860 likes | 1.12k Views
DANIEL PAGE 231. Empire reminder I. A B ig P icture G rows. A = Assyria B = Babylonia P = Persia G = Greece. Empire reminder II. G reat P olitical S trength M ade R ome. G = Greece P = Ptolemy S = Seleucid M = Macabees R = Rome. THE DATE OF THE WRITING
E N D
Empire reminder I ABig Picture Grows. A= Assyria B= Babylonia P = Persia G = Greece
Empire reminder II Great Political Strength Made Rome. G = Greece P = Ptolemy S = Seleucid M = Macabees R= Rome
THE DATE OF THE WRITING • According to the contents of the Book of Daniel, it was written in the sixth century b.c. by Daniel who lived during its events. (This date is disputed by liberals. They prefer 400 years later in order to account for the prophecies.) • Daniel’s familiarity with the individuals spoken of in the book and with the historical events and customs mentioned in the book necessitates a sixth-century date for the book. • The minute details included in the book could hardly have been retained accurately by oral tradition for some 400 years.
THE DATE OF THE WRITING • The fact that manuscript fragments from the Book of Daniel were found in Qumran, written perhaps in the second century b.c., argue against the notion that Daniel was written in 165 b.c., as many critics suggest. • Not enough time would have been available for the book to have reached the Essene community in Qumran and for it to have been copied there.
PURPOSES OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL Daniel’s personal dedication to God would have been an example to the deportees. The book emphasizes God’s sovereign authority over Gentile nations. The book gives an example of God’s faithfulness to His covenant people in protecting and preserving them even though they were under divine discipline. The book was also written to outline graphically the prophetic period known as ”the times of the Gentiles“. The book also reveals Israel’s future deliverance and the blessings she will enjoy in the coming Millennial Age.
THREE MAIN VIEWS OF PROPHECY • 1. HISTORICISM (Examples, though there is are variations) • The prophecy of Daniel's 70 Weeks has already been fulfilled in its entirety. • The Antichrist is not one particular man, but has been fulfilled by the papacy of the Roman Catholic Church. We should not be expecting an Antichrist to appear in the future. • The prophesied ten-horn kingdom existed at the time of the dissolution of the Roman Empire, and the papacy rose up among these ten kings.
THREE MAIN VIEWS OF PROPHECY • 1. HISTORICISM (Continued): • The Great Tribulation lasted 1,260 years and is now past. (From the rise of Islam in 622 AD until 1844 when Britain and other “Christian nations forced the Sultan of Turkey to abolish the death penalty for Moslems who converted to Christianity.) There will not be a time of great tribulation at the Second Coming.
THREE MAIN VIEWS OF PROPHECY • PRETERISM (from Latin meaning “past”) • THE GREAT TRIBULATION – They believe this took place at the fall of Israel and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. They believe that it will not be repeated and that this term is NOT referring to any future event. • THE BEAST OF REVELATION – They believe that it is a symbol of Nero (some hold this view) or of the Roman Empire in general.
THREE MAIN VIEWS OF PROPHECY • PRETERISM (continued): • THE MILLENNIUM – Preterists (most of them) say that this refers to the spiritual kingdom of Jesus Christ which He established at His first coming. They say it refers to the period of time between His first and second comings. They believe that the Millennium is going on now with Christians reigning as kings on earth. • ISRAEL – They believe that ethnic Israel was excommunicated for its apostasy and will never again be part of God’s Kingdom. They say that the Bible does not tell of any future plan for Israel as a special nation. • ARMAGEDDON – Preterists believe that it is simply a symbol of defeat and desolation. They teach that there never was, nor will be, a literal “Battle of Armageddon” and that there is no such place.
THREE MAIN VIEWS OF PROPHECY • 3. FUTURIST: • There is a gap between the 69th and 70th week of Daniel's 70 Weeks" prophecy. The first 69 weeks have been fulfilled. The 70th week, a seven-year period, is yet to come to pass. • Though there have been many antichrists throughout the years, the Bible prophesies one Antichrist who will rule a one-world government for three and one-half years immediately before the coming of Jesus Christ at Armageddon.
