Erica's Bible Study and Journal: Daniel

Daniel 12:1-13

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:11:41 GMT

I think this first verse somewhat confirms my earlier thought that the angel Michael was the angel given charge over Israel. The unnamed angel speaking to him went on to say that there would be a time of trouble so awesome and terrible that nothing like it had ever happened before. Those that had died would arise. Some of them would arise to eternal life; the rest to eternal separation from God.

Next, Daniel was instructed not to share what he was learning. That is probably because the fulfillment was so far off from his time. Daniel then sees two more angels, one on either side of the river, speak to the angel that had been talking to him. They asked him how long until the prophesy is fulfilled. He answered and like Daniel I don’t understand the answer.

The angel went on to tell Daniel that some would be purified, but the wicked would continue in their wickedness. He sent Daniel away basically telling him he has nothing to worry about.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

IceRocket Tags: Israel,angel,God,instructed

Daniel 11:1-45

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:17:05 GMT

If you read this chapter as being separate from the previous one, you may be confused as soon as you read the first verse. This chapter is a continuation of Chapter 10 and the angel is still talking to Daniel. The angel tells Daniel that during the first year of Darius the Mede’s reign, he was there behind the scenes strengthening the king. Why? Because God said it should be so. Now, according to God’s instruction, the angel will reveal what is to come.

There will be three kings of little consequence in Persia. The fourth will be stronger than they were and will use his vast wealth to turn everyone against the Greeks. Following him would be a king that had a great kingdom and did whatever he wanted to do. He would exalt himself to where he shouldn’t be and at that point his kingdom would break apart and scatter forming 4 separate kingdoms.

The southern king would be strong but one of his princes would have dominion over him. The kings of the north and south would unite and the king’s daughter would be given to the king of the north to form an alliance. But the southern kingdom would not stand. Later, a branch of her family would redeem the family rule by going against the king of the north and defeating him.

The next verses describe the various battles and treacheries of the coming rulers. As you read all this back and forth fighting and conquering, it is interesting to realize it is all done for personal gain and power. Nothing else. But God uses even that to fulfill His plans and purposes. The final ruler mentioned in this chapter will make his palace on God’s holy mountain. He will be destroyed and nothing can prevent it from happening.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

IceRocket Tags: Daniel,chapter,kings,south,north,battles,bible,study

Daniel 10:1-21

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:29:38 GMT

There are some very interesting things implied in this chapter. I want to begin by noting that Daniel is probably no longer in the service of the King of Babylon. This chapter begins in the third year of Cyrus’ reign. Chapter 1:1 says that Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus’ reign. That must mean that Daniel has “retired” from his post. Also, this is two years after Cyrus gave proclamation that the temple be rebuilt in Jerusalem and that all those Jews that would like to return to their city should go (Ezra 1:1-3).

Here we find Daniel had been mourning for 3 weeks. During that time, he fasted, avoiding delicacies, meat, and wine,and he didn’t anoint himself (a custom of that time). At the end of that fast, he looks up and sees an angelic being. He tries to describe him by comparing his body to beryl (or topaz), his face to lightening, etc. You can tell this was a truly awesome sight and there are not earthly words sufficient to describe any heavenly thing.

There were men there with Daniel, probably his attendants, and although they couldn’t see what he saw, something frightened them away. Daniel was left alone and all his personal glory was nothing in the presence of this being. When the angel spoke, the sound of his voice stupefied Daniel and he fell face first on the ground. Daniel felt a hand touch him and lift him up on his hands and knees.

The angel then spoke again, calling Daniel a man greatly beloved. He tells Daniel to listen closely and stand up. He had been sent to Daniel. Daniel stood up trembling (I imagine he was). He tells Daniel not to be afraid. From the first day Daniel determined to understand the vision he’d had previously and abased himself before God, God heard him and sent the angel.

Here is the truly fascinating part. The angel says that the prince or ruler of Persia stood in his way for 21 days. Michael, one of the chief princes came to help him against this prince of Persia. This is interesting because it reveals that behind the scene in historical events, spiritual things are at work. It also implies that different areas are influenced (at God’s command) by different beings. The angel mentions a few verses down that he must go back to battle with the prince of Persia and then the prince of Greece will come. These are pagan countries obviously ruled by fallen angels. Those fallen angels are probably trying to interfere in God’s work (that is what they do) and this angel has to fight them until God tells him to do otherwise. WOW! We also find out that Michael is the prince of Daniel and probably all of Israel (since they are God’s special people).

