Daniel played many roles in his life including a great prophet of God. We continue to be blessed, inspired and perhaps warned by the writings of Daniel. Not only did he share God’s insights with the kings and people of his time, but today we also see God’s plan unfold in Daniel’s writings. We see the future for those who faithfully follow God. It states, “many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever”.
We read about deliverance for everyone whose name is found written in the book. King David had written of this book of life in Psalm 69:28 and many years later we see the book mentioned again in Revelation 3:5. It states, “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
These amazing truths were passed down from one group to the next, sometimes one generation to the next. Daniel faithfully served the LORD at the time and in the place that the LORD set for him. We have that same privilege today. Don’t feel that you are unable or are unqualified to share. You have the message from the LORD through the scriptures and when you walk closely with Our LORD, that is all you need. Share the Good News with those around us. We want to share in the assurance that Daniel had. It states, “then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”
-Rebecca Dauksas
Reflection Questions
When you think of the future do you usually think about tomorrow, 5 years down the road, 25 or 50 years from now, or eternity? What part of the future excites you? What part scares you?
How often do you consider the book of life? What are your thoughts and feelings when you do? How many familiar names do you expect will be found there?
How can you lead many to righteousness by sharing the good news? What has God given you to do so?
Daniel continues to walk faithfully with God and to serve kings. His abilities are obvious to the new king, King Darius. Daniel excelled above the other leaders. In fact, he was noticed because “he possessed an extraordinary spirit”. The king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. Unfortunately, Daniel’s extraordinary abilities gave rise to jealousy from other leaders. They went about investigating Daniel’s character or work, but he was flawless. So then they devised a malicious plan to turn Daniel’s faithfulness to God along with his routine prayer life against him. They appealed to the king’s pride while ensnaring him with his own law. The continued prayer of Daniel was the offense that they used to throw him into the den of Lions.
It is easy to see the jealousy boiling over in this situation. You know that it will not go well for Daniel’s accusers. It reminds us of the leaders who accused Jesus and later the leaders that went after Paul the apostle. Jealousy was present there, too. In fact, the scripture states that where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. As followers of Jesus, when we see other Christians excelling, we should be happy for them. Encourage and rejoice in their success. We should never let jealousy begin in our own lives. And we should also imitate, the actions of Daniel. He stood strong and remained faithful for God’s glory – not for his own. Not only did his devotion to God save him from the Lions, but it also turned the heart of a king. Then Darius made a decree about God to everyone in his kingdom, “He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever. He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6:26, 27)
-Rebecca Dauksas
Reflection Questions
Has jealousy ever caused a problem for you? What is the best way to combat your own feelings of jealousy?
How would you describe Daniel’s prayer life and his relationship with God? How would you describe your own? Where do you see opportunities for improvement?
Re-reading Daniel 6, what can we learn from Daniel in regards to his relationship with God and with men?
You would think that King Nebuchadnezzar would have set aside his pride after he witnessed a miracle. He was astonished that God could give Daniel ability to recount his own dream and reveal the mysteries of that prophetic dream. The King even stated, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” The king gave Daniel a promotion and honored Daniel’s request by appointing Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon.
But a surprising part of this story is that King Nebuchadnezzar does not seem to have a change of character from the experience. He had received the true interpretation from Daniel that “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not beleft for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” We would think that news would be a life changer for the king, but it isn’t. In fact, we find him setting up a ninety-foot image of gold so people can practice idol worship. If they refuse, he will quickly have them killed. What in the world is wrong with this guy? A lot, but first his pride. He refuses to take his focus off himself and his kingdom so he could acknowledge God and the everlasting Kingdom. I must admit that it is so easy in this life to get so caught up in what we are doing and what others are thinking or saying about us that we find that we have lost our focus of what God is wanting us to do for His Kingdom. It is so easy to let the temporary things of life remove the eternal.
Let’s take some time today and examine where we are spiritually. Are we wasting our time polishing up an idol or are we living in a close relationship with God? The Lord wants to guide us through every area of our lives. Thankfully Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were ready for the king’s challenge. As we see, God delivers these faithful men from the fiery furnace. They were walking closely with the One True God so He sent His angel to walk with them through that fire. Let’s toss out any idols that try to surface in our lives so there is only room for Our God.
