daniel - Ox Brook · I am sincerely grateful to Chuck Missler ... These notes were written for use...

Daniel

Study Outline

Jeff Blake

Copyright © 2005-2006

by

Jeff Blake

Ox Brook Ministries

http://www.oxbrook.org/

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced for commercial purposes in any

manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief

quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All printed copies require that a royalty payment be made to

Ox Brook Ministries

in accordance with the schedule found at the above web site.

Most Scriptures are taken from the Modern King James Version of the Holy Bible

Copyright © 1962-1998

By Jay P. Green, Sr.

Used by permission of the copyright holder

Courtesy of Sovereign Grace Publishers and Christian Literature World

Scriptures taken from the New King James Version®

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This edition:

October 2006

I am sincerely grateful to Chuck Missler

(Koinonia House -- www.khouse.org)

for lighting a fire under me regarding God's Word.

The Holy Spirit used his uncompromising, scholarly, and in-depth approach to

Bible Study to speak to me in a way that has never happened before.

Within me has now been ingrained a passion to know and understand the Bible,

to deeply respect and honor it for what it is, and to treat it very seriously because

it is indeed the very Words of God.

Table of Contents

Lesson 1: Introduction + Daniel 1 .............................................................................................................................1

Lesson 2: Daniel 2 .......................................................................................................................................................5

Lesson 3: Daniel 3 .......................................................................................................................................................9

Lesson 4: Daniel 4 .....................................................................................................................................................11

Lesson 5: Daniel 5 .....................................................................................................................................................13

Lesson 6: Daniel 6 .....................................................................................................................................................17

Lesson 7: Daniel 7 .....................................................................................................................................................21

Lesson 8: Daniel 8 .....................................................................................................................................................25

Lesson 9: Daniel 9 .....................................................................................................................................................31

Lesson 10: Daniel 10:1-11:1 .....................................................................................................................................34

Lesson 11: Daniel 11:2-35 ........................................................................................................................................37

Lesson 12: Daniel 11:36-12:13 .................................................................................................................................43

These notes were written for use in our Home Bible Study. They were developed to encourage a

regular verse-by-verse study of the Bible: this is the best way to immerse ourselves in God's

Word. It needs to be read and studied "c-2-c", that is, "cover-to-cover." We need to involve

ourselves with the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27), not just the popular or favorite passages.

In addition, it is essential to document how the Lord speaks and instructs us as we study His

Word. We are responsible to know His Word, and make it a part of our everyday life.

These notes are being made available to encourage you to engage in a daily, personal, and serious

study of God's Word.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." -- Psalm 119:105

"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." -- Psalm 119:11

"I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and

there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was

broken down." -- Proverbs 24:30-31

"Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks."

-- Ecclesiastes 10:18

© Jeff Blake 1 http://www.oxbrook.org/

Lesson 1: Introduction + Daniel 1

I. Daniel, The Book

A. two halves

1. historical: Daniel 1-6

2. prophetic visions: Daniel 7-12

B. each half is in chronological order, but the halves overlap

1. chapter 1, 606 B.C.


3. chapter 3

4. chapter 4





9. chapter 6

10. chapter 10-12

C. outlines Gentile history well in advance

1. Babylonian… Persian… Greek… Roman (parts 1 and 2)

a. although attempted, no fifth empire has arisen

2. Daniel 2:4-7:28 is written in Aramaic

a. Aramaic was the Gentile language of that region

D. critics vainly attempt to prove that the book of Daniel was written after the fact

1. such as during the Greek or Roman empires

E. it is well-authenticated to have been written during the days of Daniel, well before the events that were

prophesized

1. it was in the original Hebrew texts in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah

2. the book of Daniel was presented to Alexander the Great by Jaddua, the Jewish High Priest in 332 B.C.

a. Alexander the Great recognized himself and spared the city of Jerusalem

b. Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus, Book 11, chapter 8, paragraph 5

3. it was in the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament made 285-270 B.C.

4. Josephus stated that Daniel did indeed prophesy all these things before they happened

a. it was accepted that he received the prophecies from God

b. Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus, Book 10, chapter 11, paragraph 7

F. when His disciples asked Jesus about His second coming, He made reference to Daniel 9:27; 12:11 and told

them that they were to understand it! (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14)

1. this applies to us, too!

G. understanding Daniel 9:24-27 helps us understand why Jesus was so upset during His triumphal entry and

why He was pronouncing judgment upon them (Luke 19:41-44)

II. Daniel, The Prophet

A. did not serve in the official role of a prophet

B. Jesus authenticated him by saying, "…spoken of by Daniel the prophet…": Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14

C. mentioned by Ezekiel: Ezekiel 14:14, 20; 28:3

1. Daniel was put on the same level as Noah and Job

2. Ezekiel implied that Daniel had great wisdom: Ezekiel 28:3

III. Daniel, The Person

A. must have been young (a teenager?) when taken captive in the first captivity by Nebuchadnezzar

1. "youths": Daniel 1:4, 17

2. he ministered and ruled during the entire 70-year Babylonian captivity

a. and into the first year of Cyrus, king of the Medo-Persian empire: Daniel 1:21

B. he was a high-ranking official in a pagan society who did not compromise his beliefs or actions

1. same as with Joseph in Egypt


IV. Nebuchadnezzar Invaded Israel: Daniel 1:1-7

A. this refers to the first siege in 606-605 B.C.

B. "the Lord gave": Daniel 1:2

1. Nebuchadnezzar was the tool that God used to bring judgment against Judah

2. Nebuchadnezzar was God's "servant": Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6; 43:10

C. he took valuable articles from the Temple for the temple of his god: Daniel 1:2

1. also spoken of in Ezra 1:7-11 when Cyrus had them returned

D. Nebuchadnezzar took valuable young people to be trained to serve him: Daniel 1:3-7

1. they were not destructive to cultures and people

a. they understood the value of what the people had to offer

b. other invaders, such as the Romans and Assyrians were more destructive

2. "eunuch" referred to an officer, not necessarily someone who was castrated

3. the young men he was interested in had to be free of blemish, handsome, intelligent, and good

students: Daniel 1:4

a. they were to be taught in the ways of Babylon

b. they were to be brainwashed

4. they were treated and fed very well: Daniel 1:5a

5. they were to be taught for three years: Daniel 1:5b

6. four young men are specifically mentioned: Daniel 1:6-7

a. Daniel = "God is my Judge"

(i) changed to Belteshazzar = "Prince of Bel" or "Bel protect the king"

b. Hananiah = "Beloved of the Lord" or "the Lord is gracious"

(i) changed to Shadrach = "Illumined by the Sun God" or "Servant of Aku"

c. Mishel = "Who is like God"

(i) changed to Meshach = "Who is like the Moon God"

d. Azariah = "The Lord is My Help"

(i) changed to Abednego = "Servant of Nego, a shining fire"

V. Daniel Chose To Be Faithful To God: Daniel 1:8-16

A. "Daniel purposed in his heart": Daniel 1:8

1. "purposed" = to set, ordain, establish, fix

2. it was a choice of his heart

3. speaks very highly of his upbringing: he had to have learned it at home

a. Deuteronomy 4:9-10; 6:6-7; 11:19

(i) "And these words which I command you this day shall be in your heart. And you shall

carefully teach them to your sons, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when

you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.": Deuteronomy 6:6-7

4. we need to do the same thing with our hearts, we must be established

a. "For Ezra prepared his heart…": Ezra 7:10

b. "we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of

doctrine": Ephesians 4:14

(i) true doctrine doesn't change!

c. "do not be carried about with different and strange doctrines, for it is good for the heart to be

established…": Hebrews 13:9

(i) "established" = stabilized, have a good footing

d. "…to establish you… to establish your hearts": 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 13

(i) "establish" = to turn resolutely in a certain direction; to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix;

to strengthen, make firm; to render constant, confirm one's mind

(ii) "now may the Lord Jesus Christ… establish you…": 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

(iii) "the Lord… shall establish you": 2 Thessalonians 3:3

(iv) James 5:8

(v) "We shouldn't be saying, 'Go! Go! Go!', but asking, 'Where? Where? Where?'" -- Red Green

e. "hold fast to the Lord your God": Joshua 23:8

f. "they hurried… forgot His works… did not wait for His counsel": Psalm 106:13

g. certainty of purpose: 1 Corinthians 9:26

h. Ephesians 3:16-19


i. Colossians 2:6-8

j. "enticing unstable souls": 2 Peter 2:14

k. "mists driven by a storm": 2 Peter 2:17

l. no root, as in the parable of the sower: Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21; Mark 4:5-6, 16-17; Luke 8:6, 13

m. "you cannot serve two masters…": Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13

(i) "mammon" is a Chaldean word

- speaks of idolatry and riches

(ii) covetousness is idolatry: Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5

n. "do not turn aside from following the Lord… do not go after futile things": 1 Samuel 12:20-21

(i) there are only 2 choices

- following the Lord

- going after futile things

(ii) there is nothing in-between

(iii) if we try to be in-between, Jesus has something sobering to say to us!

- "I will vomit you out of My mouth": Revelation 3:15-16

B. Daniel did not want to be "defiled" by what he ate: Daniel 1:8

1. the food was probably devoted or offered to idols

2. the food was not in accordance to the Jewish dietary Laws

3. he respectfully asked that he be allowed to follow his dietary obligations

4. he chose not to compromise

C. God caused Daniel to be favored: Daniel 1:9

D. the chief of the eunuchs was concerned at what the results might be: Daniel 1:10

1. Nebuchadnezzar killed, maimed, and punished anyone as he desired

a. he killed Zedekiah's sons and then blinded him: Jeremiah 39:6-7; 52:10-11

b. he commonly used fire as a tool for execution

(i) Daniel 3:6, 21

(ii) these execution furnaces have been found

c. he slowly roasted some: Jeremiah 29:22

d. he cut people into pieces or tore them from limb to limb: Daniel 2:5; 3:29

e. he made homes into dunghills, refuse heaps, or outhouses: Daniel 2:5; 3:29

2. the chief had every reason to be concerned

E. Daniel requests a test: Daniel 1:11-14

1. he asked Melzar ("steward" or "butler"): Daniel 1:11

a. because the chief wasn't willing?

2. he asks that they be fed only vegetables and water: Daniel 1:12

3. let them be compared after ten days: Daniel 1:13

a. they would then submit to whatever was determined from the test

F. Daniel and the other three fared better than those fed the king's food: Daniel 1:15-16

1. this is not a call for vegetarianism!

a. God just honored and rewarded their commitment

2. they were allowed to continue to eat the vegetables as they requested

VI. God Exalted Them: Daniel 1:17-21

A. God gave them great wisdom and understanding: Daniel 1:17

B. "Now at the end of the days…": Daniel 1:18

1. refers to the end of the three year training period (Daniel 1:5)

C. these four were the best of the new "recruits": Daniel 1:19

D. these four were the best of everyone in Nebuchadnezzar's realm: Daniel 1:20

E. Daniel continued into the first year of King Cyrus: Daniel 1:21

1. Cyrus was the king of the Medo-Persian invaders

VII. God Was In Control

A. "the Lord gave…": Daniel 1:2

B. "God had given…": Daniel 1:9

C. "God gave them…": Daniel 1:17


Lesson 2: Daniel 2

I. Nebuchadnezzar Puts The "Wise Men" To The Test: Daniel 2:1-13

A. Nebuchadnezzar had a "troubling" dream: Daniel 2:1

1. it "agitated" or "impelled" him to know what it meant

B. he calls his advisors, the "wise men": Daniel 2:2

1. "magician" = astrologer, writer of horoscopes; diviner; one who draws magical lines and circles

2. "astrologer" = conjurer, enchanter, exorcist; necromancer

3. "sorcerer" = enchanter, witch, to practice witchcraft; "whisper a spell"

4. probably a lot of overlap with these job descriptions

5. "Chaldean" = may just be a general term referring to the leaders of these occultic "wise men"

a. Babylon was well-known for its occultic sources

b. everything occultic had its beginning in Babylon

6. the general term "wise men" is also used many times: Daniel 2:12-14, 18, 24, 27, 48; 4:6, 18; 5:7-8, 15

C. Nebuchadnezzar tells his "wise men" that he had a "troubling" dream: Daniel 2:3

1. same word as used in Daniel 2:1--he's "agitated" or "impelled" to know what it meant

D. his "wise men" were willing to interpret his dream: Daniel 2:4

1. Aramaic starts in Daniel 2:4 and goes through the end of Daniel 7

a. it's written in the Gentile language because the focus is now on the Gentiles

E. they had to tell Nebuchadnezzar the dream and its interpretation: Daniel 2:5-9

1. he was putting them to the test, for them to prove their worth

2. if they couldn't they'd be killed: Daniel 2:5

a. they wouldn't be "fired": Nebuchadnezzar was introducing to them his "severance policy"!

3. they would be well-rewarded if they were successful: Daniel 2:6

4. the "wise men" try to convince Nebuchadnezzar to change his mind: Daniel 2:7

5. Nebuchadnezzar accuses them of trying to gain time: Daniel 2:8

6. Nebuchadnezzar did not trust them: Daniel 2:9

7. he would believe the interpretation only if they could also tell him his dream: Daniel 2:9

a. anyone could cook up an interpretation

F. his wise men tell him that no one has ever asked such a thing before, and for good reason: Daniel 2:10-11

1. they're saying that Nebuchadnezzar's request is unreasonable

2. they admitted that earthly or human wisdom would fail

3. they admitted that the answer could only come from the spiritual realm

a. they knew there was a spiritual realm!

4. is the Bible telling us here that true mind-reading is not possible at the human level?!