This angel tells Daniel that he has come to reveal to Daniel those things that will happen at the end of these times. Daniel was so awestruck he became unable to speak. Another angel touched his lips enabling him to speak again. He explained to the angel that all that he was seeing had taken his strength.. He was touched again and was strengthened. He asked the angel to carry on now that he was able to bear it.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

Daniel 9:1-27

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:28:08 GMT

There is a lot to summarize in this chapter. In the first year of Darius’ reign, Daniel realized that according to the prophet Jeremiah the time of the captivity was coming to an end. At this realization, Daniel turned to God in prayer, fasting, mourning (sackcloth and ashes) for the sins of himself and the people.

One thing that really struck me was the fact that after all the righteousness displayed in his life, he still felt the need for forgiveness. He’d refused to eat the king’s food, he’d refused to worship the king or the king’s idols, and he’d refused to cease praying. He remained holy no matter the risk to life and limb. Yet, he knew his own inadequacy and imperfection. As far as I can remember he is one of the few in the bible that seemed to get it right every time.

He prayed to God and made confession. He refers to God as “great and dreadful”. That doesn’t mean God was to be dreaded, but he should be approached with reverence and solemnity because of who He is and the mess that we are. He is not “the man upstairs”. He is almighty, all-powerful, eternal God who holds the power of life and death in His hands. Daniel says He keeps His covenant and mercy to those that love Him and keep His commandments. Keeping His commandments doesn’t require that we be perfect in what we do. We can’t be, which is why we need Him. It does mean that when (not if) we mess up, we make it right with Him by confessing to Him, repenting, and accepting His forgiveness. That is what Daniel is doing here.

Daniel says they had all sinned because they sinned constantly and refused to obey God or listen to the warnings of His prophets. He goes on to acknowledge that God is righteous in his judgment against them and they are guilty. They are guilty as a nation and individually. God has mercy and forgiveness for them although they rebelled against him. Their rebellion is why some of them were captive, some were scattered, and some were dead. Once they knew of their guilt, they didn’t turn to God in prayer nor did they turn from their sin back to Him. They plowed on in wrongdoing.

It is that attitude that has caused God to allow them to suffer the consequences of their sin. There are those that claim the God of the bible is cruel and bloodthirsty. Nothing could be further from the truth. He told them when He brought them out of Egypt hundreds of years before how He would care for them if they remained faithful. He also told them what the consequence of sin would be. Once they turned from Him to following their own desires, He didn’t kill them off as He could have done. Instead, He sent prophets to warn them over and over. He was patient and merciful and gave them every opportunity to repent. They refused, thus forcing Him to keep His word. Why anyone would want a God that treats the obedient and the stubborn the same is beyond my understanding.

Daniel pleads with God to turn His anger away from Jerusalem. He asks Him to instead look at His desolate sanctuary with fondness again. He asks God to listen and to look at the city named for Him not because they had earned it but because He is merciful. He encourages God to forgive and act on their behalf and on behalf of his Holy city.

While he was praying, Gabriel appeared to him just as he had in the visions Daniel had. He told Daniel that he’d come to reveal God’s plan to him. He said that when Daniel STARTED to pray, God sent the commandment for Gabriel to go to Him. Seventy years were decreed by God to cut off their transgression and end their sin. The time was also allowed for reconciliation and to bring eternal righteousness. The rebuilding would be completed at its appointed time. Gabriel next revealed that Messiah was coming and in due time would be cut off, but not for himself. He would be cut off from God for mankind. After that, the city and the sanctuary would again be destroyed, and the stage would be set for the final judgment.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

IceRocket Tags: God,Daniel,faithful,Gabriel,angels,bible,prayer,Israel

Daniel 8:1-27

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:07:12 GMT

Two years after his last vision Daniel describes another. The first was after Belshazzar had reigned for 1 year. The next vision was after he had reigned for 3. After describing the vision, Daniel tells us he hears a voice tell Gabriel to explain to him what he had seen.

The ram with two horns represented the kings of Media and Persia. In chapter 5 we find out that Belshazzar was murdered and his kingdom was given to the Medes and the Persians. The goat in the vision represented Greece that would conquer the previously invincible Media and Persia. The horn of the goat was the first king from Greece. Four kingdoms would follow but none would be as powerful.

In the last days, a fierce king would come. He would be mighty but not by his own power, which suggests it will be satanic power. He will destroy all that is holy and his kingdom will prosper. His conduct will cause deceitfulness to flourish. He will consider himself great and will destroy many through peace. It is amazing to think that by creating peace, destruction will come but his peace is a lie. He will raise himself up against God but will be destroyed.

