INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL

  I.     INTRODUCTION

A.   Daniel gives us a “prophetic history” of Gentile world power from the beginning of the Babylonian Empire to its close at the end of the Great Tribulation Period.

B.   The captivity of Judah under Babylon begins “the times of the Gentiles.” (Luke 21:24)

1.    The “times of the Gentiles” is that long period beginning with the Babylonian captivity of Judah, under Nebuchadnezzar, and is to be brought to an end by the destruction of Gentile world power by the “stone cut out without hands” (Daniel 2:34, 35, 44), i.e., the coming of the Lord in glory (Revelation 19:11, 21), until which time Jerusalem is politically subject to Gentile rule (Luke 21:24).                                                                                   -Scofield

2.    The time ranges from 606 BC to the present, and for at least another seven years through the conclusion of the Tribulation to the glorious return of Christ to set up His kingdom.

C.   Purpose of the book

1.    To show how God, by His providence and power, controls and directs the history of nations

2.    To give lessons of a pertinent and practical nature in godly living

3.    To give an outline of future world events

 II.        PREDICTIONS OF THE CAPTIVITY TO BABYLON

A.   Isaiah 39:5-7

B.   Jeremiah 25:8-12

C.   Jeremiah 27:6-8

D.   Jeremiah 29:10

III.       WHY 70 YEARS?

A.   Specifically, because Judah had broken God’s law of the sabbath rest for the Land.

B.   The law stated - Leviticus 25:1-7

C.   The penalty for breaking the law - Leviticus 26:2-4, 21, 24, 32-35

D.   Judah’s sin

1.    Had broken the sabbath - rest for the land for a period of 490 years

2.    The 70 years captivity gave the land back the rest denied it for 490 years.

3.    One sabbath year every seventh year for 490 years equals 70.

4.    2 Chronicles 36:14-21

IV.       PROFILE OF NEBUCHANDNEZZAR

A.   Killed King Zedekiah’s son in front of his eyes, then put out Zedekiah’s eyes (Jeremiah 39:5-7)

B.   Roasted another of his victims in a slow fire (Jeremiah 29:22)

C.   Cast his own officers into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3:15-21)

D.   Burned the city of Jerusalem, the temple, the palace, and all the houses of the leaders (2 Kings 25:8, 9)

E.   Broke down the walls of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:10)

F.    Carried away captives (2 Kings 25:11, 12)

G.   Looted the temple (2 Kings 25:13-17)

H.   Killed the temple priests and servants (2 Kings 25:18-21)

I.     A great builder

1.    The city of Babylon - “unsurpassed in the history of the world”

2.    The Hanging Gardens - one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

3.    The wall around Babylon

a.    300 feet high

b.    80 feet thick

c.    Extended 35 feet below ground so that enemies could not tunnel under it

d.    Protected by canals

e.    250 towers

f.     100 gates of brass

g.    60 miles around

V.        PROFILE OF DANIEL

A.   Carried away captive into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of Jehoiakim’s reign in 606 BC at the age of 16 or 17

B.   It is believed that he belonged to a family of high rank because he was carried away in the first deportation.

C.   His whole adult life was spent in Babylon. In a vile, heathen court he lived a saintly life, so much so that he is referred to as a model of righteousness.

1.    The testimony of his contemporary, Ezekiel (Ezekiel 14:14, 20; 28:3)

2.    The testimonies of Gabriel and other angels (Daniel 9:23; 10:11, 19)

D.   Became a high government official (1:3-6; 6:1-3)

1.    He trained for such a position (Daniel chapter 1)

2.    He served under six Babylonian rulers:

a.    Nebuchadnezzar (606-561 BC)

b.    Evil-Merodach (561-560 BC)

c.    Neriglissar (559-556 BC)

d.    Labash-Morduk (556 BC)

e.    Nabonidos and Belshazzar (555-536 BC)

3.    He also lived under three dynasties:

a.    Babylonian

b     Median

c.    Persian

4.    In all, from 606 BC to 534 BC (72 years--from the first year of the Jews' captivity until two years after their return)

5.    He was at least 80 years old when he was cast into the lion’s den.

VI.       THE SCOPE OF DANIEL’S PROPHECIES

A.   Babylon (2:32; 7:4)

B.   Media-Persia (2:32; 7:5)

C.   Greece (2:32; 7:6)

D.   Rome (2:33; 7:7)

E.   Antichrist’s reign (2:33; 7:8)

F.    Christ’s Kingdom (2:44, 45; 7:9-14)

VII.      DANIEL IN CHAPTER ONE

A.   A picture of personal separation

1.    Chosen to be trained in the ways of the Babylonians (v. 4)

2.    Provided with the king’s provision (v. 5)

3.    Given a new name (vs. 6, 7)

a.    Daniel - “God is my Judge”

b.    Belteshazzar - “Keeper of the treasure of Bel”

4.    His strong stand (v. 8)

5.    The vindication of his separation (vs. 18-20)

B.   A picture of what New Testament believers are to be

1.    Separate from worldly living (Romans 12:1, 2)

2.    Separate from the world view - God is in control, and it is He who sets up and puts down nations.

C.   The results of his personal godliness was God’s ability to use him as the messenger for the great prophecies of the book.

                                                                                End of Chapter 1