave Daniel a visionof

2. fourbeasts.The four beastsrepresentedthe kingdomsof Babylon,Medo-Persia,Greece,andRome.
Chapters8-12 containa visioninvolvingaram, a goat, and several horns –also referringtofuture
kingdomsandtheirrulers.Daniel chapter9recordsDaniel’s“seventyweeks”prophecy.Godgave Daniel
the precise timeline of whenthe Messiahwouldcome andbe cut off.The prophecyalsomentionsa
future rulerwhowill make aseven-yearcovenantwithIsrael andbreakitafterthree anda half years,
followedshortlythereafterbythe greatjudgmentandconsummationof all things.Danielisvisitedand
strengthenedbyanangel afterthisgreatvision,andthe angel explainsthe visiontoDaniel ingreat
detail.
We see inthe storiesof the fieryfurnace andDaniel inthe lions’denaforeshadowingof the salvation
providedbyChrist.The three mendeclare thatGodis a savingGod whocan provide a wayof escape
fromthe fire asstatedin Daniel 3:17, “ Ifwe are thrown intothe blazingfurnace,the God we serve is
able to deliver usfrom it, andhe will deliverus from YourMajesty’s hand.” AsChristianswe can
understandthatinthe same way,bysendingJesustodie forour sins,Godhas providedanescape from
the firesof hell:“ForChristalsosufferedonce for sins,the righteousfor the unrighteous,to bring you
to God.He was put to death inthe bodybut made alivein the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18). InDaniel’scase,
God providedanangel toshut the lions’mouthsandsavedDaniel from death.JesusChristisour
provisionfromthe dangersof the sinthat threatenstoconsume us.
Daniel’svisionof the endtimesdepictsIsrael’sMessiahbywhommanywill be made pure andholy.We
can learnfromDaniel 12:10, “Manywill be purified,madespotlessand refined,but the wicked will
continueto be wicked.None of the wicked will understand,but those whoare wise will understand.”
Like Danielsthree friends: Shadrach,Meshach andAbednego,we shouldalwaysstandforwhatwe know
isright.God is greaterthan anypunishmentthatcouldcome uponus.WhetherGod choosestodeliver
us or not, as Christians,we needtosteadfastlybelieve inourheartsthat He isalwaysworthyof our
trust.
God knowswhatis best,andHe honorsthose whotrustand obeyHim. We mustknow that God has a
plan,and Hisplanis downto the intricate detail.Godknowsandisincontrol of the future.Everything
that God has predictedhascome true exactly asHe predicted.Therefore,we shouldbelieve andtrust
that the thingsHe haspredictedforthe future will one dayoccurexactlyas God hasdeclared.