Daniel is instructed to keep the vision to himself because the commencement of it was many days away. Daniel was so awestruck and disturbed by the vision that he was sick for several days.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

IceRocket Tags: Daniel,kings,peace,vision,God,study,bible

Daniel 7:1-28

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:20:01 GMT

God gave Daniel a vision of the end times. Daniel was very troubled by this vision and understandably so. He asked someone in his vision to explain what he was seeing. He saw 4 beasts arise from the earth. They represented 4 kings that would come but eventually they would all be destroyed because the saints (those that love and obey God) would possess their kingdoms forever.

The fourth beast was different from the others. He was more dreadful and more destructive with his iron teeth and nails of brass. He used them to devour and break to pieces. This beast had ten horns, which are indicative of power. This beast was the last and final kingdom of man. It would be different from the previous ones because it would rule the entire world and consume it. The ten horns were 10 kings that would come. There would come one king that would subdue three of the others. He would speak against God and torment the saints. He will have complete control for his appointed time. But then God will come, take his kingdom, and give it to the saints.

I know this is a very concise summary for so many verses. Most of the chapter is very descriptive and my summaries are not to replace your own bible study. Read it. Daniel does his best to describe something he'd never seen before and I didn't feel the need to try to recreate that. Read it for yourself. NEVER take someone else's word for what God's word says.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

IceRocket Tags: God,endtimes,beast,word,kings

Daniel 6:1-28

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:54:31 GMT

So far in Daniel, I have been reading the whole chapter before I write the summary. With this chapter, I could barely get past verse 4. Belshazzar has been murdered and Babylon has been taken over by Darius the Mede as God said it would. Darius sets up 120 princes to manage his new kingdom. The princes had to answer to 3 presidents, one of which was Daniel. And Daniel was given charge over all of them. That is remarkable because Daniel is constantly elevated by God’s design, not his own. Darius put this Babylonian Jew in charge of 122 of his own men and in effect the whole kingdom.

Of course, that didn’t go over well and the presidents and princes decided to find something to blame Daniel for. But because he was faithful in all he did and said, they could find nothing. They next decided to find something against him concerning the law of his God.

These men went to the king and said they had determined to establish a 30-day period where no one could pray to anyone but the king. They asked the king to sign their decree because it was their custom that all decrees signed by the king could not be changed. I'm sure they appealed to the kings pride. He agreed and they set about watching Daniel.

It was customary for Daniel to pray 3 times a day, facing Jerusalem with his window’s open. He continued to do so despite the decree. This was the moment they had been waiting for. They immediately ran to the king and told him that Daniel didn’t respect his authority. That was not true. However, Daniel’s loyalty was to God above all others.

The king was sorry he had ever agreed to such a thing. He spent a full day trying to find a way to deliver Daniel without losing face. The men reminded him that the decree could not be changed so with a heavy heart the king had Daniel put in the lion’s den according to the edict. This Babylonian king told Daniel that his God would deliver him.

They put a stone over the mouth of the den and the king put his seal on it to confirm it. He returned to his palace where he fasted all night and was unable to rest. The next morning, he rushed to the lion’s den and called out to Daniel. He was still alive! He said God’s angel had closed the mouths of the lion’s and he had remained with them all night unharmed because he was innocent of any wrongdoing.

The king ordered that Daniel be lifted out right away. Darius ordered that those that accused Daniel be brought forward along with their families and they were all thrown in to the lions. They didn’t even make it to the ground before the lions ripped them to shreds.

Darius issued a new decree. The decree stated that all men must fear and tremble before the God of Daniel because He was indeed God and His kingdom was forever. Daniel continued in peace and prospered through the reign of Darius and Cyrus the Persian.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

IceRocket Tags: God,Daniel,fasting,Jerusalem,king,alive,period,fear,tremble

Daniel 5:1-31

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:28:41 GMT

Several times in scripture, Nebuchadnezzar is referred to as God’s servant. That wasn’t because he served God intentionally (although it seems he did later) but because God used him to accomplish His plans. When Nebuchadnezzar became full of pride in himself, God brought him back to reality. That is what happened in the previous chapter.

As this chapter is written, it seems Nebuchadnezzar is dead and his son Belshazzar is king. He is in the middle of a feast that involved a great deal of reveling I am sure. He ordered that the vessels removed from the temple in Jerusalem be brought in. He then took these sacred instruments and drank wine from them, along with his concubine and the dignitaries present at his feast. As they drank, they began to praise the gods of gold, silver, brass iron, wood, and stone.

While this was going on, Belshazzar saw a hand writing on the wall. This of course terrified him. It isn’t mentioned whether anyone else saw the hand, but they all saw the writing. We know this because he calls in all the astrologers and soothsayers to interpret it and they couldn’t read it. He was near panic I am sure.

