| Daniel taken captive to Babylon | Ezekiel becomes a prophet to exiles | Judah falls; Jerusalem is destroyed; Jeremiah's ministry ends | Daniel's first vision | Babylon overthrown; Daniel thrown to lions | First exiles return to Judah | Daniel's ministry ends | | 605 B.C. | 593 | 586 | 553 | 539 | 538 | 536 |
Vital statistics
Purpose: | To give a historical account of the faithful Jews who lived in captivity and to show how God is in control of heaven and earth, directing the forces of nature, the destiny of nations, and the care of his people | Author: | Daniel | Original audience: | The other captives in Babylon | Date written: | Approximately 536 B.C. recording events that occurred from about 605-536 B.C. | Setting: | Daniel had been taken captive and deported to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 B.C. There he served in the government for about 70 years during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus. | Key verse: | "He (God) reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light" (2:22) | Key people: | Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Belshazzar, Darius. | Key places: | Nebuchadnezzar's palace, the blazing furnace, Belshazzar's feast, the den of lions | Special features: | Daniel's apocalyptic visions (chapters 7-12) give a glimpse of God's plan for the ages, including a direct prediction of the Messiah. |
The Rulers and Prophets of Daniel's Time
| 650 | 640 | 630 | 620 | 610 | 600 | 590 | 580 | 570 | 560 | 550 | 540 | 530 | 520 | 510 | 500 | 490 | 480 | 470 | Babylonian and Medo- Persian Kings | Neo-Babylonian Empire | Medo-Persian Empire | Nabopolasar 626-605 | 605 Nebuchadnezzar 562 | Nabonidus 556-539 | Cyrus | Cam-byses | Darius I Hystaspes 521-486 | Ahasuerus 486 | | | | 562-560 Evil-Merodach | 553-539 Belshazzar | 539-525 Darius the Mede | Smerdis | 483 Vashti deposed | | | | | 560-556 Neriglissar | | | | 478 Esther queen | | | | 556 Labashi Marduk | | | | | | | | | | | Judah's Last Kings (Southern Kingdom) | | 609-597 Jeholakim | Judah taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar | | | | | | | | | | | Jehoiachin 3 months | 538 Decree of Cyrus | | | | | | 597-586 Zedekiah | | 536 Temple started | | | | | | 70-Year Jewish Captivity Three Stages of Captivity | Zerubbabel536 | | | | 605 Daniel and friends | | | | 534 Temple topped | | | | | | | | 597 Ezekiel and ten thousand captives | | 520 Temple resumed | | | | | | | | 586 Destruction of Jerusalem | | | 516 Temple finished | | Daniel and His Contemporary Prophets (Southern Kingdom) | | | 605 DANIEL 536 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 627 Jeremiah 574 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 593 Ezekiel 559 | | | | | | | | | | | 650 | 640 | 630 | 620 | 610 | 600 | 590 | 580 | 570 | 560 | 550 | 540 | 530 | 520 | 510 | 500 | 490 | 480 | 470
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World Kingdoms from Daniel's Time on
| 625 | 600 | 575 | 550 | 525 | 500 | 475 | 450 | 425 | 400 | 375 | 350 | 325 | 300 | 275 | 250 | 225 | 200 | 175 | 150 | 125 | 100 | 75 | 50 | 25 | | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 | 150 | BABYLON 626 - 539 | MEDO-PERSIA 539 - 331 | GREECE 331 - 63 | ROME 63 - 476 | | 605 Daniel taken captive | 536 Temple work begins | 323 Alexander the Great dies at age 33 | 20 Herod the Great begins rebuilding second Temple | | 516 Temple rebuilt | 165 Antiochus Epiphanes sets up abomination of desolation | | 597 Ezekiel taken to Babylon | 478 Esther becomes Queen | 4 Birth of Jesus & death of Herod | | 445 Decree of Artaxerxes to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem | 165 Maccabean Revolt begins | V | | 586 Jerusalem destroyed | | | | | | | | | | | 70/72-74? Temple & Jerusalem destroyed | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 72-74 Masada captured | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <B.C. | | A.D. > | | | | | 625 | 600 | 575 | 550 | 525 | 500 | 475 | 450 | 425 | 400 | 375 | 350 | 325 | 300 | 275 | 250 | 225 | 200 | 175 | 150 | 125 | 100 | 75 | 50 | 25 | | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 | 150 |
Models of Faith in Hostile Societies
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Joseph
(Gen. 37–47) |
Sold as a slave and taken to Egypt, but maintained godly character despite numerous setbacks.
A model of integrity both in adversity and prosperity. |
Daniel
Shadrach
Meshach
Abed-Nego
(Dan. 1–6) |
Taken to Babylon as captives of war and trained for service in a pagan government.
Models of integrity and commitment to the Lord while carrying out duties for unbelievers. |
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Nehemiah
(Neh. 1–6) |
A strategically placed official in the Persian court who was allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall.
A model of leveraging one’s position to accomplish God’s purposes while overcoming hostile opposition. |
Esther
Mordecai
(Esth. 1–10) |
Two members of an ethnic minority who found themselves in a position to influence a godless king.
