The Gallery

1. The Gallery I entered at the portico of Genesis, Walked down through the Old Testament art galleries Where pictures of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Isaac, Jacob and Daniel hung on the wall. I passed into the music room of Psalms, where the Spirit swept the keyboard of nature Until it seemed that every reed and pipe in God’s great organ responded to the tuneful harp of David The sweet singer of Israel

2. The Gallery I entered the chamber of Ecclesiastes, where the voice of the preacher was heard And into the conservatory of Sharon, where the Lily of the Valley’s sweet-scented spices Filled and perfumed my life I entered the business office of Proverbs, and then into the observatory room of the Prophets Where I saw telescopes of various sizes, pointed to far off events…

3. The Gallery But all concentrated on the Bright and Morning Star… I entered the audience room of the King of Kings And caught a vision of His glory from the standpoint of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John Passed into the Acts of the Apostles, where the Holy Spirit was doing His work In the formation of the Infant Church

4. The Gallery Then into the correspondence room, where sat St. Paul, St. Peter, St. James and St. John Penning their Epistles I stepped into the throne room of Revelation Where towered the glittering peaks… And got a vision of the King sitting upon the throne in all His glory

5. The Gallery And I cried: All hail the power of our Lord Jesus’ name Let Angels prostrate fall Bring forth the royal diadem Proclaim Him Lord of all.

6. An Introduction to the BOOK OF DANIEL For a complete study, please refer to Fr. Tadros Malaty’s Commentary on the Book of Daniel: http://www.coepa.org/search.php?nav=

7. PREFACE • The Book of Daniel describes life in Babylon during the dark days of the captivity of the Jews. • It describes the life of a very godly man, living in an ungodly world. • Only about half of the Book of Daniel is prophetic; the rest is historical. • In the historical chapters of Daniel we find familiar stories such as Daniel in the lion’s den, and Daniel’s three friends in the fiery furnace. • These stories provide models for all of us as to how we should live in an ungodly world, until that time when the Lord fulfills His prophetic promises and returns to the earth to establish His kingdom.

8. OBJECTIVE • The Book of Daniel does not give a complete summary of the entire period of the Babylonian Exile, or of the life of Daniel himself. • Both its parts give only a few isolated facts connected with either the Exile or the Prophet's life. • The contents of the Prophecy of Daniel are of a peculiar kind which has no exact parallel in the Bible, except in the Apocalypse of St. John (Revelation). • In Daniel, as in the book of Revelation, one is in the presence of contents whose general purpose is to comfort God's people under a cruel persecution, chiefly by means of symbolical visions bearing on "the time of the end". • The Jews are to be comforted by the assurance of both the fate that awaits their oppressor and of the setting up of God's universal and eternal kingdom.

9. AUTHORSHIP AND DATE OF COMPOSITION • The Prophet Daniel composed the work between 570-536 B.C. during the Babylonian Exile • Daniel employed the third person (He, they, it) in recording events, for the event is its own witness; and the first person (I, we) in relating prophetical visions. • Matthew, 24:15: "When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that reads let him understand” • Christ treats Daniel's visions as true oracles, and expressly names him as their writer. • Christ endorsed and confirmed by His authority the view which was then received among the Jews, which regarded Daniel as the author of this book which bears his name.

10. AUTHORSHIP AND DATE OF COMPOSITION • Daniel was contemporary to Ezekiel the prophet, and younger in age. • Ezekiel addressed Jerusalem with its temple, which became desolate due to corruption. • In the same time, he saw with the spirit of prophecy, not only the return from the captivity but the erection of a new temple, the temple of the New Testament where the divine grace overflows. • Daniel addressed not only the return from the captivity, but also the encounter with the true Liberator the Lord Jesus Christ, who can liberate us from the bondage of sin and makes us enter into His glories. • He opens the eyes of our hearts to see Christ coming at the end of ages to form, from his believers, shining stars on His image. • Both Ezekiel and Daniel revealed God’s care for His believers, assuring them that He will never forget them, no matter how long the exile period is.