-Rebecca Dauksas
Reflection Questions
Are you wasting your time polishing up an idol or are you living in a close relationship with God? Consider carefully. What are you focused on?
Look at how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered the King in Daniel 3:16-18. What can you learn from them? How will you put it into practice?
Today, I heard a conversation with someone explaining why something is or is not scary to them. Sometimes when we look at Bible stories and really try to imagine what it was like for the people living through these experiences, we think “that must have been scary”. Let’s try to imagine the anxiety and fear Daniel experienced when Babylon’s forces came through and he was taken into captivity. He was chosen as one of the youths who had ability for serving in the king’s court. He was described as flawless, good-looking,“showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge.” So here is this amazing young man facing captivity in a foreign land and serving a king in a foreign court. He faced overwhelming obstacles as he began his three-year program of education learning the language and literature. But he immediately faced pressure to just conform-just accept the social norm, don’t worry about what is right or wrong? Just believe and do what you are told. But Daniel did not just do what he was told.
As you might know, Daniel is remembered as a righteous and wise follower of God. So how did he do it? How did he choose the moral and right course when he was facing a culture that did not even consider what is right in the eyes of God?
In verse 8 we read that Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself. In that instance, it concerned the food he was offered. But the phrase “made up his mind” or “set upon his heart” speaks volumes about who Daniel was and who we should be. He had resolved the matter. He first looked to God who could show him right or wrong, he firmly decided on the right course of action and he followed through. Daniel chose to follow God by doing what was right and moral. This was Daniel’s practice throughout his life and it was sometimes met with opposition and I imagine he experienced fear. (A Lion’s Den is not a place anyone wants to be.) But he was willing to suffer for doing what was right. His actions proved his devotion and love for God. And the Lord sent angels to help along the way. God was with Daniel and his companions. He gave them abilities and miracles to prove that He was there, even in the middle of their captivity. He gave them the strength to stand for what was right. He gave them the ability to conquer fear. Of course, He will help us to do the same.
-Rebecca Dauksas
Reflection Questions
When was the last time you were in a scary situation surrounded by the foreign or unknown? How did you handle it? What would you do again in that situation? What would you do differently?
How would God want you to resolve not to defile yourself?
Have you ever been the right person at the right time in the right place? My wife and I were driving home one evening after dark. We came upon a slow- moving vehicle that was being driven rather erratically. It swerved from side to side. It would speed up for a moment and then slow way down. We even witnessed this vehicle cross the center line several times. Oncoming vehicles sometimes were forced off the road to avoid this driver. We thought that we were about to see a terrible accident. Of course, this driver was impaired in some way. I am sensitive toward the subject of drunk drivers. I was badly injured and my best friend killed by one many years ago. Of course, we called 911. However, while my wife was talking to the 911 operator, we noticed that a police cruiser was sitting in a parking lot next to the road. We pulled alongside and described the situation. To their credit, the officers quickly sped off in pursuit and had the vehicle pulled over in less than a minute. The driver, a middle aged woman, was clearly inebriated. We hope that we helped to save some family from a devastating tragedy that evening. Perhaps, our decision to get involved may have even saved that drunk driver from a life of guilt, prison, or from death itself. However, we did nothing more than what many people would do. If you found yourself in a similar situation, I know that you would act. The right person is often given the right place and the right time to act, to get involved.
The book of Daniel often describes events that are earth shattering and world changing. People often get caught up in forces that are beyond their control and they feel helpless. However, the book of Daniel also gives examples of those individuals who rise to the occasion by standing for their faith. These individual acts of faith actually change the course of events: Daniel refused to eat the king’s food, Meschach, Shadrach and Abed-nego refused to bow to the image, and Daniel broke the law and risked the lion’s den to pray to the LORD.
Daniel 11 and 12 describe the incredible times and events that will occur at the end of this age. Forces will be at work that will be beyond our control. Yet, it is still a moment for individuals to make a stand. According to Daniel and the book of Revelation, the time of the end will be characterized by great deception. Many people, even believers, will be fooled and tricked by the antichrist. Daniel 11:32 reads, “By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant…..” However, some make a stand. Daniel 11:32 continues, “….but the people who know their God will display strength and take action…” They will be the right people at the right time in the right place.