G. Nebuchadnezzar called for their execution: Daniel 2:12-13

1. Daniel and his companions were also in this job category

H. God gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams

1. of the butler and baker: Genesis 40

a. Joseph said that interpretations belong to God: Genesis 40:8

2. of Pharaoh: Genesis 41:1-36

II. Daniel And His Three Companions Seek The Lord For Answers: Daniel 2:14-23

A. "captain of the king's guard": Daniel 2:14

1. can also mean "chief of the executioners"

2. Arioch may have told Daniel that he had to prepare to die

3. Daniel answered Arioch with "counsel and wisdom"

a. Daniel responded to him with prudence, competence, and discretion

B. Daniel asks why the king's decision was so "hasty," "urgent," or "harsh": Daniel 2:15

1. Arioch explained to Daniel what just happened between Nebuchadnezzar and the other "wise men"

a. those other "wise men," the "Chaldeans" were probably Daniel's bosses

b. the bosses failed

(i) competent leadership is always very important


C. Daniel asks Nebuchadnezzar for time: Daniel 2:16

1. Daniel wanted the opportunity to fulfill what Nebuchadnezzar requested

2. Nebuchadnezzar probably regarded Daniel a lot more than the bunch he inherited from his father

a. Daniel 1:18-20

(i) "…he found them ten times better than all… who were in his realm": Daniel 1:20

D. Daniel and his three companions seek the Lord for answers: Daniel 2:17-19

1. Daniel receives the answer in a night vision: Daniel 2:19

E. Daniel thanks and praises God for the answer: Daniel 2:20-23

III. Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar's Dream: Daniel 2:24-45

A. Daniel tells Arioch that he can tell the king the interpretation of his dream: Daniel 2:24

B. Arioch tells Nebuchadnezzar that he found someone who can tell him his dream: Daniel 2:25

1. Arioch took the credit!

2. a true bureaucrat!

C. Daniel says that the "God in heaven" can tell Nebuchadnezzar what he wants: Daniel 2:27-28

1. his "wise men" couldn't do it

2. the dream had to do with the "latter days," in the future

D. Daniel again gives credit to God: Daniel 2:29-30

1. God is going to tell Nebuchadnezzar what "will be": Daniel 2:29

a. not what might be or what could happen

2. it wasn't that Daniel was any more wise than others: Daniel 2:30

E. the king's dream: Daniel 2:31-35

1. there was a large, bright, "awe-inspiring" image, statue, or idol: Daniel 2:31

2. its head was gold: Daniel 2:32a

3. its chest and arms were silver: Daniel 2:32b

4. its belly and thighs (or loins or flanks) were bronze: Daniel 2:32c

5. its legs were iron: Daniel 2:33a

6. its feet were iron mixed with clay: Daniel 2:33b

7. a stone "cut without hands" hit the image's feet and breaks it into pieces: Daniel 2:34

8. the image was pulverized and blew away: Daniel 2:35a

9. the stone filled the earth: Daniel 2:35b

10. each metal mentioned decreases in value and specific gravity

F. the interpretation of the dream: Daniel 2:36-45

1. Nebuchadnezzar is told that it was God who gave him his kingdom, and all his strength and glory:

Daniel 2:37

2. Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold: Daniel 2:38

a. speaking of the Babylonian empire

3. another kingdom (silver) will arise, but it won't be as strong: Daniel 2:39a

a. speaks of the Medo-Persian empire

4. a third kingdom (bronze) will come after that one: Daniel 2:39b

a. speaks of the Greek empire

5. and then a fourth kingdom (iron) will come after the third: Daniel 2:40-41a

a. it will be destructive

b. speaks of the Roman empire

(i) the "Iron Legions of Rome"

(ii) known for its brutality and destructiveness

c. it will not be defeated and replaced by a fifth world empire: it will just "shatter" and fall apart:

Daniel 2:41a

(i) no one defeated the Roman empire: it just fell apart, it "divided"

(ii) attempts have been made, but a fifth world empire never happened

6. another "iron" phase will follow: Daniel 2:41b-43

a. speaks of the revived Roman empire

(i) we see it reviving today!

b. "iron mixed with miry clay": Daniel 2:41b, 43

(i) not just iron mixed with clay, but iron mixed with an impure clay


(ii) "clay" refers to people

- Job 10:8-9; 33:6

- Isaiah 29:16; 45:9; 64:8

- Jeremiah 18:4-6

- Romans 9:20-21

c. "they shall commingle with the seed of men": Daniel 2:43

(i) "they" refers to a people who are obviously not from the "seed of men"

(ii) "But as the Days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.":

Matthew 24:37

(iii) Genesis 6:1-4

- "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God

came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty

men who were of old, men of renown.": Genesis 6:4 (NASB)

- the idea (which started around the 5th

century A.D.) that the Nephilim were just bandits or

criminals who came from the result of the (supposedly) godly line of Seth marrying with

the ungodly line of Cain is completely unscriptural and cannot be defended

(iv) Jude 1:6-7

- the fallen angels left their "oiketerion" (habitation)

- we're eagerly awaiting for our "oiketerion": 2 Corinthians 5:2

- Jude assumed the reader understood everything he was talking about, including the fallen

angels: Jude 1:5

(v) the fallen angels are also mentioned in 2 Peter 2:4-5

(vi) is this a warning against "genetic engineering," human cloning, and bioengineering?

7. God will set up His eternal kingdom: Daniel 2:44-45

a. this refers to the stone of Daniel 2:34-35

(i) the stone cannot refer to the Church

(ii) the Church is never seen building a kingdom

b. the stone refers to Jesus Christ

(i) Psalm 118:22

(ii) Isaiah 8:14-15; 28:16

(iii) Matthew 21:42-44

(iv) Acts 4:10-12

(v) Romans 9:32-33

(vi) 1 Corinthians 10:4

(vii) Ephesians 2:19-22

(viii) 1 Peter 2:4-8

c. this is referring to His second coming

d. all other kingdoms will be destroyed

e. He will be victorious

f. "without hands": Daniel 2:45

(i) it had nothing to do with the ability of men

IV. Daniel And His Companions Are Promoted: Daniel 2:46-49

A. Nebuchadnezzar praises Daniel for the answer: Daniel 2:46

1. he was impressed!

B. he acknowledges God: Daniel 2:47

C. he rewards and promotes Daniel and his companions: Daniel 2:48-49

1. Daniel, a young man becomes leader over all the "wise men": Daniel 2:48

a. the "wise men" should have been grateful, but this must have made them very upset

2. Daniel's companions became rulers over the province of Babylon: Daniel 2:49


Lesson 3: Daniel 3

I. Nebuchadnezzar Sets Up An Image Of Gold: Daniel 3:1-7

A. Nebuchadnezzar may have based the image on the dream he had (Daniel 2)

1. Daniel had said that Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold in that dream: Daniel 2:36-38

2. Nebuchadnezzar may have made the entire image out of gold instead of the different metals seen in his

dream because he was arrogantly stating that there would be no other kingdoms after his

B. according to secular history there was a revolt in 596 B.C.

1. Nebuchadnezzar may have set this up as a test of allegiance

2. if the account of Daniel 2 was in 602 B.C., then the revolt happened about 6 years later

3. may have taken a few years to build the image

C. "an image of gold": Daniel 3:1

1. no reason to think that it was solid gold: it may have been hollow

D. its height was 60 cubits: Daniel 3:1

1. about 90 feet

2. may have included a pedestal

E. its width was 6 cubits: Daniel 3:1

1. about 9 feet

F. six is the number of man

G. Nebuchadnezzar causes everyone to bow down and worship the image: Daniel 3:2-7

1. it was directed to all peoples and nations: Daniel 3:4

2. they would die if they didn't: Daniel 3:6

3. did his advisors convince him to do all this?!

a. his advisors may have known that the Hebrews would not do it

(i) bowing before an image was prohibited in the Law

- Exodus 20:4-5

- Leviticus 26:1

b. the advisors who were humiliated in front of the king by Daniel and his 3 companions may not

have forgotten what happened and wanted revenge

(i) they should have been grateful to Daniel for saving their lives!

(ii) they were envious

(iii) their pride got in the way of humility

(iv) plus, they probably just didn't want those Jews ruling over them

4. Babylon plays a leading role in the Tribulation period and there will be a forced state religion then, too

a. Revelation 13:4-18

b. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

II. "Certain Jews" Won't Bow Before The Image: Daniel 3:8-18

A. "certain Chaldeans" (Daniel 3:8) accused "certain Jews" (Daniel 3:12)

1. other Jews probably didn't bow, either, but their attention is just on "certain Jews"

B. they build on Nebuchadnezzar's pride: Daniel 3:12

1. "Jews… you have set over the affairs of Babylon…"

2. "have not paid due regard to you"

3. "they do not serve your gods"

4. "they do not… worship the gold image which you have set up"

C. Nebuchadnezzar was furious at the three: Daniel 3:13-14

D. he gives them a second chance: Daniel 3:15

1. he must have still favored these three!

E. "who is that god who shall deliver you out of my hand?": Daniel 3:15

1. Nebuchadnezzar is arrogantly defiant against any other god (or God)

F. the three Hebrews reaffirm that they will not bow down to the image: Daniel 3:16-18

1. they didn't have to think it over: Daniel 3:16

2. they said that God could deliver them from the furnace if He chooses to do so: Daniel 3:17


3. no matter what, they will not bow to the image: Daniel 3:18

a. they maintained their integrity despite of their heathen environment

b. they didn't back down even when faced with a death penalty

c. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him": Job 13:15

d. "Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to

you rather than to God, you be the judge'": Acts 4:19

e. "Peter and the apostles answered and said, 'We ought to obey God rather than men.'": Acts 5:29

III. Nebuchadnezzar Has Them Thrown Into The Furnace: Daniel 3:19-23

A. Nebuchadnezzar was furious at their refusal to bow before his image: Daniel 3:19

B. in his rage he wanted the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual: Daniel 3:19

C. Nebuchadnezzar has some of his best men bind the three and throw them into the furnace: Daniel 3:20-21

D. his best men are killed by the fire: Daniel 3:22

1. killed by a backdraft?

2. the furnace may not have been designed for that intensity

3. the king's command was "urgent" or "harsh"

a. the recklessness of his command caused the death of his best men

E. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the fiery furnace: Daniel 3:23

1. they were bound

IV. God Protects Them From The Furnace: Daniel 3:24-30

A. Nebuchadnezzar sees four people walking around in the fire: Daniel 3:24-25

1. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are no longer bound

2. they weren't being harmed by the fire

3. the fourth person had the form of the "Son of God"

a. the Aramaic equivalent to the same Hebrew phrase, including the plural form of "God"

B. he tells them to come out of the furnace: Daniel 3:26

1. Nebuchadnezzar realizes that this was a miracle

a. he attributed it to the "Most High God"

C. the fire did not affect them at all: Daniel 3:27

1. their hair was not even singed

2. their clothing was not burned at all

3. they had no smell from the fire

4. they were so completely protected from the fire that it had to have been from God

D. Nebuchadnezzar blesses the "God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego": Daniel 3:28a

1. Nebuchadnezzar said that God sent "His Angel" to protect them

a. the Hebrew equivalent to the Aramaic word for "angel" can also mean "messenger" or someone

"dispatched" from God

b. this could refer to Jesus (not without controversy)

(i) Exodus 14:19

(ii) Numbers 22:22-35

(iii) Joshua 5:13-15

(iv) Judges 2:1

(v) Psalm 34:7

E. Nebuchadnezzar applauds their integrity: Daniel 3:28b

1. they were willing to disobey the king's command

2. they were willing to yield their bodies to God

3. they refused to worship any other gods

F. he prevented anyone from speaking against the "God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego": Daniel 3:29

1. he's merely verifying that God was a viable god to worship

G. Nebuchadnezzar promotes ("caused to prosper") Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Daniel 3:30

1. his advisors' plan of revenge backfired!

2. LXX adds, "…and gave them authority to rule over all the Jews who were in his kingdom."

H. Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the supremacy of God, but did not turn to Him and accept Him

1. He was just the "God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego": Daniel 3:28, 29

2. Nebuchadnezzar just put Him on a list of gods

3. Nebuchadnezzar's faith was based on signs and experiences, not from a heart filled with belief


Lesson 4: Daniel 4

I. Nebuchadnezzar Has Another Dream: Daniel 4:1-18

A. this chapter is written by Nebuchadnezzar to the entire world: Daniel 4:1

1. "to all peoples, nations, and languages…"

2. he's recalling what happened to him

3. he's going to be telling the entire world his testimony

a. a pagan king is admitting to discovering the one and only true living God

B. he's reporting what God did to him: Daniel 4:2

1. Nebuchadnezzar must have really been humbled: a proud man would not have admitted these

humiliating things

C. he praises God: Daniel 4:3

1. he admits that God's kingdom is an everlasting kingdom

2. by doing this he's admitting that his kingdom won't last forever

a. perhaps, due to his pride he at one time thought it would?!

(i) he built an image of gold instead of gold plus different materials (Daniel 2:38-39; 3:1)

D. Nebuchadnezzar admits to being at ease and flourishing: Daniel 4:4

E. he has another troubling dream: Daniel 4:5

1. he was "afraid" and it "alarmed" and "troubled" him

F. Nebuchadnezzar calls for his "wise" men to interpret the dream: Daniel 4:6-7

1. but they could not: Daniel 4:7

a. they weren't able to interpret his dream earlier, in Daniel 2

b. Nebuchadnezzar didn't learn his lesson?!

G. Nebuchadnezzar asks Daniel to interpret his dream: Daniel 4:8-9

1. Nebuchadnezzar calls Daniel by his Hebrew name: Daniel 4:8

a. up until now it was Belteshazzar, his Babylonian name

2. three times he says that Daniel has the "Spirit of the Holy God": Daniel 4:8, 9, 18

a. do people know that we have the "Spirit of the Holy God"?!