The queen came in and told him about Daniel. Apparently, Belshazzar had heard of him, but they’d never met. She told him of how wise he was and of his ability to interpret dreams as demonstrated with Nebuchadnezzar. The new king sent for him.

When Daniel arrived, Belshazzar told him of his trouble and promised to clothe Daniel in scarlet, give him a gold chain, and make him 3rd ruler of the kingdom. Daniel told him he didn’t want his gifts, but he would interpret the writing anyway.

Daniel begins by telling Belshazzar about how God had humbled Nebuchadnezzar when he lifted himself up against God and taught him that God ruled over man. He continues by saying that although Belshazzar knew all of this, he still didn’t humble himself to God and defiled the vessels from God’s temple and worshipped the silver, gold, brass, iron, wood, and stone rather than worship the one that gave him life. Daniel wasn’t there, but God revealed all that had happened at the feast. Daniel then read the writing on the wall and told the king that it meant the days of his kingdom were numbered by God and were finished. The king’s life had been weighed and was lacking. And the kingdom would be divided between the Medes and the Persians. That the night the king was murdered and 32 year old Darius of Mede took over.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

IceRocket Tags: Daniel,life,God,writing,wall,queen,persians,dignitaries,study,bible

Daniel 4:1-37

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:10:51 GMT

It appears that Nebuchadnezzar wrote this chapter. It may be that Daniel is writing it from Nebuchadnezzar’s prospective. Either way, the chapter begins with the king extolling the virtues of God. He acknowledged that God’s kingdom is eternal and He is mighty and great. What a change that was! Here is how the change came to be.

Everything in the palace was flourishing and all was well. God gave Nebuchadnezzar another dream that needed interpretation. First, he called together all the soothsayers he’d called before. That is probably because if Daniel was the only one able to interpret dreams he’d have to admit there was only one God and Daniel knew Him. He was hoping he wouldn’t have to ask Daniel but none of them knew what the dream meant.

Finally, he called in Daniel and told him the dream. He dreamed of a huge tree. The tree was so huge it reached to heaven and could be seen around the world. It was covered with beautiful leaves and plenty of fruit. Animals took cover under the tree, birds made their homes in the tree, and every living thing relied on the tree for sustenance.

As he watched, angels came down and instructed that the tree be chopped down, the branches hacked off, and the leaves shaken off. The fruit was to be scattered and the animals and birds chased away. However, the stump and roots were to be left intact and reinforced with metal. It was to remain in the grass of the field, exposed to the elements, and it would gain nourishment from the grass of the field. It, also, was to have a beast’s heart rather than a man’s. This was to go on for either 7 days or 7 years. It seems he knew the angels made this decree to show that God ruled all kingdoms and did what he wanted with them.

Daniel was troubled by the dream for an hour. The king told him not to let the dream or the interpretation cause him such distress. Daniel wished the dream had been given to the king’s enemies instead. However, he told the king the tree in the dream was he and the things that happened to the tree would in fact happen to him. He had grown great and powerful, but he would be driven from his kingdom, would have to live like an animal eat the grass to survive. He’d be exposed to the elements and would be in this state for 7 years. His kingdom would be sustained during this time while he learns that God is in control. Daniel implores the king to turn from wickedness to avert this disaster.

A year went by and nothing happened. Nebuchadnezzar’s pride resurfaced. He said to himself that he had made Babylon great by his own power. While he was saying that, God spoke audibly to him, telling him that the things in the dream would come to pass and it did immediately.

At the end of those days, he looked to heaven and his sanity returned. He praised God and acknowledged that He was God and people were nothing without Him. The king’s counselors found him and restored him to his kingdom. This time he had reverence for God and put off his own pride.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

IceRocket Tags: nebuchadnezzer,god's will,god,years,angels,elements,christian,faith

Daniel 3:1-30

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:10:59 GMT

Some time after Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were promoted, the king had a golden image made. He had all the dignitaries gather around and proclamation was made that when music was heard, all those hearing it were to fall down and worship this golden image under penalty of death. Not just any death, either. They would be thrown into a furnace and burned alive. He immediately had the music played and all the people worshiped the idol.

A Chaldean went to the king and told him that 3 of his own employees had disobeyed. This man had been looking for a way to trip up Daniel and friends, and he knew that they would not compromise in their worship of God. The 3 employees were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. There is no mention of where Daniel was at the time. The king, in his rage, had them brought forward and asked if the accusations were true and reminded them of the penalty for disobedience. They told the king that if they were sent to the fiery furnace, God could save them from the furnace and anything else the king tried against them. Even if God didn’t intervene, they still would not worship the idol. They trusted Him THAT much!

