Why study prophecy?

It comforts It corrects It cleanses It compels It clarifies It calms Purpose of prophecy Not make us prophets Show accuracy of the bible Reveals the power and wisdom of God Reveals the plans and purposes of God Protects believers from Satans counterfeits Designed to give comfort Designed to promote holiness Philippians 3:15-21 Colossians 3:1-5 1 John 2:28-3:3 Titus 2:9-15 1 Peter 1:13-17 Designed to unfold the loveliness of Jesus Dangers in studying prophecy Sensationalism Acts 17:21 2 Timothy 4:3-4 Ignoring prophecy Pride- you become the expert Imbalance Discouragement, hard to understand Daniel-the book Bridges the entire 70-year Babylonian Captivity Deported at age 16 Handpicked for government service Gods prophet to Jews and Gentiles 9 of 12 chapters concern dreams

Gods power in the affairs of men

Daniel-The author Described in 1:4 3-years in Babylons best schools Named Belshazzar = Bell protect his life Wisdom and ability to interpret dreams Nothing negative ever written about Him Man of faith, prayer, courage, consistency and lack of compromise Mentioned three times by contemporary, Ezekiel, as an example of righteousness Daniel claimed he wrote the book (12:4) He used the first person from 7:2 on The Jewish Talmud agrees with this testimony Christ attributed a quote from 9:27 to Daniel the prophet (Matt 24:15) Babylon rebelled in 626 BC Overthrew Assyrian capital 612 BC Defeated Jerusalem 605 BC Daniel taken captive Daniel ministered during entire 70- year captivity Continued after Medes and Persians Defeated Babylon in 539 BC Daniels book was written no later than 530 BC (Cyruss 9th year As predicted the Persian empire continued until Alexander the Great The Romans displaced the Greeks Daniel- the critics Claim: Daniel is a fraudulent book written in the time of the Maccabees- 2 century not 6 Arguments: 1. The prophetic argument Daniel could not have made such accurate predictions Daniel 11- 100+ specific prophecies of historical events that literally came true Author lived 175-163 BC- Time of Antiochus Epiphanies Rebuttal Theological bias of critics assumes true prophecy cannot happen 2. The linguistic argument Book uses late Aramaic in 2-7 Persian and Greek words are found in the book

Rebuttal from archaeology Daniels Aramaic= early imperial Aramaic Daniel lived under the Persian period only Greek words are musical instruments in Ch. 3 3. The historical argument Daniel makes historical blunders History does not know Darius the Mede rebuttal Recent discoveries show accuracy of Daniel. Inscriptions at Haran- Belshazar reigned while father Nabonidus was fighting invading Persians Darius the Mede= Gubaru

Daniel and Christ The great stone (2:34, 35, 44) Son of Man given dominion by Ancient of Days Messiah who will be cutoff (9:25,26) Possible appearance to Daniel (10:5-9) Pinpoints the coming of Messiah (9:25,26) Daniel- Keys Key word= Gods program for Israel Key verses= 2:20-22,44 Key chapter= 9- prophecy of 70 weeks Key people: Daniel Shadrah, Meshach, Abed-neg, Aka Hananian, Mishael, Azariah, Nebuchadnezzar Cyrus the Persian Daniel- Outline Traditional: Historical 1-6 Prophetic 7-12 Key consideration: Language shifts from Hebrew to Aramaic at 2:4, back at 8:1 Daniels personal history 1 The times of the Gentiles 2-7 Daniels Deportation to Babylon 1:1-7

Brainwashing Cultural and physical re-orientation Changed location, language, food, name How does our culture try to brainwash us? Daniels Faithfulness to God 1:8-16 God uses any and all people or situations to accomplish His plans. Who or what is He using in your life? Daniels reputation in Babylon 1:17-21 God selected The King selected them. God uses evil Government to accomplish His Plans: Romans 13, 1Timothy 2 Nebuchadnezzars Dream-2 Neb conceals his dream 2:1-13 God reveals the dream 2:14-23 Daniel Interprets the dream 2:24-45 Neb promotes Daniel 2:46-49, Cold Image-Fiery Furnace 3 Gold image erected 3:1-7 Dans friends refuse to worship 3:8-12 Dans friends trust God 3:13-18 Dans friends protected from furnace 3:19-25 Dans friends promoted Tree vision-Nebs story 4 Nebs proclamation 4:1-3 Nebs vision 4:4-18 Daniels Interpretation 4:19-27 Nebs Humiliation 4:28-33 Nebs restoration and testimony 4:34-37 Handwriting on wall 5 Belshazzar Defiles temple vessels 5:1-4 Belshazzar Sees Handwriting 5:5-9