3. Nebuchadnezzar admitted that Daniel's god could do it

4. Daniel was the "chief of the magicians": Daniel 4:9

a. having this captive Jew as their boss had to have been very unpopular with the magicians

H. Nebuchadnezzar tells Daniel the dream: Daniel 4:10-18

1. a big tree was in the midst of the earth: Daniel 4:10-11

2. the tree was very fruitful: Daniel 4:12

a. "all flesh was fed from it"

3. a "watcher" said that the tree was to be cut down: Daniel 4:13-15

a. but the stump of its roots was to be left: Daniel 4:15

4. "his heart" is to be changed to the "heart of an animal": Daniel 4:16

a. it will last for "seven times"

(i) means "seven years" (Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 12:14)

5. the purpose of all of this is to demonstrate to everyone that "the Most High rules": Daniel 4:17

6. Nebuchadnezzar says that Daniel is able to interpret this dream: Daniel 4:18

a. not because he was so smart, but because he has the "Spirit of the Holy God"

II. Daniel Interprets The Dream: Daniel 4:19-27

A. Daniel was "astonished": Daniel 4:19a

1. he was "stunned"

B. Nebuchadnezzar comforts and encourages Daniel to tell him the dream: Daniel 4:19b

C. Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that he wishes the dream spoke Nebuchadnezzar's enemies: Daniel 4:19c

1. there may have been a very good relationship between Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar

2. Daniel may have had genuine concern for Nebuchadnezzar

D. the tree represented Nebuchadnezzar: Daniel 4:20-22

E. Nebuchadnezzar will turn into an animal and live out in the fields: Daniel 4:23-25

1. God has ordained this


2. "they" is referring to the "watchers" and "holy ones"

a. the "watcher" may be an angel

b. we're being "watched"

F. leaving the stump of roots means that he won't permanently loose his kingdom: Daniel 4:26

1. he'll regain it after he knows that "Heaven rules"

G. Daniel urges Nebuchadnezzar to repent and be righteous: Daniel 4:27

III. Nebuchadnezzar Is Judged By God And Becomes Insane: Daniel 4:28-33

A. this happened one year later: Daniel 4:29a

1. the dream might have been forgotten by then

2. he was given a year to repent and amend his ways

3. Nebuchadnezzar obviously didn't change his ways as Daniel encouraged (Daniel 4:27)

B. Nebuchadnezzar praises himself for the glories of Babylon: Daniel 4:29b-30

1. "I have built… by the might of my power… for the honor of my majesty": Daniel 4:30

C. a voice came from heaven pronouncing the judgment: Daniel 4:31-32

1. he's going to loose his kingdom: Daniel 4:31

2. he's going to be acting like an ox, eating grass for seven years: Daniel 4:32

a. until he learns that God is in control

3. Lycanthropy: a form of insanity in which a person believes that they're a wolf or some other animal,

and behaves accordingly

a. (Greek) "lykos" meaning "wolf", "anthropos" meaning "man"

b. where the stories of "werewolves" came from

c. Boanthropy, a specific form of Lycanthropy, refers to thinking that they're an ox

IV. Nebuchadnezzar Is Restored: Daniel 4:34-37

A. Nebuchadnezzar praises God: Daniel 4:34-35

1. he admits that God's kingdom lasts forever: Daniel 4:34

2. he admits that all of creation is nothing in comparison to God: Daniel 4:35

3. he admits that God is sovereign: Daniel 4:35

B. his kingdom was restored to him: Daniel 4:36-37

1. he admits that pride is a major issue with God: Daniel 4:37

C. he lives about one more year after this, dying in 562 B.C.

"Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; assuredly, he will not be unpunished.":

Proverbs 16:5

"There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying

tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness

who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.": Proverbs 6:16-19

"Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.": Proverbs 16:18

"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.": Proverbs 26:12

"A man's pride shall bring him low; but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.": Proverbs 29:23

"For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than

he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded…": Romans 12:3

"…so that no one of you may be puffed up against one another": 1 Corinthians 4:6

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than

themselves.": Philippians 2:3

The original sin was pride: Isaiah 14:12-15


Lesson 5: Daniel 5

I. The Final Rulers Of Babylon

A. Nabopolassar -- 627-605 B.C.

B. Nebuchadnezzar -- 605-562 B.C.

1. died about 562 B.C.

C. Amel-Merodach -- 562-560 B.C.

1. "the Man of Merodach"

a. Merodach was a Babylonian deity

2. Nebuchadnezzar's son

3. reigned about 2 years, 5 months

4. also known as Evil-Merodach: 2 Kings 25:27; Jeremiah 52:31

D. Neriglissar -- 559-555 B.C.

1. son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar

2. took over through a military coup

3. killed Amel-Merodach

4. also known as Nergal-Sharezar: Jeremiah 39:3

E. Labashi-Marduk -- 555 B.C.

1. Neriglissar's son

2. may also be known as Labosoarchad

3. reigned only a couple of months

F. Nabonidus -- 555-539 B.C.

1. Nebuchadnezzar's son-in-law

2. came to power through a coup

3. he was not too interested in being king of Babylon; he was not totally committed to it

4. he delighted in exploring and restoring ancient temples

5. he spent a lot of time in Arabia

6. he brought to Babylon many of the images of deities from other cities in attempt to centralize the

religion

a. this greatly displeased the people and alienated the priesthood

7. the military was displeased with him

a. he left the defense of the empire to others

b. he placed his son at the head of the army

G. Belshazzar -- 553-539 B.C.

1. Nabonidus' son

2. Belshazzar was king of Babylon as a co-regent with his father

a. because his father wasn't interested in being in Babylon

II. Belshazzar's Feast: Daniel 5:1-4

A. Belshazzar had a party: Daniel 5:1

1. this was during the time that the Medo-Persian army was attacking Babylon

2. Babylon was thought to be impregnable

3. Belshazzar should have defended the city, but out of pride he threw a big party instead

B. brought out the vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem that Nebuchadnezzar had captured: Daniel 5:2-3

1. Nebuchadnezzar had put them into the house of his god

a. Daniel 1:2

b. Ezra 1:7

2. they partied with these sacred vessels: Daniel 5:3

a. may have been a taunt

3. Nebuchadnezzar was not his "father" but his "grandfather"

a. Hebrew and Aramaic do not have a word for grandfather, and other levels of ancestry

C. they praised their heathen, worldly gods: Daniel 5:4


III. Handwriting Appears On The Wall: Daniel 5:5-9

A. a hand writes on the wall: Daniel 5:5

B. Belshazzar is terrified: Daniel 5:6

1. "the joints of his loins were loosened"

a. may mean he was so frightened that he couldn't stand up

b. some say that this may refer to him loosing control of his bodily functions

c. this was prophesied in Isaiah 45:1, "I will loosen the loins of kings"

C. he calls for his "wise men" to read and interpret what was written: Daniel 5:7-9

1. he offers them to be the "third ruler": Daniel 5:7

a. he and his father were the other two rulers, co-regents of Babylon

2. his "wise men" couldn't read or interpret the writing: Daniel 5:8

a. why couldn't they even read it?!

b. was it encrypted somehow?

3. they were "astonished" or "perplexed": Daniel 5:9

IV. Daniel Is Summoned: Daniel 5:10-16

A. the queen tells Belshazzar of Daniel: Daniel 5:10-12

1. she wasn't part of this party

2. the "queen" might be the "queen mother," Nebuchadnezzar's wife

a. she probably witnessed Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dreams (Daniel 2)

3. she said that Daniel has the "Spirit of the Holy God": Daniel 5:11

a. literally "gods"

(i) this Aramaic phrase is consistent with the common plural Hebrew word for God, "Elohim"

b. "father" may just refer to "ancestor"

c. she also said that during Nebuchadnezzar's reign he had "light, understanding, and wisdom"

d. Nebuchadnezzar made him the chief of all the "wise men"

4. Daniel had an excellent spirit: Daniel 5:12

a. "solve difficult problems" or "explaining enigmas" is literally "untying knots"

(i) also in Daniel 5:16

b. she is very confident that Daniel can give him the interpretation

(i) did she also have the Spirit?!

c. Daniel had a remarkable reputation!

B. Belshazzar calls for Daniel: Daniel 5:13-16

1. he said he has heard of him: Daniel 5:14, 16

a. maybe just from what the queen said?!

V. Daniel Reads And Interprets What Was Written: Daniel 5:17-29

A. Daniel didn't want any of Belshazzar's rewards: Daniel 5:17

1. but he will still interpret the writing for him

B. Daniel tells Belshazzar about Nebuchadnezzar: Daniel 5:18-21

1. God gave Nebuchadnezzar his kingdom: Daniel 5:18-19

2. Nebuchadnezzar became proud so God humbled him: Daniel 5:20-21

a. Daniel 4

C. Daniel chastises Belshazzar: Daniel 5:22-24

1. Belshazzar has not humbled himself before God: Daniel 5:22

a. Daniel said that Beshazzar knew about everything he was talking about

b. Belshazzar didn't have an excuse

2. Belshazzar did not glorify God: Daniel 5:23

a. he praised idols, instead

b. God controls Belshazzar's destiny

(i) true for everyone

c. "…they are without excuse because, knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were

thankful. But they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an

image made like corruptible man, and birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.":

Romans 1:20-23

3. God sent this hand to write on the wall: Daniel 5:24


D. Daniel reads the writing: Daniel 5:25

1. "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN"

E. Daniel interprets the writing: Daniel 5:26-28

1. "MENE": Daniel 5:26

a. "mene" = numbered; a unit of weight or measurement

b. his kingdom has come to an end

2. "TEKEL": Daniel 5:27

a. to be weighed, to be put on a balance

b. it's also a word used for shekel or a unit of weight

c. his kingdom has been judged or examined, and it's inadequate

3. "PERES": Daniel 5:28

a. "upharsin" = "and" + the plural of "peres"

b. "peres" = to split up or divide

c. "paras" = Persia

d. his kingdom will be split up and given to the Medes and Persians

F. Belshazzar rewards Daniel, as he said he would: Daniel 5:29

VI. The Fall Of Babylon: Daniel 5:30-31

A. the Medo-Persian army invade that night and Belshazzar is killed: Daniel 5:30

B. Cyrus' general captured Babylon without a battle on October 12, 539 B.C.

1. the Persians diverted the Euphrates River into a canal upriver so that the water level dropped "to the

height of the middle of a man's thigh," which enabled the invaders to march through the river bed to

enter by night (Herodotus)

C. Cyrus was impressed with Isaiah 44:27-45:5 (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 11, chapter 1,

paragraphs 1-2)

1. this is Cyrus the Great

2. Jewish tradition says that it was Daniel that showed this to Cyrus in the scroll of Isaiah

3. God addresses Cyrus by name a couple hundred years earlier

4. just as Isaiah said he would, Cyrus releases the Jews and gives them incentives to go back and rebuild

the Temple in Jerusalem

a. Ezra 1

D. Babylon only fell; it was not destroyed at that time as predicted in Scripture

1. Isaiah 13-14

2. Jeremiah 50-51

3. Revelation 17-18

4. since the city is still around today, it must therefore be destroyed in the future


Lesson 6: Daniel 6

I. Cyrus

A. this is Cyrus the Great

B. half-Mede, half-Persian

1. he united the 2 groups to establish the Medo-Persian Empire

a. commonly called the Persian Empire

b. lasted about 200 years

C. Isaiah's prophecy about Cyrus: Isaiah 44:27-45:7

1. Isaiah wrote it about 200 years earlier

2. according to Jewish tradition, it was Daniel who presented Cyrus this prophecy from Isaiah

3. "dry up the rivers, Cyrus"

a. according to the ancient historian Herodotus, General Ugbaru diverted the River Euphrates

(i) Babylon used the River as a moat

(ii) the Medo-Persian army lowered the River just enough so they could pass under the walls and

into the city undetected

(iii) the proud, arrogant, well-fortified city was taken without a fight

(iv) many people didn't even know that the city was taken for 3 days!

4. "rebuild the temple in Jerusalem"

a. he will do this: Ezra 1

b. Cyrus will even give them financial support

5. "you're going to subdue nations"

a. Cyrus took over 46 nations

6. "I have called you by name"

7. "that you may know that I, the Lord… am the God of Israel"

8. "I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me."

9. "although you don't know me, but I'm using you and helping you"

10. "I am sovereign."

11. Cyrus must have been impressed, very impressed!

II. Plot Against Daniel: Daniel 6:1-9

A. Darius

1. probably a title and not a person's name

a. just like Pharaoh and Caesar

b. there are at least five Persian rulers mentioned in history called Darius

2. this probably was not Cyrus

3. Darius was appointed, "Darius… who was made king": Daniel 9:1

4. he was 62 years old when he "received the kingdom": Daniel 5:31

5. possibly Ugbaru, the general that conquered Babylon

a. he breached the walls of Babylon on the evening of October 12, 539 B.C.

b. he died November 6, 539 B.C.

B. Darius delegated control of the kingdom: Daniel 6:1-3

1. he appointed 120 princes, satraps, or local governors

2. each of the 120 reported to one of three chiefs, overseers, or presidents: Daniel 6:2

a. Daniel was one of these

(i) he must have been in his 80's

(ii) he already had more than 60 years of outstanding public service as the chief administrator of

the "wise men"

- Daniel 1:20; 2:48; 4:9; 5:11

- under the Persian empire this office of the "wise men" will become known as the "Magi"

3. Daniel was made the chief overseer of them all: Daniel 6:3

a. Darius wanted to make him a "king" of the region

b. because Daniel had an "excellent spirit"


C. the governors tried to find fault with Daniel: Daniel 6:4-5

1. they probably were resentful because Daniel was a foreigner, particularly a Jew

a. the same jealous feelings they had against Daniel's three companions in Daniel 3?

(i) the account of the fiery furnace (Daniel 3) may have been a result of their resentment

- "certain Chaldeans… accused the Jews": Daniel 3:8

- they singled out Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego):

Daniel 3:12

2. they tried to find something to accuse him with, something to prove that he was unworthy of that

position

3. they could find nothing wrong with Daniel: Daniel 6:4

a. what a testimony!

