Chapter 20: Daniel’s Vision of the Ram and the Goat

Daniel 8:1-14

Q1 - According to Jewish literature, Belshazzar reigned for two full years and was killed at the beginning of his third year, on that fateful night in which the hand appeared and wrote on the wall. His death also marked the end of the 70 years of Babylonian rule. Why do you suppose Daniel’s vision occurred right around this important historical juncture in time?

A1 - Daniels’ vision recorded in Chapter 7 occurred during the first year of Belshazzar’s reign, and this vision recorded in Chapter 8 during his third year. The Jewish people knew their exile in Babylonia was to last 70 years, and they had no doubt been counting every single year as it passed. They knew this time of punishment should be drawing to a close, yet they remained entrenched in Babylonian control. From other accounts, Belshazzar had been even more harsh toward the Jews than his predecessors.

For Daniel and the Jewish population, their anticipation had to have been great, and they were likely a bit anxious as well. Those who were still alive from the long trek into captivity had waited a lifetime for this occurrence. They were more than ready for this fateful chapter in Jewish history to come to a close. So it could be that Daniel’s visions served as God’s assurance that He had not forgotten His faithful, and that His plan for the future was much greater than they could have imagined.

Q2 - Why do you think God chose to reveal the future to Daniel?

A2 - Daniel was a prophet of God, someone who served as a mouthpiece for conveying God’s messages to others. He was also highly educated, both in the Old Testament scriptures and in the lore and wisdom of the Babylonians. So if anyone from that era in time could have been able to understand and also record what God revealed, certainly it would have been Daniel.

Just as importantly, Daniel had proven himself faithful to God from an early age. He had interpreted dreams for Nebuchadnezzar, revealing God’s messages to a king who had threatened his life along with those of all the wise men in the kingdom. He had defied King Darius’s decree and chose to potentially suffer a gruesome death in a den of lions rather than disavow his God. Daniel had always served God, no matter how high the stakes, so it stands to reason that God would trust him with these messages.

Q3 - What was the impact of this revelation on Daniel? What about its impact on future generations?

A3 - You have to think that this vision and the one in Daniel 7 were real eye-openers, so to speak, for Daniel and the Jewish people. Jeremiah and Ezekiel both lived during Daniel’s time, and these prophets foretold many things that would happen in the future, including the coming of the Messiah. However, Daniel’s visions went beyond foretelling the future and allowed Daniel, as well as us today, to glimpse into the spiritual realm. With their graphic descriptions, we can almost feel the struggles happening on behalf of God’s people. With our mind’s eye, we can visualize a small bit of the glory of eternity. These revelations were beyond comprehension for Daniel, and they remain so for us today.

[This site, aboutbibleprophecy.com,provides a brief summary of the various Bible prophecies, including those of Jeremiahand Ezekiel.]

Chapter 21: Daniel’s Second Vision Explained

Daniel 8:15-27

Q1 - In what ways do the visions of Daniel affirm how special he was to God?

A1 - Think of the people in the Old Testament who were special to God. He gave His promise to Abraham and his descendants that He would make of them a great nation (Genesis 12:2). He chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt and spoke with him as someone speaks with a friend (Exodus 33:11). There were priests who were special to God, such as Eli and Samuel. He chose David, a man after His own heart, to be king and promised him that his throne would be established forever (II Samuel 7:15-16). Then there were the many prophets who served as God’s mouthpieces, providing instruction and warnings to the people.

Through the centuries, God guarded and protected those He loved. Some He placed in positions of authority and leadership. He spoke to many and frequently revealed the coming events, including the coming of the Messiah. God did all of this with Daniel as well. Yet, Daniel is the only person from Old Testament times, at least that’s recorded in the scriptures, whom God allowed to glimpse into the spiritual realm, into things eternal.

Daniel lived during one of the saddest chapters in Jewish history, their exile into Babylonia. Through it all, he remained faithful to God and enjoyed a close relationship with God. Perhaps with the visions, God was showing Daniel the inside scoop, sharing with Daniel as one friend does with the other.

Q2 - Compare the portion of the previous vision in Daniel 7:23-27 with the portion of this vision in Daniel 8:23-25. What similarities do you notice?

A2 - Possibly God is trying to tell Daniel at least some of the same information in these two visions, just presenting it a little differently or extending to a different time period. In both, animals or beasts represent countries or ruling powers on earth. Life will be difficult for God’s people during much of the future time period depicted. In fact, the level of difficulty will increase to the point of devastation for God’s people. Relief will come about only after divine intervention occurs. Possibly for us today, the most important point of these visions is that ultimately good will win!

It’s interesting to line up the various entities in the visions with what occurred historically. This reference, "The Five Visions of Daniel," succinctly states what their research has yielded (scroll down to Fifth Vision). You can find many other references by doing an online search.

Concerning the identities of the various entities, refer back to the answer to the 3rd Thought to Ponder in Lesson 18 for a discussion of the countries or powers represented by the four beasts in Daniel’s vision in Chapter 7. Fortunately, for Daniel’s vision in Chapter 8, the angel Gabriel actually named the identities of the two-horned ram as the kings of Media and Persia and the shaggy male goat as the king of Greece (see Daniel 8:20-22). Beyond what Gabriel revealed, the best anyone can do is make an educated guess based upon what has been borne out in history.

Q3 - After this vision, Daniel lay exhausted for several days. Why do you suppose he was so worn out?

A3 - The Jewish people wanted to go back to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Even though that would occur a few years hence, this longer view of the future given in Daniel’s vision revealed the devastating times that still lay ahead for God’s people. Learning that the faithful would suffer so dreadfully in the future, when they were just now looking forward to getting out of Babylonian captivity, had to have been quite a blow to Daniel.

Not only that, but he learned the temple which his people sought to rebuild would be destroyed yet again and the daily sacrifices halted. Essentially, the form of worship that the Jewish people had known for centuries would end. This had to be shocking for Daniel to learn. Couple all this information with his mind-blowing glimpse into the spiritual realm and communicating with the angel Gabriel, and you can understand why he lay sick and overcome for several days. He was emotionally tapped out.

Chapter 22: Daniel’s Prayer

Daniel 9:1-19

Q1 - Daniel witnessed firsthand the power shift which God had foretold earlier through His prophet, Jeremiah. The hand writing on the wall signaled the end of King Belshazzar and of Babylonian rule. Now, with Darius the Mede as king, Daniel knew it was time for those 70 years of punishment to be over. Why did Daniel feel compelled to pray this fervent prayer?

A1 - When you examine the content of Daniel’s prayer, almost all of it is devoted to confessing the sins of the Jewish people. He states how they have sinned—they have been wicked, rebelled, turned away from God’s commands and laws, and refused to listen to God’s prophets. As a result, they have been punished, just as God declared they would be if they turned from Him and worshipped other gods.

In the last few chapters of Deuteronomy, right before the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River to take possession of the Promised Land, Moses gave his final words of admonishment to the people. He told them to carefully follow the terms of the covenant God made with them so that they might prosper in everything they did (Deuteronomy 29:9). If they didn’t, God’s wrath would come upon them (Deut. 29:20-21), and He would uproot them from their land and thrust them into other lands (Deut. 29:28). This is exactly what happened to them, which is why they are now in Babylonian exile.

Yet, God promised the Israelites wherever they may be dispersed among the nations, “when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you (Deut. 30:2-3, NIV).”

Daniel desperately wants the time of their exile to be over, and He knows that God has promised to restore them to their land. He also knows that God wants them  to acknowledge their sins and truly repent, as He had urged them to do (see Jeremiah 3:13 and Proverbs 28:13). So Daniel, in his special prayer, fervently confesses the sins of his people and seeks God’s forgiveness so that this time of punishment will come to an end.

