The Book of The Prophet Daniel

A. A brief outline of the book of Daniel

1. Ch.1 – An introduction to the faithful remnant

2. Ch. 2-6 – A general history of successive gentile powers

3. Ch. 7- 9 – God’s communication to Daniel about the character of the gentile powers from the fall of Jerusalem until Christ sets up His kingdom

4. Ch. 10 - 12 – Daniel’s last vision and conclusion

B. A detailed outline of the book of Daniel

1. Ch. 1 – An introduction to the faithful remnant

a) Their Hebrew names magnify the God of Israel

(1) Daniel – God is my judge.

(2) Hananiah – Whom Jehovah graciously gave.

(3) Mishael – Who is as God.

(4) Azariah – Whom Jehovah aids.

b) Their Chaldean names which do not magnify Jehovah.

(1) Daniel – Belteshazzar – Bellus hid his glory.

(2) Hananiah – Shadrach – Rejoicing in the way.

(3) Mishael – Meshach – Quest of Ram the sun god.

(4) Azariah – Abednego – Servant of light.

c) Their circumstances.

(1) Away from their temple and altar.

(2) In bondage to an enemy because of the sin of their people.

(3) Their identity removed.

(4) Tempted because of food that was offered to idols.

(5) Prospered because of their faithfulness.

d) Their character.

(1) Had a purpose of heart not to defile themselves.

(2) Faithful and blest because of it.

(a) Exceeded in knowledge.

(b) Skilled in learning and wisdom.

(c) Understood visions and dreams.

(3) Exceeded in knowledge beyond those that taught them because their knowledge was from God. Psalm 119:98-100

2. Ch. 2-6 – A general history of successive gentile powers (See the article – Kingdoms and Empires Referred to in Daniel)

a) Nebuchadnezzars rules in Babylon – The First World Empire.

(1) Nebuchadnezzars dream Ch 2:1-49

(a) V 1-13 None of the Chaldeans could tell the dream.

(b) V 14-30 Only Daniel could tell the dream, because God revealed it to him.

(c) V 31-35 The forgotten dream about the great image.

(i) V 32 Head of gold – The first world empire – Babylon – ruled by Nebuchadnezzar (see Ch 2:37-38)

(ii) V 32 Breast and arms of silver – The second world empire – The Medes and Persians (see Ch 5:30-31)

(iii) V 32 Belly and thighs of brass – The third world empire – The Greek empire ruled by Alexander the Great ( See v 39)

(iv) V 33 Legs of iron and feet of iron and clay – The fourth world empire – The Roman empire (See v 40-43)

(v) V 34-35 A stone cut out without hands – The final world empire – the Kingdom of the God of heaven that will stand forever (See v 44-45)

(d) Daniel’s promotion and his friends (Ch 2:46-49)

(2) Nebuchadnezzars pride and punishment (Ch 3 & 4)

(a) The image of gold ch 3:1-7

(b) The remnant ch 3:8-30

(i) The faithful remnant ch 3:8-18

(ii) The suffering remnant ch 3:19-25

(iii) The preserved remnant ch 3:26-28

(iv) The honored remnant ch 3:29-30

(c) The kings proclamation ch 4:1-37

(i) The kings vision of a tree – a prophecy ch 4:1-18

(ii) The interpretation of the prophecy ch 4:19-27

(iii) The fulfillment of the prophecy ch 4:28-37

b) Ch 5 - Belshazzar rules while his father is away at the battle

(1) His sin v 1-14

(2) The writing on the wall v 5-16

(3) The interpretation v 17-28

(a) MENE – God hath NUMBERED thy kingdom and finished it

(b) TEKEL – Thou art WEIGHED in the balance and found wanting

(c) UPHARSIN (PERES) – Thy kingdom is DIVIDED and given to the Medes and Persians