4. they determined that they somehow had to use his devotion to God as a trap: Daniel 6:5

D. the governors rely on Darius' pride to set up a trap: Daniel 6:6-9

1. "all the governors… have consulted together": Daniel 6:7

a. this was obviously a lie: Daniel wasn't part of them

2. they offer to set him up as a "god"

a. the "divinity of kings" is common throughout history

(i) the Egyptian Pharaohs

(ii) speaking of Lucifer, the first sinner, "For you have said in your heart, 'I will go up to the

heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…'": Isaiah 14:13

(iii) speaking of the coming world ruler, the "antichrist," "he shall exalt and magnify himself

above every god…": Daniel 11:36

3. "that it cannot be changed": Daniel 6:8

a. unique to the Persian society, once a law was made it could not be changed

(i) Persian kings were "under the law"

(ii) Nebuchadnezzar was "above the law"

- "He killed whom he would, and whom he would he kept alive. And whom he would, he

set up; and whom he would, he put down.": Daniel 5:19

- he was an absolute despot

b. also seen in Esther 1:19; 8:8

4. Darius signs the decree: Daniel 6:9

III. Daniel Thrown Into The Den Of Lions: Daniel 6:10-17

A. Daniel continued to openly pray to God: Daniel 6:10

1. just as Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were faced with the penalty of death in the fiery furnace

(Daniel 3:16-18), Daniel didn't alter his public devotion to God

a. he maintained his integrity in despite of the penalty

b. he didn't back down even when faced with death

c. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him": Job 13:15

d. "Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to

you rather than to God, you be the judge'": Acts 4:19

e. "Peter and the apostles answered and said, 'We ought to obey God rather than men.'": Acts 5:29

2. Daniel prayed "towards Jerusalem"

a. Solomon mentions praying towards Jerusalem and the Temple

(i) 1 Kings 8:35, 38, 44, 48

(ii) 2 Chronicles 6:34-39

b. David mentions praying towards the Temple

(i) Psalms 5:7; 28:2

3. Daniel "knelt down"

a. perhaps our bodies should follow what our heart is doing?!

b. in Scripture we also often see raising of hands and bowing down

4. Daniel prayed "three times a day"

5. thanksgiving was a regular part of his prayer life

6. it's what he usually did "since early days"

a. it was a habit!


B. his accusers catch him: Daniel 6:11

1. Daniel might have kept himself to a very regular schedule

C. his accusers bring it to Darius' attention: Daniel 6:12-13

1. Darius affirms that he did indeed sign the new rule: Daniel 6:12

2. they accuse Daniel of not following Darius' new rule: Daniel 6:13

a. they deliberately point out that he's Jewish, that he's "from Judah"

D. Darius was very upset with himself: Daniel 6:14

1. he desperately tried to find a way to deliver Daniel

2. he worked all day

E. Daniel's accusers urge Darius to enforce the new rule: Daniel 6:15

1. Darius was "under the law" and had to obey it

F. Darius had no choice but to cast Daniel into the den of lions: Daniel 6:16-17

1. Darius encouraged Daniel regarding the power of his God

a. may be accurately translated "may God deliver you"

b. Darius was being hopeful

2. Darius admitted that Daniel served Him "continually"

a. Daniel obviously did not hide his faith in God from Darius

3. a stone was used to seal off the den: Daniel 6:17

a. to prevent anyone from trying to rescue Daniel

IV. Daniel Safe In The Lion's Den: Daniel 6:18-23

A. Darius was sleepless: Daniel 6:18

1. he was so upset that he didn't eat or sleep

2. "no musicians were brought"

a. it's not exactly known what this Chaldean word refers to

b. may refer to dinner music or entertainment, which was a common practice

3. the Septuagint adds, "But God shut the mouths of the lions, and they not molest Daniel."

B. Darius checks on Daniel: Daniel 6:19-20

1. this was "very early in the morning": Daniel 6:19

2. Darius literally "cried out" to Daniel: Daniel 6:20

3. Darius was hoping in the power of Daniel's God

C. Daniel tells Darius he was fine: Daniel 6:21-22

1. God sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths

2. he was innocent before God

3. he was innocent before Darius

a. this must have hurt Darius!

D. Daniel was removed from the den of lions: Daniel 6:23

1. Daniel wasn't harmed because "he believed in his God"

V. Daniel's Accusers Punished: Daniel 6:24

A. they, their wives, and their children were thrown into the den of lions

B. no where does it say that it was the 120 governors plus the other 2 presidents (Daniel 6:1-2)

1. it was just those who plotted against Daniel

2. critics of this account wrongly assume (deliberately?!) that it was 122 people plus their families

a. that would mean that more than 300 people were put into this one den

VI. Darius Publicly Praises God: Daniel 6:25-27

A. a pagan king proclaims God's praises throughout his entire kingdom: Daniel 6:26-27

1. "there shall be trembling and fear before the God of Daniel"

2. "He is the living God"

3. "He… endures forever"

4. "His kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed"

5. "His rule shall be to the end"

6. "He delivers"

7. "He… rescues"

8. "He works signs and wonders in the heavens and in earth"

B. God was highly exalted because of Daniel's unwavering devotion


VII. Daniel Continued To Prosper In The Persian Empire: Daniel 6:28

A. he was an enduring, prominent witness for God in two pagan world empires

B. he was in very high-ranking positions

VIII. Daniel Was Always Highly Favored

A. "Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him":

Daniel 6:1-3

B. "So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.": Daniel 6:28

C. he was always a great witness for the Lord

1. Nebuchadnezzar publicly proclaimed to the world of Daniel, "in him is the Spirit of the Holy God":

Daniel 4:8

2. Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel, "I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you": Daniel 4:9

3. Nebuchadnezzar publicly proclaimed to the world, "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and

honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in

pride He is able to put down.": Daniel 4:37

4. Belshazzar was told, "There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God… an

excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining

enigmas were found in this Daniel": Daniel 5:11-12

5. Belshazzar said to Daniel, "I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you": Daniel 5:14

a. Belshazzar had no excuse!

6. "King Darius wrote: 'To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth… I make a

decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.

For He is the living God, and steadfast forever'": Daniel 6:25-27


Lesson 7: Daniel 7

I. Daniel's Vision: Daniel 7:1-14

A. will speak of the same coming Gentile kingdoms that Nebuchadnezzar's dream did in Daniel 2

1. it's good to study them together to see the parallels

B. "in the first year of Belshazzar": Daniel 7:1

1. about 553 B.C.

a. 14 years before Belshazzar's feast and the fall of Babylon (Daniel 5)

2. Daniel 7 and 8 falls between Daniel 4 and 5

C. "gave the sum of the matters": Daniel 7:1

1. he wrote down only the high points

D. "four winds of heaven": Daniel 7:2

1. or "four spirits"

a. "These are the four spirits of the heavens who go forth from standing before the Lord of all the

earth.": Zechariah 6:5

b. "Come from the four winds, O Spirit…": Ezekiel 37:9

E. "the Great Sea": Daniel 7:2

1. refers to the Mediterranean Sea

2. the "sea" often refers to nations and people

F. "four great beasts… different from each other": Daniel 7:3

1. they came from the sea

2. these same first three animals are seen together elsewhere in Scripture

a. Hosea 13:5-8

b. Revelation 13:2

G. the first beast was like a lion: Daniel 7:4

1. refers to the Babylonian empire

2. the lion had wings

3. winged lions were on the gates of Babylon

H. the second beast was like a bear: Daniel 7:5

1. refers to the Persian empire

2. "raised up on one side" may refer to the stronger Persian half of the Medo-Persian empire

3. the "three ribs" may refer to its three main conquests: Babylon, Egypt, and Lydia

I. the third beast was like a leopard: Daniel 7:6

1. refers to the Greek empire

2. a leopard + wings is fast moving

a. Alexander the Great's speed of conquests was very fast!

3. "four heads" may refer to the four generals that split up the empire after Alexander the Great died

a. Cassander took Greece and Macedonia

b. Lysimachus took Asia Minor (Thrace and Bithynia)

c. Seleucus took Syria, Babylonia, and went as far as India

d. Ptolemy took Egypt, Palestine, and Arabia

J. the fourth beast was dreadful and terrible: Daniel 7:7-8

1. refers to the Roman empire

2. "exceedingly strong… breaking in pieces… trampling the residue": Daniel 7:7

a. the Roman empire was known for it's destructiveness

b. by comparison, other empires took advantage of the conquests and respected the cultures

(i) Nebuchadnezzar took the best to serve him: Daniel 1:3-4

(ii) Cyrus respected the religions of the nations he conquered

(iii) Babylon, Persia, and Greece used some of the captives as rulers

3. it was so different from the other three that Daniel couldn't compare it to any known animal

4. it had "ten horns"

a. horns refer to power and authority


5. a "little horn" rises from among the other ten: Daniel 7:8

a. it "uprooted" three of the ten horns

b. it had eyes and a mouth

(i) obviously a person

c. it spoke "great (or domineering) things"

(i) "I was looking because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke.": Daniel 7:11

(ii) "a mouth speaking very great things": Daniel 7:20

(iii) "he shall speak words against the Most High: Daniel 7:25

(iv) "he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous (or

extraordinary) things against the God of gods": Daniel 11:36

(v) "a mouth speaking great things was given to it, and blasphemies… it opened its mouth in

blasphemy toward God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and those dwelling in

Heaven.": Revelation 13:5-6

K. the vision of the Ancient of Days: Daniel 7:9-14

1. "thrones were set up and the Ancient of Days was seated": Daniel 7:9

a. thrones were not "cast down" (KJV)

(i) this does not refer to the empires previously mentioned

b. the term "Ancient of Days" is seen only here and in Daniel 7:13, 22

(i) refers to God

(ii) "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

even from everlasting to everlasting You are God.": Psalm 90:2

(iii) Psalm 102:24-25

(iv) Isaiah 9:6

(v) Micah 5:2

(vi) Habakkuk 1:12

c. who are the other thrones for?!

(i) possibly for the 24 elders of Revelation 4, 5, 11, 19

- "And around the throne I saw twenty-four thrones. And on the thrones I saw twenty-four

elders sitting, clothed in white clothing. And they had crowns of gold on their heads.":

Revelation 4:4

- "the twenty-four elders sitting before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and

worshiped God": Revelation 11:16

(ii) the 24 elders are the "church," the "bride of Christ"

- the "church" was hidden in the Old Testament (Ephesians 3:4-9; Matthew 13:34-35)

2. "His garment was white as snow… hair of His head was like pure wool": Daniel 7:9

a. "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.": Revelation 1:14

3. "A thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him":

Daniel 7:10

a. "And the number of them was… thousands of thousands": Revelation 5:11

4. "The judgment was set, and the books were opened.": Daniel 7:10

a. "And I saw a great white throne, and Him sitting on it… and I saw the dead, the small and the

great, stand before God. And books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the

Book of Life… This is the second death… if anyone was not found having been written in the

Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire.": Revelation 20:11-15

5. Daniel observed the "great words" the little horn was speaking: Daniel 7:11

a. until the beast was killed and "given to the burning flame"

(i) "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet… the two were thrown alive into the

Lake of Fire burning with brimstone.": Revelation 19:20

6. the other empires survived for a short time longer: Daniel 7:12

a. the Roman empire was never defeated: it just fell apart

(i) "it shall be divided": Daniel 2:41

b. the countries reappeared and are still around today

(i) some even tried for world domination

c. all empires will eventually be defeated and replaced by God's eternal kingdom


7. the coming of the "Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven": Daniel 7:13

a. "And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the

earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the heaven with

power and great glory.": Matthew 24:30

b. "you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of the

heavens.": Matthew 26:64

c. "And Jesus said, 'I AM! And you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and

coming in the clouds of the heaven.'": Mark 14:62

d. "And I looked, and behold, a white cloud. And on the cloud sat one like the Son of Man…":

Revelation 14:14

e. "Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye will see Him": Revelation 1:7

f. "I saw One like the Son of Man": Revelation 1:13

g. "And on the likeness of the throne was a likeness looking like a man…": Ezekiel 1:26

8. God's eternal kingdom: Daniel 7:14

a. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, "the God of Heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be

destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left to other peoples, but it shall crush and destroy all

these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.": Daniel 2:44

b. Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way that, "His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His rule

is from generation to generation.": Daniel 4:3

c. Cyrus admitted that, "the God of Daniel… is the living God, and endures forever, and His

kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed, and His rule shall be to the end.": Daniel 6:26

II. Daniel's Vision Interpreted: Daniel 7:15-28

A. Daniel was "grieved" or "distressed" over this vision: Daniel 7:15

1. "body" = "sheath"

a. Peter called his body a "tabernacle": 2 Peter 1:14

b. it's only a temporary container

B. Daniel asks for the explanation of the vision: Daniel 7:16

1. he was given its interpretation

C. the four beasts represent four kingdoms of the earth: Daniel 7:17

D. God's kingdom will defeat them and be eternal: Daniel 7:18

1. all the saints will take possession

E. Daniel asks about the fourth beast: Daniel 7:19-20

1. because it was so very different from all the rest

2. it was frightening, powerful, and violent

F. the "little horn" overcame the saints: Daniel 7:21-22

1. same is said in Revelation 13:7, "And it was given to it to war with the saints and to overcome them."

2. but Jesus said, "My church… the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.": Matthew 16:18

3. "saints" refer to people other than just the "church"

a. Matthew 11:11

b. Luke 16:16

c. there is a distinct difference between Old Testament believers, New Testament believers (the

Church), and tribulation believers (Revelation 7:9-17)

(i) the Church is a unique, special classification

d. the saints that are being overcome are the "Tribulation saints," those that became saved after Jesus

came for His Church (the Rapture)

4. God rescued the saints: Daniel 7:22

a. the "little horn" overcame the saints just until the "Ancient of Days" came

G. the interpretation: Daniel 7:23-27

1. the fourth beast is a fourth kingdom: Daniel 7:23

a. corresponds to the "iron" and "iron mixed with clay" of Daniel 2:40-43

(i) it's the fourth and final kingdom: there is no fifth corresponding to the iron mixed with clay

b. it's different from all the others

2. the ten horns are ten kings (or kingdoms): Daniel 7:24a

a. these ten kings will arise from this fourth kingdom


3. another one will arise from the ten: Daniel 7:24b-25

a. this one will be very different from all the rest

b. he will subdue three of the other ten kings

c. he will speak against the Most High

d. he will persecute the saints

e. he wants to set up his own religious observances and his own rule of law

f. he will be allowed to persecute the saints for 3 ½ years

(i) "time" = a year; "times" = 2 years; "half a time" = half a year

(ii) this type of terminology was seen before in Daniel 4:23, 25, 32

(iii) this exact same terminology is used in Daniel 12:7, and also found in Revelation 12:14

(iv) it's called 42 months in Revelation 11:2; 13:5

(v) it's called 1260 days in Revelation 11:3; 12:6

(vi) it's called the "middle of the week" in Daniel 9:27

(vii) this is obviously a literal 3 ½ year period and not something symbolic

- each year had 360 days

4. his kingdom will be judged and taken away from him forever: Daniel 7:26

5. God will set up His earthly kingdom and give it to His saints: Daniel 7:27

a. His kingdom will be eternal

H. this vision greatly troubled Daniel: Daniel 7:28

1. he was "alarmed, frightened, and terrified"

2. his "countenance changed"

a. "countenance" = brightness, cheerfulness

b. you could see it in his face

3. he kept it to himself

a. this revelation was precious to him

b. others might not believe him?!

