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READTheBIBLETogether

Daniel7­1212thAugust–22ndSeptember2012

SHALOMCHURCH,SINGAPORE(Upholdingthe1689BaptistConfessionofFaith)

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Week7 [12th–18thAugust2012]IntroductiontoDANIEL7­12ThegenreofDANIEL7‐12isapocalyptic.ThisisadistincttypeofJewishliteraturethatiswritten toencourage the faithful in timesofpersecution.Themain themesare: (a)the growth of evil, (b) God’s care for His people, (c) the assurance that evilwill notfinallyprevailbecausethekingdomofGodistheonlythingthatwillendureforever.Inapocalypticliterature,wewillencounterdreamsandvisions,andmanysymbolisms(such asnumbers, beasts andhorns) that outline the future. The imageries are oftenmysterious, evenbizarre.One thing is for sure: future events are outlined before theyoccur!“Wecome,then,tochapterswhichpredicttroubleaheadforthegodly.Theywillalwaysliveinahostileandpersecutingworld.Buttheyshouldnotdieofdiscouragement.HistoryisinGod’shands.AlleventsaresteadilybringingHispurposestopass.InHisowntimeHewillendtheruleofevilandbringinHiseverlastingkingdom.”(StuartOlyott)WhileDANIEL1‐6taughtushowtostandaloneforGod,DANIEL7‐12willexplaintouswhyit isworthwhiletodothat!WhileDANIEL1‐6showedusthingsthathappenedinthe physicalworld, DANIEL 7‐12will reveal to uswhat goes on behind the physicalworld,inthespiritualrealm!IntroductiontoDANIEL7ThestructureofDANIEL7issimple: 7:1 Prologue 7:2‐14 TheVisions 7:15‐27 TheirInterpretations 7:28 EpilogueThepurposeofDANIEL7 (thevisions) is straightforward:Toencourage thebelieversandtobuildthemupinthefaith.Hence,“wemustnotbediscouragedifwecannotdeciphereverydetailofwhatfollows,forweshallfindthatthebroadsweepofthechapterisasclearascrystalandthatitsmainlessonistooobvioustobemissed.Chapter7isafaith­buildingchapter.NoChristiancanfail to be strengthened by studying it, and most believers find it thoroughly exciting.”(StuartOlyott).Day1ReadtheIntroductionandDANIEL7:1 1. WritedownonethingyouhavelearntfromtheIntroduction.

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2. WhendidDanielhavethisdream?

Inthe__________yearof___________________kingofBabylon,Danielhad...

Note(1):Thiswouldbetheyear553B.C.Note(2):We’vemetKingBelshazzarinDANIEL5.Thatwasthelastdayofhislife

and the lastdayof theBabylonianempire.Thatwouldbe theyear536B.C. This means that Daniel’s dream in DANIEL 7 took place beforeDaniel’sappearancebeforeBelshazzarinDANIEL5.

Day2ReadDANIEL7:2‐4,15‐181. (a) WhatdidDanielseeinverse2? (b)WhatdidDanielseeinverse3? (c) Whatdidthesearepresent?(Hint:verse17)2. (a) Howwasthefirstbeastdescribed?

(b)Whathappenedtoit?Note: This first beast corresponds to the golden head of the image in

Nebuchadnezzar’sdreaminDANIEL2.Hence,itrepresentstheBabylonianempire.

Day3ReadDANIEL7:5‐6,15‐181. (a) Howwasthesecondbeastdescribed?

(b) Focus on these two phrases: “three ribs in its mouth between its teeth” and“devourmuchflesh”.”.Whatsortofpicturescometomindandhowwouldyoudescribethem?

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2. Howwasthethirdbeastdescribed?

Note(1): ThesecondbeastcorrespondstothesilverchestandarmsoftheimageinNebuchadnezzar’sdreaminDANIEL2.Hence,itrepresentstheMedo‐Persianempire.

Note(2): Thethirdbeastcorrespondstothebronzebellyandthighsoftheimage

inNebuchadnezzar’sdreaminDANIEL2.Hence,itrepresentstheGreekempire.A leopardmovesswiftly.Having fourwingswillmake itmoveevenmore swiftly!Thatwouldbeaveryaccuratepictureof the rapidexpansionoftheGreekempireunderAlexandertheGreat!

Note(3): Remember thatDaniel had this dream in the first year of Belshazzar.

TheBabylonianempirewasstill theworldpowerthen,yetDanielwastold of its end, then the rise and fall of the Medo‐Persian empire,followedby theriseand fallof theGreekempire! Inotherwords,Godwas tellingDanielwhatwas to come for thenext390years (36B.C. ‐146B.C.)!

Note(4): Whatsaidconcerningthethirdbeast(“dominionwasgiventoit”–verse

6)wouldequallyapplytotheotherbeastsandhornsmentionedinthischapter! In simplewords, they have power and authority only by thepermissionofAlmightyGod!!

3 (a) Howwould this ‘glimpse‐into‐the‐future”buildup the faithofDaniel and the

faithfulofhisdays?

(b) Howcanitbuildupyourfaith?

Day4ReadDANIEL7:7,19‐20,23‐241. Howwasthefourthbeastdescribed?

Verse7:

Verse19:

Verse23:

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Note: This fourth beast corresponds to the iron legs and iron‐clay feet of theimage in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in DANIEL 2. Hence, it represents theRomanempire.

2. Thefourthbeasthastenhorns(verse7).Whatcanwesayaboutthesetenhorns

basedonverse24?

“Thesetenhornsrepresentalaterstageinthehistoryofthisempire.Weknowthatbecauseverse24specificallytellsusthatthesetenhornscameoutofthiskingdom.In the Bible the horn is a symbol of power. Ten is almost certainly a symbolicnumber.As I understand it, the vision is predicting that in direct succession to theRomanEmpire, and springing out of it, will be amultiplicity of kingdoms. None of thesecouldhavearisenwithoutRome,andyetnoneofthemisRome.The vision teaches that a multiplicity of dominions will spring out of Rome. Tenstandssimplyforcompleteness,andshouldnotbepressed.Itisaroundnumber.”

StuartOlyottDay5ReadDANIEL7:8,19‐20,24‐261. Howwastheeleventhhorndescribed?

Verse8

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Verse20(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Verse24 He‘shallrise__________________them’

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Heshallbe________________________fromthefirstones

He‘shall_________________threekings’2. Whatwilltheeleventhhornalsodo?(Verse25)3. Whatwillbetheendoftheeleventhhorn?(Verse26)“Iamconvincedinmyownmindthatthislittlehornisthesameindividualasisreferredto in 2 Thessalonians 2, verses 3 and 4. He is ‘the son of perdition; who opposeth andexalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as GodsittethinthetempleofGod,shewinghimselfthatheisGod’.WhatwehaveinDaniel7isasurveyofhumanhistoryfromthetimeofDanieltotheveryend of the world. Four great kingdoms will arise, one after the other. These will befollowedbyamultiplicityofkingdomsspringingfromthefourth.Attheend,powerwillbeconcentratedinasingleblasphemousindividual.Althoughonlyaman,hewillappeartobesupernatural,andwillbetheenemyofGodandwhatisgodly.”

StuartOlyottDay6ReadDANIEL7:9‐121. In sharp contrast to the chaos depicted in first part of his dream (verses 1‐8),

Daniel now sees calm and order in verses 9‐12, where the central figure is theAncientofDays.

(a) HowwastheAncientofDaysdescribed?

(b)WhoisthisAncientofDays?

(c) “AncientofDays”–whatdoesthismean?2. We read in verses 11‐12 of the defeat and destruction of the beasts and horns.

Howdidthishappen?(Youcanfindtheanswerinverses11‐12;youcanalsolookatverse22)

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Day7ReadDANIEL7:13‐14,26‐271. (a) OneliketheSonofManisthecentralfigurehere.HowwasHedescribed?

