The book of Daniel

1. The book of Daniel An account of God’s Sovereignty

2. Author • Daniel (“God is my judge”). • He was deported from Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 B.C. • Most likely a member of a royal family in Judah. • He was a Statesman in Babylon for entire life. • Literary Type • Narrative • Prophetic Background

3. Historical Setting • Northern Kingdom (Israel) • After years of warning against Idolatry, God brought judgment by the Assyrians against the northern kingdom. • First deportation took place in 734 B.C. (about 200 years since the split) • The second and took place in 722 B.C. • The people that were left intermarried and became known as the Samaritans. • Southern Kingdom (Judah) • The people of Judah were spared this. However, they too fell into idolatry. • They were captured by Babylon in 608 B.C. (about 100 years later). • Idolatry was the downfall of both kingdoms. • Idolatry was never a serious issue after these events. • Israel was united and grew under David and Solomon • After Solomon the kingdom was divided in 928 B.C.

4. Outline of the Book of Daniel Purposes of the Book To give hope to a people in captivity To show people how to live for God in the midst of oppression To lay out God’s program for the Gentile nations over time Heaven Rules (Daniel 4:26) Sovereignty over Kingdoms Sovereignty over Mankind Sovereignty over History Beginnings of Daniel’s Life The Five Kingdoms Saved from the Furnace The Humbling of Nebuchadnezzar God judges Babylon Deliverance from the Den of Lions Coming Rulers End time Events Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7-8 9-12 Written in Hebrew (written especially for the Hebrews) Written in Aramaic (written for the Nations)

5. Daniel Chapter 2 God’s Sovereignty over Mankind’s Kingdoms

6. Read Daniel 2:1-13 • Time frame • Wisemen (advisors) • Magicians – determine the future by various means • Enchanters – spoke with the dead • Sorcerers – cast spells • Astrologers – determine the future by the stars • “Legacy Wiseman” • Dream Interpretation Nebuchadnezzar’s Demand

7. Dream Books

8. Read Daniel 2:14-23 Q. Daniel was a youth, but what was his response? Q. What does Daniel’s prayer/praise back to God reveal about God’s Character? Daniel’s Response

9. Read Daniel 2:24-35 Q. At this point, what do you think Nebuchadnezzar was feeling? Why? Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Described

10. Read Daniel 2:36-45 The Coming Kingdoms Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Interpreted What about The “Gap” ?

11. 24 “Seventy ‘sevens’are decreed for your people and your holy city to finishtransgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. 25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. (space inserted by Dave…) The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the templehe will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. Daniel 9:24-27 Seventy “Sevens”

12. The Scripture calls them “Sevens” but Daniel would have most likely thought in terms of years (9:1) We think in terms of units of 10 (decades, ..). Jews more naturally thought in terms of 7 (days in a week, every 7th year was a Sabbath rest year, every 7 Sabbath years brought a Jubilee year (49 years). Number of “completion”. General Observations

13. Timeline of the Seventy “Sevens” The time the Anointed One was put to death. 444 B.C. 395 B.C. 33 A.D. Church Age (Gap) 49 Yrs. (7 “sevens”) 434 Yrs. (62 “sevens”) 7 Yrs. (1 “seven”) 70th Week 483 Yrs. 490 Yrs. Nehemiah 2:1-8 Artaxerxes’ decree authorizing Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem in 444 B.C. Commonly thought of the time in which Jerusalem was a functioning city again.

14. Read Daniel 2:46-49 Q. What was Nebuchadnezzar’s response? “Those who honor me I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30) The Results

15. Q. What does this say about God? Q. What does this say about Man? What difference would this make to you today/tomorrow? Application for Today

16. The Character of God All Knowing All Loving All Powerful Result þ þ ý þ ý þ ý þ þ þ þ þ But…

17. The Present Reality Daniel Us Today International Level National Level Personal Level • Israel had been captured 100 years earlier. • Judah was recently captured. • Daniel and his people were captives, never to see his land again. • Chaos was everywhere…

18. How do You View God? All Knowing All Loving All Powerful Result þ þ ý þ ý þ Have there been times in your life where you have viewed God in an “incomplete fashion”? ý þ þ þ þ þ

19. Main Idea: Rest in God, because He is in control. Know: That God is not just an observer of events but an orchestrator of events. Feel:Peace, knowing that this powerful God cares for me deeply. Do: Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty in our life. Conclusion