(4) Daniel is honored v29

(5) Belchazzar is slain and the prophecy is fulfilled v 30

c) Darius the Mede reigns in the second world empire

(1) Darius takes the kingdom ch 5:31

(2) Daniel is established ch 6:1-3

(3) Darius tricked into signing a decree v 4-9

(4) Daniel’s steadfastness v 10-15

(5) Daniel suffers for his steadfastness v 16-17

(6) God delivers Daniel v 18-23

(7) The accusers perish v 24

(8) Daniel’s God is glorified v 25-27

d) Cyrus the Persian reigns in the second world empire Ch 6:28

e) The morel characteristics of gentile rule

(1) Idolatry – Nebuchadnezzar’s image – Ch 3:1

(2) Beastly – Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment – Ch 4:33

(3) Infidelity – Belchazzar defiles the sacred vessels – Ch 5:3

(4) Self exhaltation – Darius sets himself above God – Ch 6:7

3. Ch. 7-9 – God’s communication to Daniel about the character of the gentile powers from the fall of Jerusalem until Christ sets up His kingdom

a) Daniel’s vision of the four beasts Ch 7:1-3

(1) V4 – First beast – First world empire - Babylon

(a) Like a lion - Majestic

(b) Wings like an Eagle - Swift

(c) Wings were plucked – lost it’s ability – after Nebuchadnezzar dies the empire decays

(d) Lifted up from the earth – lost its lion like power

(e) Made to stand upon its feet like a man – lost it’s lion like character

(f) A mans heart was given to it - its whole nature was changed

(2) V2 – Second beast – Second world empire – Media-Persia

(a) Like a bear - ferocious

(b) Raised up on one side – Persians gained superiority over the Medes

(c) Three ribs in its mouth – a testimony to it’s cruelty

(d) Told to rise up and devour much flesh – It expands its empire far beyond the Babylonian boundaries

(3) V6 – Third beast – Third world empire - Greece

(a) Like a leopard - agility

(b) Four wings - Speed

(c) Four heads – Eventually divided by four generals

(d) Given dominion – Absolute power

(4) V7-8 – The fourth beast – Fourth world empire - Rome

(a) Dreadful and terrible – Strikes terror in the hearts of it’s enemies

(b) Exceedingly strong – Beyond previous empires

(c) Great iron teeth – Pitiless cruelty

(d) Devours and breaks in pieces – Spares nothing

(e) Stamps the residue with its feet – Respects nothing

(f) Diverse from all beasts that were before it

(i) Like a leopard

(ii) Feet like a bear

(iii) Mouth like a lion (Rev 13:2)

(g) Ten horns – the future Roman empire – Ten kings under one Imperial head

(i) A little horn came up – The political beast

(ii) Three horns plucked up – The little horn overthrows three kingdoms

(iii) The little horn had eyes like a man and a mouth speaking great things – He politically takes prominence over the remaining seven

(5) Ch 7:9-11 – The everlasting dominion of the Son of Man

(a) Thrones set in place – Saints sitting in judgment Rev 20

(b) Garments white as snow – Pure in character

(c) Hair like pure wool – Pure in decrement

(d) Throne of fire – Through judgment

(e) The fiery stream – Judgment reaching to the ends of the earth

(f) Thousands before Him – The heavenly company

(g) Judgment is set – Time to deal with the beast

(h) Books open – Proof of guilt

(i) Beast slain – The end of Rome’s power

(j) V12 – The lives of the previous beasts were prolonged – The culture of Babylon, Persia and Greece lingered on, but not Rome

b) Ch 7:15-28 The interpretation of the vision of the beasts.

c) Ch 8 The vision of the ram and the he goat

(1) The Ram – Used by the Persian as a symbol

(a) 2 horns, one higher than the other – Persians become stronger than the Medes

(b) Pushing W, N, and S – Displaying its power

(2) The He Goat – The Greek Empire with Alexander of Macedonia at its head – A Macedonian symbol.