(b)What was given to Him? Who would serve Him? What was said about Hiskingdom?

2. (a) Readverse18andverse27.Whowouldreceivetheeverlastingkingdom?

(b) Howcanwereconcilethiswithverse14whereitwassaidthattheeverlastingkingdomwouldbegiventotheSonofMan?

3. HowwouldthisportrayaloftheAncientofDays,theSonofManandthesaintsof

theMostHighbuildupthefaithofDanielandthefaithfulofhisdays?

Howwoulditbuildupyourfaith?Week8 [19th–25thAugust2012]Day1 ReviewofDaniel71. Take time to review Daniel 7.Write down themost important lesson you have

learntfromit.2. TaketimetoreadtheSummaryNotesofDaniel7below:

SummaryNotesofDaniel7DanielwastakentoBabylonasacaptiveintheyear605B.C.attheageofaround13‐14yearsold.HencetheDanielofDANIEL7(553B.C.)wouldbeanoldmanofaround65‐66yearsold!Althoughhewasadvancedinyears,thevisionhesawstilllefthimgrievedandtroubled(verses15&28)!

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Thefirstpartofhisdream(vision)has4beasts,10hornsandalittlehorn.Thisisanoutlineofhumanhistoryspanningfromhisdaystilltheendofthisworld–theBabylonian Empire, Medo‐Persian Empire, Greek Empire, Roman Empire, thekingdoms and nations that follow and finally the Anti‐Christ! The fact that GodcouldtellhimwhatwouldtakeplaceinthefutureshowsthatGodisincontrolofthefuture!That’smeanttoencourageDanielandthefaithful!!Whyusebeaststosymbolizetheempires?That’stheirtruenature!Humanempiresusuallyrepresenthumanityatitsworst–bestialanddominant,fullofrawpowerandsavagefury,makingadvancementsbyconsumingothers!Living under the rule of beasts must be hard, especially if you are a faithfulbelieverinGod!Henceitisnosurprisethatthebelievers(alsoknownassaintsoftheMostHigh)will be severely persecuted, especially during the timewhen thelittlehornholdssway!Wecanloseheartandbecomedespondent,evencynical,unlessweliftoureyestoseeheaven!Standinginsharpcontrasttothisworld’suniversalchaos,depictedinverses2‐8,isthecalmandorderofheaven(verses9‐12).WeseeGoddepictedasAncient of Days sitting on His throne as the Great King (surrounded by otherthrones), His purity symbolized by thewhite‐as‐snow garment,His eternity andwisdom symbolized by the purewool hair. The fiery flame andwheel probablyconvey His omnipotence and omnipresence, while His majesty and glory isdepicted by the great multitude standing before Him and serving Him. BesidesbeingtheGreatKingwhorulesoverall,HeisalsotheJudgeofall.The most comforting picture to a saint suffering and undergoing persecutionswouldbeverses11‐12! Justaword fromtheAncientofDays,orevenadecisionmadewithoututteringasingleword–thatwassufficienttodefeatthebeastsandthe horns, including the little horn!! What a Mighty God we serve!! No wonderDanielcouldbesobraveastotellBelshazzarhissinsandtoannouncetheendoftheBabylonianEmpire(DANIEL5),andtonotflinchinthefaceofdanger(DANIEL6)!

TheencouragementforGod’ssaintsdoesnotstopinverse12.Fromverse13,weareintroducedtoOneliketheSonofMan.WeknowfromtheNewTestamentthatthis is Jesus Christ our Lord, God’s Son! His glory is seen in Him coming in theclouds,andHistriumphissopowerfullydepictedinverse14!Surelythemessagemustbethis:HowblessedyoumustbeifyoubelongtoHim!!

And this is indeedso,asverse18aswell asverse27 tellus that theeverlastingkingdomshallbethepossessionofthesaintsofGod.ThekingdomisoursbecausethekingdomisChrist’sandweareHispeople!!Yes, we are suffering now as God’s people. In fact, the suffering could becomeworse!Butthesufferingwillend!Evilwillbedefeated!Wewill triumphbecause

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Christ has triumphed! The only thing that will endure is the kingdom of God!Hence,itmakesperfectsensetoseekfirstGod’skingdomandHisrighteousness,tofollowChristwhereverHeleadsus,forourGodreigns!!!WhathaveyoulearntfromtheSummaryNotesabove?

3. ShareyouranswerstoQuestions1and2withsomeone.Day2ReadtheIntroductiontoDANIEL8belowandDANIEL8:1‐2IntroductiontoDANIEL8ThestructureofDANIEL8issimple: 8:1‐2 Prologue 8:3‐14 TheVision 8:15‐26 TheInterpretation 8:27 Epilogue“Like the vision in Daniel 7, this vision describes a series of kingdoms in the form ofanimals that exalt themselves, with one kingdom rising after another, aspiring togreatnessandachieving it,but thenbeingshattered.Theramseems invincibleuntil thegoatarises,butthenheisswiftlydestroyed.Thefirsthornofthegoatthrowstheramtothegroundandnoonecanrescuetheramfromthehorn’spower,butattheheightofhispower,thelargehorntooisshattered.In otherwords, nomatter how great andmenacing an empiremay appear to be, it issimplyanactor inaplaywrittenbysomeoneelse. Itplaysouttheroleassignedto itbyGodontherevolvingstageofworldhistory,andthen,whenitslinesareover,itslinksoffignominiouslyintothewings.Theriseandfalloftheserealhistoricalnations,predictedsoaccurately centuries ahead of timeby the Lord throughhis prophets, remindus clearlywho isdirecting thecourseofhistory.Earthly thronesanddominionscomeandgo inaceaselessround;onlythekingdomofGodisforever.Themessageofthevisionswasthusgoodnewstogenerationsofsaintswhosufferatthehands of earthly kingdoms, whether the Babylonians, or the subsequent Persians orGreeks,orpresent­daypersecutors.Theseempiresthattohumaneyeslookedsopowerful,thatseemedtohavenoweaknessorchinksintheirarmor,wereactuallymerelysheepandgoats whose destiny laid in the hands of the divine shepherd, the Lord himself. Theyweren’t even the cosmically frightening monsters of Daniel 7, but only overgrowndomesticanimals.Likeanygoodshepherd,theLordiseasilyabletojudgemeresheepandgoatswhostepoutoflineandtoputthembackintheirplace.”(IainM.Duguid)

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1. WritedownonethingyouhavelearntfromreadingtheIntroduction.2. (a) WhendidDanielhavethisvision?(Verse1)

(b)WherewasDanielinthisvision?(Verse2)

Note: Remember that DANIEL 7 happened in 553 B.C. (1st year of Belshazzar’sreign).Our chapter for thisweek ‐‐DANIEL8 tookplace in551B.C. (3rd yearofBelshazzar’sreign)Recall that DANIEL 5 took place in 539 B.C. (14th and final year ofBelshazzar’sreign).

Day3ReadDANIEL8:3‐4,18‐201. ThefirstanimalthatDanielsawinthisvisionwasaram. (a) Howwastheramdescribed?(Verse3) (b)Whatwastheramdoing?(Verse4a) (c) Howsuccessfulwasit?(Verse4b‐d)2. Accordingtoverse20,theramstandsfor:_________________________________.

Note(1):TheMedo‐PersianEmpire lasted some200years, from539B.C. to330B.C.Itwasthesuperpowerofitsday.Itsconquestwasallembracingandirresistible. It spread toBabylonia, SyriaandAsiaMinor in thewest, toArmeniaandtheareaoftheCaspianSeainthenorth,andintoAfricainthesouth.Shushan(mentionedinverse2)wasitscapital.

