Daniel 1

Daniel 1

INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL Introduction: These notes are somewhat different from other verse by verse notes on this website as they are not intended to be as in depth. Please refer to other resources for more commentary. Note that the approach in these notes is to interpret Daniel as literally as possible. Note: This first section is primarily introduction and background information on the Book of Daniel. To go to notes verse by verse click Daniel 1:1 Comments. Recommended Resource: After you have read through Daniel (one sitting if possible) and then begun to study Daniel 1, I have an Mp3 teaching tape by Calvary Chapel Pastor Rob Salvato which is highly recommended because of his excellent introductory remarks on the important historical background to Daniel and then his comments on the opening passages in Daniel 1:1-8. This Mp3 is about 64 minutes and is well worth a one hour investment as I think you will agree! Link to the Mp3 - Click to listen or Right Click and Choose "Save Target As" You can easily transfer the downloaded message to your Ipod and listen while you drive back and forth to work. This audio is especially recommended for all you dads (or dads to be) -- from yours truly, a 63yo dad with 4 grown children. I wish I had known these truths when my children were teenagers! TWO DIVISIONS OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL DANIEL 1-6 DANIEL 7-12 On Site Historical Prophetic J Vernon McGee The Historic Night with Prophetic Light The Prophetic Light in the Historic Night, Precept Ministries Living Out a Biblical Worldview Gaining Understanding of the Time of the End John Phillips Daniel and His Personal Friends Daniel and His People's Future Irving Jensen Mainly Historical: 6 Historical Narratives Mainly Predictive: 4 Apocalyptic Visions Irving Jensen Daniel Interprets Other's Dreams Angel Interprets Daniel's Dreams Rob Salvato The Prophet - The Man The Prophecy - The Message There are some other important divisions that should be kept in mind as you study the Book of Daniel... SOME OTHER DIVISIONS OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL Daniel 1 Daniel 2-7 Daniel 8-12 Written in Hebrew Written in Aramaic Written in Hebrew Daniel's "No Compromise" Stand* God's Prophetic Plan for the Gentile Nations** God's Prophetic Plan for the Jews and Israel* **THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES In view of the emphasis on the fate of Gentiles and Jews in Daniel 2-12, it is worth noting that many conservative commentators feel that these events mark the inception of the specific "times" which Jesus referred to in Luke 21 when He declared that... they (the Jews in Jerusalem - fulfilled in 70AD when Titus sacked the Temple and destroyed Jerusalem) will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until (Time phrase) the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Ed: The time of Gentile domination will come to an end). 25 "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world (Ed: Referring to the incredible events of the Great Tribulation, described in detail in Revelation 6-19); for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see THE SON OF MAN (Messiah) COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory (Messiah's triumphant Second Coming at the end of the 7 years of Daniel's Seventieth Week [Re 19:13-note, Re 19:14-note, Re 19:15-note, Re 19:16-note, Re 19:20-note, Re 19:21-note] and the last 3.5 years referred to as the Great Tribulation - Mt 24:21). 28 "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Lk 21:28) The times of the Gentiles began with the Gentile nation of Babylon destroying the Temple and initiating Gentile domination over Jerusalem in 605, 597 and 586 BC. In fact, the essential area of Jerusalem--the sacred site of its ancient temple, Temple Mount--is still under the control of the Muslim Arabs. Thus, the "times of the Gentiles" have not yet been fulfilled, nor will they be until Christ returns (Lk 21:27) to restore Jerusalem, a restoration ("redemption") of which Jesus spoke in (Luke 21:28). Irving Jensen feels the Key verse is Da 4:17 and the key words are "dream" and "vision". The first 6 chapters are chronologically arranged (although it is difficult to specifically date chapters 3, 4, 5-see table below), with the prophecies of the last six chapters fitting into these chapters. The following table is from Tony Garland's recommended free online commentary on Daniel (see also his in depth verse by verse commentary on the book of the Revelation, one of the best evangelical commentaries available - A Testimony of Jesus Christ A Testimony of Jesus Christ). Note that Dr Garland chooses Daniel's "starting age" as 14yo but the range in various reputable sources is from 14-21yo. Some unusual aspects of the Book of Daniel... God never speaks directly Written in two languages Hebrew and Aramaic (Aramaic from Da 2:4-Da 7:28) Contains one of the most direct OT references to resurrection (Da 12:1, 2, 3) Lays out the history of the world culminating in the return of the Messiah ("The Stone" in Daniel 2:34, 35, 45, "The Son of Man" in Daniel 7:13, 14, et al) Accurately predicts the time of Messiah's first coming and crucifixion in Daniel 9:24, 25, 26, 27, a section I feel is rightly referred to as "the backbone of all Biblical prophecy". (See notes on Daniel 9:24, Daniel 9:25, Daniel 9:26, Daniel 9:27) Chronological Structure of the Book of Daniel Year (B.C.) Passage Chronological Indicator Related Events Israel Ruled By Daniel's Age (est.) 606 Daniel 1:1 3rd year of the reign of King Jehoiakim. Daniel taken captive to Babylon. Babylon 14 604 Daniel 2:1 2nd year of King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar's vision of a great image of four metals. Babylon 16 604-562 Daniel 3:1ff - Nebuchadnezzar's image of gold, the fiery furnace. Babylon 16-58 604-562 Daniel. 