(a) A great horn – Alexander the Great

(b) Broke the 2 horns of the Ram – Conquers Medio-Presia

(c) The great horn broken – Alexander dies of malaria

(d) 4 horns came up – The empire was divided by the 4 generals – Syria, Egypt, Greece and Thrace or Turkey

(e) Out of one of the horns came a little horn – Historically, Antiochus Epiphanes who ruled from 175 to 164 BC – Prophetically, The Asyrian or King of the North

(i) V10 Cast down the host of heaven – The rulers of Jerusalem

(ii) Stops the daily sacrifice

(iii) 2300 Mornings and Evenings – Or 1150 days. From the time that the sacrifice ends which is the same time as the abomination being set up in the temple to the time that the sanctuary is vindicated or justified.

d) V 13-22 The interpretation of the vision of the Ram and Goat Historically

(1) V20 The Ram – King of Media and Persia

(2) V21-22 The Goat – king of Grecia

(a) The Great Horn – The 1^st King

(b) The 4 horns – 4 kingdom empire but not with the power of the first.

e) V23-27 The interpretation Prophetically

(1) The Asyrian – The King of the North will devastate the land.

(2) The King of the North will be empowered by another country.

(3) He will openly challenge God and will come to an end and the country that backed him will withdraw from him.

(4) 2300 mornings and evenings is true.

f) Ch 9 Daniel finds by studying, the 70 years of the desolations of Jerusalem – Jer. 25:11

(1) V3-19 Daniel’s prayer of confession of his sin and the sin of his people.

(2) V20-27 Gabriel sent to explain coming events to Daniel.

(a) 70 weeks until everlasting righteousness. (See the article – How to calculate the dates)

(i) V.25 From the command to rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah is 7+62 weeks

(a) 7 weeks or 69 years – The street and wall is rebuilt in troublous times

(b) +62 weeks or after 69 weeks or 483 years

(i) The messiah shall be cut off – Or Christ Crucified.

(ii) The people of the prince (not the Roman prince himself which is the political beast) that shall come, (but his people) shall destroy Jerusalem – 70 ad – wars & desolations – v26

NOTE: This is where the Jews are today – Before this is history, after this is prophecy.

(iii) V.27 – The prince shall confirm a covenant for 1 week or 7 years

(ii) Daniel’s 70th weeks

(a) 1 week of 7 years

(b) The Roman prince makes a covenant for 1 week and Israel once again sacrifices animals.

(b) Why 70 weeks or 70x7 years – Leviticus 26:27-45 links the 70 years of desolation with the 70 weeks.

(c) Three terms often confused (See the article – The Servitude, The Captivity and the Desolation)

(i) The Servitude – 70 years

(ii) The Captivity – 62 years

(iii) The Desolation – 70 years

4. The Revelation made to Daniel and the conclusion (ch 10-12) – The last and most remarkable of all of Daniel’s visions. It is so accurate that some cannot believe that it was written before the events took place.

a) V.1-4 Daniel’s condition is like Johns in Rev. ch.1

(1) Humbles himself

(2) Prays

(3) fasting

b) In Johns Revelation

(1) The things John saw – ch. 1

(2) The things that are (at the time of the revelation) ch. 2-3

(3) The things that shall be hereafter ch.4-end

c) In Daniel’s Revelation

(1) The things Daniel saw – ch. 10:5-10

(2) The things that are (at the time of the vision) ch. 10:11-21

(3) The things that shall be hereafter (or the truth of the things to come) ch.11-12

NOTE: At this point we want to recognize that the portion that follows (i.e. Chapters 11 & 12) takes on the character of History or Prophecy and at one point it takes on both characters at the same time.

If we consider these two chapters from the view point of Daniel’s day it was all future and prophetic, but if we consider it from the view point of the present day in which we live, i.e. After the cutting off of the Messiah and before the coming Tribulation, We have from Chapter 11 V2 to Chapter 11 v 35 that which is history and from chapter 11 v 21 to the end of chapter 12 we have that which is future and prophetic.

It will be noticed that verses 21 through 35 of chapter 11 are in both categories, so it is both History and Prophecy. In other words it will repeat itself in the lives of the King of the North and the Anti-Christ.