Note(2):Daniel received this vision from God in 551 B.C. (more than a decade

beforetheactualriseoftheMedo‐PersianEmpire).Whatotherssawonlyaftertheevent,Danielsawinpropheticvisionbeforehand.

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3. (a) Howwouldthisvision(thusfar)buildupthefaithofDanielandthefaithfulofhisdays?

(b) Howcoulditbuildupyourfaith?Day4ReadDANIEL7:5‐8,21‐221. ThesecondanimalthatDanielsawinthisvisionwasamalegoat. (a) Howwasthemalegoatdescribed?(Verse5) (b)Whatdidthemalegoatdo?(Verse6‐7) (c) Aftertramplingtheram,whathappenedtothemalegoat?

Verse8a:Verse8b‐c:Verse8d:

2. Accordingtoverse21,themalegoatstandsfor:_______________________________________.

Accordingtoverse21,thelargehornbetweentheeyesofthemalegoatstandsfor:_________________________________.

Accordingtoverse22,thefourhornsstandfor:______________________________________.

Note(1):TheGreekEmpirelastedmorethan260years,from330B.C.to63B.C.Its

firstkingwasAlexander theGreat (356‐323B.C.)With lightningspeed,Alexanderdefeated thePersians andestablished theGreekempire thatspannedfromEuropetoIndia.

Note(2):When Alexander died in 323 B.C., the kingdomwas divided among his

four generals: Cassander (Macedonia and Greece), Lysimachus (Thrace

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andmuchofAsiaMinor),Seleucus(Syriaandotherregionsintheeast),andPtolemy(Egypt).

Note(3):Daniel received this vision fromGod in 551 B.C. (more than 200 years

beforetheactualriseoftheGreekEmpire).Oncemore,whatotherssawonlyaftertheevent,Danielsawinpropheticvisionbeforehand.

3 (a) Howwouldthisvision(thusfar)buildupthefaithofDanielandthefaithfulof

hisdays?

(b) Howcoulditbuildupyourfaith?

Day5ReadDANIEL8:9‐14,23‐261. Theseversestalkaboutthelittlehorn.

(a) Howwasit(he)described?

(b) Whatwouldit(he)do?Wouldit(he)succeed?(Seeverses9,24‐25)

(c) Howwoulditbeliketoliveunderits(his)reign?

(d) Whatwouldbeits(his)end?2. Inverses13‐14,weheartheconversationbetweentwoholyones(angels).

(a) Whatwasthequestion?

(b) Whatwastheanswer?

(c) If you were present to hear this conversation then, what would be yourreactionuponhearingtheanswer?

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Day6ReadDANIEL8:15‐17,271. ItwasnotsufficientforDanieltoseethevision.

(a) WhatelsedidDanielneed?

(b)WhowasgiventhetasktohelpDanielachievethat?2. HowdidDanielrespondtothevisionhesawandthe interpretationhereceived?

(Verse27)

“HowgreatGodis!Howis itthatHecanrevealfuturehistorytoHisprophets,centuriesbeforeithappens?ItisbecauseHeistheGodofhistory,andbecausealleventseverywhereserveHissovereignwill.WhatacomforttoknowthatnoevilpowercanarisewithoutHisexpressdecree!HowconsolingtobeawarethatHewhoruleshistoryhasguaranteedthatHisSonshallfinallytriumphoverallruleandauthority,andthateverydisplayofevilatlastwillbeputdown!What folly it is to fightagainst suchaGod!Whatwisdom it is towalkwithHim!Whatconvincingpowerisintheargument:‘IfGodbeforus,whocanbeagainstus?’(Romans8:31)”

StuartOlyottDay7SummaryNotesforDANIEL8:1‐27ThevisionDanielsawinDANIEL8concernedthenext400yearsofworldhistory,fromthe timeof theMedo‐Persianempire to theGreekempire. Inotherwords, thisvisionprovided further information on the second and third beasts that had appeared inDaniel’sdreaminDANIEL7.Danielwouldnothaveknownanythingaboutthecoming400years(539B.C.–63B.C.)if God had not given him this revelation. Also, Danielwould not have been able tounderstandwhathehad seen in the vision ifGodhadnot sendGabriel (an angel) toexplainthevisiontohim(v15‐17).Clearly,DanielwasutterlydependentonGodforanyknowledgeofthefuture.Thesamewouldbetrueofus.The ram,male goat and their clashes formed thebackdrop for themain focusof thisvision:thelittlehorn.Considerablymoretimeandspaceweredevotedtothislittlehorninthevision.Wenotethathecameoutfromoneofthe4kingdoms,grewexceedinglypowerful,wasamorallydepravedperson,wasverydeterminedtowipeoutthepeopleofGodandascribedtohimselfdivineattributes.Fromthetwoangels’conversation,itwas clear that this little horn would lord over God’s people for quite some time,pointingtoaperiodofgreattribulationforthem.Butcomfortcouldbefoundinthelast

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lineofverse25:Heshallbebrokenwithouthumanmeans.Nomatterhowpowerfulhewas(orappearedtobe),hewouldfinallybedefeated...byGod!ThehistorybooksidentifiedthislittlehornasAntiochusEpiphanes.Heemergedfromthe Seleucid dynasty, came to power in 175 B.C and gave himself the title – “TheoAntiochusEpiphanes”,meaning“TheIllustriousGod”!“Power hungry, Antiochus sought to expand his dominion to include Palestine. Thisbrought him into conflict with the Ptolematic dynasty in Egypt. While in Jerusalem,Antiochusreplacedthehighpriestwithamanofhisownchoosing.HetheninvadedEgypt,and while there, a rumor of his death circulated among the Jews (much to their joy).Effortsweremade to reinstate thegenuinehighpriest.Antiochusaccused thepeopleofrebellion,savagelyattackedandsackedJerusalem,andexecutedtensofthousandsof itsinhabitants – forty thousand apparently dying within the space of three days – whileothersweretakencaptive.Heenteredtheholyofholiesinthetemple,sacrificedapigonthe altar of burnt offering, defiled the temple precincts, took the sacred furniture, andestablishedatraitor,Menelaus,ashighpriest.In 168B.C.,whenAntiochus’ efforts to takeEgyptwere foiled by theRomans, he againventedhisrevengeontheJews.MorethantwentythousandofhissoldiersmassacredtheJews assembled for worship on a Sabbath day and committed further atrocities andvandalism. The temple was left without the daily sacrifices, religious practices werenonexistent, and a statue of Zeuswas placed in the temple and human sacrifices weremadeon thealtar. Circumcisionwas forbidden,uncleanmeatwasmandatory fare, andtheSabbathandotherfeastswereprofaned.”(SinclairFerguson)InDecember164B.C., JudasMaccabeus leda successful revolt againstAntiochusandre‐dedicated the temple. Today, the Jews would remember this re‐dedication of thetemplethroughtheobservanceoftheHanukkah.AsforAntiochus,hesooncontractedanexceedinglypainfuldiseaseanddied.WhathaveyoulearntfromtheSummaryNotes?Sharewhatyouhavelearntwithsomeone:_________________________________________________ (Name)Week9 [26thAugust–1stSeptember2012]Day1ReadDANIEL9:1‐31. (a) When did the event mentioned in this chapter take place? (This would be

539/8B.C.)

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(b)DanielwastakentoBabylonin605B.C.aroundtheageof14yearsold.HowoldwouldDanielbein539/8B.C.?