Today, we are also urged to repent, to turn away from our sins and to confess them. You might want to discuss Acts 2:37-38, NIV:

“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’”

Also, this scripture in I John 1:7-10, NIV:

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”

Q2 - What insight does this prayer give you as to the depth of Daniel’s character?

A2 - Daniel had spent almost his entire life living as an exile in Babylon. He had remained faithful to God in spite of everything that was thrown at him. He was not among those who had sinned and caused this exile to occur. Yet, he and the Israelites currently alive were paying the price for the sins of others, many of whom were long dead.

You might expect him to be bitter about having to live in this predicament, but he never lost his sense of identity as an Israelite or lost his commitment to his God and his people. It shows a great deal of humility that he felt compelled to pray this prayer of confession on behalf of his people and, in essence, share in the blame for their collective sin. It also shows the deep love he felt for his people, his heritage, Jerusalem and his country.

Q3 - Was Daniel personally ever able to leave Babylon? (see Daniel 6:28)

A3 - From historical accounts, we know the Battle of Carchemish occurred about 605 B.C. Daniel was presumably a teenager or maybe a preteen at this time. From that happening, he was carried off into Babylonian exile, which would mean that he was born around 620 B.C., give or take a few years.

This scripture is about all we are told concerning the last days of Daniel’s life: “So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian” (Daniel 6:28, NIV). If he remained in Babylonia until the reign of Cyrus, which began around 538 B.C., he would have been an old man by then, presumably in his 80s. So it’s highly unlikely that he made the long trek back to Jerusalem at such an advanced age.

A tomb has been erected for Daniel in Susa, Iran, and can be viewed by visitors. It’s unlikely his remains are actually there, as his body was evidently moved multiple times over the centuries. However, if Daniel had left Babylon and lived out his last days in Jerusalem, it’s not likely that such a grand monument would have been erected to him in Susa. [View a picture of Daniel's Tomb here and read more about it.]

Chapter 23: The Seventy “Sevens”

Daniel 9:20-27

Q1 - Daniel probably wanted the captivity of his people to be over immediately and Jerusalem restored. Yet, God took a longer view and sent Gabriel to explain His timeline to Daniel. Do you think Daniel understood what Gabriel was telling him?

A1 - By this time in his life, Daniel had already had several divine interactions. The first one, at least that’s recorded, was when he interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great statue in Daniel 2. God spoke through him to the king and revealed the future kingdoms and the coming of Christ. The second was when he interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great tree that was cut down with the stump being left so that it could later be restored in Daniel 4. The third occurred when Daniel interpreted for King Belshazzar the meaning of the words written on the wall by the fingers of a human hand in Daniel 5.

The rest of the divine interactions that are recorded were directed at Daniel himself. His dream or vision in Daniel 7foretold the coming of four earthly kingdoms and seemed to correspond to Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream of the great statue. His vision in Daniel 8 also foretold of future kingdoms, with Media, Persia and Greece actually being named. Both of these visions revealed that great difficulties would lie ahead for God’s people.

So by the time of this divine interaction which occurred during Daniel’s prayer, he had already been privy to a great deal of information concerning what would happen leading up to the coming of the Messiah, or Anointed One. Additionally, he was a very educated person, and having been from Jewish royalty, he likely had studied the scriptures from an early age. While he may not have understood everything Gabriel told him, certainly he understood quite a bit.

Q2 - Why do you suppose God chose to reveal this part of His plan to Daniel?

A2 - If you study the visions or dreams Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar had that dealt with the future, you’ll notice quite a bit of overlap. But you’ll also notice different bits of information are inserted in each one. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2) revealed that after four kingdoms, God’s eternal kingdom would be established. When Daniel had his dream of the four beasts (Daniel 7), he also glimpsed into the spiritual realm and saw God on His throne. Then, in Daniel’s vision of the ram and the goat (Daniel 8), he was given a time frame of  2300 evenings and mornings before the sanctuary would be reconsecrated. This time, in response to his prayer in Daniel 9, he’s given a more specific timeline—seventy sevens, with the sevens divided into three separate groups.

At this point, it might be good to address Jewish numerology a bit. Numbers could be taken literally, but at times they were also symbolic. The number seven was particularly meaningful to the Jews, as it showed completeness and perfection. God created the universe in six days and rested on the seventh (Genesis 2:1-3). As a result, we have a seven day week even today. When Noah built the ark, God commanded that seven pairs of every kind of clean animal and also seven pairs of every kind of bird be brought aboard (Genesis 7:2-3). Many of these animals would be used later for food and also for sacrifice, so God wanted to ensure their survival.

To get an idea of the importance of the number seven and the times when it was used, do a search of the scriptures and browse through the references. Click on the Leviticus references and observe how many times seven was used in Jewish worship and the keeping of God’s commandments.

Seven times seven was also an important number. Every seventh year was a Sabbath year in which the land was to have a year of rest (Leviticus 25:1-7). The people were not to sow their fields or prune their vineyards during this year. This helped to rejuvenate the soil and prevent the depletion of nutrients so the fields would become more fertile and produce better crops in the future.

Then, after seven Sabbath years, or seven times seven years (forty-nine years), the Year of Jubilee was proclaimed. This fiftieth year was very special, because not only were the fields to lie fallow, but also any land that had been sold was to be returned according to how it had been apportioned to their ancestors when God gave them the Promised Land. This kept the land with the appropriate tribe and their lineage. Also, if any Israelite had become poor and sold themselves to be workers, they and their children were to be released from their servitude so they could return to their own clans and ancestral property. (You can read the extensive instructions concerning the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25:8-55.) Of course, two of these fifty-year periods neatly comprised a century.

So what is the significance of seventy times seven, or seventy sevens? Look at this instance in Matthew 18:21-22, NASBwhere this number is used: “Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’” (Other versions translate this number as seventy-seven, which, of course, differs from seventy times seven, or 490.)

Peter must have been thinking there ought to be a limit as to how many times he should have to forgive someone who kept sinning against him. Seven, which represented completeness, probably seemed like a good number to him. Jesus, with His reply, essentially told Peter, there is no limit. Then He went on to illustrate the true meaning of forgiveness in the parable which follows in Matthew 18: 23-35. Whether the number is more accurately translated as seventy times seven or seventy-seven, either way, Jesus was using an excessive number to make his point.

So when “seventy sevens” occurs in Gabriel’s response to Daniel’s prayer, does this number represent literal years, literal weeks, or figurative time periods? Some historians and scholars interpret this number to mean seventy weeks rather than years, because by itself, seven represents one week. You can see how, with the great amount of symbolism represented by the number seven and its multiples, the meaning of “seventy sevens” becomes highly debatable.

From the context, it seems that “seventy sevens” is how much longer it would take for the Old Law to be fulfilled and the new era, God’s eternal kingdom, to be established. Pinning down the exact time periods, however, seems to be problematic. It could have made more sense to Daniel than to us today.

However, let’s get back to the original question of why God revealed this information to Daniel. You can see how in each interaction, whether in his own dreams or through interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s, Daniel learned new bits about God’s overall plan. That’s probably because too much information at once would have totally overwhelmed him.

Now, it’s likely Daniel had studied the scriptures from an early age and knew something of God’s plan. But what God revealed to him through the course of these divine interactions far exceeded what Daniel could have learned from his studies. The Messiah was someone he had read about, but God, by revealing this detailed information to Daniel, made the coming of the Messiah, or Anointed One, very real to Daniel. The timeline God set forth let Daniel know that this event was on schedule, and it was happening in the not so distant future!