Daniel 11:33 adds, “Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many….” Yet there will be a price for this courage. Daniel 11:33 continues, “…yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days.” However, Daniel 12:3 makes this promise: “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
We live in a time of great confusion. We have become strangers to God while we worship the idols that we have created. Many people fear the future and wonder how it is all going to end. For all our worldliness, our country is confused about sexuality and gender. People have forgotten what is right and what is wrong, what is truth and what is false. This world needs a voice of reason. It needs truth. It needs people of courage and faith. The answers are “hidden in plain sight.” They are right here in the Bible. Insight will be found by those who are looking for it and by those who thirst for it. Those who have insight will shine like the stars. Be the right person so that you can act when the right time and the right place comes to you.
-Scott Deane
Read or listen to today’s Bible reading plan passages at BibleGateway.com here – Daniel 11 & 12 and 1 John 1
It is more than just numbers. However, the numbers help tell the story. Daniel chapter 9 is also known as the “70 Weeks Prophecy.” It was a message given to the prophet Daniel. Daniel had sought to know the purpose and plan of God. He called upon God to save him and his people. For his piety, God revealed to Daniel His mighty works. In particular, God revealed to Daniel the events that would happen at the end of this age. Even though this is called the “70 Weeks Prophecy,” the spotlight falls to the 70th week or the last week. Each week is really “week of years.” Since each regular week has seven days, each week of years has seven years. The 70th week, then, is really the last seven years of this age. It is the seven years prior to the return of Jesus Christ in glory.
As the prophecy unfolds for us in Daniel 9:26-27, a person who is called “the prince who is to come” makes a covenant or a treaty with Israel at the beginning of the seven years. Perhaps, unknown to most people, this “prince who is to come” is the same as the “little horn” of Daniel chapter 7. He is the same as the “small horn” of Daniel chapter 8 and as the ‘king of the North” and the “despicable person” in Daniel chapter 11. He is also the same as the “beast” in Revelation chapter 13 and the ‘lawless one” in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.” He is known widely as the antichrist.
In the middle of the week or after 3 ½ years, the “prince who is to come” dramatically breaks the covenant with a horrible abomination. This is the very prophetic sign that Jesus warns us about in Matthew 24:15: “…when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place….” What is this abomination of desolation? In Thessalonian 2:2, Paul says of the “lawless one, “…he takes his seat in the temple of God displaying himself as being God….”
More importantly, this horrible and unmistakable event initiates the “Great Tribulation” according to Matthew 24:21. The antichrist will make war upon the saints during that time. Again the numbers help to tell the story. The tribulation begins in the middle of the week. Of course, this is the 3 ½ year point. So, the Great Tribulation endures for 3 ½ years. This length of time turns up in other places too. In Daniel 7:25 he reports that the length of the little horn’s rampage is “time, times, and half a time.” Time being one. Times being two and a half being a half for a total of 3 ½. The period of time, times and half a time is repeated in Daniel 12:7 and even in Revelation 12:14. Revelation 12:6 mentions a period of 1260 days (A 360 day calendar was used in Bible times. When 360 days is multiplied by 3 ½, it equals 1260 days!). Revelation 13:5 notes that the beast’s authority lasts for 42 months. 42 months, of course, is 3 ½ years. However, as dramatic as the beast appears so his end will be at the return of Christ. Daniel 9:27 reads, “…even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”
-Scott Deane
Read or listen to today’s Bible reading plan passages at BibleGateway.com here – Daniel 9 & 10 and Psalm 148-150
Some words can get you in trouble. Some words can get you beat up. Others, in the right situation, can even get you killed! You might be surprised to know that merely quoting some words from Daniel chapter 7 once got someone killed. How? When? It was only a few hours before Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus was being examined before the high priest. They were attempting to find some guilt in Jesus. They wanted a reason to condemn Him. Finally, in Matthew 26:63, the high priest demanded of Jesus, “…tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God…” Jesus answered, “…you have said it yourself; nevertheless, I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven….” Essentially, Jesus confirmed that He was the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of Man described in the book of Daniel chapter 7. As a result of this confession, the high priest concluded in Matthew 26:66, “He deserves death!” So, as I said, the words of Daniel 7 can get you in trouble. For the words of Daniel 7 are still revolutionary and they still challenge the current world order. They are dangerous and threatening words for those who would defy the will of God.