4:1-27 - Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great tree chopped down. Babylon 16-58 604-562 Daniel 4:28-37 - Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation as a beast. Babylon 17-58 553 Daniel 7:1 1st year of King Belshazzar. Daniel's vision of the four beasts. Babylon 67 551 Daniel 8:1 3rd year of reign of King Belshazzar. Daniel's vision of a ram and a goat. Babylon 69 539 Daniel 5:1 Last year of King Belshazzar. Abuse of temple vessels at party, handwriting on the wall. Babylon 81 539 Daniel 5:31 1st year of Darius the Mede. Fall of Babylon to Medo-Persia, Darius strengthened by Angelic messenger (Da 11:1). Medo-Persia 81 539 Daniel 9:1,2 1st year of reign of Darius the Mede. Daniel's intercession for Israel and Gabriel's answer of seventy sevens. Medo-Persia 81 539 Daniel 1:21 1st year of King Cyrus. Cyrus subsequently issued the decree given allowing the Jews to return and rebuild. Medo-Persia 81 539-537 Daniel 6:1-9, 10-23 - Daniel in the lion's den. Medo-Persia 81-83 537 Da 10:1 3rd year of King Cyrus of Persia. Daniel's vision by the Tigris river. Medo-Persia 83 Note: Daniel himself received 4 visions which described in the second half of Daniel, chapters 7-12 (Da 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 2, 10:1) but these visions actually occurred during the historical section of Daniel 1-6 - thus Daniel's 1st and 2nd visions (Da 7:1, Da 8:1) occurred between Daniel 4 (the last mention of Nebuchadnezzar) and Daniel 5 (the last day of the reign of Belshazzar). Daniel's 3rd vision (Da 9:1,2) occurred in approximately 539BC the beginning of which is described in Da 5:31 and the 4th vision in about 537BC See also Tony Garland's Chronology of Daniel WHY STUDY PROPHECY? WHY STUDY DANIEL? It seems that many in the modern church have tended to minimize the preaching and teaching of Bible prophecy for reasons I cannot comprehend. Perhaps some think it is a topic which is too divisive. Others may consider prophecy too difficult to understand. Still others may eschew prophecy for fear of being labeled as adherents to a certain system of interpretation. There may be other reasons, but whatever the reason, the paucity of preaching on this subject in the modern "missional minded" church is surely a mistake. At the very least 2Timothy 3:16-17-note (where "All Scripture" in context refers primarily to the Old Testament) would strongly suggest that preaching "apocalyptic literature" is vital for the training of the man or woman of God, that they may be fully equipped for every good work. At the outset, it should be stated that these notes approach the book of Daniel as inspired by God's Spirit and that He, the Spirit of Truth, desires and is able to lead us into all truth, including the truth about the things to come (Read Jn 14:26, 16:13). While we may argue about the different systems of theology, it seems to me that the safest way to approach this book (and any book of the Bible for that matter) is to read the text prayerfully and Literally, and that is the approach taken by these notes. Remember that Daniel is a book written by a Jewish man to the Jewish people in captivity and a time of despair, a time in which they need to know that Jehovah, the covenant keeping God, was not finished with their nation, Israel. Sadly many today teach the sinister doctrine of replacement theology (another source), which says that God is finished with the nation of Israel and has replace her with the Church, who now inherits the promises to Israel! (See related topic The Israel of God) The following thoughts are in not necessarily in order of importance and also overlap somewhat... 1) It has been estimated that 20% of Scripture is prophesy and 80% of that prophecy has been fulfilled (estimated). The book of Daniel contains the basic prophecies that form the background for God's Plan for the Ages. In fact, the book of Revelation is difficult to understand and interpret without knowledge of and comparison to parallel passages in the book of Daniel. Even this first verse of Daniel begins to fulfill a prophecy given by Isaiah (see 2Ki 20:1-2) which fulfills his prophecy in 2Kings 20:16-18 (Read 2Kings 20 for context to see what mistake King Hezekiah made that provided the background for Isaiah's prophecy - 2Ki 20:12-18 {Repeated in Isaiah 39:1-8} - Lesson? Be careful what you show other people in an act of pride! They may lust for what you have and even try to take it from you! Note Hezekiah's self-centered response = 2Ki 20:19!). Davis commenting on Isaiah's prophecy of the fall of Jerusalem rightly observes that... This was a startling revelation, for Assyria was the great power of the day and seemingly unassailable. The visit was probably an attempt by Babylon to foment problems for Assyria in the west, thereby diverting attention from Babylon. The postexilic reader would have seen the roots of the destruction of Jerusalem in the foolish pride of Hezekiah and in the greed of Babylon. (Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology) 2) The cults and false teachers major in the misuse, abuse and perversion of prophecy, especially unfulfilled prophecy which makes it imperative for the believer to know what saith the Lord on this vital subject. 