Recall, too, the relationship that existed between God and Daniel. Daniel had lived his life totally devoted to God and was someone so special to God that God highly esteemed Daniel. Daniel was elderly by the time he prayed this special prayer and would not live long enough to personally witness the Messiah or the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom. Yet, through the dreams and visions, God allowed Daniel to glimpse His glory and be privy to His timeline. Much like someone confiding in a good friend, God shared with Daniel the highly condensed version, and in so doing, allowed him to vicariously witness the future.

You can find an interesting discussion of Daniel’s visions and the time periods they spanned in this article entitled, “The Five Visions of Daniel,” by Jay Rogers.

This article, “The Prophecy of the Seven Weeks,” by John F. Walvoord contains a much longer and more detailed discussion on the topic.

Remember to glean from the scriptures what you can understand and leave what you can’t to God. There is much that lies beyond our understanding!

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?
Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36, NIV)

Q3 - Think back over the great historical events and the turbulence through which Daniel had lived. God cared for him, supplied his needs and saw him through. In this reading, how does God comfort Daniel once again, even while revealing more turbulence ahead?

A3 - With this special prayer, Daniel begged for God’s mercy. The Jewish people longed for their exile to be over so they could return to Jerusalem and rebuild their city and sanctuary. God, in His reply, reassured Daniel that Jerusalem would be rebuilt with streets and a trench (some versions say a wall and others say a moat, all of which would provide a means of defense).

However, God revealed that the path which lay ahead for His people would be difficult. The rebuilding of Jerusalem would occur during times of trouble. After that would come much greater difficulties, with Jerusalem and the sanctuary being destroyed once again and the Anointed One, the Messiah, put to death. The form of worship that the Jewish people had practiced since they received the Law of Moses would cease. The ruler would put an end to the sacrifice and offering. At the temple, this ruler would set up an abomination that causes desolation.

So how is this comforting to Daniel? Because after all the destruction and horrors that this ruler will cause, he’s going to get his due. The end that has been decreed for him will be poured out on him (Daniel 9:27). Then God’s people will receive at least a measure of relief. Ultimately, good will win.

Recall, too, that by this time in Daniel’s life, he had been privy to several divine interactions. As discussed in the previous question, he seems to have learned another bit to God’s overall plan each time. However, if you go back through the divine incidents that have been recorded throughout the book of Daniel, you see that much of what he was told in Chapter 9 is not new information. God does go into greater detail with the timeline, but much is also repeated from what had been revealed in previous interactions.

This, in itself, is comforting, that God presents the same plan. He doesn’t randomly change His mind. Recall the scripture in Numbers 23:19, NIV: “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” God’s word was something Daniel knew he could count on, just as we can today.

We aren’t told how this information affected Daniel on this occasion, but his previous visions caused him great angst. After the Daniel 7 vision, he stated, “I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself” (Daniel 7:28, NIV). His vision in Daniel 8 disturbed him even more: “ I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days…. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding” (Daniel 8:27, NIV).

Daniel may have found this interaction disturbing as well. But by giving Daniel new bits of information with each vision and dream, it’s as if God were easing him into the reality of what would occur, rather than hitting him with everything all at once. God knows we are but human: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:13-14, NIV) God knew that giving Daniel too much information at one time would be greater than he could bear. So even in His portioning out all the information, God showed His great care for Daniel.

Chapter 24: Daniel’s Vision of a Man

Daniel 10:1-11:1

Q1 - Why was Daniel highly esteemed? Why did his words elicit such a response? (Daniel 10:10-12)

A1 - This scripture gives us a bit of insight as to Daniel’s character. He set his mind to gain understanding, and he humbled himself before God. Those traits are just as fitting for Christians today as they were for Daniel, so let’s examine them a little further.

First, concerning setting his mind to gain understanding. Daniel was a prophet of God, meaning he was someone chosen by God to be His messenger. Often we think of a prophet as being someone who foretells the future, which God’s prophets did on numerous occasions. Prophets of God were also disseminators of information. They proclaimed whatever message God needed to get out to the people. (Remember that the written word of God was not widely available to the people except when it was read during their assemblies.)

So if Daniel, as a prophet, was already receiving information from God, what does it say about him that he set his mind to gain understanding? It shows how diligently he sought to learn even more about God and what His desired of His people.

This brings us to the second trait that was mentioned concerning Daniel—he humbled himself before God. What exactly does it mean to be humble? By our modern day definition, a person who is considered humble is often seen as being submissive, ineffective, unassuming, and possibly low in rank or status. Yet, in the Bible, humility is considered an admirable quality.

Consider the character of Moses. In Numbers 12:3 we are told that Moses was very humble, more humble than anyone else on earth. Yet, he was one of the greatest leaders in Jewish history. What made him humble? He never became proud or haughty, even though he had received great authority from God. He continually relied on God and not on his own wisdom and understanding. For more insight into Moses’s character, read the whole chapter of Numbers 12 where his brother and sister spoke against him because he had married a Cushite or Ethiopian woman. God called them out and struck Miriam with leprosy. Moses, instead of being angry and resentful toward them, begged God to heal his sister, which God did. This truly speaks to the character of Moses. (Pull up this site for an extensive discussion on the subject of "Humility," which includes numerous scripture references.)

So in humbling himself before God, Daniel acknowledged God’s sovereignty and totally submitted himself to God’s authority. By setting his mind to gain greater understanding, he essentially acknowledged that he didn’t know all. He looked to God to supply his needs, and it’s no wonder that God, in turn, responded. Daniel seemed to embody Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV), below. Being a highly educated man of God, it’s likely he knew this scripture well. (Take time to read the whole wonderful chapter concerning wisdom.)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.”

Q2 - Why do you think Daniel mourned so deeply and so long after this revelation concerning a great war?

A2 - There could be several reasons why Daniel was so deeply affected by this revelation. First of all, centuries of future happenings are condensed in these last three chapters in the book of Daniel (10-12), all of which deal with the same vision. It’s likely this was too much information—in the extreme!

Supposing that this vision spanned from Daniel’s lifetime through the great tribulation of the Christians in about 67-70 A.D., that would be a time period of close to 600 years. What if all the happenings of the last 600 years of our history were condensed into a short video followed by a narrative explaining it? Even if you are a history buff and were familiar with most of the events, it would still probably make your head spin. Now think about how it would affect someone with no prior knowledge of these events!

Another thing to consider is that it seems the man dressed in linen did not appear to Daniel until after his three week period of mourning. Going without an explanation for so long probably increased Daniel’s level of anxiety. Often our fear of the unknown turns out to be worse than dealing with the reality itself.

But probably the greatest reason Daniel mourned so deeply was that even before he received the divine explanation, he could tell really bad things were going to happen. He knew the Jews would return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, but he also knew it would not last. In the longer term, the Jewish way of life as they had once known it would be over. Monumental events were going to occur, and he knew that much grief and suffering lay ahead for his people.

Q3 - The one speaking to Daniel mentions several “princes” who evidently are engaged in various struggles. Does there seem to be a spiritual battle going on behind the scenes which humans are not able to see?

A3 - Occasionally, the scriptures let us glimpse into the spiritual world. In Daniel 10:13, 20, 21 and 11:1 we are provided such a snippet. These verses help us understand a bit about the great struggles in the spiritual realm which seem to occur on behalf of humans.

Are the “princes” mentioned in these passages what we usually refer to as angels? Evidently so, because here Michael is called one of the chief princes, and we know that he is an archangel (Jude 1:9). From other Bible verses that mention Michael, he seems to be a warrior who goes into battle against Satan (Revelation 12:7) and that he is the protector of God’s people (Daniel 12:1).