Jesus, as He appeared before the high priest, quoted in part from Daniel 7:13: “….and behold with the clouds of heaven one like a Son of Man was coming…..” Daniel 7:14 continues to describe the Son of Man, “…and to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” The early Christians thought this was an important verse. It was directly quoted or referenced several times in the New Testament (Revelation 1:7, Matthew 24:30). Even before the birth of Jesus, Daniel 7 was thought to be a prophecy of the coming Messiah. Jesus even used the term “Son of Man” to speak about Himself throughout the Gospels. Daniel chapter 7 describes a series of empires that will rise and fall. Some of what Daniel described is now history for us. However, there is yet to arise another terrifying empire in the time of the end. This is the empire which the Son of Man will vanquish at His second coming in glory. Even the mightiest of empires will fail, but the kingdom of God and of His Messiah will stand forever.
As we enter this Advent season, we see Daniel 7 as evidence that God keeps His promises. Jesus was born. He lived. He taught us the good word of God. He died for our sins. He was raised to immortality. He sits at God’s right hand. He is coming again to reward those who believe in Him and to punish the wicked.
-Scott Deane
Today’s Bible reading plan passages can be read or listened to at BibleGateway.com here – Daniel 7 & 8 and Psalm 145-147
The kingdom of God is political. It is political because it begs the question, “Who or what will rule over you.” Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord’s prayer: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God Himself is moving history to an inevitable conclusion. A day is coming when the kingdoms of this world will be overwhelmed by the sudden arrival of the kingdom of God. Remember, God has ultimate control. In the meantime, however, God gives the authority to govern to various kings, presidents, and prime ministers. However, all politicians beware. You will be judged by the God of the universe. You will be measured according to the LORD’s standard. God has given you authority and He also can take it away.
Consider the case of the foolish King Belshazzar. Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, but he was nothing like his grandfather. The Babylonian Empire had declined because Belshazzar lacked wisdom and the talent to rule effectively. Above all, Belshazzar did not fear the God of Israel. Belshazzar threw a huge blow-out party for all his nobles. It was a night of drinking and frivolity. It is believed these events took place in 539 B.C. At the time, a huge Persian army surrounded the city of Babylon. Belshazzar was not worried for he believed himself to be safe behind the imposing walls of the city. Ignoring the threat outside, Belshazzar threw this huge party. In fact, it is believed that whole city was in the midst of a huge festival.
When Belshazzar was feeling his wine, he ordered that the vessels that had been taken from the LORD’s temple in Jerusalem be brought to this feast. They used these sacred cups to drink toasts to the idols of Babylon. Those in the banquet hall were shocked to see a hand writing a message on the wall. Belshazzar’s knees knocked together with fright. Daniel was summoned to interpret the message for it was somewhat mysterious. Daniel informed Belshazzar of a very simple truth in Daniel 5:21: “…the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes….” Also, Daniel openly chastised Belshazzar. Belshazzar had toasted the dumb idols, but “….the God in whose hand are your life breath and all your ways, you have not glorified….”(Daniel 5:23). King Belshazzar, in his arrogance, had insulted the King of the universe. The rulers of this earth cannot ignore God without serious consequences.
What about the message on the wall? It was a short message from the LORD Himself to Belshazzar: “MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN.” The words themselves are common words that might be heard in the marketplaces of Babylon. MENE means count. TEKEL means weigh. UPHARSIN or its other verb form PERES mean divide (make change). The message to Belshazzar is that God has judged him. God has counted his every deed. God has weighed him in the balance and Belshazzar has come up short. God has taken the kingdom from him and given it to the Persians. History tells us that the Persian army, on that very night, had diverted the Euphrates River which flowed through the city of Babylon. The Persians entered the city undetected. Belshazzar was killed that night. Even the rulers of this world are subject to the God of the universe. Those who rule in defiance of the ways of righteousness will eventually face the consequences while God will bless those who honor Him.
