1. Class 15: Introduction to the Major Prophets: Daniel
By: Marina K. Lam

2. References Talk thru the Bible, by Bruce Wilkinson, Kenneth Boa, p.47.
Unleashing God’s word in Youth Ministry, by Barry Shafer, p. 253

3. Introduction and Title
Daniel’s life and ministry bridge the entire seventy-year period of Babylonian captivity. Deported to Babylon at the age of sixteen, and handpicked for government service, Daniel becomes God’s prophetic mouthpiece to the gentile and Jewish world declaring God’s present and eternal purpose.

4. Introduction and Title (cont.)
Nine of the twelve chapters in his book revolve around dreams, including God-given visions involving trees, animals, beasts, and images. In both his personal adventures and prophetic visions, Daniel shows God’s guidance, intervention, and power in the affairs of men.
The name Daniye’l of Dane’el means “God is My Judge,” and the book is of course named after the author and principal character. The Greek form Daniel in the Septuagint is the basis for the Latin and English titles.

5. Date and Setting
Babylon rebelled against the Assyrian Empire in 626 B.C. and overthrew the Assyrian capital of Noneveh in 612 B.B. Babylon became the master of the Middle East when it defeated the Egyptian armies in 605 B.C.
Daniel was among those taken captive to Babylon that year when Nebuchadnezzar subdued Jerusalem. He ministered for the full duration of the Babylonian captivity as a prophet and a government official and continued on after Babylon was overcome by the Medes and Persians in 539B.C.

6. Date and Setting (cont.)
His prophetic ministry was directed to the gentile courts of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar) and Persia (Darius and Cyrus), as well as to his Jewish countrymen. Zerubbabel led a return of the Jews to Jerusalem in the first year of Cyrus, and Daniel lived and ministered at least until the third year of Cyrus (536 B.C. 10:1). Daniel’s book was no doubt written by Cyrus’ ninth year (c. 530 B.C.). As he predicted, the Persian Empire continued until Alexander the Great (11:2-3) who stretched the Greek Empire as far east as India. The Romans later displaced the Greeks as rulers of the Middle East.

7. Date and Setting (cont.)
605 B.C.: Babylon: Daniel was among those taken captive to Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar subdued Jerusalem
King Nebuchadnezzar
King Belshazzar (Son of Nebuchadnezzar)
539 B.C.: Kingdom of Medes and Persians
King Darius the Mede took over the Babylon kingdom: foolish decree
Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent) Ch 9
536 B.C.: Daniel lived and ministered at least the third year of Cyrus king of Persia
530 B.C.: Daniel’s book was written by Cyrus’ ninth year.

8. Theme and Purpose
Daniel was written to encourage the exiled Jews by revealing God’s sovereign program for Israel during and after the period of gentile domination. The times of the Gentiles began with the Babylonian captivity, and Israel would suffer under gentile powers for many years. But this period is not permanent, and a time will come when God will establish the messianic kingdom which will last forever.

9. Theme and Purpose (cont.)
Daniel repeatedly emphasizes the sovereignty and power of God over human affairs. “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses”(4:25b).
The God who directs the forces of history has not deserted His people. They must continue to trust in Him, because His promises of preservation and ultimate restoration are as sure as the coming of the Messiah.

10. Key word: God’s plan for Israel
Key verses (2:20-22; 2:44)
DA 2:17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said:
"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
DA 2:21 He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. DA 2:22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. :
DA 2:44 "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands--a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.
"The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy."

11. Key Chapter (9)
Daniel’s prophecy of the Seventy Weeks (9:24-27) provides the chronological frame for messianic prediction from the time of Daniel to the establishment of the kingdom on earth. It is clear that the first sixty-nine weeks were fulfilled at Christ’s first coming. Some scholars affirm that the last week has not yet been fulfilled because Christ relates its main events to His second coming (matt 24:5, 15). Others perceive these words of Christ as applying to the Roman desecration of the temple in A.D. 70.