THE BOOK OF DANIEL--A COMPANION TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION

THE BOOK OF DANIEL
A COMPANION TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Introduction:

“Daniel, like Ezekiel was a Jewish captive in Babylon. He was of royal or princely descent (Daniel 1:3). For his rank and comeliness he was trained for palace service. In the polluted atmosphere of an oriental court he lived a life of singular [remarkable] piety and usefulness. His long life extended from Nebuchadnezzar to Cyrus. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel (Ezekiel 14:20), Joshua, the high priest of the restoration, Ezra, and Zerubbabel.

“Daniel is the indispensable introduction to New Testament prophecy, the themes of which are:

 The apostasy of the Church.

 The manifestation of the man of sin.

 The great tribulation.

 The return of the Lord.

 The resurrections and the judgments.

These, except the first, are Daniel’s themes also.

“But Daniel is distinctively the prophet of the ‘times of the Gentiles’ (Luke 21:24). His vision sweeps the whole course of Gentile world-rule to its end in catastrophe, and to the setting up of the Messianic kingdom.” --- Scofield.

“The Romans, who ploughed up the city and temple, and laid them level with the ground; and which spot has been ever since inhabited by such as were not Jews, as Turks and Papists: and so it will be, “until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled;” that is, till the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in; until the Gospel is preached all over the world, and all God’s elect are gathered in out of all nations; and then the Jews will be converted, and return to their own land, and rebuild and inhabit Jerusalem; but till that time, it will be as it has been, and still is possessed by Gentiles.” --- John Gill’s Expositor.

Daniel’s Career: Resembled that of Joseph:

1) Promoted to the highest office in the realm, Daniel 2:48.

2) He maintained his spiritual life in the midst of a heathen court, Daniel 6:10.

Section 1:

“Daniel “was carried to Babylon among the Hebrew captives brought thither by Nebuchadnezzar at the first deportation in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. As he and his three companions are called (Daniel 1:4) ‘children,’ he cannot have been more than about twelve years old when put in training, according to Eastern etiquette, to be a courtier (Daniel 1:3, 6). He then received a new name, by which it was usual to mark a change in one’s condition (2 Kings 23:34; 24:17; Ezra 5:14; Esther 2:7), Belteshazzar, that is, "a prince favored by Bel" (Daniel 1:7). His piety and wisdom were proverbial among his countrymen at an early period; probably owing to that noble proof he gave of faithfulness, combined with wisdom, in abstaining from the food sent to him from the king’s table, as being polluted by the idolatries usual at heathen banquets (Daniel 1:8-16).” --- Jamieson, Fausset, Brown.

The book refers to six moral conflicts in which Daniel and his companions participated:

1) First Conflict. Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself, in promoting health. Resolution to follow God’s precepts wins, Daniel 1:8-15.

2) Second Conflict. Between Worldly wisdom and heavenly Wisdom in the interpretation of dreams. Divine Wisdom Wins, Daniel 2:1-47.

3) Third Conflict. Nebuchadnezzar’s image of gold versus Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s Loyalty to God. Loyalty to God Wins, Daniel 3:1-30.

4) Fourth Conflict. Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride arrayed against Divine Sovereignty. God wins, —the king turned out to eat grass, Daniel 4:4-37.

5) Fifth Conflict. Belshazzar’s irreverence for the things of the Temple; reverence wins, —the Handwriting on the Wall; Belshazzar dethroned, Daniel 5:1-30.

6) Sixth Conflict. Between Malicious Plotting and the Protection of God over his Saints. God’s Providence wins: The lion’s mouths are stopped, Daniel 6:1-28.

Section 2:

Visions and prophecies relating to the controlling hand of God that move the scenes in the Panorama of History, Daniel 7:1--12:13.

Interpretation:

The Book of Daniel is a companion to the Book of Revelation; both contain much imagery which is mysterious. The attempt to fit the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation into the facts and events of human history has produced an endless conflict of opinions. The true interpretation of the details of the visions is not always clear.

Two Facts are generally acknowledged by candid scholars:

1) That the prophecies represent a partly veiled Revelation of Future Events in secular and sacred history.

2) That the visions point to the ultimate triumph of God’s Kingdom over all Satanic and World Powers.

In Chapter Seven many commentators see the Four Beasts as representing the four great Empires, —Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, Daniel 7:1-7, followed by a vision of the Coming Messiah.

In Chapter Eight another period of Medo-Persian and Grecian history appears under the figure of a beast.

Chapter Nine contains Daniel’s prayer and a veiled prophecy of the time of the Coming of the Messiah.

Chapters Ten to Twelve contain additional far-reaching predictions and revelations of future events.

“This chapter (10) is an introduction to the prophecies contained in the two following chapters; and begins with an account of Daniel’s mourning and fasting, preparatory to the vision he had, Daniel 10:1-3, and of the appearance of Christ to him, with the time and place of it; who is described by his clothing, and the several parts of his body, which were very glorious, he appearing in a human form, Daniel 10:4-6.

“In this chapter (11) the angel makes good his promise to Daniel, that he would show him what was written in the Scripture of truth, concerning the monarchies of the earth, and what would befall his people the Jews in the latter days.

“This chapter (12) begins with an account of a time of exceeding great trouble to the people of God, who are comforted with the consideration of Michael the great Prince being on their side, and with a promise of deliverance, with the resurrection of the dead.” Daniel is ordered to close, “seal the book of the prophecy, until a time when it should be better understood.” – John Gill’s Expositor.

Choice Selections:

1) The Purpose of Daniel, Daniel 1:8.

2) The “Stone cut out of the Mountain,” Daniel 2:44-45.

3) The Answer of the Three Hebrew Captives, Daniel 3:16-18.

4) The Feast of Belshazzar, Daniel 5:1-31.

5) Daniel in the Den of Lions, Daniel 6:1-24.

6) The Vision of the Judgment, Daniel 7:9-14.

7) The Soul-winner’s Promise, Daniel 12:3.