We also know that not all angels are good, that there are fallen angels who rebelled against God sometime before the fall of Adam and Even in the garden. Satan, also called Lucifer, seems to be their leader. These fallen angels, often called demons in the New Testament, work to influence humans to do evil.

Some Bible scholars feel that the scripture in Revelations 12:3-4 (NIV) indicate that a third of the angels fell with Satan when he rebelled—“Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.”

Peter tells us that these fallen angels will be punished on the day of judgement: “… God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment …” II Peter 2:4 (NET). So their fate has already been determined, and it would seem the objective of their spiritual warfare is to bring as many humans down with them as possible. (The really Good News—humans are able to receive forgiveness of their sins because of Christ’s sacrifice and spend eternity with God! This is something the angels long to look into—see I Peter 1:10-12.)

How is this warfare carried on behind the scenes? God gave humans a free will. We are free to choose our actions, and it’s up to us whether we do good or evil. So while Satan doesn’t make us do anything, he does know our weaknesses and finds ways to appeal to them. Peter tells us he’s like a roaring lion, prowling around just looking for someone to devour (I Peter 5:8).

Recall when Jesus was tempted by Satan in Matthew 4:1-11. Don’t you expect Satan picked the most appealing things he could think of with which to tempt Jesus? What a victory it would have been for Satan if Jesus had yielded! You can bet he pulled out all the stops. The Hebrew writer also tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way just like we are (see Hebrews 4:14-16).

So you can expect to be tempted to sin. However, remember what Paul tells us: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (I Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

James gives us further instruction on how to deal with temptation: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:7-10, NIV).

Remember that the underlying root of your struggles is not with other people—it goes much deeper than humans. Paul explains that we are actually engaged in spiritual warfare, and he tells us how to fight it:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:10-17, NIV).

And then Paul tells us to pray, pray, and pray some more! (See Ephesians 6:18-20.)

[To learn more about angels, the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry provides a great deal of information. Pull up this page, "About Angels," and click on the various topics.]

Chapter 25: The Future Revealed to Daniel

Daniel 11:2-27

Q1 - How do you think you would feel if presented with so much information concerning the future? Is it any wonder Daniel needed help to speak and function?

A1 - As was mentioned in Question 2 of Chapter 24, with so many years of future events condensed into such a short narrative, Daniel probably felt totally overwhelmed with by the sheer amount of information. Even reading this vision today, it presents the reader with a deluge of information. It’s kind of like going to take a shower and instead you realize you stepped into Niagara Falls.

Also, consider that it’s one thing for us today to look back in time. From our vantage point, we can align various bits of the prophecy with certain happenings, or at least we can speculate about their alignment. That’s because when we look back in time, we already know some of the names and events. But it’s another thing entirely to look forward into the future. So much would be unfamiliar, such as leaders who have yet to be born and countries that won’t come into existence for possibly centuries. Wars will be fought by means that we can’t even imagine. And who can even fathom what technologies will be developed in the coming centuries or the discoveries that will be made? (Consider how difficult it can be to explain today’s technology to someone who’s elderly and multiply that confusion many times over!)

Remember, too, that by this point in his life, Daniel has been privy to several divine revelations. This last one seems to contain much more information and be even more specific. The previous revelations overloaded him, and now he’s being shown more and more and more on top of everything else. So it’s really no wonder that this last vision affected him as it did.

Q2 - What recurring theme(s) do you notice in this revelation?

A2 - While it’s hard to keep up with the various players, you notice how the struggle for political power continues, back and forth, throughout this time period. There doesn’t seem to be much peace, except for the time in Daniel 11:8 where it states the king of the south will return back to Egypt and for some years will leave the king of the north alone. However, this king of the south took back with him the idols and priceless articles of gold and silver, so he already had all their good stuff.

Along with the constant political struggles, it’s worth noting that, try as they may, no one manages to stay in power for a prolonged period of time. To illustrate, here are a few snippets from the reading for this lesson (Daniel 11:2-27, NLT):

• v. 4 - “But at the height of his power, his kingdom will be broken apart and divided into four parts. It will not be ruled by the king’s descendants, nor will the kingdom hold the authority it once had. For his empire will be uprooted and given to others.”

• v. 5 - “… but one of his own officials will become more powerful than he and will rule his kingdom with great strength.”

• v. 12 - “After the enemy army is swept away, the king of the south will be filled with pride and will execute many thousands of his enemies. But his success will be short lived.”

• v. 18-19 - “After this, he will turn his attention to the coastland and conquer many cities. But a commander from another land will put an end to his insolence and cause him to retreat in shame. He will take refuge in his own fortresses but will stumble and fall and be seen no more.”

• v. 20 - “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. But after a very brief reign, he will die, though not from anger or in battle.”

• v. 25-26 - … “The king of the south will go to battle with a mighty army, but to no avail, for there will be plots against him. His own household will cause his downfall. His army will be swept away, and many will be killed.”

• v. 27 - “Seeking nothing but each other’s harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for the end will come at the appointed time.”

• While these rulers may snatch kingdoms away and seize power with great bravado, most of them go out, not in a blaze of glory, but rather with a whimper.

Q3 - Pick verses from this chapter’s reading that you find particularly interesting or intriguing and research them in a Bible commentary. You can find numerous commentaries at www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries. (This would be a good site to bookmark for future reference.) Scroll down to the Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible, which has served as a classic through the centuries. (Then scroll down to Daniel 10, 11 and 12.)

What did you learn of interest about the verses you picked?

A3 - It will be interesting to see what everyone picked, and also to learn why they picked what they did. Another commentary available at the above site that may be helpful is John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible. Consulting several can help you gain a broader understanding.

From this lesson’s reading, the ruler discussed in Daniel 11:21-24 (NLT) seemed particularly interesting:

““The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not in line for royal succession. He will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue. Before him great armies will be swept away, including a covenant prince. With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. He will become strong despite having only a handful of followers. Without warning he will enter the richest areas of the land. Then he will distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich—something his predecessors had never done. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, but this will last for only a short while.”

This cunningly evil ruler usurped authority, but not by physical force. Instead, he used “flattery and intrigue.” Flattery usually means pandering to someone using insincere praise, but how did he use intrigue? By looking through other Bible versions, you find various interpretations of the word, such as fraud, deception, deceit, and false promises. Both the Matthew Henry and John Gill commentaries make the case that this person was Antiochus Epiphanes, someone who has been mentioned before in our studies for his severe persecution of Jews and the burning of swine on the alter.

The volume of literature concerning Daniel’s prophecies can be overwhelming when you start researching these various scriptures. Unfortunately, there never seems to be a consensus, except when something or someone is specifically identified in scripture. But it’s interesting to study and to realize that human nature and political struggles between countries and rulers haven’t changed all that much through the centuries.

Chapter 26: Difficult Times for God’s People

Daniel 11:28-45

Q1 - In this vision, the king of the North was depicted as ruthless, ruling with brute force and driven by his own ambitions and immense ego. Why do you think he resorted to using flattery to influence God’s people? (Daniel 11:31-35)

A1 - This ruler is someone who gets his way. He takes what he wants, and he wants a lot. Yet, not every war can be won by brute force. When he confronted God’s people, he must have realized that with them, the battle would be for their hearts. They served a higher being, and this war would be waged against their ideology.

Think how it must have infuriated him, that he could kill them, take their possessions, and desecrate their holy places, but he couldn’t change their minds. God was still the king of their lives, not matter what he did to them. His only hope of winning this kind of battle would be to wage war with words of flattery. By speaking deceitfully, making empty promises, and appealing to their human vanity, he managed to influence and win over those who were weaker in their faith.

Q2 - Referring to the passage above, who are the ones who will be able to resist the force and influence of this king? Will it be an easy time for these people? What will be their ultimate outcome?