Daniel in the Lions Den 6 Daniel Promoted 6:1-3 Darius signs foolish decree 6:4-9 Daniel prays faithfully 6:10-15 Daniel preserved in lions den 6:16-24 Darius makes wise decree 6:25-28 Vision of 4 beasts 7 The vision 7:1-14 Four beasts Ancient of days & Son of Man Interpretation 7:15-28 The four beasts the fourth beast Sin of mans Kingdom The Ram and Male Goat- 8 The vision 8:1-12 the ram 8:1-4 The male Goat 8:5-8 The Little Horn 8:9-12 Interpretation of vision 8:25-27 The vision 8:15-19 The Ram 8:20 The male Goat 8:21-22 The little horn 8:23-26 Daniels response 8:27 Vision of 70 Weeks -9 Daniels understanding 9:1-2 Daniels intercession 9:3-9

Gabriels intervention 9:20-23 Gods revelation of 70 weeks 9:24-27

V.24 Overview Decreed relates to Daniels people and city Six purposes 1. To finish transgression (bring to its end) 2. Make an end of sin (seal up sin) 3. Make atonement for iniquity (forgiveness) 4. Bring in everlasting righteousness- in a sense at 1st coming; Fully at 2nd advent 5. Seal up vision and prophecy (no more) 6. Anoint the Most Holy (place)- Holy of Holies in the New Jerusalem V.25 Time Frame- Key Events 1. Start- Decree to rebuild Jerusalem 445 B.C. Nehemiah 2:1-8 2. Seven sevens- 49 years to restore Jerusalem 3. Sixty-two sevens-434 years until Messiah cut off. 4. Sir Robert Anderson- 360 days/ year ending just before the death of Christ. 5. Ending with Messiah The prince of earth. V.26 Events after the 69 weeks 1. Messiah cut off- Jesus dies- Cross Translation: not for himself better and will have nothing Nothing that rightly belonged to Him as Messiah came to Him at that time Events after the 69 weeks 2. People of the Coming Prince destroy the city and sanctuary- Jerusalem &Temple Romans- 70 A.D. Destroyed Jerusalem and Temple Destruction like a flood- wiped city leaving no stone upon another V.27- coming Prince-70 the Week He Coming Prince (Who is a Roman) Makes a covenant with the many, the Jewish people (V.24 your people) for one week Mid-Week he stops the sacrifice and offering and sets up the abomination in the temple Desolation continues until he is completely destroyed by Gods judgment

Preparation of Daniel -10 Time of the vision 10:1-4 Vision of heavenly messenger 10:5-9 Touch of heavenly messenger Details of 69 weeks-11 The rule of Persia The rule of Greece Prophecy of Willful King 11:36-45 A world ruler A world religion A world war Prophecy of great Trouble 12:1 Great tribulation for Israel Great deliverance for Israel at the end Prophecy of 2 Resurrections 12:2-3 These to everlasting life, those to everlasting contempt Two Kinds of resurrections 1. To life 2. To Condemnation Reward for the righteous. Matt 28:5-6 Christs Resurrection Immediately after Christ Matthew 27:52-53 The dead in Christ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Daniel 12:1-2 Tribulation Saints Resurrection of Unbelievers Great White Throne Revelation 20:11-13 Jude 6 Conclusion of Visions 12:4-13 Sealing of the Book 12:4 Questions 12:5-13 How long? Time, times, time=3.5 years=1260 days to 2nd advent. 1290 days=time from daily sacrifices stopped to the consummation. 1335 days= From the middle to the setting up of the millennial kingdom Why the different numbers?

Judgment after Christs return: Sheep and Goat judgment. Matt. 25:31-46