-Scott Deane
Read or listen to today’s Bible reading plan passages at BibleGateway.com here – Daniel 5-6 and Psalm 142-144
Imagine living in a country where the wider culture is not sympathetic to your faith. Perhaps, the world around you is even openly hostile to your Christian confession. At this very moment, there are countries around the world where it is dangerous to be a Christian. You might face persecution. You face social stigma and even penalties simply for being a believer. The government may even scrutinize every thing that you say and teach. Sermons would be submitted to government for their approval. You might become the victim of mob violence. These things where once isolated to countries on the other side of the globe. Now, even in Western democracies, Christian beliefs are coming under increasing criticism. Those who stand for truth are being libeled as “haters” and “bigots.” It takes courage to stand alone for the faith, to stand for truth when the whole world opposes you.
We are not the first to travel this road nor will we be the last. Our story focuses upon the courage of Meshach, Shadrach and Abed-nego. Along with Daniel, these three young men were taken from their home in Jerusalem to the city of Babylon. They found themselves in a strange place with strange customs. However, these young men wanted to honor the God of their fathers in this foreign land. They refused to defile themselves with the “unclean” food provided to them and instead ate vegetables and drank water (Daniel chapter 1). Because they made themselves an exception, they became exceptional young men. Their abilities were obvious to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon and he appointed them to high positions within his empire.
Nebuchadnezzar erected a large golden idol on a plain near the city of Babylon. It was rather large at 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. It was covered in gold and glimmered in the sunlight. Nebuchadnezzar’s own ego was wrapped up in this creation. He arranged an elaborate event. All of his middle managers, lesser and greater bureaucrats, and all his officials were commanded to come to this image. It really became a test of loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar himself. It was a mandated gathering. It was not optional! It was a day of much pomp and circumstance. When the orchestra began to play, it was the signal for all to bow down and worship this massive idol. If one failed to worship, they would be thrown into a furnace of fire. When it was discovered that Meshach, Shadrach, and Abed-nego failed to bow down, Nebuchadnezzar, though angry, offered these three a second chance. Nebuchadnezzar threatened in Daniel 3:15, “…what god can deliver you out of my hand?” However, though respectful to the king, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abed-nego made it clear that they would not be unfaithful to the true God by bowing down to this vile image. In Daniel 3:17,18, they reply, “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and he will deliver us out of your hand O King. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you set up.” Whether they lived or died, they determined to be different than the rest. They would honor God. This is courage. Of course, we know that these three were rescued from the fire by an angel. Nebuchadnezzar did not have the final word. He was not, as he had claimed, all powerful. There is One who is greater than all. We remember that the final judge is not the government, or the mob, or the culture in which we live. God will always have the last word. He rewards those who are faithful to Him.
-Scott Deane
Read or listen to today’s Bible reading plan passages at BibleGateway.com here – Daniel 3 & 4 and Psalm 139-141
We’re now in the 3rd year of the Persian king Cyrus’s reign, after he has allowed the exiled in Babylon to go home. But it’s not clear if Daniel is hanging around to work in the Persian court somewhere or if he has gone home too. Maybe, he figures, what’s the use of going home if the restoration of his people is going to take 7 times longer than anyone thought. If I were him, I’d also be struggling to find some hope if angels keep dropping by in my dreams and giving me mostly horrible news about the future.
This is likely weighing heavily on Daniel’s tired heart as he is mourning and doing extended fasting. You don’t normally hear about people today fasting to hear a word from God, but it’s one of those ancient tried and true methods to use when you really mean business and something has to give.
It works well for Daniel here because he receives another vision. He’s by the river and sees an angel that is described with language stolen right from Ezekiel. And the Bible is weird, because it sounds like this angel (Gabriel?) has been in an ongoing battle with a prince (angelic representative?) of Persia. And the angel Michael is there fighting in Gabriel’s place so he could come tell Daniel something very important. If I am understanding this correctly, this means angels engage in extended tag team octagon fighting on behalf of the kingdoms they represent, as if the balance of history depends on it in some way.