We begin then with history.

(a) The truth about Persia – ch. 11:2

(i) 3 kings of Persia yet to come – Ezra 4

(a) Ahasuerus – Cambyses

(b) Artaxexes – Smerdis

(ii) The fourth - Xerxes

(b) The truth about Grecia – The he goat – ch. 11:3-45

(i) V. 3 - A mighty king – Alexander the great

(ii) V. 4 – His son was an infant, so his empire was divided by his four generals after his death – Two were soon conquered by the Romans – Two continued longer as kingdoms with bitter fighting between them.

(a) V.5 The king of the South – Egypt – continued till 51bc – Known as Ptolemies or Lagidae.

(b) V.6 The king of the North – Syria – continued until 65bc – known as Seleucus.

(iii) Details about some of the descendants of the king of the north

(a) V.6 - Bern ice, the daughter of the king of the South –

(i) makes an agreement with an attempt to stop the fighting and marries the king of the north –

(ii) “ She shall be given up” Bernie, her husband, their son and her attendants are murdered by the king’s ex-wife.

(b) V.7-9 - Her brother avenges her death

(i) He attacks Syria and prevails

(ii) He takes captives and spoils back to Egypt – this confirms who the king of the south is

(d) V.11-12 – Egypt counter attacks

(e) Israel is the battle ground and is ruled by whoever won

(f) V13 – Syria attacks again – v.14

(i) others join with him

(ii) Apostate Jews rebel against Egypt, called robbers (or violent) of my people, but they fall in battle.

(g) V.15-16 – Syria and her allies attack Judea.

(i) They defeat the Egyptian army that came to put down the rebellion and

(ii) They take possession of Judea

(h) V.17 – Syria considers another attack on Egypt

(i) Syria changes its tactics in its attempt to gain control of Egypt.

(i) He forms an alliance with Egypt

(ii) He gave his daughter (Cleopatra, the first of many Cleopatras in Egypt’s history) to be the wife of the King of the South.

(iii) He attempts to corrupt his daughters thinking against her husband but she remains true.

(j) V18 thinking all is secure in Egypt the King of the North turns his attention towards Greece, which was an ally with Rome.

(i) He takes some of the islands of Greece

(ii) He is defeated by a Roman prince

(iii) He is forced to give up the western portion of his kingdom

(k) V19 He is compelled to pay a large tribute which he attempts to get by robbing a heathen temple in his own land but dies in the attempt.

(l) His son tries to satisfy the Romans and commands one of his officers to rob the temple in Jerusalem. Though he accomplishes his mission when he returns he assassinates the king.

At this point we have History as well as Prophecy.

Antiochus Epiphanes is at this point a type of the future King of the North.

(c) V21 The truth about the vile person Antiochus Epiphanes 175 BC

NOTE: Rome has recently taken Greece and is increasing in power.

(i) V22-24 His success, deceit, and increasing strength

(ii) V25-26 He renews the wars with Egypt.

(iii) V27 eventually there are peace talks but they are not honest with each other – an alliance of lies.

(iv) V28 the Jews revolt because of a false report of his death.

(a) On his way home he attacks Jerusalem.

(b) He profanes the temple.

(v) V29 He attempts to attack Egypt hoping the alliance of lies will put them off guard

(vi) V30 the Roman forces (ships of Chittim) stop him, they now have an interest in Egypt.

At this point, Antiochus Epiphanes is seen as a type of the Anti-Christ.

(vii) V31 On his way home he takes out his anger on Jerusalem.

(a) He pollutes the sanctuary

(b) He stops the daily sacrifice

(d) V32 apostate Jews quickly give up and worship his image.

The Macabees are here a type of the Jewish remnant.

(e) V32-35 “they that know their God” were the faithful Jews known as the Macabees.

(viii) Antiochus Epiphanes is a picture of a type of two people that will be on earth during the tribulation.