11. ABOUT DANIEL • He was a prophet occupied with administration. However, he knew how not to mix between the administration and his prophetic spiritual work • His position in administration did not make him lose his heavenly vision and his concern for the salvation of his soul and the salvation of his people, and even the salvation of the kings who dealt with him. • His high position in the largest pagan empire did not prevent him from witnessing to the true God and from keeping His commandments, not violently but with the spirit of wisdom, love and courage. • He is the father of the history of the Gentiles. He recorded many precise prophecies about the kingdoms which follow one another, through God’s plan. • The book of Daniel is the only book in the Old Testament which prophesied in details about kings and kingdoms, which he had declared by name like Persia and Greece.

12. ABOUT DANIEL • He is the prophet who spoke of the events of salvation, the end of the world, and the events of the Gentile world. • Because of his many prophecies (about sixty), the book of Daniel is the book in the Old Testament that was mostly read and studied in the Christian Church. •  The scriptures group him with Noah and Job: “If a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it…even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (Ezekiel 14:14) • God said to the king of Tyre, “Behold, you are wiser than Daniel! There is no secret that can be hidden from you!” (Ezek.28:3) • He was granted the gift of explaining dreams by the Spirit of God, as the pagan king told him, “...I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you...” (Dan.4:9)

13. ABOUT DANIEL • Josephus, the Jewish historian, mentioned that Daniel was very skillful in architecture. He is the one who designed the building of the famous tower of Shushan in Persia, where the kings of Persia lived. • He was probably born in Jerusalem, and was captive in Babylon like Ezekiel (Dan. 1:1-2). • Daniel was captive in the first captivity, during the days of Jehoakim, the year 606 B.C., while Ezekiel was captive in the second captivity. • He was captive to Babylon, while he was a youth, and was from the tribe of Judah (Dan.1:7), though not from the royal descendants of David (Dan. 1:3).

14. ABOUT DANIEL • Some say that he lived about 84 years from 618 to 534 B.C. He served during the times of the kingdoms of Babylon, Medes, and Persia. • He did not eat from the delicacies offered to idols, and rejected worshipping idols. He was courageous in explaining the visions and dreams to kings, without complimenting them. • He lived in a very critical decade with great kings like Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and Korash of Persia. • Not many were able to talk to such great kings, however, Daniel, who was a stranger and a captive, was able to talk with them frankly and boldly with humility, even pointing out their mistakes at times.

15. GENERAL OUTLINE • There are generally two ways to outline Daniel, the traditional/content approach and the linguistic approach. The traditional/content approach: • chapters 1-6: historical (told in the third person) • chapters 7-12: prophetic (told in the first person) The linguistic approach: • chapter 1-2:4a: introduction (in Hebrew) • chapters 2:4b-7: Aramaic (referring to Gentiles) • chapters 8-12: Hebrew (referring to Jews)

16. GENERAL OUTLINE • “Enclosing the main body of a composition within the linguistic form of a contrasting style so as to heighten the effect of the work was commonly employed in the construction of single, integrated writings in Mesopotamian literature” (pp. 1109-1110 of his Old Testament Introduction). • Thus, chapters 2-7 of Daniel, being in Aramaic, fit in well with the literary devices of the day. One can view the Aramaic section of Daniel as bracketed/sandwiched by the Hebrew parts. • This could be related to the fact that Daniel had two distinct, although related, messages to deliver: • a message of judgment concerning the defeat and final overthrow of the Gentile world powers (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus). • The other was a message of consolation and hope concerning the future deliverance for God's people, Israel. What concerned the Gentiles was written in Aramaic, the commercial and diplomatic language of the time. That which concerned the people of Israel was written in Hebrew, though the entire prophecy would, when written down by Daniel, be addressed to the Jewish people.

17. GENERAL OUTLINE • The book may be organized as in the following outline in which the Aramaic section constitutes a reverse parallel while the Hebrew section involves a straightforward parallel.

