Hello
Friends!
Welcome
to an all-new Encouraging Concepts
Bible study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old
Testament book of Daniel painted as a panoramic
landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in
ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago…
“The Book of
Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST,
PRESENT & FUTURE ~ Introduction & Insights!
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: Perhaps NO other portion of the Sovereign “scriptures” found within the pages of our
beautiful Bible has been so adamantly attacked as the book of “Daniel” itself. It has been a veritable battlefield
throughout the “ages” between true “faith” and rampant “unbelief”
alike. And for well over 2,000 years, “wicked”
men, heathen philosophers and infidels in kind have HAMMERED away against its HISTORICAL narrative. However, this POWERFUL book of predictive PROPHECY has
indeed perplexingly PROVED to be the avid anvil
upon which the caustic critics' hateful hammers have been soundly – SMASHED into
pieces!
Introduction & Insights!
The reliable “Jewish”
historian Josephus poignantly provides excellent evidence for “Daniel”
as being historically accurate. In fact, he tells us that when Alexander the Great of
whom is mentioned in chapter 8 as the
great “he goat” adorned with a “notable horn” had come to Jerusalem in the year 332 B.C. and was himself quite amazed
with the amazing ACCURACY of God’s wonderful word…
And as I was
considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole
earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his
eyes… – Daniel 8:5
And historical records tell us
that when Jaddua the high priest READ
him these “prophecies” of the prophet “Daniel” as they are, Alexander the Great himself was so GREATLY
impressed with these findings that he did NOT take tirade towards “Jerusalem” as others – BEFORE him had done!
Then we have the terrific testimony of the Old Testament prophet
“Ezekiel” of whom was also found to be
in bleak “Babylonian” extracted EXILE of whom speaks TWICE in the highest terms of “Daniel”
as his contemporary and “prophet”
in kind:
Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they
should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God. If I cause noisome beasts to pass
through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may
pass through because of the beasts: Though these three men were in it, as I
live, saith the Lord God,
they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered,
but the land shall be desolate. Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say,
Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: Though
these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor
daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves. Or if I send a
pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off
from it man and beast: Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith
the Lord God, they shall
deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by
their righteousness – Ezekiel 14:14-
20
Behold, thou art
wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee – Ezekiel 28:3
However, the MOST tantamount TESTAMONY perfectly pertaining to our bold BELIEF in
this bountiful “book” as a PREDICTIVE picture
of PROPHECY comes
directly
from the loving lips of our “Lord Jesus
Christ” Himself in which He verifies that this “Daniel” indeed IS a powerful “prophet” speaking FOR our Great “God” in Glory:
When ye
therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) – Matthew 24:15
Incidentally,
the Kingly KEY to this entire powerfully PROPHETIC picture
ultimately unlocks the approaching “kingdom” made by the “God of heaven” to one day COME
is also firmly foretold by our “beloved”
brother “Daniel” in kind:
And in the days
of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever – Daniel – 2:44
Beloved,
it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to overtly overestimate the immense IMPORTANCE of
this ancient
book of which was wonderfully “written”
by this man “Daniel” himself. WHY? Because it is the supernatural KEY to
absolutely ALL promised PROPHECY and without an ever increasing
intentional “knowledge” of these great
poignant PROPHECIES contained within the pages of this beloved book, the
entire
portion of the PROPHETIC wonderful “Word of God”
would otherwise remain a solemnly “sealed”
book. And ONE of the real reasons why so few “Christians” in kind TODAY
have a correct “understanding” of the
powerfully PROPHETIC forecast made available throughout the
Bible itself is indeed directly related to a nigh – NEGLECT of Daniel!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The great PROPHETIC portions
of the New Testament such as the Olivet Discourse provided by our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself found within
the book of Matthew chapters 24 and 25 along
with the “end times” book of Revelation in kind can only be
undoubtedly “understood” through the
poignant PROPHECIES provided by the Old Testament prophet “Daniel”
proper. To both the pagan “Babylonian”
king “Nebuchadnezzar” and this
great “prophet” of our great “God” himself, were “rightly”
revealed the political history of the "times
of the Gentiles" as our loving “Lord”
had lauded in the book of Luke chapter 21.