(a) The King of the North.

(i) When he is dealing with Egypt.

(ii) When he is fighting against Israel.

(b) The Anti-Christ Rev. 13:11-18

(i) When polluting the sanctuary

(ii) When stopping the daily sacrifice

(iii) When setting up the idol in the temple (Rev. 13:14 – Matt. 24:15)

(iv) When apostate Jews comply with his wishes

(v) When faithful Jews are persecuted.

At this point (v36-45) we have what is strictly prophetic.

(d) The King or the Anti-Christ

(i) V36 He shall do according to His will

Jesus did according to the Fathers will

Luke 22:42

(ii) V36 He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god

Jesus humbled himself and made himself of no reputation. Phil. 2:7-8

(iii) V36 He shall speak against God

Jesus said, “I have glorified thee.”

John 17:4

(iv) V37 He shall not regard the God of his fathers – this tells us 2 things

(a) He will be an Israelite

(b) He will be an apostate

(v) V37 He shall have no regard for the desire of women – Every godly Jewess desires to be the mother of the messiah. He shall have no regard for the Messiah of Israel, Jesus Christ

(vi) V38 He invents a new god “the god of forces” probably military forces and makes the people worship him.

(vii) V39 He divides Israel for gain

(viii) His end is recorded in Rev. 19:20 The False Prophet

(e) The King of the South shall again appear at the time of the end. Egypt shall come against Israel.

(f) V40 The King of the North shall also reappear.

(i) V40 He takes Israel for himself not wanting it to fall into the hands of Egypt.

(ii) V40 He has great Navel and land power.

(iii) V41 Other Old Testament nations appear and come against Israel, but escape out of the hand of the King of the North.

(iv) V42-43 He continues south and takes the riches of Egypt with the aid of Libya and Ethiopia

(v) V44 News from the north and east alarm him

(vi) V45 He returns to Israel and encamps between the Mediterranean and the Dead sea

(vii) He shall come to his end

(a) V45 None shall help him

(b) The Lord shall destroy him

Isaiah 14:25 and 30:31

d) Ch. 12 Conclusion – The future condition of Israel.

(1) V1 “At that time” means the time of chapter 11v36-45

(2) V1 “There shall be a time of trouble” – A period of unspeakable sorrow – Jeremiah 30:5-7 and Matt 24:21-22

(3) V1 Michael stands up to fight against Satan – Rev 12:7-10

(4) V1 The remnant shall not be completely destroyed. The people shall be delivered, everyone found written in the book – There are three books.

(a) The book of the living

Exodus 33:32-33

Psalm 69:28

(b) The Lambs book of life

Philippians 4:3

Revelation 21:27

(c) The book of the delivered remnant

Daniel 12:1

(5) V2 The awakening of the nation – Many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to life and some to shame

(a) Isaiah 26:19-27:6 – Israel as a dead person will again show signs of life towards God.

(b) Ezekiel 37:1-4 – Israel as dry bones will again show signs of life towards God.

(6) V3 they that be wise – the remnant instructing others to turn to God and righteousness.

(7) V4,8,9 Daniel was to seal the book

(a) V8 the prophecy of Daniel was not for his time, he understood not.

(b) John in Rev. 22:10 was told to not seal the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.

(i) It was now time for God’s people to understand the meaning of these prophecies.

(ii) These things were written for our admonition

1 Corinthians 10:11

(iii) V10 The wicked cannot understand the things of God.

(8) V5&6 “How long shall these things be?”

(a) V7 a time, times and half a time

3 ½ lunar years or 1260 days

At the time of the coming of Christ, The Anti-Christ will be cast into the Lake of fire Rev.19:20

(b) V11 +30 = 1290 days from the time that the daily sacrifices are taken away and the idle set up possibly until the king of the north is destroyed

Daniel 11:45 & Matthew 24:3-28

(c) V12 +45 = 1335 days introduces full blessing

Christ has established his kingdom and it has been purged of all defilement – Matthew 13:41