THREE MAIN VIEWS OF PROPHECY • 3. FUTURIST (continued): • The prophesied ten-horn kingdom is yet to appear on earth, and the Antichrist will arise among these ten kings. • The Tribulation is yet future and will last for seven years. This is Daniel's 70th week. It will be terminated when the Antichrist is destroyed by Jesus Christ at Armageddon. • Most of Jesus' prophecies in Matthew 24 deal with events of the end time and have yet to be fulfilled.
First Narrative The real “Daniel Plan” Daniel 1
From Saddleback Church’s website: “What is The Daniel Plan? Inspired by the Bible story from the first Chapter of the Book of Daniel, The Daniel Plan is a 52-week program to help you adapt a healthy lifestyle--not just another short-term diet. The Daniel Plan curriculum has been designed by three world-renowned doctors including brain expert Dr. Daniel Amen, functional medicine pioneer Dr. Mark Hyman, and heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz. Since being launched January 15, 2011, more than 9,500 people have started the plan, including Pastor Rick Warren who announced his goal of losing 90 lbs.”
Daniel 1:8-15 – Likely reasons why Daniel and his friends did not eat the food: Since these Jewish youths took the Old Testament dietary commands seriously, there were at least three reasons. 1. Some of the food undoubtedly included pork, camel meat, and other animals they were prohibited to eat. In addition, even the clean animals probably were cooked in the same pots as the unclean ones. 2. For even the clean animals, the Jews could not eat the blood. We do not hear of ancient cultures draining the blood before cooking the animals. 3. There were other laws, such as one could not cook a young animal in its mother’s milk.
Second Narrative Daniel’s three friends and the fiery furnace Daniel 3
Table question: Some might conclude that since Daniel is not included with the three Jewish men who did not bow down, he did indeed bow down. How would you respond to this theory? Possible answer: Since Daniel’s character is clearly revealed as spiritual and courageous, there is a reason why. Perhaps, as a government official, he was out of the area on business during this occasion.
Third Narrative King Nebuchadnezzar’s mental illness Daniel 4
Fourth Narrative The Handwriting on the wall Daniel 5
The three words written on the wall: Daniel 5:25-28 (NIV) 25“This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin26“This is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. 27Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. 28Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” Mene (menē’) is an Aramaic noun referring to a weight of 50 shekels (a mina, equal to 1 1/4 pounds). It is from the verb menâh, ”to number, to reckon.“ Tekel (teqēl) is a noun referring to a shekel (2/5 of an ounce). It is from the verb teqāl, ”to weigh.“ Parsin (parsîn)—(or Peres) is a noun meaning a half-mina (25 shekels, or about 2/3 of a pound). It is from the verb peras, ”to break in two, to divide.“ The word on the wall was actually Ūp̱arsîn, which means ”and Parsin“
Fifth Narrative Daniel in the lion’s den Daniel 6
Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue explained by Daniel in Daniel 2
Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream • Table discussion: Read 2:29-45. What observations can you make from Daniel’s interpretation?
Daniel 2:24-45: Head of Gold – Babylonian Empire (626-539 B.C.)
Daniel 2:24-45: Chest and arms of silver – Medo-Persian Empire (538-332 B.C.)
Chest and arms of silver – Medo-Persian Empire (538-332 B.C.)
Daniel 2:24-45: Belly and thighs of bronze – Greek Empire (332-63 B.C.)
Daniel 2:24-45: Legs of iron and feet of clay and iron – Roman Empire (past and future)
Legs of iron and feet of clay and iron – Roman Empire (past)
Daniel 2:44-45: The rock = Christ setting up His millennial kingdom at His second coming.
Daniel’s dream of four beasts • Table discussion: Read 7:1-14. What observations can you make from Daniel’s dream?
Daniel 7:8-11, 19-28: 4th Beast = Revived Roman Empire with one king (the little horn) subduing 3 of the 10 kings
Daniel 11:4 – The four Greek generals are represented by the four heads of Daniel 7:6 and the four horns on the goat of Daniel 8:8.
Daniel 11:4 – The four Greek generals • 1. Seleucus (over Syria and Mesopotamia) • 2. Ptolemy (over Egypt) • 3. Lysimacus (over Thrace and portions of Asia Minor) • 4. Cassander (over Macedonia and Greece)
Daniel’s vision of a ram and goat • Table discussion: Read 8:1-14. What observations can you make of Daniel’s vision?