2. WhatwasDanieldoinginverse2?

ItislikelythatDanielwouldhavereadthesepassages:Jeremiah 25:8­11 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Because you have notheardMywords,behold, Iwill sendandtakeall the familiesof thenorth,’ says theLord, ‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring themagainstthis land,against its inhabitants,andagainstthesenationsallaround,andwillutterlydestroythem,andmakethemanastonishment,ahissing,andperpetualdesolations. Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice ofgladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of themillstonesandthelightofthelamp.Andthiswholelandshallbeadesolationandanastonishment,andthesenationsshallservethekingofBabylonseventyyears.’Jeremiah 29:10­14For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed atBabylon, Iwill visit youandperformMygoodword toward you, and cause you toreturntothisplace.ForIknowthethoughtsthatIthinktowardyou,saystheLord,thoughtsofpeaceandnotofevil,togiveyouafutureandahope.ThenyouwillcalluponMeandgoandpraytoMe,andIwilllistentoyou.AndyouwillseekMeandfindMe,whenyousearchforMewithallyourheart.Iwillbefoundbyyou,saystheLord,andIwillbringyoubackfromyourcaptivity;IwillgatheryoufromallthenationsandfromalltheplaceswhereIhavedrivenyou,saystheLord,andIwillbringyoutotheplacefromwhichIcauseyoutobecarriedawaycaptive.

3. WhatwasDanieldoinginverse3?Whydidhedoit?4. Writedownonelessonyou’velearntfromreadingthisportionofDaniel9.TwoquotesfromMatthewHenryworthpondering:(1) “ThoughDanielwashimselfagreatprophet,andonethatwaswellacquaintedwith

thevisionsofGod,yethewasadiligentstudentinthescripture,andthoughtitnodisparagement tohimtoconsult Jeremiah’sprophecies.Hewasagreatpolitician,and primeminister of state to one of the greatestmonarchs upon earth, and yetcouldfindbothheartandtimetoconversewiththewordofGod.ThegreatestandbestmenintheworldmustnotthinkthemselvesabovetheirBibles.”

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(2) “God’s promises are intended, not to supersede, but to excite and encourage, ourprayers; and, when we see the day of the performance of them approaching, weshouldthemoreearnestlypleadthemwithGodandputtheminsuit.”

Day2ReadDANIEL9:4‐19These16versesrecordDaniel’sprayertotheLORDhisGod.1. (a) HowdidheaddressGod?

(b)HowdoyouaddressGodinyourprayer?

HaveyoueveraddressedGodinthewayDanieldidhere?2. Verse 4 states that Daniel made a confession in his prayer. What did Daniel

confess?

Verse7:Verse8:Verse9:

Verse10‐11:

Verse14:Verse15:

3. (a) Is‘confessionofsins’aregulariteminyourprayers?

(b) Haveyoueverusedanyofthewords/phrasesDanielusedinyourconfession?Day3ReadDANIEL9:4‐19again

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1. Danielacknowledged that Israel’s troubles and exilewere the fruit of their sins.Wherecanwefindhimsayingthisinhisprayer?

2. DanielfurtheracknowledgedthatGodactedrighteouslyinpunishingthem.Where

canwefindhimsayingthisinhisprayer?3. Inverses11‐14,DanieladmittedthatallthathashappenedwaswhatGodthrough

Moses promised would happen if Israel turned her back on God (ReadDeuteronomy28:15,47‐51,64‐67,ifyoucan).

SeeingthatGodwasfaithfulincarryingoutHisthreat,howwouldthisencourageDanielwhenhecamebeforeGodtoaskHimtoendtheexileasHehadpromised?

Day4ReadDANIEL9:4‐19oncemore1. Besides confession, there was also supplication inDaniel’s prayer. What did he

supplicatefor? Verse16: Verse17: Verse19:2. Accordingtoverse18,whyshouldGodhearhisrequest?3. DidGodanswerDaniel’sprayer?[Read2Chronicles36:22‐23]Day5ReadSummaryNotesforDANIEL9:1‐19andDANIEL9:20‐24SummaryNotesforDANIEL9:1‐19Intheyear605B.C.DanielwasbroughttoBabylonasanexileattheyoungageof13/14years old. 66/67 years later in 539/8B.C., theBabylonian empire had collapsed andwasreplacedbytheMedo‐Persianempire.Danielwouldbe80/81yearsoldthen.

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Atsucharipeoldage,wefindDanielstillreadinghisBible!FromJeremiah25&29helearnt that God hadmade a promise ‐‐‐ the Babylonian exile would only last for 70years!In539/8B.C.,DanielcouldseewithhisowneyesthattheBabylonianempirewasgone.WhythenweretheJewsstillinexile?HenceDanielsethishearttoseektheLORDwith fasting, sackcloth and ashes, to pleadwithGod to fulfill His promise to end theexile!Inhisprayer,Danielstartedwithworship‐‐OLord,greatandawesomeGod,whokeepsHis covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep Hiscommandments(verse4).Then he moved to confessions, where he fully identified himself with Israel andconfessedtheirunfaithfulness,rebellion,wickedness,iniquities,transgression,sinsanddisobedience. He freely admitted that the desolations they have suffered were fullydeserved!Godwasrighteousinpunishingthem.Hehadindeedwarnedthemcenturiesago throughMoses inDeuteronomy28 that if they turned their backs onHim, thesedisasterswouldcomeuponthem.Andindeedtheyhad!SeeinghowfaithfulGodwasincarryingoutHisthreattopunish,Danielmovednexttosupplicate, askingGod tobe faithfulalso in carryingoutHispromise toend theexileafter70years!HenceheaskedGodtoturnawayHisangerfromJerusalem,tocauseHisface toshineonHissanctuary, to forgive themandtorestore them.Weknowfrom2Chronicles26andEzra1thatGodhadindeedheardDaniel’sprayer!!PastorStuartOlyottcalledthis ‘agreatprayer’.Headded,“Whendidyoulastpraylikethat?ItisthesortofprayerthatGodhears.IfwewouldseeGodatwork,wemustfindoutwhatHehaspromisedandprayforitlikethat.Wedonotneedtowaituntilwearejoinedby others before we begin. It is when the remnant prays in this way that history ischanged.”What have you learnt from the SummaryNotes above concerningPrayer?Howhaveyourprayerschangedasaresultofwhatyouhavelearnt?Whatneedstobechangedinyourprayersafterwhatyouhavejustlearnt?Sharewhatyouhavelearntwithsomeone:_________________________________________________ (Name)DANIEL9:20‐241. WhoappearedtoDanielandwhydidhecome?

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2. WhatdidhetellDaniel?

Verse23:

Verse24:3. (a) HowwashiscominganencouragementtoDaniel?

(b) Howisthese4versesanencouragementtoyou?Day6ReadDANIEL9:24‐27These4versescontainthemessagethatGabrielwaschargedtoconveytoDaniel.Itwasa response toDaniel’sprayer for God to fulfill His promise to end Israel’s exile. The‘seventyweeks’ofverse24isliterally‘seventysevens’.According to verse 24, six thingswill takeplace at the endof this period of ‘seventysevens’.Whatarethey? FromtheNewTestamentperspective,wehavetosaythatthesesixthingspointtothecoming of Jesus Christ the Saviour and the salvation Hewill accomplish! Hence, “onhearing all this Daniel must have been filled with immeasurable excitement. For thegreaterpartofhislifehehadbeengrievingoverJerusalemandlongingforitsrestoration.Now he was hearing that seventy sevens from then it was going to have a future farexceedingallhisexpectations.ThepromisedChristwouldcome,sinwouldbedealtwith,andtherewouldbeawaybywhichsinnerscouldbeeverlastinglyrightwithGod.ThetimeofpredictingHimwouldbeover.Hewillhavecome–toJerusalem!”(StuartOlyott).