A2 - Daniel 11:32 (NLT) states, “…But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.” Because these people know and revere God’s laws and teachings, they will be able to discern this king’s words of flattery from the truth. Being equipped with the truth will enable them to deal with whatever evil this king perpetrates against them.

However, those who resist will pay a great price. Continuing the scripture in Daniel 11:33 (NLT): “Wise leaders will give instruction to many, but these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed.” The next verse goes on to say that some will also fall victim to persecution. This evil king will be bent on the destruction of God’s people.

What will be the “upside” (for lack of a better word) for those who suffer persecutions due to their faith? “In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come” (Daniel 11:35b, NLT). When precious metals are mined from the earth, they are frequently mixed with other materials, such as dirt, or other metals and minerals, or as veins in rocks. Very hot fire was used, particularly in Bible times, to separate and purify the precious metals. In a similar manner, these persecutions would serve to separate God’s truly faithful followers from any others unwilling to endure such suffering. Those who have been proven faithful will be ready to face whatever happens at the end of time.

Q3 - After all the battles and the great struggle for riches and control, what will be the outcome of these earthly rulers? (See Daniel 11:40-45, NLT.) Do you sense the futility of these struggles? How might Matthew 16:26 apply to them?

A3 - As we noted in Question 2 of Chapter 25, the rulers who are mentioned throughout this vision will not have lasting power. Even worse, most will die—not in a blaze glory during a hard-fought battle—but rather, they will just sort of fizzle out.

The king of the north mentioned here at the end seems to be particularly aggressive. Look through the action verbs and descriptors in these verses— this king:

• v. 40 - “will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy”; “will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood”

• v. 41 - “will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will fall”

• v. 42 - “will conquer many countries, and even Egypt will not escape”

• v. 43 - “will gain control over the gold, silver, and treasures of Egypt” and “the Libyans and Ethiopians will be his servants”

And then this happens (v. 44): “news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy and obliterate many." But, just like that, this king’s conquests are over— “his time will suddenly run out, and no one will help him” (v. 45).

How many times through the centuries have similar scenarios played themselves out? Change a few names, and you see history repeating itself over and over. Yet, all of us only have an allotted time on this earth. The mightiest and the most lowly—all will die (unless you’re alive at the end, but your time on earth will still be over).

In Matthew 16:24-27, Jesus discusses with his disciples what it means to be His follower and what it will cost them. Whoever wants to “save” his life will lose it. Doing what your fleshly, sinful desires tell you to do will lead to your ultimate destruction, if not in this world, then surely in the afterlife. But whoever “loses” his life, for the sake of Jesus, will find it. In following God’s word, you give up doing those things that seem so tempting, but your ultimate eternal reward will be greater than any earthly reward could possibly be.

Then Jesus poses the question, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26a, NIV). When people live their lives for the wrong reasons, they may gain whatever it is they’re seeking while alive on earth. Yet, they will die like everyone else and leave behind all their earthly possessions, power, or whatever was so important to them. They may seek to enter the heavenly kingdom after they die, but they will have nothing to bargain with, nothing to offer. The only thing about them that will live on will be their soul, yet they failed to prepare it for an eternity with God. As Jesus said in the remainder of verse 26, “… what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

Chapter 27: The End Times—Great Changes to Come

Daniel 12:1-13 

Q1 - Who will be delivered during this time of great distress? Does this mean no physical harm would come to them? (Daniel 12:1-4) Compare this scripture to Revelations 20:11-15.

A1 - Everyone whose names are found written in the book will be delivered, but that will be after the time of extreme distress. Will they be physically delivered alive, while on earth? Maybe some of them, but from the description of the persecutions that God’s people will endure, many will perish as well. With the time of distress being “… such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then” (Daniel 12:1, NIV), many will suffer and die.

Something that seems curious in Daniel 12:1 is the use of the phrase about names being found “written in the book.” It’s use here sounds like the eternal record book, the book of life. This book is spoken of more frequently in the New Testament, after the coming of Christ and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom. But are there other similar Old Testament scriptures? Did the people who lived before Christ know about an eternal record book?

As early as Exodus 32:32-33 (NIV), such a record book is mentioned. When Moses took too long up on Mount Sinai receiving the 10 Commandments from God, the Israelites had Aaron make for them an idol to worship. Moses, in seeking atonement for the people, asked God to “please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” Moses was not the one who had sinned, so God replied, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.”

David also talks about the book of life. On numerous occasions, he had to flee from people trying to kill him, particularly King Saul. You can hear his anxiety as he talks about his tribulations in Psalm 69 (NIV). Then in verses 27-28 of that chapter he says this of his adversaries, “Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.”

So while there are occasional Old Testament references to God’s eternal book of records or the book of life, it’s mentioned more frequently in the New Testament. In fact, much of the wording and tone of these first four verses in Daniel 12 sound very similar to various scriptures in the book of Revelation which talk about the afterlife, the judgement day and eternity (see Revelation 20:11-15).

We also know that after Jesus’s crucifixion many godly people who had already died were raised from the dead (see the accompanying lesson for this chapter and read Matthew 27:51-53). Whether this scripture in Daniel is referring to that time or to the end of times is not clear. What this scripture does let us know is that God will take care of whoever’s name is written in the book of life.

Q2 - What are the characteristics of those who will “shine like the brightness of the heavens” and “like the stars forever and ever”? (Daniel 11:33-35; 12:3; 12:10)

A2 - Actually, we can go back to Daniel 11:32 to begin the description of God’s people, who are the ones being spoken of in the above scriptures.

• Daniel 11:32 - they will be people who know their God and will firmly resist the evil king.

• Daniel 11:33 - they will be wise and will instruct many, even though they may be killed.

• Daniel 11:35 - some of the wise will stumble (various versions say “fall” or “be defeated”). This will result in their being refined, purified and cleansed.

• Daniel 12:3 - they will be wise (various versions say “have insight” or “are learned”). Because of this wisdom and insight, they will shine brightly like the heavens. They will lead many to righteousness.

• Daniel 12:10 - “Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials” (NLT). This is an interesting scripture. Here’s the rest of that verse: “But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means.”

Evidently, the wicked will not understand the significance of the times that they will live through, or perhaps they will not understand why they should change their ways for the afterlife that is to come. But the wise will understand these things, and they will use the trials they endure to make them stronger in their faith. They know that this present world and its tribulations will not last. In eternity they will reap the rewards of their faithfulness, and there they will shine like the stars forever and ever.

Q3 - If wisdom is able to counter the forces of evil on this earth, how does one become wise? (James 1:5) Study further what James has to say about wisdom, particularly in James 1:2-7 and in James 3:13-18.

A3 - In the previous question, we saw that wisdom is a defining characteristic of God’s people. What exactly is wisdom? The Cambridge Dictionary states it’s “the ability to make good judgments based on what you have learned from your experience, or the knowledge and understanding that gives you this ability.”

However, you might argue that two people, faced with making the same judgment call, who are equipped with the same inputs—experiences, knowledge and understanding—could choose to make very different decisions. You may know of examples of this, perhaps siblings raised very similarly, yet one makes wise decisions while the other does not. So wisdom has to consist of more than these inputs.

Someone’s ability to make good judgments, whatever the inputs, also hinges on the desires and inclination of that person’s heart. People can just as easily be wise in the ways of the world, in being devious, or worse, in being treacherous.

Christians, whose hearts are turned toward God, search His word and pray for His guidance in using good judgment. James 1:5 (NIV) tells us, “ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James goes on to say in verses 6-8 to ask in faith and not doubt, or else don’t expect to receive your request. He calls someone who asks of God and yet doubts God at the same time double minded and unstable.