What follows in chapter 11 is an insanely detailed prophecy given to Daniel about the Persians and Greeks, leading up to our old friend, Antiochus IV, and his typical shenanigans. It is basically a much more detailed version of chapter 8 (remember the ram, goat, and the horns?), and we have the theme from chapters 2 and 7 about the sequence of kingdoms knitted into it. Not being an expert in history, and not wanting to overload too badly, I’ll keep this very high-level.
I mentioned Alexander yesterday, who is our “warrior king” in 11:3, or the Greeks taking over the Persians. Alexander dies and his kingdom is split up among four generals. We eventually end up with the Ptolemies of the south (Egypt) and Seleucids of the north (Syria/Mesopotamia), who plague each other with failed alliances, invasions, deception, betrayal, assassinations, and the like. By verse 21, Antiochus (of the north) is on the scene, and by verse 30 we see him start his persecution of Jerusalem and desecration of the temple. By the end of chapter 11, we see his end.
Again, we are interested in patterns more than precise timelines. The north and south had been going back and forth with their conflicts but keeping each other in check. Antiochus comes on the scene and breaks the mold, crosses the line, and does what nobody before him does. And once he upsets the balance and asserts himself as a god, the true God brings an end to him. It’s the arrogant made humble again, like we’ve seen several times before in the book of Daniel.
But what of hope? What’s the point of this endless political drama and transfer of power? The messenger explains that at that point of deep anguish brought in by the king of the north, the people of God will be delivered. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” And the wise are said to have some kind of special reward. If we believe in a God of justice and restoration, the end game has to be that God, being the faithful God that he is, will make all things right, even by raising his “sleeping” faithful to life.
Surely the original audience of Daniel would be familiar with the dry bones of Ezekiel coming alive and how it symbolized the return from exile, since the ideas of exile and death in the Jewish mind are interlocked. But technically, when this new revelation is being given to Daniel, the people have already gone home, although their full restoration has yet to be seen. So is Daniel 12 metaphorically about the coming restoration of God’s people, or about an actual bodily resurrection? I think both are in play. This isn’t the New Testament yet, so nobody is really talking about resurrection as we know it. The Old Testament hints at something like resurrection maybe a few times before Daniel. This passage goes further than others in the Old Testament; it’s hard to deny or explain away the element of bodily resurrection. Still, by the time of Jesus, not all the Jews are sold on it. The Pharisees believe in a resurrection, but the Sadducees do not.
A quick word about verses 5-12, which seem to break the flow a little. It prompts us to remember 8:13 when one angel asks the other how long the “transgression that makes desolate” will be. In scope is the last of the 70 weeks described in chapter 9, but now we have another “How long” question: “How long shall it be until the end of these wonders?” To summarize, it cryptically lays out two periods of 3½ years, before and after the people are essentially banned from worshiping. Interpreters struggle with making much sense of the differing numbers in verses 11-12, and I am happy to join them.
I’ve been suggesting how some of these prophecies have had a fulfillment in historical events moving up into the second century B.C. because I think it fits well, but hopefully I have also left the door open for you to envision other ways these patterns have been fulfilled, and even how they are yet to be fulfilled. Part of the joy of the book of Daniel is that it keeps inviting you to interpret. Sometimes it will hand you the interpretation, and sometimes you’ll have to chew on it. Making sense of the book of Daniel (and the rest of scripture) became an important pastime for God’s people, and it is no wonder why. It can provide us wisdom, encouragement, and hope while surviving in our Babylons, or enduring very tough times that never seem to end.
We are in a strange time in our world where I think all of us are asking every day, “How long is this mess going to keep going? When can things be back to normal?” It will probably take much longer than we had wanted or expected. And whether it is good or bad, we’ll probably never go back to what we thought of as normal. But the wise and faithful can enjoy the hope of a time of restoration and resurrection, in a kingdom that has no end, under the rulership of the true God who has finally set everything right.
Thank you so much for studying Daniel with me. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
-Jay Laurent
Today’s Bible passage can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – Daniel 10-12
Tomorrow we will begin the book of Ezra (chapters 1-3) as we continue on our journey through God’s Word using the
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