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Taketimetoponderthis:DanielwasprayingtoGodtoendIsrael’sseventyyearsofexile.God’sanswerwastotellDanielaboutaperiodofseventysevensafterwhichIsraelwouldberestoredandtheMessiahwouldcome!InHisanswertoDaniel’sprayer,Godhascertainlydoneexceedinglyabundantlyaboveall thatDanielcouldaskor think!!Canyou thinkofaNewTestamentverse thatsayssomethingaboutthis?Writeitdownbelow.Day7ReadDANIEL9:24‐27againTheperiodofseventysevenswasdividedintothreesections: Sevensevens(verse25) Sixty‐twosevens(verse25) Afterthesixty‐twosevens(verse26)[Thatis,the70thsevens]1. Accordingtoverse25,whatwilltakeplaceduringthesevensevensandthesixty‐

twosevens?2. Accordingtoverse26,afterthesixty‐twosevens,whatwillhappen?

Note:GodtoldDanielintheyear539/8B.C.abouttheeventsthatwouldhappeninAD

33 (the death of Christ) and AD 70 (the destruction of Jerusalem)! Hear whatIsaiah48:3­5saidconcerningGod:

“Ihavedeclaredtheformerthingsfromthebeginning;theywentforthfromMymouth,andIcausedthemtohearit.SuddenlyIdidthem,andtheycametopass.Because Iknewthatyouwereobstinate,andyourneckwasan ironsinew,andyourbrowbronze,Even from the beginning I have declared it to you; before it came to pass Iproclaimedittoyou,lestyoushouldsay,‘Myidolhasdonethem,andmycarvedimageandmymoldedimagehavecommandedthem.’

Focusonthepartoftheversethatisunderlined(seeabove)andthentaketimetoworshipyourGod!WhataGod!!

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Week10 [2ndSeptember–8thSeptember2012]Day1SummaryNotesforDANIEL9:20‐27Verses20‐23WhenDanielstartedtopray,Godstartedtohear!That’sthemessageofverse23.WhenGod hears, He acts! Hence Gabriel the angel was dispatched to bring the answer toDaniel.Thephrase“beingcausedtoflyswiftly”(verse21)conveysjusthoweagerourLordwas togiveDaniel theanswer!FromDaniel’s perspective, the “swiftness”of theanswerwas equally impactful.We can see this from his twice repeated “while I wasspeaking” (verse 20, 21). What an encouragement to him, and to us, to prayunceasingly!FurtherencouragementstoDanielcanbeseeninthefollowingtwothings:[i] Hewascalled‘greatlybeloved’!Rememberthathewasconfessingsinsinverse3‐

19,andnowhewasassuredofGod’sgreatlovetohim![ii] Hewas not only given the answer (vision), hewould also be given the skill to

understandthevision!Verses24‐27WhileDanielwas thinking andpraying over the 70 years of exile, God talked to himabout the 70 sevens when salvation will be accomplished! The 70 sevens will startwhenthe70yearsofexileended(verse25).The70sevenswillbedividedintothreesections:The1st7sevens,thenext62sevensandthelastsevens.FromthetimethecommandgoesforthtorestoreandrebuildJerusalem,7sevensand62sevens(altogether69sevens)willpass.Duringthisperiodof69sevens,“thestreetsshallbebuiltagain,andthewall,evenintroublesometimes”.Thiswouldcoverthetimesand events narrated in the book of Ezra and Nehemiah, as well as the 400 years ofsilence,bringingustothetimesofJesus!JerusalemwasindeedaninhabitedcitybythetimeourLordwalkeditsstreetsinAD30!!Afterthe62sevens,meaningduringthelastsevens(70thsevens),theMessiahwouldbecutoffbutnotforHimself!ThisisclearlytalkingaboutthedeathofJesusonthecrossfor the sins of His people. In shedding His blood, Jesus has inaugurated the NewCovenant. From then onwards, all the Old Testament sacrifices would no longer beneeded.Thisishowweshouldreadthefirstpartofverse27.InrejectingtheMessiahandnailingHimtothecross,theJewsweresealingthedoomanddestructionof Jerusalem.“Thedestructionof Jerusalemdidnot immediately followCalvary, but it was an event which was determined by the fact that the Jews rejectedChrist. It did not happen in the seventieth ‘week’, butwas determined in the seventieth‘week’.OurLordmadeitclear,bothinHisOlivetdiscourseandasHewalkedtothecross,that His rejection by the Jews would mean the destruction of their city and temple(Matthew23:34­24:38;Luke23:27­31).”(StuartOlyott).Thisishowweshouldreadthesecondpartofverse26andthesecondpartofverse27.

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ItisinterestingtonotethattheangelGabrielwhobroughtGod’smessagetoDanielhereinDaniel9–tellinghimthattheMessiahwouldcomeandthenbecutoff,isthesameGabrielwhoannouncedthebirthoftheMessiah’sforerunner(Luke1:19)aswellasthebirthoftheMessiahHimself(Luke1:26)!WhathaveyoulearntfromreadingtheSummaryNotes?Sharewhatyouhavelearntwithsomeone:_________________________________________________ (Name)Day2ReadDANIEL10:1‐4“Thiswonderfulchapter is fullofpowerful lessons forus,especiallyas farasourprayerlifeisconcerned.AllthepreviouschaptersofDanielhavebeenself­containedunits.Eachonestoodonitsown.Chapter10isnotlikethatatall.Itstaskistointroduceavision,thedetailsofwhicharefoundinchapters11and12.Ittellsusthecircumstancesinwhichthefinalvisionofthebookwasgiven,butwemustwaittoreadthetwofollowingchapterstoseeexactlywhatthatvisionwas.”(StuartOlyott)1. (a) Whendidthisvisiontakeplace?(Verse1,4)

(b) Wheredidthisvisiontakeplace?(Verse4)2. WhatwasDanieldoingforthethreefullweeksbeforehehadthisvision?(Verses

2‐3)

Note(1):CyrusgavethepermissionfortheJewstoreturntotheirhomelandinthe1styearofhisreign(Ezra1).SinceDANIEL10bringsustothe3rdyearofCyrus’ reign, the first group of returnees under the leadership ofZerubabbel(Ezra2)wouldhavealreadyreachedJudeaandsettledin.

Note(2):FromEzra3,weknowthatbythe2ndyearofthisreturn,theJewshave

alreadylaidthefoundationofthetemple.However,theirworkmetwithmuchopposition.Ezra4:4‐5reportedthesituationbackinJudeainthisway:Then thepeopleof the land tried todiscourage thepeopleof Judah.They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them tofrustrate theirpurposeall thedaysofCyruskingofPersia, evenuntil thereignofDariuskingofPersia.

Note(3):The small number of people who joined Zerubbabel in the 1st return

(Ezra2)andtheintenseoppositionthatthereturneesfacedwhilebackin

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Judea(Ezra4)couldbethereasonwhyDanieldidwhathedidinverse2‐3:InthosedaysI,Daniel,wasmourningthreefullweeks.Iatenopleasantfood,nomeatorwinecameintomymouth,nordidIanointmyselfatall,tillthreewholeweekswerefulfilled.

“GoodmencannotbutmourntoseehowslowlytheworkofGodgoesonintheworldandwhatoppositionitmeetswith,howweakitsfriendsareandhowactiveitsenemies.”(MatthewHenry)

Day3ReadDANIEL10:5‐61. Onthe24thdayofthe1stmonth,Danielhadavision.Inthevision,hesawaman.

Howwasthemandescribed?

Hisclothing:Hisbody:Hisface:Hiseyes:Hisarmsandfeet:Hisvoice:

2. Read Revelation 1:13‐17. Here John met one like the Son of Man. How was He

described?Hisclothing:Hisheadandhair:Hiseyes:Hisfeet:Hisvoice:

3. DoyoufindthedescriptionsinQ1andQ2similar?

Who,doyouthink,isthemanDanielsawinhisvision?