I. this ends the Aramaic portion

1. Daniel 2-7 had to do with Gentile history

"For the Lord will do nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.": Amos 3:7

He's told us everything that He's going to do, and won't do anything He hasn't told us about.


Lesson 8: Daniel 8

I. Daniel's Further Visions: Daniel 8:1-14

A. "in the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar": Daniel 8:1

1. about 551 B.C.

2. Babylon fell 539 B.C.

B. "I was at Shushan the palace, which is in the province of Elam": Daniel 8:2

1. Shushan was 230 miles east of Babylon, 150 miles north of the Persian Gulf

2. the capital of Elam

3. became the capital of the Persian Empire

4. there was a large, famous, and splendid palace there

5. where the story of the book of Esther took place: Esther 1:2, 5; 2:3, 5

a. Esther became the queen in 478 B.C.

6. where Nehemiah was serving before being sent to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem: Nehemiah 1:1

a. he was sent in 445 B.C.

7. Daniel may or may not have physically been in Shushan when he received this vision

C. the vision of the ram: Daniel 8:3-4

1. speaks of the Medo-Persian Empire (Daniel 8:20)

a. the guardian spirit of the Persian Empire was said to have the form of a ram with sharp horns

b. when the Persian king stood at the head of his army he bore the head of a ram instead of a crown

c. Persia was associated with zodiac symbol Aries, the ram

2. "a ram… having two horns": Daniel 8:3

a. "one was higher than the other"

(i) the Persians were stronger than the Medes

(ii) corresponds to the previous vision where the bear was "raised up on one side": Daniel 7:5

b. "the higher came up last"

(i) the Persians came to power after the Medes

(ii) the Persians dominated the Medes by 550 B.C.

3. "I saw the ram pushing westward and northward and southward": Daniel 8:4

a. they were to the east

4. "he did according to his will, and became great": Daniel 8:4

a. speaks of Cyrus the Great

D. the vision of the goat: Daniel 8:5-8

1. speaks of the Greek Empire (Daniel 8:21)

a. the goat, and goats with one horn were common emblems of Macedon

(i) the ensign, banner, or flag of the armies of Macedon had goats on them

(ii) bronze figures of a goat with one horn have been found

- bronze was a picture of Greece in Daniel 2:32, 39

b. Greece was associated with the zodiac symbol Capricorn, the horned goat

2. "a he-goat came from the west": Daniel 8:5

a. the word "he-goat" comes from two Hebrew words

(i) the words are used separately in other places in Scripture, but used together only here

(ii) "tsaw-feer" = he-goat

(iii) "aze" = young goat, a kid; she-goat

(iv) together it probably means "young male goat"

- Alexander the Great came to power when he was only 20 years old! (335 B.C.)

(v) but what about the possibility of a double-sided "he-she-goat"?!

- there is historical evidence that Alexander the Great was a transvestite and bisexual

3. "did not touch the ground": Daniel 8:5

a. may refer to its speed

(i) Alexander the Great's conquests were very fast

- he conquered the Persian empire in just 6 years and the known world in only 10 years

(ii) corresponds to the previous vision of the leopard with wings: Daniel 7:6


4. "the he-goat had a notable horn between his eyes.": Daniel 8:5

a. may refer to Alexander the Great's incredible and famous accomplishments

5. the goat ran into the ram and destroyed it: Daniel 8:6-7

a. a goat is smaller than a ram

b. Greece was small compared to the huge Persian Empire

6. the goat's horn was broken: Daniel 8:8

a. happened at the peak of the Empire

b. speaking of Alexander the Great's death in 323 B.C.

(i) he was only 32

c. the one horn was replaced by "four notable ones"

(i) refers to the four that split up the Greek Empire after Alexander died

(ii) refers to the four heads in the previous vision of Daniel 7:6

E. the vision of a little horn: Daniel 8:9-14

1. does not refer to the "little horn" of Daniel 7:8

a. that little horn had come from the 10 horns associated with the Roman Empire

b. this little horn comes from one of the 4 horns of the Greek Empire (Daniel 8:9)

2. refers to Antiochus IV

a. he called himself Antiochus Epiphanes, the "Illustrious One"

(i) the Jews called him Epimanes, "the Madman"

b. reigned from 175 to 164 B.C.

(i) he usurped the throne mostly through flattery and bribery, and through the murder of his

brother, the former king, Seleucus Philopator

(ii) the rightful heir, Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, was held hostage in Rome

(iii) "a despised one shall stand up… and seize the kingdom by intrigues.": Daniel 11:21

- intrigues = smoothness, flattery, slipperiness; treachery

c. he plundered and desecrated the Temple

d. he forced the Jews to defile themselves under the penalty of death

(i) 1 Maccabees 1:41-51

(ii) "Antiquities of the Jews," book 12, chapter 5, paragraph 4

(iii) he wanted them to eventually forget about their faith

(iv) he's deliberately offending Judaism

e. after a revolt led by the Maccabeus family the Temple was cleansed, rededicated, and service was

resumed in 165 B.C.


(ii) "Antiquities of the Jews," book 12, chapter 7, paragraphs 6-7

(iii) this celebration is still remembered today as Hanukkah

- it's mentioned in John 10:22

3. the use of the same idiom of the little horn as in Daniel 7:8, 11, 20-21, 24-25 is deliberate

a. the "coming world ruler" (commonly called the "Antichrist") will do many of the same things that

Antiochus Epiphanes did

b. both are associated with the "abomination that causes desecration"

(i) an idol (abomination) is set up in the Temple, thereby desecrating it

(ii) Antiochus Epiphanes did this in 168 B.C.: 1 Maccabees 1:54, 59

(iii) the "coming world ruler" will do the same thing, and that will trigger the last 3 ½ years of the

7-year Tribulation period

- Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11

- Matthew 24:15

4. a little horn came from one of the previous four horns: Daniel 8:9

a. came from the Syrian division, originally taken by Seleucus (one of Alexander's generals)

b. "toward the south" refers to the defeat of Ptolemy, the king of Egypt

c. "toward the east" refers to taking over the Syrian sector

d. "towards the Glorious Land" refers to the attack against Israel

(i) "glorious" = beautiful, pleasant; splendor; prominence, conspicuous

(ii) seen only here and in Daniel 11:16, 41

5. "it became great, even to the host of heaven": Daniel 8:10

a. it's generally believed that "the host of heaven" refers to Israel


6. "it made some of the host fall… and trampled them": Daniel 8:10

a. speak of the persecution of the Jews

7. "he magnified himself even to the prince of the host": Daniel 8:11

a. he exalted himself in the face of God

8. "by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down":

Daniel 8:11-12

a. Antiochus Epiphanes defiled the Temple and caused the daily sacrifices to end

9. the length of this desecration: Daniel 8:13-14

a. 2300 "evening morning"

(i) not days

(ii) speaks of the sacrifices: one was in the evening and one was in the morning

b. may speak of the length of time between the desecration and its cleansing

II. The Visions Are Explained: Daniel 8:15-27

A. Gabriel is told to explain the visions to Daniel: Daniel 8:16

1. first time in Scripture where an angel is mentioned by name

B. "the vision refers to the time of the end… in the latter time of the indignation": Daniel 8:17-19

1. the purpose of the vision wasn't to tell him about the Persian and Greek empires, but to give him

information about the "latter time"

a. to give him insight about the two "little horns": Antiochus and the one he foreshadows

b. there may be a double fulfillment or application

(i) may apply immediately to the "little horn" that speaks of Antiochus

(ii) may also apply to the future "little horn" that speaks of the Antichrist

(iii) Isaiah 14 looked past the king of Babylon and to the power behind him--Lucifer

(iv) Ezekiel 28 looked past the king of Tyre and to the power behind him--Lucifer

2. "Come, my people, enter into your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide for a little moment, until

the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the people of the earth

for their iniquity": Isaiah 26:20-21

3. "he touched me and made me stand": Daniel 8:18

a. the Hebrew may mean that Daniel was made to understand

C. the ram referred to the Medo-Persian kingdom: Daniel 8:20

D. the "shaggy he-goat" referred to the kingdom of Greece: Daniel 8:21

1. "shaggy" may imply Alexander the Great's appearance as a result of his lust and debauchery at the time

of his death

E. four weaker kingdoms will arise from and replace the Greek empire: Daniel 8:22

1. Cassander (who was married to Alexander's sister): Macedonia and Greece

2. Lysimacus (1 of 2 boyhood tutors): Thrace, Bithynia, most of Asia Minor

3. Seleucus (one of Philip's generals): Syria, lands to the east, to India

4. Ptolemy (Macedonian noble, boyhood friend and schoolmate): Egypt, Cyrene, Arabia Petraea, parts of

Asia Minor

5. "but not in its power" indicates that none of them would be as powerful as Alexander the Great

F. "in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full": Daniel 8:23

1. Antiochus Epiphanes came to power in the last portion of the Greek Empire

2. may refer to the future, when it's time for judgment to come upon the earth: the Day of the Lord

G. "a king of fierce countenance": Daniel 8:23

1. fierce = harsh, strong, vehement, greedy, rough

2. countenance = face, presence; person

3. or "a fierce person"

H. "understanding difficult questions": Daniel 8:23

1. "skilled at intrigues" (MKJV), "skilled in intrigue" (NASB), "a master of intrigue" (NIV)

2. he will have the answers to difficult puzzles and perplexing questions

3. he will appear to have great intelligence, having the answer to all questions

I. "his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power": Daniel 8:24

1. "the dragon gave him its power and its seat and great authority… all the earth marveled after the

beast… they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast": Revelation 13:2-4

a. the dragon is Satan


J. "he shall destroy extraordinarily": Daniel 8:24

1. "he will destroy to an extraordinary degree" (NASB), "he will cause astounding devastation" (NIV)

K. "he shall prosper and thrive": Daniel 8:24

1. "the king shall… prosper until the indignation is fulfilled.": Daniel 11:36

L. "destroy… the holy people": Daniel 8:24

1. can refer to the Jews

a. two-thirds of the Jews will be killed: Zechariah 13:8-9

(i) under Hitler's Holocaust, one-third of the Jews in the world were killed

2. can refer to those that are saved during this period of time

a. seen before in Daniel 7:21, "that horn made war with the saints and overcame them"

b. "And it was given to it to war with the saints and to overcome them.": Revelation 13:7

c. the saints here do not refer to the Church

(i) Jesus said, "My church… the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.": Matthew 16:18

M. "through his success he shall cause deceit to succeed under his hand": Daniel 8:25

1. deception is a key characteristic of "the coming world ruler"

a. "the lawless one… whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs

and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness": 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10

b. "it deceives those dwelling on the earth, because of the miracles": Revelation 13:14

c. "the false prophet… he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast": Revelation 19:20

N. "he shall magnify himself in his heart": Daniel 8:25

1. "he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god": Daniel 11:36

O. "by peace shall destroy many": Daniel 8:25

1. peace = security, quietness, ease, prosperity

2. he might surprise everyone by attacking them during a time of peace

3. "For when they shall say, 'Peace and safety,' then sudden destruction shall come upon them, as travail

upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.": 1 Thessalonians 5:3

P. "he also shall stand up against the Prince of princes": Daniel 8:25

1. "he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God

of gods": Daniel 11:36

2. "Let not anyone deceive you by any means… the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition,

who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God

in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.": 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

3. "And it opened its mouth in blasphemy toward God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and

those dwelling in Heaven.": Revelation 13:6

4. "I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth and their armies, being gathered to make war against Him

who sat on the horse, and against His army.": Revelation 19:19

Q. "he shall be broken without a hand": Daniel 8:25

1. a power other then man will defeat him; it will be supernatural

2. "the lawless one… the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the

brightness of His coming": 2 Thessalonians 2:8

3. "the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet… the two were thrown alive into the Lake of Fire

burning with brimstone": Revelation 19:20

R. Daniel was to "shut up the vision": Daniel 8:26

1. make a record of it to keep it safe

2. it will be a long time before it is fulfilled

S. Daniel was "amazed" by the vision: Daniel 8:27

1. amazed = stunned, awestruck; could also mean horrified, appalled

2. he was sick over it


1 Maccabees 1

1 And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettiim, had

smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,

2 And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth,

3 And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet

before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up.

4 And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries

unto him.

5 And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.

6 Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been brought up with him from his youth, and

parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.

7 So Alexander reigned twelves years, and then died.

8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place.

9 And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were

multiplied in the earth.

10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had

been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

11 In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant

with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow.

12 So this device pleased them well.

13 Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after

the ordinances of the heathen:

14 Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen:

15 And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and

were sold to do mischief.

16 Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt that he might have the

dominion of two realms.

17 Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great

navy,

18 And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled; and many were

wounded to death.

19 Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof.

20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went up

against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude,

21 And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the

vessels thereof,

22 And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials. and the censers of gold, and the veil, and

the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off.

23 He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found.

24 And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very

proudly.

25 Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were;

26 So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women

was changed.

27 Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness,

28 The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.

29 And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came

unto Jerusalem with a great multitude,

30 And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell

suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel.

31 And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on

every side.

32 But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle.

33 Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong

hold for them.