James talks about wisdom further in 3:13-18 (NIV) and explains the difference between earthly wisdom and wisdom that is from above: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Chapter 28: The End Times—God’s Love and Care

Daniel 12:1-13

Q1 - Evil will run its course here on this earth until the time of the end. During this interim period, what will be going on with the faithful? With the wicked?

A1 - Before getting to this question, perhaps we should look at the time period this vision addresses. By looking at all the events mentioned, it seems to be the period extending from Daniel’s lifetime on through the appearing of the Messiah and the Great Tribulation, or persecution of the Christians, which followed. This would make the ending point about AD 70. (Timeline for Daniel’s Visions - scroll down to Fifth Vision)

However, much of the language and references in this vision bear a similarity to various New Testament references to the end times. Revelation 20:11-15 talks about the books being open and everyone, great and small, will be judged according to what they have done. We know that the great struggles did not cease with the great persecution of the early day Christians. The spiritual battle continues on today. Here are only two references, but there are numerous others:

• I John 5:19b (ESV): “…the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

• Ephesians 6:12 (ESV): “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

As you might expect, Bible scholars have various opinions concerning what time period this vision covers. Some feel that parts of it dually address the aforementioned time period ending about AD 70 and also address the continuing times before the end of the world. Even though specific days are given in Daniel 12:11-12, with the end coming after 1,335 days, other scriptures tell us God doesn’t measure time as we do. Peter, in discussing the end times, states in II Peter 3:8 (ESV): “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Another reason to believe that the time period this vision covers is not limited to the period ending about AD 70 is the admonition to Daniel in the last verse, Daniel 12:13 (NIV): “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” This would seem to mean the end of time when all people will be judged. There is no indication that Daniel has risen yet, nor that he was among the saints who came forth from the grave when Jesus was crucified, as mentioned in Matthew 27:52-53 (NIV): “and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”

Regardless of the time period covered by this vision, until the end of time, evil will be present in this world. The faithful will struggle against evil, because Satan and the fallen angels that he leads are quite powerful. The anguish suffered by the early Christians was extreme, yet whether they lived through the persecutions, or whether they died as a result, their faith saw them through.

Faith will see God’s people through whatever may occur today as well, just as it will see future generations of God’s people through until the end of time (II Corinthians 5:7). As for each of us individually, our struggle is only through our lifetime. That’s all we must deal with. It’s up to us to use whatever trials we go through to purify, cleanse and refine us (see Daniel 12:10). Thankfully, God provides His people with many layers of protection (this will be discussed in the next lesson). Remember that trials can destroy only the physical lives of true believers, but never their faith.

The wicked, on the other hand, will just go on being wicked (see II Timothy 3:1-5 for a partial list of the traits of the wicked). They will not understand the things of God. As Paul explains in I Corinthians 1:18 (NLT), “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” He continues in I Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) that “…people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it…” So pray for wisdom to be among the wise who do understand God’s truths.

Q2 - Daniel was elderly when he had this vision. Do you think he realized that almost everything mentioned in this vision would occur after his death?

A2 - With the happenings in this vision extending many years into the future, possibly into eternity, surely Daniel understood that he wouldn’t be around to see its fulfillment. It’s kind of like Moses. Even though he couldn’t cross over into the Promised Land, God took him up on top of Mount Nebo so he could gaze over and see what lay ahead for God’s people. In a similar manner, Daniel had earnestly longed and prayed for the deliverance of his people. There is no indication that he was ever able to leave Babylon, but now that his life was drawing to an end, God allowed him to glimpse over and see the future.

Q3 - What assurance was Daniel given in verse 13? How does this scripture provide assurance to us today?

A3 - What comforting words these must have been to Daniel, as well as to all of God’s faithful who have lived since that time. “As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you” (Daniel 12:13, NLT).

Daniel, after being privileged to interpret dreams for others as well as have visions and dreams of his own, had learned more than perhaps anyone in the Old Testament concerning what would occur in the next several hundred years as well as through the ages and into eternity. He knew that the Anointed One would come and that ultimately good would win and evil would be destroyed. Yet,even if he lived a long life for a human, that would still be merely a blip on God’s timeline. He knew that he would personally witness very little of what had been revealed to him.

Daniel is told several things in this scripture:

1. “As for you, go your way until the end”—Daniel had been presented with an overwhelming amount of information. On previous occasions, the revelations had deeply affected him. With this statement, the speaker instructs Daniel to go on living his life, to not let this information get him down or immobilize him.

2. “You will rest…”—How comforting to know that after his physical life was over, that he would rest. No wandering the earth as a spirit, being reincarnated as another being, or worse, going to a shadowy place of uncertainty or even pain and torment. Daniel lived and worked among Babylonians whose culture held various mysterious beliefs about the afterlife. (This article, “Ancient Mesopotamian Beliefs in the Afterlife,” discusses some of their beliefs.)

3. “and then at the end of the days, you will rise again…”—Although his physical body would die, his soul would not. After its rest, it would arise at the appointed time. (That, in itself, was a great comfort—for him to know that his soul would not miss the wake up call and sleep through the big event.) Some versions use the word “stand” rather than rise. Contrast that to scriptures which state that “the wicked will not stand in the judgement” (Psalm 1:5, NIV). They will be condemned and will not be able to endure judgment, whereas Daniel and the righteous will be able to stand.

4. “to receive the inheritance set aside for you”—Not only would Daniel rise again, but he could also look forward to a reward. The HCSB version says “rise to your destiny at the end of the days,” while the ESV says “stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” Christians know that the inheritance of the righteous will be spending eternity in the presence of God.

Certainly, the faithful today can take this scripture to heart as well. We live our lives for God while we’re still on this earth and fully trust in Him to take care of us after we leave.

Chapter 29: The Meaning of the Visions of Daniel

Daniel 12:1-13

Q1 - What is the significance of the linen garment of “the man dressed in linen?” Who do you think this man is?

A1 - The man dressed in linen appeared at the beginning of this vision and is described as a dazzling figure (see Daniel 10:4-6). He is apparently different and distinctive from the other divine beings mentioned. Is he Jesus Christ? Quite simply, the scriptures do not tell us, and Bible scholars differ on their assumptions.

However, if this man in linen from chapter 10 is the same as the one who appears later in the vision (see Daniel 12:5-7), he seems to be someone in authority. He is the one who is asked how much longer these astonishing happenings will continue. In his reply, he swears by the one who lives forever, the Eternal One. By uttering this oath, he is attesting to the truth and accuracy of his response. It would also seem that he is acknowledging the source of his knowledge to be the Eternal One.

What is the significance of the linen clothing that this man is wearing? Linen has been woven from flax fibers for millennia. Coarser weaves were more suitable for utilitarian purposes, such as the sails on ships. However, linen could also be woven into extremely fine fabric, almost resembling silk. It is soft and comfortable next to the skin and is particularly useful in hot climates to help keep people cooler and drier.

Linen was popular with royalty, but more importantly, God commanded that linen be used in the tabernacle as well as for several of the garments worn by the Jewish priests.  (Search on “linen” and look through the references in Exodus and Leviticus.) It was often white in color because the fibers did not take dye well, and drying garments in the sun further helped to bleach them white.

Going forward in time, on into eternity, linen is mentioned as well. The armies of heaven will be “…riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean” (Revelation 19:14b, NIV). And then there’s this beautiful scripture concerning the wedding of the Lamb in Revelation 19:6-8, NIV:

“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

‘Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.’