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Day4ReadDANIEL10:7‐111. WhatwereDaniel’simmediatereactionstothevision? Verse8:

Verse9:

2. HowdidDanielrecoverhisconsciousnessandstrength?3. (a) WhatdidthemansaytoDaniel?(Verse11)

(b) HowwouldhiswordsbeanencouragementtoDaniel?Day5ReadDANIEL10:12‐191. Verses12‐14recordthewordsofthemantoDaniel.

(a) Notewhatwas said inverse12.Howwould thisbeanencouragement toDaniel?

(b) Notewhatwas said inverse14.Howwould thisbeanencouragement toDaniel?

2. (a) HowdidDanielreacttothewordsofthisman?(Verse15,17)

(b) HowdidDanielrecoverhisstrengthandspeech? Verse16: Verse18: Verse19b:

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Day6ReadDANIEL10:13,20‐21,11:11. Severalcharacters(beings)werementionedintheseverses.Whowerethey?

Themaninthevision Michael(oneofthechiefprinces)

2. What,doyouthink,weretheirrealidentities? 3. “...I,evenI,stooduptoconfirmandstrengthenhim”(11:1)

Whodoyouthinkisthe‘I’mentionedhere?Whodoyouthinkisthe‘him’mentionedhere?

Note:Weareheregivenaglimpseintothewarfarethatgoesoninthespiritualrealm!TheprinceofPersia(fallenangel)wasinfluencingthekingsofPersiatomakelifedifficult for the Jews in Judea, and theman in the vision togetherwithMichaelwerefightingthatprince.Lateron,themaninthevisionwillbattletheprinceofGreece!

Day7SummaryNotesforDANIEL10:1‐21(I)ThechapterbeginswithDaniel spending threeweeks inprayerand fasting in the3rdyearofthePersianking,Cyrus.ThisimmediatelyalertsustothefactthatthoughDanielhadprayed for theexile toendand the Jews toreturn to Judea,hehimself (forsomereason)wasnotabletojointhereturnees.Hence,heremainedinPersia.ThoughDanielwasphysicallyinPersia,hisheartwasbackinJudea!Thisexplainedwhyhewasfastingandprayingfor3weeks.Weknowfromverse14thathisprayerhadtodowiththewellbeingandfutureofIsrael!It was very likely that Danielwas very troubled by what he had seen and known.Althoughagroupof Jewshadreturned to Judea, the factwas thatahugemajorityofthemhadremainedbehindinPersia.MostoftheJewsappearednottobeinterestedingoing back to Judea! His prayer in DANIEL 9 was answered – Cyrus had issued thedecreefortheirreturn.HoweververyfewJewshadtakenupthatoffertogoback!Inaddition, news from Judea wasn't very encouraging either. Yes, the group under

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ZerubbabeldidarrivebackinJudeasafely,andyestheydidlaythefoundationsofthetemple.But things soon tooka turn for theworse!Oppositions to the Jewsand theirrebuilding project were many, intense and malicious. The people were soon verydiscouraged.Infact,lifebackinJudeawasonehugestruggle!WouldanyJewsinPersia,uponhearingsuchnews,eagerlysignupforthe2ndreturnparty?In the faceofsuchbleakanddiscouragingcircumstances,Daniel gavehimself toseekGod inprayer. The rest of the chapter tells us aboutGod’s answer tohis prayer.ButbeforewelookatGod’sanswertohisprayer,weshouldnotewhatverse12says–Fromthe firstday that you set yourheart tounderstand,and tohumbleyourselfbeforeyourGod, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. This is almostidenticalwithDANIEL9:23!DowedoubtifGodhearsuswhenwepray?Dowewonderifourwordscouldevergobeyond the ceilings of our houses? Even if God hears us,will He bother to respond?DANIEL9:23andDANIEL10:12mustburyallourdoubtsforever!Godhears,Godhearsstraightaway,andGodwillgiveananswer!WhathaveyoulearntfromreadingSummaryNotes(I)?Howhavetheychangedyou?Week11 [9thSeptember–15thSeptember2012]Day1SummaryNotesforDANIEL10:1‐21(II)WhowasthemanDanielsawinhisvision?Wecouldarriveatareasonableanswerbyfirst observing howDaniel responded to him and the vision.He lost all strength andbecameunconscious(verse8‐9).Thoughsomeangelicbeingscametostrengthenhim(v10,16,18),Danieldidnotfullyrecoverhisstrength.Whenthemanspoketohiminverse 12‐14, Daniel again lost his strength and even his speech. Daniel only fullyrecoveredhisstrengthandspeechwhenthatmanspoketohimandstrengthenedhim(verse19b).This prolonged experience of being overwhelmed was unusual, especially when wecompareitwithDaniel’sexperiencewhenGabrielcametohimtoexplainhisvisioninDANIEL8.Therehedidlosehisstrengthandconsciousness,butonceGabrieltouchedhim, he regained his strength immediately. However, this was not the case here inDANIEL10,implyingthatthemaninthisvisionisfarmoregloriousandmajesticthanGabriel!WemustalsonotethatDanieladdressedthispersonas‘mylord’(verse16,17,19). And from 11:1, we know that this person confirmed and strengthenedMichael,implyingthathemustbefarmorepowerfulandgloriousthanMichael!Wearenotabletofullycomprehendthemeaningofverse13,howtheprinceofPersia

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canopposethisgloriousandmajesticpersonfor21days.ButweneedtonotethattheprinceofPersia(verse13&19)andtheprinceofGreece(verse19)werenothumans!In the sameway, Michael (called one of the chief princes and your prince) was nothuman.Thefirst twocharacterswere likelytobe fallenangelswhileMichaelwasthearchangel(Jude9).However,thekingsofPersia(verse13)werehumans.Putsimply,wearegivenaglimpseintothewarfarethatgoesoninthespiritualrealm!The prince of Persia (fallen angel) was influencing the kings of Persia to make lifedifficult for the Jews in Judea, and theman in the vision togetherwithMichaelwerefightingthatprince.Lateron,themaninthevisionwillbattletheprinceofGreece!“ThischaptershowsuswhoaretherealenemiesoftheworkofGod.ZerubbabelhadgonebacktoJerusalem.Thewholeworkwhichheandhisfewcompanionshopedtoundertakehadbeenheldup.Whoistobeheldresponsible?Shouldweblamethediscouragedbanditself?Arewetosaytothem,‘Itisallyourfault.Itisyourdiscouragementwhichisholdingthingsup.DiscouragedpeoplearetherealenemiesoftheworkofGod’?Or shouldwe blame the Samaritans? They had been living in Palestine throughout thewholetimeoftheJewishexileinBabylon.TheyweremorethanupsetbythereturnoftheJews and their plan to rebuild the temple. It was the last thing they wanted, and theytherefore set about trying to stop it. Shouldwe then say that the real enemies of God’sworkareitscriticsandphysicalopponents?OrisitthePersianswhoshouldcarrytheblame?ItwasthePersianauthoritieswhofirstgave permission for the Jews to return and then ordered the work to stop when theSamaritanscomplained.Surelytheyaretherealrogues.Noneofthesearetherealenemiesof theworkofGod.Therealenemiesarerevealed inverse13and20:‘TheprinceofthekingdomofPersiawithstoodme.’‘IwillreturntofightwiththeprinceofPersia.’ItistheclearteachingoftheWordofGodthatevilmenonearthare directed by evil powers. It is the evil spiritual personalities, which influence andpenetratehumanminds,thataretherealenemiesofGod’swork.The warfare in which we are engaged is not primarily a warfare with our owndiscouragementsorwithvisibleenemies.Itisnotprimarilyawarfarewithcritics,orwithauthoritieswhoconstantlyfrustratethethingswewanttodo.Ourwarfareisaspiritualwarfarewithspiritualenemies.Thisisclearfromthechapterwehavejuststudied,andisafactunderlinedbytheapostlePaulwhenhewrote,‘Forwewrestlenotagainstfleshandblood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of thisworld,againstspiritualwickedness(orwickedspirits)inhighplaces’(Ephesians6:12)”

StuartOlyottWhathaveyoulearntfromreadingtheSummaryNotes(II)?