34 And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein.

35 They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they

laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare:

36 For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel.

37 Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:

38 Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of

strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her.

39 Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach

her honour into contempt.

40 As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.

41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,

42 And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.

43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.

44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the

strange laws of the land,

45 And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the

sabbaths and festival days:

46 And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:

47 Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and unclean beasts:

48 That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of

uncleanness and profanation:

49 To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.

50 And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die.

51 In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people,

commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.

52 Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed

evils in the land;

53 And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour.

54 Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of

desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side;

55 And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets.

56 And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.

57 And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king's

commandment was, that they should put him to death.

58 Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities.

59 Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of

God.

60 At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to

be circumcised.

61 And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them.

62 Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing.

63 Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy

covenant: so then they died.

64 And there was very great wrath upon Israel.

This is the 1769 King James Version of the Holy Bible (also known as the Authorized Version). Although the

writings known as the Apocrypha are often not included in Protestant Bibles, they were translated and included in

the original King James Bible of 1611, and they are offered here for use by interested readers.


Lesson 9: Daniel 9

I. Daniel's Prayer: Daniel 9:1-19

A. similar to the prayers of confession and intercession of Ezra (Ezra 9:5-15) and Nehemiah

(Nehemiah 1:4-11; 9:32-38)

B. in all three prayers they identify with the people, confessing their sins as if they were the sinners

1. do we pray this way for our country?!

2. all 3 of them were fasting as part of their prayers

a. Daniel 9:3

b. Ezra 9:5

c. Nehemiah 1:4

C. "in the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus": Daniel 9:1

1. may be the same Darius of Daniel 6

2. not the same Ahasuerus as mentioned in Ezra 4:6 and Esther 1:1-2

3. this is 539-538 B.C.

D. "of the seed of the Medes": Daniel 9:1

1. this is the Persian Empire

E. "who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans": Daniel 9:1

1. this may not be Cyrus, but an appointed position

F. "I Daniel understood by the books… the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would

accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem": Daniel 9:2

1. he was reading Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10

2. Daniel took it literally!

G. Daniel starts praying: Daniel 9:3

1. because he realized that the captivity was about over

a. about 67 years had passed

2. we're to pray for Jesus' second coming

a. in the example of a prayer, Jesus said, "Your kingdom come.": Matthew 6:10

b. He wants us involved in what He is doing

c. He wants us to be attuned to what His plans are

d. He wants us to desire His will

3. Daniel was also fasting

a. he gets serious!

H. Daniel confesses the sins of the nation: Daniel 9:4-6

1. Daniel praises God and His faithfulness: Daniel 9:4

a. "the great and awesome God"

b. "keeping the covenant and mercy to those who love Him and… who keep His commandments"

2. Daniel confesses the sins of the nation as if they were his: Daniel 9:5

a. "we have sinned… rebelled… departing from Your commandments and from Your judgments"

3. they didn't listen to the Lord: Daniel 9:6

a. "neither have we listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our

rulers, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land"

I. Daniel admits that they got what they deserved: Daniel 9:7-15

1. God is merciful and forgiving: Daniel 9:9

2. they were warned in the Law of Moses: Daniel 9:11-13

a. Leviticus 26:27-45

(i) "Then shall the land enjoy its sabbaths, as long as it lies waste, and you are in your enemies'

land; then shall the land rest and enjoy its sabbaths.": Leviticus 26:34

b. Deuteronomy 28:15-68

(i) "Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for

the abundance of all things": Deuteronomy 28:47


c. "we did not make our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and

understand Your truth": Daniel 9:13

(i) they did not pray or humble themselves, and weren't sorrowful before the Lord

(ii) they did not repent

(iii) they did not take time to understand His word

- understand = have comprehension, wisely understand; to look at or upon, have insight; to

give attention to, consider, ponder; teach

(iv) we need to tell the Lord that we're sorry for our sins

- there needs to be genuine sorrow

(v) we need to turn away from the sin, repent, determine not to go back

(vi) we need to get into His word to help us to not do it again

- "I have hidden (treasure or store up; hoard; protect) Your Word in my heart, so that I

might not sin against You.": Psalm 119:11

J. Daniel asks for forgiveness: Daniel 9:16-19

1. their sin caused them to be a reproach to those around them: Daniel 9:16

a. reproach = shame, disgrace

b. they were an embarrassment to the Lord

2. he admits that they don't deserve anything based on their merits or righteousness: Daniel 9:18

a. they're looking only to His mercy

3. he admits that it should all be done for His sake: Daniel 9:19

II. Gabriel's Visit: Daniel 9:20-23

A. Gabriel visits Daniel while he is still praying: Daniel 9:20-21

B. Daniel had seen Gabriel before, in the "vision at the beginning": Daniel 9:21

1. he met Gabriel in the vision of Daniel 8 (Daniel 8:16)

2. probably does not refer to the previous vision because that one also came after the one "at the

beginning": Daniel 8:1

a. same Hebrew word is used for "beginning"

3. might refer to the vision of Daniel 7

a. Daniel only recorded the highlights: Daniel 7:1

b. Daniel did not record who was explaining the vision to him (Daniel 7:15-16)

4. might refer to an unrecorded vision

C. Gabriel "flew swiftly" to Daniel: Daniel 9:21

1. the translation of the Hebrew is uncertain

2. could also indicate that it was a very fatiguing flight to get to Daniel, or that Daniel was very fatigued

3. "at the time of the evening sacrifice" was about 3 PM

a. this was a common time for prayer: Ezra 9:5; Acts 3:1

b. Cornelius received a vision at this time: Acts 10:3

c. this was the time that Jesus died: Matthew 27:46; Luke 23:44-46

D. Gabriel came to give Daniel "insight and understanding": Daniel 9:22

E. this process started just as Daniel started praying: Daniel 9:23

1. if things don't happen for us, maybe we need to start praying!

III. The 70-Week Prophecy: Daniel 9:24-27

A. when His disciples asked Jesus about His second coming, He made reference to Daniel 9:27; 12:11 and told

them that they were to understand it! (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14)

1. this applies to us, too!

B. understanding Daniel 9:24-27 helps us understand why Jesus was so upset during His triumphal entry and

why He pronounced judgment on them (Luke 19:41-44)

C. seventy weeks (of years) is going to be used as a timeline to bring about the Redemption: Daniel 9:24

1. this speaks of 490 years

2. a Biblical year is exactly 360 days


D. from the command to rebuild Jerusalem to the "Messiah the King" will be 69 weeks (of years): Daniel 9:25

1. this corresponds to the period of time from Artaxerxes Longimanus' edict to rebuild the walls of

Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-6) to Jesus' Triumphal Entry when He presented Himself as King

(Matthew 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19)

a. this was exactly 69 weeks of years

b. 69 x 7 x 360 = 173,880 days

c. from March 14, 445 B.C. to April 6, 32 A.D.

(i) April 6 is 10 Nisan, when the Passover lambs are selected

2. Jesus expected them to know and be anticipating the exact day: Luke 19:41-44

3. the walls would be rebuilt "in troublesome times"

a. Nehemiah records that they faced many difficulties when they were rebuilding the walls of

Jerusalem

E. but the Messiah would be "executed": Daniel 9:26a

1. He will meet with capital punishment, but not because of anything He did

F. the city and Temple will be destroyed: Daniel 9:26b

1. it will be destroyed by the people from which the "prince who is to come" with arise

a. it was destroyed by the Romans during the Roman Empire

b. the "coming world ruler" or the "Antichrist" will arise from the Roman Empire

G. the final 70th

week: Daniel 9:27

1. there is a gap here corresponding to the present unknown period of time when the Jews are temporarily

set aside, commonly known as the Church Age

2. "he" will "enforce the covenant" for one week (7 years)

a. this triggers the final 7-year period of time before Jesus physically returns to the earth for His 2nd

coming

3. "he" will break the covenant at the midway point (after 3 ½ years)

a. Daniel 7:24b-25; 12:7

b. Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5

4. "he" will set up an "abomination that causes desecration"

a. that is an idol set up in the Temple

b. this implies that the Temple will be rebuilt

5. "he" will continue until "that which was decreed shall be poured on the desolator"

a. wrath is commonly pictured as being "poured"

b. Revelation 19:20 records the fulfillment of this prophecy

6. "he" can only be that "coming world ruler"


Lesson 10: Daniel 10:1-11:1

I. Spiritual Warfare

A. the whole armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-18

1. "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might": Ephesians 6:10

2. "so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil": Ephesians 6:11

3. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the

world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.":

Ephesians 6:12

a. these spiritual ranks are also mentioned in Ephesians 1:20-21; 3:10; Colossians 1:16; 2:10, 15;

Romans 8:38

4. the list of the armor: Ephesians 6:13-18

a. belt of truth

b. breastplate of righteousness

c. shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace

d. shield of faith

(i) "with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one"

e. helmet of salvation

f. sword of the Spirit

(i) "which is the Word of God"

g. prayer

(i) in the Spirit

(ii) being watchful

(iii) with perseverance

B. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.": Philippians 4:13

C. "Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.": James 4:7

1. don't "resist" unless you first "submit"

2. there's resisting and submission in the spiritual realm

a. Daniel 10:13, 20-21

b. 2 Peter 2:10-11

c. Jude 1:9

D. Elisha and his servant versus the Syrian army: 2 Kings 6:8-23

1. "'Fear not: for they that are with us are more than they that are with them.' And Elisha prayed, and

said, 'Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.' And the Lord opened the eyes of the young

man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about

Elisha.": 2 Kings 6:16-17

II. Daniel's Fast: Daniel 10:1-3

A. "third year of Cyrus": Daniel 10:1

1. about 536 B.C.

2. Daniel may have been about 90

3. Daniel served until the first year of Cyrus: Daniel 1:21

a. Daniel was now in retirement?

4. the Jews were free to leave their captivity during Cyrus' first year: Ezra 1

a. "all whose spirits God had moved ('stirred up'), arose to go up and build the house of the Lord":

Ezra 1:5

b. Daniel may have been too old to make the journey; he wasn't "stirred up" to return

5. "the appointed time was long" could also be translated "of great conflict"

a. might mean that it was far in the future, or that it involved a time of "great conflict"

b. both may be correct

B. he was fasting for three full weeks: Daniel 10:2-3

1. it apparently was not a total, absolute fast

2. he may have just denied himself certain luxuries

3. it was said that Daniel's purpose for fasting was to "set your heart to understand and to humble yourself

before your God": Daniel 10:12


III. Daniel Has A Vision: Daniel 10:4-9

A. it was in the first month: Daniel 10:4

1. the first month is Nisan

2. 14 Nisan was Passover

3. 15-21 Nisan was the Feast of Unleavened Bread

B. by the river Hiddekel: Daniel 10:4

1. generally believed to be the Tigris

C. a gloriously clad individual appears to Daniel: Daniel 10:5-6

1. might be Gabriel

2. many feel that this is Jesus

a. similar description as in Revelation 1:13-14

b. but can't be because this individual needed help from Michael: Daniel 10:13

3. another alternative is that the glorious individual is Jesus, but the person that touches and talks with

Daniel is Gabriel

a. it would be similar to what happened during the vision of the ram and goat: Daniel 8:15-18

(i) Daniel saw someone that had the appearance of a man

(ii) Gabriel was told to explain the vision to Daniel

D. his companions didn't see the exact vision: Daniel 10:7

1. they ran off because they were very scared of the event that was happening

2. only Saul saw the Lord when he was on the road to Damascus: Acts 9:3-7; 22:9

E. Daniel fell to the ground: Daniel 10:8-9

1. similar reaction by John (Revelation 1:17), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:28), Balaam (Numbers 22:31), Saul

(Acts 9:3-4)

2. it's from the sense of overwhelming inadequacy of their holiness and righteousness

a. Isaiah 6:1-7

IV. The Introduction To The Coming Prophecy: Daniel 10:10-21

A. Daniel 10-12 is one section, chapter 10 being the introduction

B. Daniel was "greatly beloved": Daniel 10:11

1. Daniel was told this before in Daniel 9:23

2. he will be told this again: Daniel 10:19

C. this messenger was sent just as Daniel started fasting and praying: Daniel 10:12

1. Daniel was seeking the Lord and understanding

2. it was an act of humility

D. the "prince of the kingdom of Persia" withstood him for 21 days: Daniel 10:13

1. Michael, a "chief prince" had to help him out

a. Michael is an archangel: Jude 1:9

b. he is in charge of some angels: Revelation 12:7

2. what if Daniel didn't fast for the 21 days?! what if he gave up early?!

E. the prophecy was about Israel in the future, in the "latter days": Daniel 10:14

F. Daniel was overwhelmed by the vision: Daniel 10:15-17

G. Daniel received strength: Daniel 10:18

H. "fear not… peace to you… be strong": Daniel 10:19

1. these are commands!

2. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your

heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.": John 14:27

3. "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might": Ephesians 6:10

I. the messenger had to go back and fight with the "prince of Persia" again: Daniel 10:20

1. the "prince of Greece" will come

a. about 200 years later

2. this teaches us that there are spiritual entities in charge of or supporting nations and worldly powers

a. Satan is the "god of this world": 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31; 14:30; Ephesians 2:2;

Matthew 4:8-9

J. this messenger is there to tell Daniel what is written in the "Scripture of Truth": Daniel 10:21a

K. Michael is the only one helping this messenger: Daniel 10:21b

L. this messenger was strengthening Darius the Mede: Daniel 11:1


Lesson 11: Daniel 11:2-35

I. Persian Empire: Daniel 11:2

A. "three more kings will arise in Persia"

1. Cambyses -- 529-522 B.C.

2. Smerdis the magician -- 522 B.C.

a. an impostor

b. reigned only 7 months

3. Darius Hystaspes -- 521-486 B.C.

B. "the fourth shall be far richer than all of them"

1. Xerxes -- 486-465 B.C.

a. appears to be the Ahasureus of Ezra 4:6; Esther 1:1-12

2. he raised money through taxes

3. he became very powerful

C. "by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece"

1. he used the money he raised to train over 2 million warriors for 4 years for the purpose of attacking

Greece

2. he attacked Greece in 480 B.C.

a. he crossed the Hellespont (now known as the Dardanelles) in seven days

(i) a strait connecting the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara, separating the Gallipoli

peninsula of European Turkey from Asian Turkey

(ii) ancient Troy was located at the western entrance

(iii) he built special barges and made a bridge of boats

b. this attack fueled the vendetta that Alexander the Great had against Persia

D. although there were other kings after Xerxes, the failed invasion against Greece distinctly marked Persia's

decline

1. Persia fell to Greece and Alexander the Great in 331 B.C.

II. Greek Empire, Alexander the Great: Daniel 11:3-4

A. "a mighty king shall stand up": Daniel 11:3

1. speaks of the Greek Empire and Alexander the Great

2. the Greek Empire, Alexander the Great, and the four weaker kingdoms were previously prophesied

about in Daniel 7:6; 8:5-8, 21-22

B. "his kingdom shall be broken and shall be divided toward the four winds of the heavens": Daniel 11:4

1. after Alexander's death the kingdom broke up into four weaker kingdoms

a. Cassander took Greece and Macedonia

b. Lysimachus took Asia Minor (Thrace and Bithynia)

c. Seleucus took Syria, Babylonia, and went as far as India

d. Ptolemy took Egypt, Cyrene, and Arabia

C. "it shall not be given to his sons": Daniel 11:4

1. Alexander died without a qualified heir

2. his half brother, Philip Arrhidaeus was mentally defective

3. his two sons were murdered within 13 years after their father's death

III. Greek Empire, Seleucid -- Ptolemy Rivalry: Daniel 11:5-35

A. "Between the Testaments"

1. the 400 years from the close of the Old Testament (the book of Nehemiah) and the opening of the New

Testament are often called "the silent years"

a. the Bible isn't silent about them: the history was written in advance here in Daniel 11

B. "king of the south" (Daniel 11:5) refers to Egypt

1. the Ptolemy family

C. "king of the north (Daniel 11:6) refers to Syria

1. the Seleucus family

D. Israel was stuck in the middle during this 150-year rivalry


E. "the king of the south shall be strong… one of his rulers… shall overcome him and have power":

Daniel 11:5

1. might refer to Ptolemy I Soter (323-285 B.C.) one of Alexander's wisest and most capable generals

grew very powerful, but Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-245 B.C.) grew even more powerful

2. might instead refer to Ptolemy Lagus, governor of Egypt being surpassed by his son, Ptolemy Soter

king of Egypt

3. or might instead refer to Seleucus Nicator, formerly just a satrap of Ptolemy Lagus becoming king of

the north

a. Ptolemy I Soter captured Jerusalem in 321 B.C. on the Sabbath day without resistance

(i) he lost it to a rival in 316 B.C. but reclaimed it in 312 B.C.

b. Seleucus I Nicator (312-281 B.C.) cooperated with Ptolemy

(i) he made himself the master of Babylon and established the Seleucid Empire

4. all options fit the prophecy

F. "And in the end of years they shall join together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king

of the north to make a treaty": Daniel 11:6

1. "in the end of years" just means "years later"

2. a political marriage was arranged between Antiochus II Theos (262-246 B.C.) and Ptolemy II

Philadelphus' daughter, Bernice

3. Antiochus was required to divorce his own wife, Laodiceia and disinherit her son, Seleucus Callinicus

G. "But she shall not keep the power of the arm. Nor shall he stand, nor his arm. But she shall be given up,

and those who brought her in, and her begetter, and he who made her strong in these times.": Daniel 11:6

1. Laodiceia poisoned Antiochus and murdered Bernice

2. Laodiceia then set her elder son, Seleucus Callinicus on the throne (246-226 B.C.)

H. "But out of a branch of her roots, one shall stand up in his place, who shall come with an army…":

Daniel 11:7

1. Ptolemy III Euergetes (245-221 B.C.), the brother of murdered Bernice invaded Syria, seized the port

of Antioch, and overran Seleucus' empire as far as Babylon

I. "And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of

silver and of gold": Daniel 11:8

1. his spoils for Egypt included 4000 talents of gold, 40,000 talents of silver, and 2500 idols

a. some of these idols included some taken from Egypt by Cambyses 280 years earlier

(i) Ptolemy replaced them into their proper temples

(ii) the people were greatly addicted to idolatry so they gave him the name of Euergetes, "the

benefactor"

J. "he shall continue more years than the king of the north": Daniel 11:8

1. Ptolemy Euergetes continued more years than Seleucus Callinicus: 24 years vs. 20

K. the king of the north will attack the king of the south: Daniel 11:9

1. not exactly certain what the Hebrew is saying

a. "So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land." (KJV)

b. "Also (the king of the North) shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return

to his own land" (NKJV)

c. "And he shall enter into the kingdom of the king of the south, and shall return to his own land."

(Brenton Septuagint)

d. "Then the latter will enter the realm of the king of the South, but will return to his own land."

(NASB)

2. after 2 years Seleucus reorganized and marched south against Egypt in 240 B.C.

3. he was defeated and returned with only a small remnant of his army

L. "But his sons shall be stirred up and shall gather a multitude of great forces.": Daniel 11:10

1. the sons of Seleucus II Callinicus were Seleucus III Ceraunus (226-223 B.C.) and Antiochus III ("The

Great") (223-187 B.C.)

M. "And one shall certainly come and overflow, and pass through.": Daniel 11:10

1. Seleucus II Callinicus died from falling from his horse

2. Seleucus III Ceraunus was murdered

3. Antiochus the Great was the only one left, but continued the campaign

a. Antiochus was 15 years old


4. Antiochus recovered the fortress of Seleucia, the province of Coele-Syria, and Tyre

a. Coele-Syria was the region of southern Syria; strictly speaking, it is the valley of Lebanon, but it is

often used to cover the entire area south of the river Eleutherus including Judea

N. "the king of the south shall be bitter, and shall come out and fight with… the king of the north":

Daniel 11:11

1. Ptolemy IV Philopator (221-203 B.C.) led a large Egyptian army through Judah

O. "And he shall send out a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.": Daniel 11:11

1. Antiochus the Great repelled the invasion in Lebanon

2. Antiochus' army was ultimately defeated in 219 B.C. at the battle at Raphia, 20 miles south of Gaza

a. Antiochus commanded 62,000 men, 6000 cavalry, and 102 elephants

b. Ptolemy commanded 70,000 men, 5000 cavalry, and 73 elephants

c. Antiochus was defeated with a loss of 10,000 infantry killed, and 4000 taken prisoner

P. "And when he has taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up.": Daniel 11:12

1. Ptolemy celebrated his victory by proudly touring through the various provinces

2. he attempted to enter the Holy of Holies but paralysis prevented him

3. "And he shall cast down many ten thousands, but he shall not be made stronger."

a. he did not take advantage of his victory against Antiochus

b. because he was humiliated by not being able to enter the Holy of Holies he retaliated by

persecuting Egyptian Jews

c. blaming the Jews did not help him, either

Q. "the king of the North will again raise a greater multitude than the former… after an interval of some

years": Daniel 11:13

1. about fourteen years after the defeat at the Battle of Raphia, Antiochus III set out with a greater army

than before against Egyptian territory

2. "with much riches (or 'gathered property')" as a result of recent campaigns against Persia and India

3. by this time Ptolemy IV had died

4. his successor was his four year old son, Ptolemy V Epiphanes (203-181 B.C.)

R. "there shall stand up many against the king of the south": Daniel 11:14

1. Antiochus allied himself with Philip of Macedon

S. "also the robbers of your people shall rise up to establish the vision, but they shall fall": Daniel 11:14-15

1. the "violent people" will vainly attempt to take it away from Antiochus

2. in 200 B.C. an Egyptian mercenary named Scopas attempted to take Judea from Antiochus

3. "the king of the north shall come, and cast up a siege mound, and take a fortified city": Daniel 11:15

a. Scopas was defeated at Sidon by Antiochus' 100,000 troops in 198 B.C.

T. Antiochus took Israel from Ptolemy: Daniel 11:16

1. "he shall stand in the Glorious Land… destroyed by his hand" refers to the destruction as a result of the

war with Scopas

a. Antiochus consoled the Jews and gave them aid to help them repair the damage to their land

U. "he shall give the daughter of women to him, to destroy it; but she shall not stand, nor be for him":

Daniel 11:17

1. Cleopatra, Antiochus' daughter was given in a political marriage to Ptolemy in the hopes that he could

eventually annex Egypt

2. she instead became a devoted wife and sided with Egypt

V. "he shall turn his face to the coastlands…": Daniel 11:18

1. Antiochus the Great goes to conquer Greece and control the Mediterranean

2. Rome won a decisive victory against Antiochus in 190 B.C.

W. "And he shall turn his face to the fortresses of his land. But he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be

found.": Daniel 11:19

1. Rome forced Antiochus to pay compensation

2. Antiochus was killed when he was trying to plunder a Persian temple

X. "Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes": Daniel 11:20

1. Seleucus IV Philopater (187-175 B.C.) succeeded Antiochus III

2. to pay the tribute that Rome was still demanding he heavily taxed Israel (2 Maccabees 3:1-12, 24-31)

Y. "but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle": Daniel 11:20

1. he is murdered by his treasurer, Heliodorous, who hoped to take over

2. but Heliodorous is out-intrigued by Seleucus' brother, Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 B.C.)


Z. Antiochus IV Epiphanes: Daniel 11:21-35

1. he is the "little horn" of Daniel 8:9-14

2. he called himself Epiphanes, the "Illustrious One"; the Jews called him Epimanes, "the Madman"

3. "to whom they will not give the honor of royalty": Daniel 11:21

a. he wasn't a rightful heir, he didn't act the part, and the people didn't give him the respect of a king

4. "he shall come in peaceably": Daniel 11:21

a. he didn't take the throne by force, with a coup, or with a battle

5. he seized the kingdom by "intrigue": Daniel 11:21

a. intrigue = smoothness, flattery, slipperiness; treachery

b. the rightful heir, Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, was held hostage in Rome

6. "with the force of a flood they shall be swept away": Daniel 11:22

a. may refer to an invasion of Egypt, perhaps when Ptolemy Philometer, the son of Cleopatra, tried

to recover from Epiphanes the land that had been promised by Antiochus the Great as Cleopatra's

dowry in marrying Ptolemy Epiphanes

b. "Prince of the covenant" may refer to the murder of Onias III, the High Priest in 171 B.C.

(2 Maccabees 4:30-35)

7. "after they join him, he will practice deceit": Daniel 11:23

a. Antiochus developed an alliance with Ptolemy VI Philometer

b. through this alliance he attempted to gain control over Egypt

c. "he will come and be strong with a few people"

(i) with a relatively small force he took possession of Memphis and Egypt as far as Alexandria

8. "he shall enter safely, even into the rich places of the province… he shall do what his fathers have not

done, nor his fathers' fathers… he shall plunder and spoil": Daniel 11:24

a. Antiochus plundered the richest places in the countries under his control

b. he may have used some of these riches to buy support

9. Antiochus invades Egypt again: Daniel 11:25-26

a. Ptolemy VI Philometer was betrayed (Daniel 11:26a) and taken captive by Antiochus

b. Ptolemy VII Euergetes II takes over Egypt

10. "both these kings hearts shall be bent on evil… they shall speak lies at the same table": Daniel 11:27

a. Antiochus and Ptolemy Philometer frequently met together at Memphis

b. they constantly lied to each other

(i) Antiochus professed great friendship to his nephew, concern for his interests, and wanted to

protect him from Euergetes II

- yet in his heart he was determined to ruin the kingdom by encouraging the discords

which already existed between Philometer and Euergetes II

(ii) Ptolemy seemed greatly satisfied with his uncle's protection, and to place confidence in him

c. "it shall not prosper"

(i) Antiochus set Philometer to rule at Memphis

(ii) Euergetes II was ruling at Alexandria

(iii) Antiochus expected a power struggle between them, but instead they decided to cooperate and

rule together, thereby defeating Antiochus' schemes

11. Antiochus takes out his frustration on the Israelites: Daniel 11:28

12. Antiochus invades Egypt, again: Daniel 11:29-30a

a. this is about 168 B.C.

b. a Roman fleet from Kittim thwarts Antiochus' attempts: Daniel 11:30a

(i) Kittim or Chittim probably refers to Cyprus, but can generally refer to the coasts of the

Mediterranean Sea, especially the northern parts, and therefore stands for the islands and

coasts of Greece and the Aegean Sea

13. he again takes out his frustration on the Israelites: Daniel 11:30b-35

a. some Jews will be defectors and apostates: Daniel 11:30b


b. he will "profane the sanctuary… remove the daily sacrifice… place the desolating abomination":

Daniel 11:31

(i) he plundered and desecrated the Temple

(ii) he forced the Jews to defile themselves under the penalty of death

(iii) 1 Maccabees 1:41-51


(iv) "Antiquities of the Jews," book 12, chapter 5, paragraph 4

(v) he wanted them to eventually forget about their faith

(vi) he was deliberately offending Judaism

(vii) he set up an idol (an abomination) in the Temple, thereby desecrating it

(viii) the next "abomination that causes desecration" will denote the exact midpoint of the final

week of Daniel's 70th

week prophecy, demarcating the final 3 ½ years of "great tribulation"

- Daniel 9:27

- Jesus used this passage to teach about it: Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14

(ix) after a revolt led by the Maccabeus family the Temple was cleansed, rededicated, and service

was resumed in 165 B.C.