The rise
and fall
of the great monarchies of Babylonia, Medo-Persia, Graeco-Macedonia and Roman empires respectively are successively revealed
in this beautifully bold book. Then there are PROPHECIES relating
more specifically
to the future of “Jerusalem” within the
borders of “Israel” along with the “Jewish” people themselves, showing what WILL yet
caustically “come” to that very “city” and the entire “nation”
itself. And in our “generation” living TODAY as
the “Bride of Christ” within the “dispensation of grace,” it strongly seems
to be looming in the very shadow of that most telling “time” to come. Therefore, the appointed END of
these trying “times” and what will FOLLOW is
poignantly – Made KNOWN to us!
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: The book of “Daniel”
was originally “written”
in distinctly TWO different literal languages: Hebrew and Aramaic in kind. Chapter
1 is fully “written”
in the Hebrew
style closely allied to the ancient sixth-century B.C. text utilized in the book
of Ezekiel. And chapters 8 through
chapter 12 are likewise “written” in the same Hebrew language. However, chapter
2 verse 4 through chapter 7
are actually “written” in the Aramaic language.
This powerful point gives an additional argument for the authenticity
of this great book. WHY? Because the author “Daniel” was
conversant with BOTH languages, an attainment exactly suited to
a Hebrew man living in the “Babylonian” brazen “time”
of excessive – EXILE
abroad!
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: Contrary to the UNBELIEVING liberal heathenistic textual critics
of today, “Daniel” was NOT written
during the inter-testament period of the Maccabean
era nestled between the Old Testament and New Testament respectively as they claim. WHY?
Because by that particular “time”
in human history, the Hebrew
language had long since ceased to be a living
language and was thus supplanted by the Aramaic vernacular dialect of that which our
“Lord Jesus Christ” spoke during His incarnation
here on earth. And amazingly enough, “Daniel”
was supernaturally led to employ BOTH of
these legitimate languages for a very specific reason. WHY? Because that which concerned the “Babylonian” and “Medo-Persian”
monarchies was “written” in the Aramaic language
of which they were familiar. And that which concerned the “Jewish” people was “written”
in the Hebrew
language of which they were familiar – TWO literal languages!
GETTING STARTED: Within this very PERSONAL loving “letter”
of perfect PROPHECY we find TWO main
sections
of which we will FOCUS upon throughout this entire
serious “study” series:
I. DANIEL IN BABYLON, NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM AND HISTORICAL
EVENTS
Chapter 1 ~ Daniel & His Companions Captured by
Babylon
Chapter 2: ~ Prophetic Dream of Nebuchadnezzar
Chapter 3 ~ Idolatry Decreed by Nebuchadnezzar
Chapter 4 ~ Nebuchadnezzar’s Tree is Toppled
Chapter 5 ~
Babylon’s Finish Foretold
Chapter 6 ~ Decree of Darius & the Lion’s Lunch
II. THE GREAT PROPHECIES OF DANIEL
Chapter 7 ~ Night Visions of Daniel
Chapter 8 ~ Vision of the Ram & He-Goat
Chapter 9 ~ Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks
Chapter 10 ~ Preparation for the Final Prophecy
Chapter 11 ~ Prophesied Wars of the Ptolemies and
Seleucids & Coming World Events of the End Times
Chapter 12 ~ The Great Tribulation & Israel 's
Deliverance
This
exciting NEW
series will investigate the eternal timeline of our great
“God’s” wonderful PROPHETIC program and His perfect plan of
eternal “Salvation” in Him.
Please join us as we “diligently”
search His wonderful “Word of Truth” yet
– AGAIN…
In
closing:
REAL REFLECTIONS: The twelve chapters of “Daniel” are powerfully PROMISED prophecies depicting the unfolding
of the HISTORIC events of which will take place leading up to
the literal “time” of the SECOND awaited
physical “coming” of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” back to the earth:
And in the days
of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever – Daniel 2:44
And
our SERIOUS study of these PROPHECIES will
rightly REVEAL to each student of God's wonderful “Word” that the events FORETOLD
some 2,600 years ago could
possibly be FULFILLED in the seemingly near future…
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
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