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Asaresultofwhatyou’velearnt,whatareasofyourlifemustchange?Day2ReadDANIEL10:21‐11:4RememberthatDANIEL10‐12belongtogether.DANIEL10showedusDanielprayingand the man clothed in linen coming to give Daniel the answers to his prayer. InDANIEL11weshallreadofwhatthemanclothedinlinentoldDaniel.DANIEL11isthelongest, most complex, most detailed and precise prophecy in the book of DANIEL,indeedinthewholeofScripture!RememberthatDANIEL10‐12tookplaceduringthe3rdyearofCyrus’reign(DANIEL10:1).1. Read11:2again.

(a) Howmanykingsarementionedhere?

(b) From the history books,we know the Persian kingswho reigned in the 6thcenturyB.C.are:

Cyrus (539‐530B.C.)Cambyses (530‐522B.C.)Pseudo‐Smerdis (522B.C.)DariusI (522‐486B.C.)Xerxes (486‐465B.C.)Whowas“thefourthwhoshallbericherthanthemall”mentionedin11:3?He was also known as Ahasuerus (husband of Esther). Under his reign,Persianpower reached its pinnacle.He invadedGreece butwasdefeated atthebattleofSalamis.

2. Read11:3‐4again.

(a) Whatwassaidaboutthe“mightyking”whoshallarise(v3)?

(b) Whatwouldhappentohiskingdomafterwards(v4)?

This“mightyking” isAlexandertheGreat.Afterhisdeath,hisextensivekingdomwasfinallydividedupamonghisfourgenerals.

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3. RememberthatDANIEL11wasGod’sanswertoDaniel’sprayerinchapter10.Hefastedandprayedfor3fullweeksbecausehewasverytroubledoverthesadstateof theJewsback inJudeaandalsohowthemajorityof theJewsstillremainedinexile.DANIEL11:2‐4wasconveyedtoDanieltoencouragehim.Howwoulditencouragehim?

Day3SummaryNotesforDANIEL10:21‐11:4DANIEL10:1informedusthatthiseventtookplacein537B.C.(the3rdyearofCyrus’reign).DANIEL11:2‐4revealedtoDanielinbroadstrokeswhatwouldtakeplacefrom537B.C.to323B.C.Howcouldhistorybetoldbeforehistoryactuallyhappens?InDANIEL10:21,wereadof‘ScriptureofTruth’(NKJV)or‘bookoftruth’(ESV).Fromthisbook, themanclothed in linenwould tellDanielwhatwouldcometopass in thecomingdecadesandcenturies.DanielthenwrotedownwhathehadheardinthebookofDANIEL.Finally,aftertheseeventshavecometopass,athirdbookwouldbewritten–historybooks!Wehavethreebooksinthisorder: Book of Truth Book of DANIEL Historybooks“Chapter11consistsofhistorywhichwaswrittenbeforeittookplace!Ithadbeenwritteneternally in the divine books (10:21), but was even to be written in Daniel’s book aconsiderabletimebeforeithappened.”(StuartOlyott)SoDANIEL11:2‐4revealstouseventsinhistory(the3PersiankingsafterCyrus,riseofXerxes,fallofPersianEmpire,riseofAlexandertheGreat,divisionofhiskingdomintofour)beforetheyactuallytakeplace!ThisismeanttobeanencouragementtoDanielatthattimeofsorrowandgrief.How?GodcantellhimthefuturebecauseGodhasthefutureinHishands,andthisGodwhoholdsthefutureinHishandsisDaniel’sGod!!Haveyoulearntanylesson(s)fromtheSummaryNotesofDANIEL10:21‐11:4?Ifyouhave,writeitdowninthespacebelowandthenshareitwithoneotherperson:Day4ReadDANIEL11:5‐20After the death of Alexander the Great, his empire was finally divided among his 4generals.HereinDANIEL11:5‐20,twoofthekingdomscameintofocus:TheSeleuciddynastybasedinSyria&Babylon,andthePtolemydynastybasedinEgypt.Thecentreof the compass was the Glorious Kingdom (v20) – Palestine, where the Jews lived.

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Hence, thekingof theNorthwouldbetheSeleuciddynasty inSyriawhile thekingoftheSouthwouldbethePtolemydynastyinEgypt.DANIEL11:5‐20recordsaverydetailedprophecyofwhatwilltakeplaceinthehistoryof these two dynasties. This is known as the inter‐testament period in the historybooks.CopyouttherelevantversesfromDANIEL11:5‐20inthespacesprovided:

Daniel’sbook HistoryBookV5:AlsothekingoftheSouthshallbecomestrong,aswellasoneofhisprinces;andheshall gain power over him and havedominion. His dominion shall be a greatdominion.

In 322 B.C. Ptolemy Soter rose to powerand ruled Egypt till 305 B.C. He took aprincenamedSeleucusunderhiswing. In312 B.C. this young man left to form theSeleucid empire, exceeding the Ptolemiesbothinsizeandpower.

V6:Andattheendofsomeyearstheyshalljoin forces, for the daughter of the king oftheSouth shallgo to thekingof theNorthto make an agreement; but she shall notretain the power of her authority, andneitherhenorhisauthorityshallstand;butshe shall be given up, with those whobrought her, andwith himwho begot her,andwithhimwhostrengthenedherinthosetimes.

Berenice, daughter of PtolemyPhiladelphus(SouthernKingdom)becamethe wife of Antiochus II (NorthernKingdom). This led to amarriage alliancebetween both countries. But this alliancedid not last as Antiochus II, Berenice andtheir child were all murdered not longafterwards!

V7‐8:

Ptolemy Euergetes, brother of Berenice,becameking of Egypt andhe successfullyavengedthedeathofhissisterbyinvadingthe North Kingdom and putting themurdererstodeath.His armies spoiled the north and carriedits protective gods back to Egypt. For awhile, the Ptolemies dominated theSeleucids.

V9: Seleucus Callinicius of the NorthernKingdommarchedagainstthePtolemiesin204 B.C., thoroughly defeated them andreturnedhomevictorious.

V10:

Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus theGreat, both princes of the Northernkingdom,combinedtheirmilitarystrengthto conquer the surrounding areas.Seleucus died in a battle. Antiochus theGreat continued to battle alone, till hereachedtheveryedgeofEgypt.

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V11: And the king of the South shall bemovedwithrage,andgooutandfightwithhim,with the king of theNorth,who shallmusteragreatmultitude;butthemultitudeshallbegivenintothehandofhisenemy.

The army of Antiochus the Great faroutnumbered that of Ptolemy Philopator,the king of the South; but surprising,AntiochustheGreatwasdefeated!

V12: The unexpected victory filled PtolemyPhilopator with pride, and he began toinflict more defeats on the NorthernKingdom.

Wewill continue fromverse13 tomorrow.Fornow, just lookat the tableabove.Canyouseeanythingsignificant?Whatisit?HowwouldthisencourageDanielinthe6thcenturyB.C.andustodayinAD2012?Day5ReadDANIEL11:5‐20againContinuetocopyouttherelevantversesfromDANIEL11:5‐20inthespaceprovided:

Daniel’sbook HistoryBookV13‐14:

The superiority of the Southern Kingdomdidnotlast.AfterPtolemyPhilopatordied,the Northern Kingdom became dominantagain.During that time, rebels appeared withintheEgyptianborders.The days of the Southern Kingdomappearedtobenumbered!