Models of taking courage and acting wisely in order to withstand evil. |
Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Dn 2.48). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome
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Medo-Persia
(538–331 b.c.) |
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Daniel 2:31–45
Dream image (603 B.C.) |
Head of gold
(2:32, 37–38) |
Breast, arms of silver
(2:32, 39) |
Belly, thighs of brass
(2:32, 39) |
Legs of iron
Feet of iron and clay
(2:33, 40–41) |
Daniel 7
First Vision:Four Beasts (553 B.C.) |
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Strong Beast
(7:7, 11, 19,23) |
Daniel 8
Second vision:Raw and goat (551 B.C.) |
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Goat with one horn
(8:5–8, 21)
Four horns
(8:8, 22)
Little Horn
(8:9–14) |
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Richards, L., & Richards, L. O. (1987). The teacher's commentary. Includes index. (445). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
The Little Horns of Chapters 7 and 8 Compared
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It is important to note that the little horns of chapters 7 and 8 are two distinct persons. Several factors make this distinction clear: |
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Little Horn of Chapter 7 |
Little Horn of Chapter 8 |
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Would come from Rome (fourth kingdom). |
Would come from Greece (third kingdom). |
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Would be an eleventh horn, rooting up three of ten horns. |
Would be a fifth horn, coming our of one of four horns. |
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Would prsecute God’s people for 42 months or 3 1/2 years. |
Wouls persecute God’s people for 2,300 days or over 6 years. |
New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Dn 6.22). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
The Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks (490 years)
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Dextee of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah—March 14, 445 B.C. |
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Presentation of Messiah as Prince—April 6, A.D. 32 |
Covenant of Antichrist with Israel |
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Return of Messiah to Establish Kingdom of God |
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v. 25
Sixty-nine Weeks (483 Years) |
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(Seven Weeks) 49 years to Compete Rebuilding of Jerusalem |
(Sixty-two Weeks = 434 Years) |
Messiah cut off— A.D. 33 Jerusalem and Sanctuary Destroyed A.D. 7 |
3 1/2 Years
Image of Antichrist in Temple |
3 1/2 Years Desoation by Antichrist
Six Purposes v. 24 |
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New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Dn 9.4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
The Prophetic Books
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Prophets Before the Exile |
Exile Prophets |
Prophets After the Exile |
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To Israel: |
To Judah: |
To Jews in Babylon: |
To the remnant after returning: |
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Amos (76) |
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Hosea (755) |
Joel (835) |
Daniel (605) |
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Isaiah (740) |
Ezekiel (592) |
Haggai (520) |
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Micah (735) |
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Zechariah (520) |
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To Nineveh: |
Zephaniah (630) |
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Malachi (432) |
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Jonah (760) |
Jeremiah (627) |
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Nahum (660) |
Habakkuk (607) |
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Lamentation (586) |
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To Edom: |
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Obadiah (840) |
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New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Dn 12.8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
History of Israel's Relationship to the Kings of Daniel 11
Alexander the Great 336-323 B.C. The Large Horn of the Shaggy Goat of Greece (8:21) Twenty-two years after Alexander's death, Greece was divided among four of his generals (8:22) | Lysimachus took Thrace abd Bithynia | Cassander took Macedonia | Ptolemy I Soter took Egypt | Seleucus I Nicator took Syria | | Kings of the South-Egypt | | Kimgs of the Noth-Syria | | 1. Ptolemy I Soter, 323-285 a.C. (Dn11:5) | | 1. Seleucus I Nicator, 312-281 a.C. (Dn 11:5 | | | | 2. Antiochus I Soter (not referred to inDaniel) | | 2. Ptolemy II Philadelphus, 285-245 a.C. (Dn 11:6) | Marriage | 3. Antiochus II Theos, 262-246 a.C. (Dn 11:6) | | 3. Ptolemy III Euergetes 245-221 a.C. (Dn 11:7-9) | 2 Wars | 4. Seleucus II Callinicus, 246-226 (Dn 11:7-9) | | | | 5. Seleucus III Ceraunus, 226-223 a.C. (Dn 11:10) | | 4. Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221-203 a.C. (Dn 11:11,12) | 2 Wars | 6. Antiochus III the Great, 223-187 a.C (Dn11:10, 11, 13, 15-19) | | 5. Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 203-181a.C.(Dn11:14, 15, 17) | War/Marriage (6) | 7. Seleucus IV Philopator, 187-175 a.C. (Dn 11:20) | | 6. Ptolemy VI Philometor 181-145 a.C. (Dn 11:25) | | 8. Antiochus IV Epiphanes, 175-163 a.C. (Dn 11:21-35) | | * These kings ruled Israel | | (younger son of Antiohus III the great) |
Daniel
Served as a prophets to the exiles in Babylon from 605-56 B.C.
CLIMATE OF THE TIME
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The people of Judah were captives in a strange land, feeling hopeless. |
MAIN MESSAGE
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God is sovereign over all human history, past, present, and future. |
IMPORTANCE OF MESSAGE
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We should spend less time wondering when future events will happen and more time learning how we should live now.
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CONTEMPORARY PROPHETS
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Jeremiah (627-586 B.C.), Habakkuk (612-589 B.C), Ezekiel (593-571 B.C.) |
The Blueprint
A. DANIEL'S LIFE (1:1-6:28) |
Daniel and his three friends chose not to eat the king's food. They did not bow down to the king's image, even under penalty of death. Daniel continued to pray even though he knew he might be noticed and sentenced to death. These men are inspiring examples for us of how to live godly lives in a sinful world. When er face trials, we can expect God also be with us through them. May God grant us similar courage to remain faithful under pressure.
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B. DANIEL'S VISIONS (7:1-12:13) |
These visions gave the captives added confidence that God is in control of history. They were to wait patiently in faith and not worship the gods of Babylon or accept that society's way of life. God still rules over human activities. Evil will be overcome, so we should wait patiently and not give in to the temptations and pressures of the sinful way of life around us.
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