- 1 Maccabees 4:36-59

- "Antiquities of the Jews," book 12, chapter 7, paragraphs 6-7

- this celebration is still remembered today as Hanukkah, and is mentioned in John 10:22

c. the defectors "he will ruin by flattery": Daniel 11:32a

(i) "ruin" = profane, defile, pollute, corrupt

(ii) "flattery" = flattery, smoothness, fine promises

(iii) he will cause people to follow him, defiling and polluting them spiritually through lies and

vain promises

(iv) they'll be led astray because they weren't following the Lord

d. "but the people who know their God will be strong": Daniel 11:32b

(i) they'll be able to recognize the falsehoods

(ii) they will be strong and be able to overcome

e. "and those who understand among the people shall teach many": Daniel 11:33a

(i) they will continue to teach others the Scriptures

f. "yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by exile, and spoil": Daniel 11:33b

(i) many will choose to die instead of profane themselves

(ii) 1 Maccabees 1:57-64

g. "when they shall stumble, they will be helped with a little help": Daniel 11:34

(i) might mean that there was very little help available

(ii) or could mean that the forces led by Judas Maccabaeus was small but effective

h. "many will join them with hypocrisy": Daniel 11:34

(i) some joined the revolt only because it was successful and only for a short time

i. "those who understand shall stumble, to refine and purge them, and to make white, to the time of

the end.": Daniel 11:35

(i) "understand" = prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand; to look at or upon, have insight;

to give attention to, consider, ponder; have comprehension

- "I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who shall feed you with knowledge

and understanding.": Jeremiah 3:15

(ii) "stumble" = to make feeble, make weak; bereave

(iii) "He is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap. He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.

He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver": Malachi 3:2-3

(iv) "you greatly rejoice… grieving in various tests ('putting to the proof'); so that the trial of your

faith (being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire)

might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ": 1 Peter 1:6-7

(v) "And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God led you these forty years in

the wilderness in order to humble you, to prove you, to know what is in your heart, whether

you would keep His commandments or not. And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger,

and then He fed you with manna, which you did not know, neither did your fathers know it, so

that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that

comes out of the mouth of the Lord man shall live.": Deuteronomy 8:2-3

(vi) "In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble

you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.": Deuteronomy 8:16


B.C. The Ptolemies B.C. The Seleucids

323 Ptolemy Soter, son of Ptolemy Lagus,

governor of Egypt

323 Seleucus Nicator, governor of Babylon

312 Seleucus Nicator recovers Babylon, and

the Era of the Seleucids begins

306 Ptolemy Soter takes the title of king of

Egypt

284 Ptolemy Philadelphus

(It was under him that the Septuagint

Greek translation of the Old Testament

was made, 285-270 B.C.)

280 Antiochus Soter

261 Antiochus Theos

246 Ptolemy Euergetes 246 Seleucus Callinicus

226 Seleucus Ceraunus

225 Antiochus the Great

221 Ptolemy Philopator

204 Ptolemy Epiphanes

187 Seleucus Philopator

180 Ptolemy Philometor

175 Antiochus Epiphanes

164 Antiochus Eupator, of the Romans

assume guardianship


Lesson 12: Daniel 11:36-12:13

I. The Willful King: Daniel 11:36-39

A. the use of the same idiom of the "little horn" in Daniel 7:8, 11, 20-21, 24-25 and Daniel 8:9-11, 23-25 is

deliberate

1. the "coming world ruler" (commonly called the "Antichrist") will do many of the same things that

Antiochus Epiphanes did

2. both are associated with the "abomination that causes desecration"

a. an idol (abomination) is set up in the Temple, thereby desecrating it

b. Antiochus Epiphanes did this in 168 B.C.: 1 Maccabees 1:54, 59

c. the "coming world ruler" will do the same thing, and that will trigger the last 3 ½ years of the

7-year Tribulation period

(i) Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11

(ii) Matthew 24:15

B. "the king shall do according to his will": Daniel 11:36

1. he'll be able (allowed?) to do whatever he wants to do

2. this doesn't fit Antiochus Epiphanes

C. "he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god": Daniel 11:36

1. "the man of sin… the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or

that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God":

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

D. "he shall… speak marvelous things against the God of gods": Daniel 11:36

1. "marvelous" = extraordinary

2. "he also shall stand up against the Prince of princes": Daniel 8:25

3. "And it opened its mouth in blasphemy toward God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and

those dwelling in Heaven.": Revelation 13:6

E. "he shall… prosper until the indignation is fulfilled": Daniel 11:36

1. "…until the Ancient of Days came": Daniel 7:22

2. "…authority was given to it to continue forty-two months": Revelation 13:5

3. "Come, my people, enter into your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide for a little moment, until

the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the people of the earth

for their iniquity": Isaiah 26:20-21

F. "for that which is decreed shall be done": Daniel 11:36

1. what God says will happen, will happen

G. he will exalt himself above all gods: Daniel 11:37

1. "he will not regard the God of his fathers"

a. some feel that this indicates that he's Jewish

b. but this could apply to most families and religions: children are usually brought up in the religion

of their parents

c. may just indicate that he will be introducing an unconventional deity, power, or god: someone

nobody knows about

2. "nor the desire of women"

a. probably does not mean he's a homosexual or that he supports the celibacy of the clergy

(i) clearly does not fit the context

b. it was the desire of Jewish women to be the mother of the Messiah, the promised seed of the

woman (Genesis 3:15)

(i) "the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: behold, the virgin will conceive and shall bring forth

a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel": Isaiah 7:14

c. this may mean that he will deny the concept of the Messiah, or deny that Jesus is the Messiah

3. "nor regard any god"

a. he will not acknowledge any existing deity

b. because he's going to be introducing a new one: himself!

(i) or someone he's representing


4. "he shall magnify himself above all"

a. "the man of sin… the son of perdition… sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth,

that he is God": 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

b. Lucifer said, "I will go up to the heavens; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit

on the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north; I will go up above the heights of the

clouds; I will be like the Most High.": Isaiah 14:13-14

H. "but instead he will honor a god of fortresses": Daniel 11:38

1. "fortresses" = place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold

2. he's setting up defenses against something?!

3. he's acknowledging that these defenses are supernatural

4. "a god whom his fathers did not know"

a. this will be something very new

b. new technology? miracles?

5. "he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones, and treasures"

a. it will cost a lot of money

I. "he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god": Daniel 11:39

1. not exactly sure how this phrase should be translated

a. he will act with the help of a foreign god "against other fortresses" or "in his fortress"

2. the point is that he will be given supernatural power

a. "the dragon gave him its power and its seat and great authority": Revelation 13:2

b. "they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast": Revelation 13:4

c. "it deceives those dwelling on the earth, because of the miracles which were given to it to do":

Revelation 13:14

3. "his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power… he shall destroy extraordinarily": Daniel 8:24

a. "he will destroy to an extraordinary degree" (NASB)

b. "he will cause astounding devastation" (NIV)

4. "they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with it?'":

Revelation 13:4

J. "he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him": Daniel 11:39

1. his supporters will be greatly rewarded

a. and those that do not worship him and receive his mark will be killed: Revelation 13:15-17

2. "he will… cause them to rule over the many and parcel out land for a price"

a. "price" = wages, reward, gain; price

b. he will give out territories and countries as a reward to those that support him

II. The Armageddon Scenario: Daniel 11:40-45

A. kings of the south and north will come against this coming world ruler and self-proclaimed god:

Daniel 11:40

1. the king of the north will come against him like a "tempest" or "storm"

B. "he shall enter into the countries and shall overflow and pass over": Daniel 11:40

1. this coming world ruler will be very successful

C. "these shall escape out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the chief of the sons of Ammon": Daniel 11:41

1. this is what is now known as Jordan

a. Jordan has a lasting peace treaty with Israel

b. Petra and Bozrah are in Jordan

(i) this is the place that the Jews will flee to and be rescued by Jesus

(ii) Isaiah 63:1-6

(iii) "Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains.": Matthew 24:16

(iv) "the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, so that they

might nourish her there a thousand, two hundred, sixty days": Revelation 12:6

D. he will conquer and plunder Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia: Daniel 11:42-43

E. "news out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him": Daniel 11:44

1. probably speaks of the northern (Russian) and eastern (Chinese, et. al.) armies

a. traditionally the northern kingdom has been Syria

2. "The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so

that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.": Revelation 16:12


3. "…release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates… the number of the armies of

the horsemen was two hundred million": Revelation 9:14-16

4. as a result he'll go out on a destructive rampage

F. he will set up his headquarters in Jerusalem: Daniel 11:45

1. he will ultimately meet his defeat

2. no one can prevent his defeat

III. Summary Of The End Times: Daniel 12:1-3

A. "at that time": Daniel 12:1

1. this is just a summary of the last portion of chapter 11

B. "Michael shall stand up, the great ruler who stands for the sons of your people": Daniel 12:1

1. always seems to be a warrior, always fighting against Satanic forces

a. "Michael, one of the chief rulers, came to help me…": Daniel 10:13

b. "Michael, the archangel, when contending with the Devil…": Jude 1:9

c. "there was war in heaven… Michael and his angels warring against the dragon": Revelation 12:7

2. he's protecting Israel

C. "there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation": Daniel 12:1

1. "For that day is great, so that none is like it; it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved

out of it.": Jeremiah 30:7

2. the focus and purpose of that coming period of time is Israel, not the Church

a. "I will go and return to My place until they confess their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction

they will earnestly seek Me.": Hosea 5:15

b. "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge

them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.":

Malachi 3:3

3. Jesus said, "for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to

this time; no, nor ever shall be": Matthew 24:21

4. Jesus said, "For in those days shall be affliction, such as has not been from the beginning of the

creation which God created until now, and never shall be.": Mark 13:19

5. under Hitler's Holocaust, one-third of the Jews in the world were killed; during this future period of

time two-thirds of the Jews will be killed: Zechariah 13:8-9

D. "your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book": Daniel 12:1

1. it's the worst that has ever been on the earth, but they'll survive it

2. only the righteous will survive, those who accept Him as their Messiah

E. the two resurrections: Daniel 12:2-3

1. "some to everlasting life" -- the "first resurrection"

a. "But now Christ has risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruit of those who slept.":

1 Corinthians 15:20

b. "But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruit, and afterward they who are Christ's at His

coming": 1 Corinthians 15:23

c. "He is the Head of the body, the church… the firstborn from the dead": Colossians 1:18

d. "Jesus Christ… the firstborn from the dead": Revelation 1:5

e. Jesus rose from the dead on the day known as the Feast of the Firstfruits

f. Jesus died, rose from the dead, never to die again

g. "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority

over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand

years.": Revelation 20:6

h. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel

and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and

remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we

shall ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.":



2. "some to shame and everlasting abhorrence" -- the "second death"

a. "This is the second death… if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he

was cast into the Lake of Fire": Revelation 20:14-15

b. "But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and

sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and

brimstone, which is the second death.": Revelation 21:8

3. "Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice,

and shall come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have

practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation.": John 5:28-29

4. Job knew that there will be a resurrection, "As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last

He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God;

whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another.": Job 19:25-27

5. "those who are wise shall shine": Daniel 12:3

a. "wise" = wisely understand; have comprehension, have insight; give attention to, consider, ponder;

to cause to consider, to give insight, to teach

b. it's edification; it's making disciples; it's causing people to grow

(i) "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.": Proverbs 11:30

(ii) "seek to build up the church": 1 Corinthians 14:12

(iii) "Therefore comfort one another, and edify one another": 1 Thessalonians 5:11

(iv) "So then let us pursue the things of peace, and the things for building up one another.":

Romans 14:19

(v) "Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good, to building up.": Romans 15:2

(vi) "we do all things, dearly beloved, for your building up": 2 Corinthians 12:19

(vii) "…for the edifying of the body of Christ": Ephesians 4:12

c. "Then the righteous shall shine out like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.": Matthew 13:43

d. "For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? …you are our glory and joy.":


IV. Final Discussions: Daniel 12:4-13

A. "seal the book": Daniel 12:4

1. because it's complete

B. "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased": Daniel 12:4

1. some think this should be translated, "the knowledge", referring to this prophecy

2. running "to and fro" seeking the truth in Scripture

3. "to and fro" is a common idiom denoting searching

a. "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro in all the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of

those whose heart is perfect toward Him.": 2 Chronicles 16:9

b. "Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem… if you can find a man, if there is one who does

justice, who seeks the truth; and I will pardon her.": Jeremiah 5:1

c. "they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it": Amos 8:12

d. "…the eyes of the Lord… run to and fro through the whole earth": Zechariah 4:10

4. speaks of Scriptural and prophetic understanding, not worldly knowledge and travel

a. we know more about prophecy now than ever before

b. we see it happening, so more people are paying attention to world events in the light of Scripture

c. more people are studying it

C. this period of time will be 3 ½ years: Daniel 12:5-7

1. this will last "a time, times, and a half": Daniel 12:7

a. "time" = a year; "times" = 2 years; "half a time" = half a year

b. denotes 3 ½ years

c. this type of terminology was seen before in Daniel 4:23, 25, 32; 7:25

d. this exact same terminology also found in Revelation 12:14

e. it's called 42 months in Revelation 11:2; 13:5

f. it's called 1260 days in Revelation 11:3; 12:6

g. it's called the "middle of the week" in Daniel 9:27

h. this is obviously a literal 3 ½ year period and not something symbolic

(i) each year had 360 days


2. "and when the power of the holy people is completely shattered, all these things shall be finished":

Daniel 12:7

a. the focus and purpose of that coming period of time is Israel, not the Church

b. "…in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me": Hosea 5:15

c. "He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver": Malachi 3:3

D. Daniel wanted more information: Daniel 12:8-9

1. Daniel didn't fully understand: Daniel 12:8

2. he wanted more information but he wasn't given any more: Daniel 12:9

3. Daniel just recorded everything without understanding it

E. "many shall be purified": Daniel 12:10

1. many will be saved during this time

2. Malachi 3:2-3

3. "none of the wicked shall understand"

a. "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him;

neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned": 1 Corinthians 2:14

F. after the 3 ½ years: Daniel 12:11-12

1. 1290 days: Daniel 12:11

a. the last 3 ½ years is 1260 days

b. we don't know what the extra 30 days are for

(i) judgment?

(ii) the time it will take to set up the 1000-year kingdom?

2. 1335 days: Daniel 12:12

a. yet another 45 days is added to the 1290 days

b. don't know why

G. Daniel will enter into his rest: Daniel 12:13

1. he will earn his inheritance

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