18. CHAPTER OUTLINES Part I – Historical Chapters (1-6) Chapter 1 Strangers in the Palace • The opening chapter may be considered as a preface to the whole book. It introduces to the reader the Hebrew heroes of the book, Daniel and his three fellow-captives, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias. • It records how these noble youths obtained a high rank in Nebuchadnezzar's service, although they had refused to be defiled by eating of the royal food. Contents: 1. The youth in the captivity: verses 1-4 2. Their choice to serve the king: verses 5-7 3. Their rejection to the king’s delicacies: verses 8-14 4. The result of the test: verses 15-16 5. Their enjoyment of wisdom and understanding: 17 6. They surpass all the wise men verses 18-21

19. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 2 The Vision of the Statue • The disquieting dream of the king which Daniel alone was able accurately to interpret. Nebuchadnezzar's dream was that of a great statue made up of various materials and broken in pieces by a small stone which became a mountain and filled the whole earth. • Daniel's interpretation was that the several parts of the statue with their various materials symbolized many monarchies with their respective power • The stone which destroyed them and grew into a great mountain prefigured the Messiah’s universal and everlasting kingdom which would break in pieces all the other kingdoms.

20. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 2 The Vision of the Statue Contents: 1. The history of the dream v. 1 2. The forgotten dream v. 2-12 3. The order to kill the wise men v. 13 4. Daniel’s behavior v. 14-18 5. Revealing the secret v. 19-24 6. Encounter with the king v.25-30 7. The metal statue v.31-33 8. The strange stone v.34-36 9. Interpretation of the dream v.37-45 10. Daniel’s friends v.49

21. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 3 The Three Youths in the Fiery Furnace • The next section (3:1-30) narrates how Daniel's three companions, having refused to worship a massive statue set up by Nebuchadnezzar, were cast into a highly-heated furnace . • They were preserved unharmed, and the king issued a decree in favor of their God and promoted them to places of dignity. Outline: 1. Building a golden image v. 1-7 2. Complaint against the three youths. v. 8-12 3. Discussion with Nebuchadnezzar v. 13-18 4. The three youths in the fiery furnace v. 19-23 5. Deliverance of the three youths v. 24-30 6. The praise of the three youths

22. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 4 The Decree of Nebuchadnezzar and the Haughty Tree • 3:31-4 contains Nebuchadnezzar's letter to all peoples and nations, recounting his dream of a mighty tree cut down at God's bidding, and its interpretation by Daniel. • The fulfillment in the form of seven years of madness which befell the king, and his recovery for which was the occasion of his thankful letter. Outline: 1. The decree of Nebuchadnezzar; v. 1-3 2. Calling the wise men to interpret his dream: v. 4-8 3. The haughty tree v. 9-18 4. Daniel interprets the dream v. 19-27 5. Fulfilling the interpretation v.28-36 6. Nebuchadnezzar glorifies God v. 37

23. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 5 Belshazzar and the Writings on the wall • The fifth chapter describes Balthazar's profane banquet, the mysterious handwriting on the wall, Daniel's interpretation of that writing, and the overthrow, on that same night, of Balthazar's kingdom. Outline: 1. The banquet of Belshazzar: 1.1-4 2. Writing on the wall: v. 5-9 3. Bringing Daniel to the king v.10-16 4. Daniel’s interpretation v.17-29 5. The results v. 30-31

24. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 6 Daniel in the Lion’s Den • In the sixth chapter Daniel is represented as the object of the special favor of Darius the Mede, and also of the persistent jealousy of the other officers of the Crown, who finally succeed in having him thrown into the lions' den, because of his faithfulness in praying to God three times a day. • Upon Daniel's miraculous survival, Darius decrees that all in his kingdom should "dread and fear the God of Daniel." Outline: 1. Daniel’s position during the reign of Darius. v. 1-3 2. The enemies plotting against Daniel. v. 4-9 3. Daniel’s faith v. 10-15 4. Daniel’s tribulation and salvation v.16-24 5. The declaration of Darius v. 25-28

25. CHAPTER OUTLINES Part II - Visions and Prophecies (Chapter 7 – 12) • Four visions which Daniel describes in the first person. Chapter 7 The four beasts and the small horn Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s vision • The first of these visions (ch. 7) is referred to the first year of Balthazar's reign, and offers a close parallel to the dream in the second chapter. • The nightly vision was of beasts coming out of the sea, and symbolic of the Gentile powers judged in due time by "the Ancient of days", and finally replaced by the universal and everlasting Messianic kingdom.

26. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 7 The four beasts and the small horn Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s vision Outline: 1. The history of the vision v. 1 2. The big sea v. 2 3. The first beast: Babylon v. 3,4 4. The second beast: Medes and Persians v. 5 5. The third beast: The Greek Empire v. 6 6. The fourth beast: The Roman Empire v. 7 7. The small horn v. 8 8. The Ancient of Days v. 9-12 9. Like the Son of Man v. 13,14 10. The interpretation of the vision v. 15-18 11. The kingdom of Antichrist and the kingdom of the saints v. 19-27 12. Daniel’s worry v. 28

27. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 8 The Ram and the Goat • Like the first, the second vision (ch. 8) is ascribed to the reign of Balthazar, and represents worldly powers under the figure of animals. • Daniel sees a ram with two horns (the Medes and the Persians) pushing victoriously towards the west, north and south, until it is struck by a he-goat (the Greeks) with a great horn (Alexander) between its eyes. • This great horn is soon broken in its turn, and gives place to four others (the Greek kingdoms of Egypt, Syria, Macedonia, and Thrace), from one of which grows out a "little horn", namely Antiochus Epiphanes. • This prince is not, indeed, named by the Angel Gabriel, who explains the vision to Daniel, but is clearly designated by the description of the doings of the "little horn" against the host of heaven and its prince (God), desecrating "the sanctuary", interrupting the daily sacrifice for about three years and a half.

28. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 8 The Ram and the Goat Outline: 1. Introduction of the vision v. 1-2 2. The vision of the ram v. 3-4 3. The vision of the goat v. 5-8 4. The small horn v. 9-14 5. The explanation of the vision v.15-27

29. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 9 The Seventy Weeks • The prophecy of the seventy weeks. Archangel Gabriel explained to him how the seventy years of desolation foretold by Jeremiah should be understood. • The first period is for the rebuilding of Jerusalem to "an anointed one, a prince". During the second, the Holy City will be built. • At the end of this period "an anointed one" will be cut off, and the people of a prince who shall come will "destroy" the city and the sanctuary. • He will cause sacrifice and oblation to cease and the abomination of desolation to be set up, until he meets with his fate. Outline: 1. Daniel who studies the prophecies v. 1-2 2. Daniel a man of prayer v. 3-19 3. The answered prayer v. 20-23 4. The vision of the seventy weeks v. 24-27

30. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 10 Seeing the Glory of God • The last vision, ascribed to the third year of Cyrus, is recorded in chapters 10-12. • Its opening part (Ch. 10-11) gives a description of the vision with a reference to Media, Persia, and Greece. Outline: 1. The date of the vision: v.1 2. His enjoyment with the vision: v.2-9 3. The angelic ministry: v.10-14 4. The divine ministry: v.15-27

31. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 11 The Last Vision of Persia, Greece and the end of times • The second part (Ch. 11) announces many events connected with four Persian kings. • Also with Alexander and his successors and with the deeds of a king of the North, i.e. Antiochus Epiphanes, against Egypt, the Jews, the Temple, etc., until he should come to an end. Outline: 1. Prophecies about Persia: v. 1-2 2. Prophecies about Greece: v. 3-4 3. Prophecies about the conflict between Egypt and Syria: v. 5-35 4. The end of times, the Antichrist: v. 36-45

32. CHAPTER OUTLINES Chapter 12 The Great Tribulation and the Resurrection • The conclusion of the vision (Ch. 12) declares how Michael (the guardian angel of Israel) will deliver the people. • Mention is made of a resurrection of the dead, followed by rewards and punishments. • For 1290 days, or about three and a half years, the daily sacrifice will cease and the abomination of desolation will be set up. • Blessed is he who continues steadfast till 1335 days. Outline: 1. Prophecies about Persia: v. 1-2 2. Prophecies about Greece: v. 3-4 3. Prophecies about the conflict between Egypt and Syria: v. 5-35 4. The end of times, the Antichrist: v. 36-45

33. Enjoy reading the book of Danielwith this new perspectiveMay God enlighten our understanding