The Book Of Daniel

Why Study the Book of Daniel? 1. It is an indispensable introduction to prophecy. 2. It reveals details about the comings of the Anointed One, the Antichrist and other princes. 3. It offers hope for God’s people so they will not fall away. 4. It contains an unusual amount of practical truth that is applicable to Christians today 5. It predicts an everlasting kingdom ruled by the Son of Man.

A bit of history and timeline

The sixth and fifth centuries B. C The sixth and fifth centuries B.C. was an active period in the ancient world. It was a time when some of the great religions of the world were being formed. Probably the first Persian king to recognize Zoroastrianism, the religion proposed by Zoroaster, was Darius I. Confucius in China and Buddha in India were establishing the religions to be known ultimately by their names. While all of this was taking place, Judaism was emerging among the Jews held captive in Babylon.

Timeline: 1. God chooses Israel. Genesis 12 2. God warns Israel Deuteronomy 6 3. God delivers Israel and takes them into the promised land. 4. God uses Joshua to establish the land. 5. God uses judges for governance. 6. God uses kings. 7. God issues warnings and brings judgement..

8. In the eighth century B. C 8. In the eighth century B.C., Yahweh uses the Assyrian Empire to judge the northern kingdom of Israel. 9. Near the close of the seventh century B.C., He raised up a the Babylonian empire to judge the southern kingdom of Judah. In 626 B.C. Nabopolassar, a Chaldean, rebelled against Assyria and established the Neo-Babylonian Empire. They decisively defeat Egypt under Necho In 612, who was the other major power. He also destroys the city of Nineveh of Assyria.

During the Babylonian exile Jehoiakim is king of Judah. Jehoiakim "he whom Yahweh has set up", was a king of Judah from 608 to 598 BCE. He was the eldest son of king Josiah by Zebidah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. His birth name was Eliakim After Josiah's death, Jehoiakim's younger brother Jehoahaz was proclaimed king, but after three months Necho II deposed him, making Eliakim king in his place. his name was changed to "Jehoiakim"

In December 604 B.C., Jehoiakim had cut to pieces Jeremiah’s prophetic scroll (Jeremiah 36:9-32), including this prophecy of the seventy-year captivity under Babylon. One can rip and tear prophecy from the pages of Scripture, but it changes nothing. Judah’s days were numbered.

By 607 B.C., the young and energetic Babylonian crown prince, Nebuchadnezzar, had begun his attempt to dislodge the Egyptians and Syria. Nabopolassar lay sick in Babylon when his son Nebuchadnezzar led a surprise attack against Pharaoh Necho and the Egyptian Army at Carchemish. Routing the Egyptians, the Babylonian crowned prince pursued them through Syria, Phoenicia, and Palestine and stopped to besiege Jerusalem in 605 B.C. Yahweh gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hands.