1. Prophets of the Persian Period © John Stevenson, 2010

2. Session Objectives Recognize the theme of the book of Daniel and distinguish between the two major sectionsRecognize the theme of the book of Daniel and distinguish between the two major sections See the characteristics of apocalyptic literature.See the characteristics of apocalyptic literature. Focus on the two major sections of Daniel and classify the ways in which each story/vision in the section contributes to the book’s major theme.Focus on the two major sections of Daniel and classify the ways in which each story/vision in the section contributes to the book’s major theme.

3. Course Objectives Look in detail at several of the Minor Prophets to distinguish the primary message of the book and assess what appropriate applications may be made to life today.Look in detail at several of the Minor Prophets to distinguish the primary message of the book and assess what appropriate applications may be made to life today.

4. Statesman-Prophet

5. Amos The Prophet of Social Justice 610 600 590 580 570 560 550 540 530 Kings of Judah Obadiah? Jeremiah Daniel Ezekiel Zephaniah Habakkuk Joel? Jerusalem & Temple Destroyed Return from Exile Babylonian Captivity

6. Daniel 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchad- nezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god.

7.  Jerusalem Carchemish  Babylon Nebuchadnezzar Pharaoh Neco

8.  Jerusalem Carchemish  Babylon Nebuchadnezzar Pharaoh Neco

9. 1:18:1 Written in the Third Person Written in the First Person Seven Historical Narratives Four Prophetic Visions

10. Features of the Book Partially written in AramaicPartially written in Aramaic

11. 1:18:1 Written in the Third Person Written in the First Person Seven Historical Narratives Four Prophetic Visions Written in Aramaic Written in HebrewHebrew Prophetic History relating to the Gentiles Prophetic History relating to the Jews Prologue

12. Features of the Book Partially written in AramaicPartially written in Aramaic Emphasis on the KingdomEmphasis on the Kingdom Emphasis on PrayerEmphasis on Prayer The Spiritual BattleThe Spiritual Battle

13. Daniel and Ezekiel

14. Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon

16. A Commitment to Purity

17. Daniel 1:8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.

18. Daniel 1:19 The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service.

19. Daniel 1:20-21 As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm. 21 And Daniel continued until the first year of Cyrus the king.

20. Dream of image of the four kingdoms (2) Rescue of Daniel’s friends from the fiery furnace (3) Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the tree Daniel’s interpretation Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation (4) Belshazzar’s handwriting on the wall Daniel’s interpretation Belshazzar’s death (5) Rescue of Daniel from the lion’s den (6) Night vision of the four beasts (7)

21. Daniel 2 Vision of a great statue Daniel 7 Meaning Kings & Kingdoms Vision of beasts from the sea Head of fine gold BabylonLion with wings Breast & arms of silver Medes & Persia Bear with three ribs in its teeth

24. Daniel 2 Vision of a great statue Daniel 7 Meaning Kings & Kingdoms Vision of beasts from the sea Head of fine gold BabylonLion with wings Breast & arms of silver Medes & Persia Bear with three ribs in its teeth Belly & thighs of bronze Greek Empire Leopard with 4 wings & 4 heads

26. Daniel 2 Vision of a great statue Daniel 7 Meaning Kings & Kingdoms Vision of beasts from the sea Head of fine gold BabylonLion with wings Breast & arms of silver Medes & Persia Bear with three ribs in its teeth Belly & thighs of bronze Greek Empire Leopard with 4 wings & 4 heads Legs of iron & clay; ten toes Antiochus? Rome? Beast with iron teeth & ten horns

27. Daniel 2 Daniel 7 Meaning All previous kingdoms destroyed by the stone cut without hands Coming of the Lord and His Kingdom Ancient of Days takes his seat and passes judgment A new kingdom that will never be destroyed (2:44) His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom (7:27)

28. Lessons from Daniel 7 Earthly power in and of itself degenerates into brutality.Earthly power in and of itself degenerates into brutality. It is the tendency of brutality to increase.It is the tendency of brutality to increase. Restoration is an act of God, not of man.Restoration is an act of God, not of man.

29. Daniel 7 Dream comes in the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel 8 Vision given in the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king Successive beasts rise up out of the ocean Babylon Medes & Persia Greece Other Kingdom A ram standing by a canal is attacked by a goat coming from the west Medes & Persia Greece Terrible beast has ten horns Large horn broken; gives way to ten horns

30. Out comes a small horn that… Out comes a small horn that… Daniel 7 Daniel 8 Pulls up three previous horns Utters great boasts Alterations in times and law Wages war against saints and wins against them Grows exceedingly Magnifies itself against heaven Removes regular sacrifice & throws down the temple Flings truth to the ground

31. Daniel 7Daniel 8 Saints are given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time Endures for 2300 mornings and evenings Then sovereignty, dominion, and greatness are given to the saints of the Most High Then the holy place will be properly restored

32. Daniel 11:2 And now I will tell you the truth. Behold, three more kings are going to arise in Persia. Then a fourth will gain far more riches than all of them; as soon as he becomes strong through his riches, he will arouse the whole empire against the realm of Greece

33. Daniel 11:3 And a mighty king will arise, and he will rule with great authority and do as he pleases.

34. Daniel 11:4 But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four points of the compass, though not to his own descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded; for his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to others besides them.

