1. Daniel Takes a Stand Daniel Chapter 1

2. Daniel: the Key to Biblical Prophecy  Understand the symbols in Daniel, and you can understand Bible prophecy.  Predictive prophecy is the most unique part of the Bible  Predictive prophecy is the most unique part of the Bible.  Daniel is the book of Revelation in the Old Testament.

3. Background: Babylon in Daniel’s Time Baghdad

4. Dan.1:1-2 A Time of Turmoil! In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.

5. 605 BC: Pharaoh Neccho defeated at Carchamesh

6. Background: the Sack of the Temple in 605 BC  Deported to Babylon! “First Exile”  Rebellions crushed in 597, 587 bc

7. “Divine Protection”

8. “Where’s God?”

9. Empire: the Ultimate Statement of Human Sovereignty & Autonomy

10. Daniel: Mankind can build his great kingdoms, but when they fall into the dust it will be Christ who establishes his eternal kingdom! Daniel’s Point: “God is Still In Control!” Daniel: Human kingdoms will come and go, but it will be God’s Kingdom that lasts forever! Not just asserted, but proven!

11. The Great “American Empire”

12.  Population Pressures  10s of Millions Starving  Ecological Pressures  Technology doubling every 1½ years…  Nuclear, Chemical, Biological Weapon Proliferation (see PBS)  Terrorism

14. Daniel Says: Only God’s Kingdom ultimately lasts! Only God’s Kingdom ultimately lasts! Human kingdoms will come and go, but it will be God’s Kingdom that lasts forever! Human kingdoms will come and go, but it will be God’s Kingdom that lasts forever! Daniel proves it through predictive prophecy. Daniel proves it through predictive prophecy.

15. Daniel’s Experience 1:3-4 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles, [4] youths in whom was no defect, who were good- looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding, and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king's court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

16. Daniel’s Indoctrination 1:5-6 And the king appointed for them a daily ration from the king's choice food and from the wine which he drank, and appointed that they should be educated three years, at the end of which they were to enter the king's personal service. Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

17. Daniel’s Stand 1:8-9 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials,

18. Daniel’s Stand 1:11-14 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, [12] "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. [13] Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." [14] So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

19. Daniel’s Stand 1:15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.

20. Lessons from Daniel’s Stand Why does Daniel seem so much more spiritual than me? Why was he used by God so much? Why does Daniel seem so much more spiritual than me? Why was he used by God so much? Because of decisions like this! Because of decisions like this!

21. A Refutation of Babylonian ‘Theology’ 1. A Decision to be Different. 2. A Decision to Sacrifice. 3. A Decision Despite His Feelings. v8: But Daniel resolved… v13: “treat your servants in accordance with what you see." Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

22. The Result: Daniel 1:17-20 As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams….As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm. As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams….As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm.

23. God’s Promise: Matthew 11:28-30 [28] "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. [29] "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

24. Schedule