3) Study of prophecy (and all Scripture) increases our faith (Ro 10:17-note). If God has fulfilled prophecy in the past, He will surely fulfill those prophecies that pertain to the future. You can stake your life on this certainty! 4) Daniel demonstrates it is possible to live in Babylon and yet not succumb to the anti-god, worldly Babylonian influence, a truth which should encourage all believers that they can do likewise. 5) Daniel teaches that God is sovereign and able to sustain His children even in adverse circumstances. Years ago when I taught Daniel, one of the couples lost a 22 year old daughter to anorexia nervosa, and the truth they tenaciously clung to in this severe testing time was the truth that the Most High God reigns over all people, all time and all circumstances. 6) As we watch the America (and the world in general) rushing headlong into godless paganism and rank unrighteousness (cp Pr 14:34), we can take heart that the Most High God always preserves His remnant of believers. 7) Daniel teaches like no other book in Scripture, that history truly is "His Story"! In this sense, Daniel is distinct from other Old Testament prophets which call their the people to repent and lead a new life (prophet - used with the sense of "forth telling"). Daniel is a prophet more in the sense of "for telling" or predicting events before they come to pass (as do the other OT prophets who were "forth tellers"). If you want to understand history and what's happening in our world today, you need to understand Daniel. 8) Although God never speaks directly (no "thus saith the Lord's") in Daniel, clearly God's influence permeates the entire book and as we come to know Him better through this book, we will be enabled to stand firm and to take action in the midst of a godless society (see Da 11:32b). 9) Knowledge of the world's future (God's Plan for the Ages) should effect conduct in the present (cp 2Pe 3:11-note). The effect of studying prophecy is not to make us smarter sinners but to make us more like the Savior. The study of prophecy (and all of Scripture for that matter) is to transform our minds so that we conform more and more with the image of God's Son (cp 2Co 3:18, Ro 12:2-note, Ro 8:29-note, 1Pe 2:2-note, 2Pe 3:18-note) Daniel the believer models a life of consistent faithfulness, manifest by unerring obedience, demonstrating that such a godly life is still possible even during times of hardship. As we watch America become more and more "Babylonized", we as believers need to be importuning and pleading with the God of Heaven to empower Christian parents to train up young "Daniel's" and "Danielles" who will be strategically placed in the next generation. Amen 10) Future hope (Da 7:27-note) stimulates present purity (1Jn 3:2-note, 1Jn 3:3-note, cp Titus 2:11, 12, 13, 14-note). (Note: Remember that "hope" in the Bible rarely means "hope so" but usually refers to one's absolute assurance of future good or that God will do good to me in the future cp Da 7:18, 22, 27-note). Our hope isn't just theological; it's ethical -- it has behavioral consequences. If I believe Christ is coming again and that I will stand before His judgment seat, this truth will (or certainly should) transform me and make a difference in the way I conduct my life. Related Resource: The Blessed Hope = Definition; Blessed Hope = Source of; Blessed Hope = Stabilizing Effect; Blessed Hope = Sanctifying Effect). 11) Miracles and fulfilled prophecy clearly establish God as the only God. (see Is 42:9, Isa 44:7, Isa 45:21, Isa 46:9, 10, etc, cp similar teaching by Jesus in Jn 14:29) 12) Daniel begins with captivity of the chosen, blessed people, which finally exhausted the merciful patience of God, a fact which should serve as a examples warning all NT believers to not "play" around with sin! Remember that rebellious Israel in the OT is often an excellent picture of our fallen flesh, the old evil, anti-god tendency that still lurks in believers! Paul makes reference to sins of Israel in the OT writing... Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved...Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1Co 10:6, 11) 13) The apostle Paul also emphasizes the positive effect of studying Daniel writing that... whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Ro 15:4-note) 14) Daniel's (and other OT) prophecy is like a lamp to which we do well to pay attention as we live our our lives in the darkness of this present evil age. The Young's Literal Translation of 2Peter 1:19-note reads... And we have more firm (more firm than what? then even human experience - the apostle's witness of the transfiguration) the prophetic word, to which we do well giving heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, till day may dawn, and a morning star may arise -- in your hearts; (Note: Some interpret this passage to mean that the Transfiguration substantiated the OT prophecies. Young's Literal which is more true to the original Greek word order would support the idea that the Word was more sure than the experience. This original arrangement supports the interpretation that Peter is ranking Scripture over experience. The prophetic word [Scripture] is more complete, more permanent, and more authoritative than the experience of anyone.) 15) Daniel is the key to a full and accurate interpretation of the book of the Revelation. As Pastor Ray