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)”

You’ll recognize the reference in this scripture to Jesus and the church, as He is often referred to as the Lamb of God and the church as His bride. With the bride being given fine linen to wear and the linen representing the good deeds of God’s people, how beautiful it is to envision the church wearing this garment of righteousness. So regardless of whether the “man dressed in linen” is an angel or Jesus himself, a garment made of linen would be a fitting fabric for a heavenly being.

Q2 - When you read Daniel 12 in this version (The Message), do you sense that we are not supposed to fully understand the meaning of this vision? (see v. 4 and v. 9)

A2 - It almost sounds like a modern day spy movie: “This is a confidential report, Daniel, for your eyes and ears only. Keep it secret. Put the book under lock and key until the end” (Daniel 12:4a, MSG). Verse 9 repeats some of these instructions as well.

This is a rather mysterious statement, because at some point, well before the time of Christ, Daniel’s writings became available and didn’t stay secret. Daniel’s contemporaries knew about him, and in the next lesson, we examine the scriptures where he is mentioned in the book of Ezekiel. However, did his contemporaries ever read his writings? When did this book that we now know as Daniel in the Old Testament become available to the Jewish people? Jesus knew about it, because he mentioned Daniel’s prophecy in Matthew 24, which will be discussed in the last lesson in the book.

So yes, it does seem like readers are not supposed to fully understand all that was revealed to Daniel. In fact, you almost feel like you’re not even supposed to be reading these revelations! Of course, if God had not wanted that to happen, then these writings wouldn’t have become available. However, the complete meaning of Daniel’s visions do seem to be under lock and key. It’s also interesting that scrolls from Daniel were among those discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which have further verified the authenticity of the book.

What are we to deduce from these verses? Realize that God makes plain what he wants to make plain, and there are other things He chooses not to make plain. For example, the Ten Commandments are pretty straight forward. But there are parts of Daniel’s visions that are simply not plain, at least not to us today. Rather than trying to find hidden meanings, perhaps we should accept that we don’t have to understand everything. If we put our trust in God, He will take care of everything—in His time, and in His way.

This scripture in I Corinthians 13:12 (NASB) comes to mind: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” Here Paul tells us that, right now, trying to understand some things is kind of like looking into an old antique mirror and seeing a dim, distorted image. Later on, we’ll see things clearly, and in the meantime, here’s what he tell us to do: “But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love” (I Corinthians 13:13, MSG). [As an aside, if you’ve never read this whole chapter on love in The Message, be sure to take the time to do so!]

Q3 - Although it’s interesting to read what various scholars have to say about the meaning of Daniel’s visions, what are your important take-aways from reading and studying this vision, particularly the explanation given to Daniel in chapter 12?

A3 - It will be interesting to hear the responses from everyone. Verse 3 is one that speaks to me, and perhaps to you as well. “Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever” (Daniel 12:3, MSG).

This verse gives us a blueprint for living that is just as appropriate for God’s people today as it was in Daniel’s time. Maybe we can’t understand all of the visions of Daniel, but here’s something we can do: live wisely and well and put others on the right path to life. When we watch how we live our own lives and help bring others to God, we will be letting our light shine.

You may recall these words from Jesus’s teachings which provide a fitting complement to this verse:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV).

Chapter 30: Daniel—A Righteous and Wise Man of God

Ezekiel 14:12-20; 28:1-3

Q1 - Why do you suppose God specifically named Noah, Daniel and Job in these scriptures? (See Ezekiel 14:12-20.)

A1 - In the passage in Ezekiel 14, God lists four different means He can use to punish a country for being unfaithful to Him: 1) famine to cut off its food supply; 2) wild beasts to kill the people; 3) the sword, or having other countries wage war against it; and 4) a plague or disease to kill the people. As He names each disaster which He could employ, He states that once He decides on such a punishment, not even Noah, Daniel or Job would be able to change His mind.

God mentions these three men to emphasize His point, that once He takes action against a country, not even Noah, Daniel or Job would be able to save anyone else other than themselves. His judgement against that country would be inescapable.

Contrast God’s stance in this passage to the way he responded to Abraham’s pleading with Him to spare Sodom in Genesis 18:

“Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:23b-25, NIV).

Recall that back when Lot and Abram had separated because their herds were too large for them to stay together, Lot had chosen the area near Sodom (Genesis 13:10-13). So now in the passage above, Abraham is begging God to spare that city in order that any righteous people who lived there might not be killed along with the wicked. He bargained with God first for the sake of 50 righteous people, then 45, 40, 30, 20, and finally 10.

Evidently not even that few were found, because only Lot, his wife and their two daughters were spared. Not even the men who were pledged to marry Lot’s daughters made it out, because they thought Lot was joking when he urged them to flee the city (Genesis 19:14). Even so, the messenger angels had to grab Lot and his family by the hand and essentially drag them out in order for their lives to be saved (Genesis 19:15-17).

The Jewish people would have been familiar with this historical account of Abraham pleading for Sodom and of God’s promise to spare the city if enough righteous people could be found. But now, He’s letting them know things are different. This time, God is unequivocally stating that He cannot be bargained with. Not even some of the most righteous men who ever lived would be able to save anyone other than themselves. His reference to Noah, Daniel, and Job, further emphasizes His point.

Q2 - What does it say about Daniel that he is named along with Noah and Job? (See Ezekiel 14:12-20.) What does it say about him that he is mentioned in the prophecy against the king of Tyre? (See Ezekiel 28:1-3.)

A2 - God certainly elevated Daniel when he named him along with Noah and Job. (See Ezekiel 14:12-20.) Daniel was a contemporary of Ezekiel, and both were exiled into Babylonian captivity. Daniel was taken in the first wave, while Ezekiel was taken in the second. The scriptures don’t tell us if these two men personally knew one another or not, as they were settled in different areas. However, both of them were likely known among the Jewish people who were captive in Babylonia.

Noah and Job were both men of old and men of renown. It’s likely everyone in the Jewish community would have studied about them since childhood. While it’s unknown when Job lived, it’s likely that he, like Abraham, lived before the time of Moses. So for God to name Daniel, a relative newcomer, along with these men of legend further shows the high regard God held for Daniel.

The prophecies against Tyre are quite interesting. (See Ezekiel 28:1-3.) The book of Ezekiel itself can be roughly divided into three sections: 1) Chapters 1-24—judgments against the Jewish people; 2) Chapters 25-32—judgments against other nations; 3) Chapters 33-48—promises for the future. (This article, “The Book of Ezekiel,” by Dennis Bratcher, gives an overview and outline of the book of Ezekiel.)

Most of the judgments that God proclaimed against other nations are contained in only a few verses—except for those against Tyre and Egypt. God had much to say about those two! The judgments against Tyre can be found in Chapters 26 and 27, with the rulers of Tyre receiving special admonitions in Chapter 28:1-19.

In the first 10 verses of Chapter 28, God address a person who is called a ruler, prince or leader, depending on the version of the Bible. (This person seems to be different from the king of Tyre, who is addressed in verses 11-19.) God particularly admonishes this person because of his pride and arrogance. Even worse, he considers himself a god: “In the pride of your heart you say, ‘I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas’” (Ezekiel 28:2b, NIV).

God lets him know that he is a mere mortal. Although he considers himself to be so wise, God asks him if he is wiser than Daniel. Then God tells him foreigners will come against him and kill him. “They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas” (Ezekiel 28:8, NIV).

It’s likely Daniel would have been known throughout the entire region, including Tyre. The kingdom of Babylonia was quite powerful during that time, and Daniel held a very high position in the government. Additionally, Daniel was held in high regard for interpreting the dreams of the Babylonian kings. So God, in mentioning Daniel in His judgment on this ruler, affirms that Daniel is well known for his wisdom, not only among his own people, but among other nations as well.

