Resurrection and Judgment

Chapter 11 ends with words that might easily refer to a distant future. Chapter 12 continues with words that almost certainly refer to a distant future.

Daniel 12

• Trouble, resurrection and judgment (v. 1-4) in a day of increased knowledge.
• Listening in on a discussion across the river (v. 5-7), but not understanding.
• Who can know the mind of God unless God reveals it to him (v. 8-13)?

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Prophecy – history written in advance

In chapter eight we read about the division of Alexander the Great’s kingdom into four parts. Here we read more about that.

Daniel 11

• If our understanding is correct, the first two thirds of this chapter (v. 1-27) treat of the Syrian (to the north of Judea) and Egyptian (to the south of Judea) branches of the Greek empire.
• There will be strong battles and persecution against the holy land (covenant, v. 28-35). Perhaps this is Antiochus Epiphanes and the Romans.
• Evil dictatorships will be established  in both the north (v. 36-39) and the south (v. 40-45); and in the end all will fail.

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A prayer and a prophecy

Daniel 9

The prayer (v. 1-19)

• From reading books (the scriptures of Jeremiah) Daniel learned that the captivity was to last 70 years (v. 1-2).
• He prayed, acknowledging the sins of his people (v. 5) and the righteousness of God (v. 7).
• Further he confesses their rebellion (v. 9) and failure to obey God (v. 10).
• Agreeing that Moses had predicted judgment for those who turn away from God (v. 13-14), Daniel continues on to plead for God’s mercy and forgiveness (v. 15-19).

The prophecy (v. 20-27)

• God’s answer? I’ll save My people.
• In about 500 years the Messiah will come.
• He will die, but not for His own sins.
• (another ruler will also come, and destroy the city)
• The messiah will confirm My covenant with the people.
• He will cause a change in worship.

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The Fall of Babylon

We should learn from history, especially history that we have experienced. Nebuchadnezzar learned not to boast himself above God; but the king’s son didn’t learn that lesson from his father’s mistakes.

Daniel 5

• It was an elaborate state dinner with at least 1000 guests.
• To boast themselves they used the golden vessels from Jehovah’s temple in Jerusalem to drink toasts to the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and stone (v. 2-4).
• Jehovah did not take lightly this profanity, and He interrupted the celebration and wrote, as with a man’s hand, upon the wall (v. 5).
• King Belshazzar, reminded by the queen of his father’s dreams, called for Daniel to interpret the writing after the Babylonian charlatans could not do so (v. 6-16).
• Daniel, refusing all worldly honor, explained that the writing foretold the downfall of Belshazzar and his kingdom (v. 17-28).
• The king, true to his promise, rewarded Daniel; and lost his kingdom the same night (vs. 29-31).

Daniel 6

• The new king, Darius the Mede, appointed Daniel to one of three presidencies under the new monarch (v. 1-2).
• Others, jealous of Daniel, sought to have him removed from office. To do so, they plotted to make Daniel choose between faithfulness to his God and obedience to the king (v. 3-9).
• Daniel, of course, did not deny his faith nor change his habits of worship (v. 10-13).
• The king was not able to out-maneuver Daniel’s political opposition; and Daniel was cast into a den of lions (v. 14-17).
• God delivered Daniel from the lions; and King Darius delivered Daniel’s enemies to the hungry lions (v. 18-25).
• Once again, a pagan king extolled the glory of Jehovah (v. 26-28).

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