35. “To the strongest!”

36. Daniel 11:5 Then the king of the South will grow strong, along with one of his princes who will gain ascendancy over him and obtain dominion; his domain will be a great dominion indeed.

38. Daniel 11:6 And after some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will come to the king of the North to carry out a peaceful arrangement. But she will not retain her position of power, nor will he remain with his power, but she will be given up, along with those who brought her in, and the one who sired her, as well as he who supported her in those times.

39. Antiochus IV Hostage in Rome Escape Appointments in Judah

40. Antiochus imposed the following regulations Jews could not assemble for prayer Observance of the Sabbath forbidden Possession of the Scriptures illegal Circumcision was illegal Dietary laws illegal Pagan sacrifices mandated

41. Maccabean Revolt 166 B.C. Mattathias Temple liberated

42. Daniel 11:29-30 At the appointed time he will return and come into the South, but this last time it will not turn out the way it did before. 30 For ships of Kittim will come against him; therefore he will be disheartened and will return and become enraged at the holy covenant and take action; so he will come back and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant.

43. Daniel 11:31 And forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.

44. Antiochus Epiphanes Comes on the heels of Alexander’s generalsComes on the heels of Alexander’s generals Magnifies itself against the Jews and against their GodMagnifies itself against the Jews and against their God He puts a stop to the sacrificial system and makes alterations to the LawHe puts a stop to the sacrificial system and makes alterations to the Law He attempts to overturn the truth of the ScripturesHe attempts to overturn the truth of the Scriptures He has power over the nation of IsraelHe has power over the nation of Israel

45. His sway over the Temple endures for approximately 3 and a half years (2300 mornings and evenings).His sway over the Temple endures for approximately 3 and a half years (2300 mornings and evenings). Then the holy place is ultimately properly restoredThen the holy place is ultimately properly restored Antiochus Epiphanes

46. Daniel 12:1 Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.

47. “A time of distress…” Abomination of Desolation brought by Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 B.C.Abomination of Desolation brought by Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 B.C. Destruction of the Temple brought by Titus in A.D. 70Destruction of the Temple brought by Titus in A.D. 70 The Final JudgmentThe Final Judgment

48. Daniel 12:2 And 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.

49. Daniel 12:4 But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.

50. Daniel 9

51. Daniel 9:1-2 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans-- 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

52. Daniel 9:3 So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.

53. Daniel 9:4-5 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His command- ments, 5 we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your command- ments and ordinances.”

54. Daniel 9:6 “ Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land.”

55. Daniel 9:20-21 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, 21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering.

56. Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.

57. Seventy Sevens To finish the transgression To make an end of sin To make atonement for iniquity To bring in everlasting righteousness To seal up vision and prophecy To anoint the most holy place

58. Daniel 9:25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.

59. Daniel 9:26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

60. Author Cyrus Bible Ezra 1:1-4 Date 539 Decree Jews allowed to return & rebuild temple DariusEzra 6:8-12 520Jews allowed to complete the temple ArtaxerxesEzra 7:11-28 457Ezra brings another return ArtaxerxesNeh. 1445Nehemiah allowed to rebuild walls

61. Date for giving the decree CyrusEzra 1:1-4 539 Plus 483 years DariusEzra 6:8-12 520 ArtaxerxesEzra 7:11-28 457 ArtaxerxesNeh. 1445 56 B.C. 37 B.C. 27 A.D. 39 A.D.

62. 605 B.C. 171 B.C. 62 Weeks (434 Years) First fall of Jerusalem Murder of High Priest Middle of 70 th week temple desecrated by Antiochus IV 7 Weeks (49 Years) 587 B.C. Temple destroyed 538 B.C. Temple to be rebuild

63. 444 B.C. Rapture 69 Weeks (adapted years) Order to rebuild walls of Jerusalem Crucifixion of Christ () Church Age 70 th Week 2 nd Coming of Christ

64. 457 B.C. Beginning of ministry of Jesus 69 Weeks First order to rebuild walls of Jerusalem 70 th Week Jerusalem destroyed

65. For we are slaves; yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to raise up the house of our God, to restore its ruins and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem. (Ezra 9:9).

66. Daniel 9:26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

67. Daniel 9:27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.

68. Construction: From the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem Messiah: …until Messiah the Prince Construction: …it will be built again Messiah: Messiah will be cut off Anti-messiah: …and the people of the prince who is to come Destruction: …will destroy the city and the sanctuary; desolations are determined Messiah: He will make a firm covenant with the many for one week Destruction: He will put a stop to the sacrifice and grain offering

69. Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16)

70. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. (Matthew 24:17-20)

71. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. (Matthew 24:21)

72. “...the entire nation was now shut up by fate as in a prison, and the Roman army encompassed the city when it was crowded with inhabitants. Accordingly, the multitude of those that therein perished exceeded all the destructions that either men or God ever brought upon the world.” (Wars of the Jews 6:9:4).