Q3 - For an interesting study, read Ezekiel’s prophecies against Tyre in chapters 26-28 and then research the history of the city and the region. Look at the maps of ancient Tyre and see how Alexander the Great permanently altered the area.

A3 - Tyre was an extremely ancient city which had stood the test of time and is mentioned in secular history as well as the Bible. Here’s one such reference from the article, “3 Good Reasons to Believe the Bible is from God”: “During a visit to the temple of Heracles in Tyre in the fifth century B.C., the historian Herodotus inquired about the age of the temple, to which the inhabits replied that the temple was as old as ‘Tyre itself, and that Tyre had already stood for two thousand three hundred years’ (Herodotus, 2:44).”

The location of Tyre on an island off the mainland helped make it impregnable, or so its residents and rulers believed. If you pull up this “Historical Map of Tyre,” you can see the island that was home to the ancient city of Tyre, the mainland where Alexander the Great tore down the buildings, and the causeway he created to the island using that vast amount of rubble. Through the centuries, silt has continued to build up along the causeway, effectively turning Tyre from an island into a peninsula. Note the dotted lines on the map showing where the coastline now lies. To further understand how the topography of Tyre was permanently altered by Alexander the Great, go to maps.google.com and search on Tyre, Lebanon, to view a current map of the area.

God decreed through the prophet Ezekiel that Tyre should be destroyed. The reason why can be found right at the beginning of God’s judgment against Tyre in Ezekiel 26:2b (NIV): “…because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper…’” Tyre sought to capitalize on Jerusalem’s misfortunes, and this displeased God greatly. In the remainder of that chapter, God went on to describe exactly how Tyre would be destroyed. These articles further discuss how all that God had decreed came to pass through the centuries that followed: “Tyre in Prophecy” and “The Fall of Tyre.”

Another interesting account concerning the fate of Tyre can be found in the writings of Benjamin of Tudela (see the quote given in this lesson). This Jewish traveler from what is now Spain spent over ten years traveling around Europe, Asia, and Africa, documenting his findings as he went. He published his diary, The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela, in approximately AD 1170. This link takes you to a photocopy of the translation of his book, which is quite interesting to examine. Right inside the front cover, before the title page and table of contents, is an ancient map dating back to the time of the writing of his book. To read what Benjamin wrote about Tyre, go to pp. 18-19 of this text and look in the side margins for p. 30 and p. 31 (you will have to flip through the pages, as the link just takes you to the book itself).

Chapter 31: Daniel—A Prophet of God

Matthew 24:1-21

Q1 - How does Jesus’s prophecy concerning the near future correspond with what Daniel had prophesied over 500 years earlier?

A1 - This whole conversation that Jesus had with his disciples began as they were leaving the temple. His disciples commented about the buildings, and in reply, Jesus told them they would all be torn down. Later, His disciples wanted to know more about this occurrence and asked when it would happen. They knew it would all be tied to Jesus being recognized as the Messiah and the ending of the age.

So Jesus began to tell them what would take place. Several things He talked about seem to parallel what Daniel had spoken of in his vision recorded in Daniel 10-12:

• Matthew 24:6-7—Wars and rumors of wars would occur. Much of Daniel’s vision described the great conflicts that were to come (Daniel 10:1 and much of Daniel 11).

• Matthew 24:9, 24:19-21—Persecutions and great distress were to befall God’s people, “unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again” (Matthew 24:21, NIV). Daniel vision also stated that many “will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered” (Daniel 11:33, NIV). Further, in Daniel 12:1 (NIV) almost the same statement appears that Jesus would make centuries later: “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.”

• Matthew 24:15—When they saw standing in the holy place the “abomination that causes desolation,” Jesus told them it would be time to flee. He was referencing Daniel’s prophecy concerning this occurrence: “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation” (Daniel 11:31, NIV; note that this is also mentioned in Daniel 12:11).

As you read through these passages in Matthew and in Daniel, you may find further parallels. Jesus, by living a life without sin, perfectly fulfilled the requirements of the Old Law, thus ending that era. With his death, burial, and resurrection, He ushered in a new age and established forever a spiritual, rather than an earthly, kingdom. As Daniel’s prophecy had foretold, this would be a tumultuous time. Jesus was telling His disciples in this scripture in Matthew 24what to expect as they lived through this time of great transition, the likes of which the world had never seen.

Q2 - Jesus’ disciples had likely heard or read the scripture in the book of Daniel to which Jesus referred. How do you think they felt upon hearing Jesus tell them these things were going to occur soon?

A2 -  Surreal is the word that comes to mind, probably accompanied by a great amount of anxiety. These people were born under the Old Law and had looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, as had generations of their ancestors before them. To be able to know the Messiah personally, to walk and talk with Him, was something all those who came before and all those who would live after could only dream about. Yet, they were among the few to actually experience His presence and teachings. Perhaps this helped give them the strength they undoubtedly needed to endure the tremendous upheaval and the great persecutions that were to come in their lives.

Q3 - The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls have further affirmed both the contents of the book of Daniel and date around which it was written. How do these scrolls along with other historical records attest to the divine inspiration of the scriptures?

A3 - In the late 1940s, ancient manuscripts were discovered in caves close to Qumran, some of which dated back over 2000 years. Numerous scrolls or fragments of scrolls from the book of Daniel were among those discovered. Prior to this discovery, certain Bible critics who did not believe the Bible was inspired by God attempted to discredit the authenticity of the book of Daniel. Because his writings contained prophecies that were known to have come to pass, they claimed the book of Daniel was written after the fact and made to appear that it had been written earlier.

Why were there so many scrolls of Daniel in these caves? The ancients, as a means of preserving God’s word, meticulously copied these writings over and over through the centuries. Sometimes the older copies, as they became damaged from use and age, were destroyed. Critics argue that mistakes occurred in the recopying, yet these ancient scrolls attest to the diligence of the scribes who copied them and show that the scriptures we have today are authentic.

The age of these scrolls also attest to the fact that the book of Daniel was written well before the occurrences which were foretold in the prophecies came to pass. Because of this, we can know Daniel’s writings were inspired by God. Moses clarified that point long ago when he told the people: “But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’ If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22a, NLT).

Other archeological finds have been made that attest to the authenticity of the Bible. For example, Luke names many different nationalities and places in the book of Acts that, for centuries, were unknown outside of his writings. Unbelievers were convinced there was no accuracy to this book in the Bible. In fact, according to Sir William Ramsay:

“[A]bout 1880 to 1890, the book of the Acts was regarded as the weakest part of the New Testament. No one that had any regard for his reputation as a scholar cared to say a word in its defence. The most conservative of theological scholars, as a rule, thought the wisest plan of defence for the New Testament as a whole was to say as little as possible about the Acts (1915, p. 38).” (See Note 1 below.)

It should be noted that Sir William Ramsay was an archaeologist. As an unbeliever, he set about to prove the inaccuracy of the book of Acts. However, the evidence he unearthed in his digs throughout Asia Minor convinced him otherwise. In the end, he became a New Testament scholar and proclaimed Luke to be an excellent historian.

Who knows what other treasures are just waiting for future generations to find! Undoubtedly, they will all attest to the truth of God’s word. “Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar…” (Romans 3:4, NASB)

Below are a few articles that you may find useful in your studies:

6 Things You May Not Know About the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls and Biblical Integrity
Archaeology and the New Testament
3 Good Reasons to Believe the Bible is from God
Archaeology and the Historical Reliability of the New Testament
Archaeological Evidence

(Note 1) This reference came from the article, “3 Good Reasons to Believe the Bible is from God,” and is a quote from the book: Ramsay, William (1915), The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament (London: Hodder and Stoughton).