Nebuchadnezzar was overcome with such fury that his face even changed towards them. He ordered the furnace be turned up to 7 times the regular temperature and had them bound and thrown in. It was so hot the men that put them in it, were killed by it.

As he watched this, he was astonished by what he saw. He asked someone nearby if in fact they had thrown in 3 people. When it was confirmed, he told them, he saw 4 people walking around unbound and one of them looked like the Son of God.

He neared the mouth of the furnace and called them out. All the dignitaries watched as these three men emerged unharmed. There hair was not singed, there clothing was unchanged, and they didn’t even smell like they had been near fire.

You would think after seeing that, that Nebuchadnezzar and his crowd would have been converted, but instead he proclaimed that anyone speaking ill of the God of the Jews would be cut into pieces. They were then given promotions.

This chapter is here to remind us that no matter what circumstances may seem to indicate, God is still able to work it out for the good of those that follow and obey him.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

IceRocket Tags: Daniel,chapter,employees,king,furnace,deliverance,deliver,times

Daniel 2:1-49

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:04:25 GMT

After Nebuchadnezzar had reigned for 2 years he had a very disturbing dream. He called forward magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans and ordered them to tell him the dream and the interpretation under fear of death.

Of course, they were all stunned. They asked him to tell them the dream and then they would interpret. He said he couldn’t remember the dream, but even if he could, he knew they would make up the interpretation. If they could tell him both, he would know they were for real.

They argued that no one had ever made a request like that and the only ones capable of doing what the king asked were the gods and they didn’t live among them. Nebuchadnezzar ordered all the “wise” men to be killed. When the captain of the guard, Arioch, came to Daniel, Daniel asked why they were being killed and Arioch told them. Daniel went to the king and asked for more time. Daniel said he would bring him what he asked (he knew God could do it and believed he would). Daniel went and told his friends and they all prayed asking God to help them. God came through and revealed all to Daniel in a night vision. Daniel rather than rush to the king, praised God.

Daniel went to Arioch, and Arioch took him to the king. The king asked Daniel if he could answer his request. Daniel could have taken credit, but he said the answer came from God. Daniel proceeds to lay out not only the dream, but why the king had the dream. The king had been wondering what would happen in the distant future. So God showed him a statue made of materials that Daniel said represented each future kingdom. A stone not cut out by hands came, crushed the last kingdom, and proceeded to destroy the previous ones. The stone then became a huge mountain that filled the whole earth. During those times of kings, God would set up a kingdom that can never be destroyed and it would consume all kingdoms. The fact that Nebuchadnezzer saw these things was proof that God had revealed them to him.

The king worshipped Daniel, gave him lots of money and gifts and made him ruler of Babylon and governor of all the wise men. Daniel asked that his friends be rewarded as well. They watched over the affairs of the province and Daniel sat with the king.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

IceRocket Tags: Nebuchadnezzer,notes,Daniel,dream,God,interpretation,babylon,money,gifts

Back as Promised--Daniel 1:1-21

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:16:06 GMT

After Jehoiakim had reigned in Judah 3 years, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, with God’s help, conquered Jerusalem. He also took some of the holy vessels from the temple and put them in the temple of his gods. He ordered the master of the eunuchs, Ashpenaz, to bring some of the Israeli children into the palace. He wanted children that were well born, healthy, nice to look at, and clever. The king provided their daily food in order for them to remain healthy. At the end of three years, the choicest were to join his royal court.

Among the children chosen were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah. The eunuch changed their names to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the king’s food or drinking his wine, so he asked Melzar, the eunuch put in charge of them, if he would allow them to eat vegetables and water instead. Melzar was hesitant to do so because he was afraid they wouldn’t be as healthy as the other children and the king would be mad with him. Daniel told him to allow them to have it for 10 days and if they looked unhealthy, he could do as he pleased. This was a great demonstration of faith on Daniel’s part, especially considering his youth. He was trusting God for their care.

Melzar didn’t have to allow them any special treatment, but God had already given them favor so that what they asked him for was given to them. Well at the end of 10 days, they looked healthier than the children that had eaten the king’s food. God also gave them skill, knowledge, and wisdom and gave Daniel the interpretation of dreams.

At the end of three years, these four young men were brought before the king. He spent some time talking to them and realized they were 10 times wiser than any of his magicians or astrologers. (Who knew?). They continued in their position until the first year of Cyrus’ reign.

If you are blessed by this summary, please leave a comment.

IceRocket Tags: Daniel,children,chosen,babylon,Judah,king,God,bible,study,summary