V15‐16:

The Northern Kingdom achieved adecisivevictoryatSidon.During those days, Antiochus the Greatlooked invincible. He even took overPalestine and the Jews then sufferedgreatly.

V17:Heshallalsosethisfacetoenterwiththe strength of his whole kingdom, anduprightoneswithhim;thusshallhedo.Andheshallgivehimthedaughterofwomentodestroyit;butsheshallnotstandwithhim,orbeforhim.

Antiochus the Great changed his tactics.He decided to defeat the SouthernKingdom through subtlety. He gave hisdaughter, Cleopatra, in marriage to thePtolemaic king in thehope that hewouldthen be able to control the SouthernKingdom using her as a proxy. ButCleopatrasidedwithherhusband insteadofherfather!

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V18: Antiochus turned his attention to AsiaMinorbuthewasdefeatedbytheRoman,Lucius Scipio Asiaticus. He was utterlyhumiliated.

V19:Thenheshallturnhisfacetowardthefortress of his own land; but he shallstumbleandfall,andnotbefound.

He returned home to concentrate on hisdomestic affairs and soon disappearedfromthepoliticalscene.

V20:

Seleucus Philipator replaced him. Hewantedtoseizethefundsfromthetemplein Jerusalem but failed. Not longafterwards, he also disappeared from thepagesofhistory.

Once again, canyou see justhowdetailed andaccurate theprophecygiven toDanielwas? Howwould this encourageDaniel in the 6th century B.C., and us today in AD2012?Day6SummaryNotesforDANIEL11:5‐20SomeofusmayfindDANIEL11:5‐20quiteboring!However,weneedtorememberthatDANIEL 11:5‐20 is Scripture, and hence it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, forcorrection,forinstructioninrighteousness(2Timothy3:16).SohowisthispassageofScriptureprofitableforus?First of all, recall that from 11:2‐4, we see that God knows the big picture! He toldDaniel in broad strokeswhatwould come to pass for the next 200 years! Now from11:5‐20,GodtoldDanielinveryspecificdetailswhatwouldtakeplaceinthefollowing200 years, from323B.C. to 175B.C.! God knows the big picture andGod knows theminutedetails,henceGodknowseverythingaboutthefuture!!WhataGodDanielhad!WhataGodwehave!Read11:5‐20andwhatconfrontsusisacatalogueofwars,alliances,marriages,battlesandaconfusingpatternofcomingsandgoings.Itwasallaboutman,orsoitseems.Theonewhowasstrongestatthemomentcalledtheshots.TherewasnomentionofGodinthese16verses,nonewhatsoever!Yetifweponderoverthepassageabitmoredeeply,we realized thatGodwaseverywhere, forHewas theOnewhowas tellingDaniel allthesedetails!!“GodisstillGod–evenwhenHeisnowheretobeseen,”saysPastorStuartOlyott.This is true, not just at the level of international history but also true at the level ofpersonalhistory!Your life rightnowmay lookas ifGod isnowhere tobe found.Thetruthis,Heisthere,rightthere!

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DANIEL11:5‐20alsodemonstratesthetruthoftheseotherversesfromtheBible:

Romans13:1Leteverysoulbesubjecttothegoverningauthorities.ForthereisnoauthorityexceptfromGod,andtheauthoritiesthatexistareappointedbyGod.Isaiah40:23­24Hebringstheprincestonothing;Hemakesthejudgesoftheearthuseless.Scarcelyshalltheybeplanted,scarcelyshalltheybesown,scarcelyshalltheirstock takeroot in theearth,whenHewillalsoblowon them,and theywillwither,andthewhirlwindwilltakethemawaylikestubble.

1. (a) Whathaveyoulearntfromyourownreading/studyofDANIEL11:5‐20?

(b)WhathaveyoulearntfromreadingtheSummaryNotes?

2. TaketimetoponderthewordsofthishymnbyMatbieBabcock,andsingittoyour

Lordinworship:

ThisismyFather’sworld,andtomylisteningearsAllnaturesings,androundmeringsthemusicofthespheres.

ThisismyFather’sworld:IrestmeinthethoughtOfrocksandtrees,ofskiesandseas;Hishandthewonderswrought.

ThisismyFather’sworld,thebirdstheircarolsraise,

Themorninglight,thelilywhite,declaretheirMaker’spraise.ThisismyFather’sworld:Heshinesinallthat’sfair;

IntherustlinggrassIhearHimpass;Hespeakstomeeverywhere.

ThisismyFather’sworld.Oletmene’erforget

Thatthoughthewrongseemsoftsostrong,Godistheruleryet.ThisismyFather’sworld:thebattleisnotdone:

JesusWhodiedshallbesatisfied,AndearthandHeav’nbeone.

Day7ReadDANIEL11:21‐35These 14 verses zero in on one particular individual: the Seleucid king, AntiochusEpiphanes.WehavemethimpreviouslyinDANIEL8(thelittlehorn).1. Verses21‐24giveusasketchofthekindofpersonhewas:

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Verse21a:Verse21d:Verse23a:Verse24:

2. Verses25‐30giveusafewglimpsesofthekindofthingshedid: Verse25‐26: Verse27:

Verse28:Verse30:

3. Imagine that youwere a Jew living during the time of Antiochus Epiphanes and

youhavepersonallyexperiencedmanyoftheevildeedshecommittedagainsttheinhabitants of Judea. You have in your possession DANIEL 11 and have read it.HowwouldDANIEL11beahelpandencouragementtoyouduringsuchagraveperiodofdarkness?

Week12 [16thSeptember–22ndSeptember2012]Day1ReadDANIEL11:21‐35againToday,we shall focus on theworst deedAntiochus Epiphanes committed against theJews(verse31‐35).ThiscameaboutaftertheRomanshumiliatedhimwhenhetriedtoinvadeEgypt.HeturnedtotheJewstoventhisanger!1. Whatdidhedo?

Verse31b:Verse31c:Verse31d:

2. AgroupofpeoplewhoresistedAntiochusEpiphaneswasmentionedinverses32‐

33.

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(a) Howweretheydescribed?(Verse32b,33a,35)

(b)Whatdidtheydo?(Verse32b,33a)

(c) Whatwouldtheyundergoandsuffer?(Verse33b,34b,35a)Day2ReadDANIEL11:36‐45These10versestalkaboutaAntiochus­Epiphanes­likefigure.“TheLordcausesDanieltolookthroughAntiochusEpiphanestothepersonofwhomheisaprefigurement–themanof sin. From verse 36 Daniel is still, in a way, talking about Antiochus. But he is mostcertainlytalkingmostabouttheAntichrist, forthingsaresaidherewhichcannotinanywayapplytoAntiochus.”(StuartOlyott).1. Whatwouldthispersonbelike?(Verse36‐39)2. Verses40‐45telluswhathewoulddo.

(a) Whowouldhewagewaragainst?Whowouldbeexempted?

(b) Whatdoes‘healsoshallentertheGloriousLand’mean? 3. Whatwouldbehisend?Day3SummaryNotesforDANIEL11:21‐35andDANIEL11:36‐45DANIEL11:21‐35Thefocusofthese15versesisahistoricalperson:AntiochusEpiphanes.Morally,hewascorrupt–vileperson(v21),seizesthekingdombyintrigue(v21),actsdeceitfully(V23),speaksliesatthetable(v27).Hewasalsoaviolentandaggressiveman,ascanbeseeninthemanywarshewagedandthemassacreshecommitted(v22,25,28).Althoughhecalledhimself ‘Epiphanes’meaning‘theillustrious’,hiscontemporariesreferredtohimas‘Epimanes’meaning‘themadman’!

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Hisworstandmost infamousdeedwascommittedagainst JerusalemandtheTemple(v31‐35).Whathedid,asthehistorybookstellus,wasthatheattackedJerusalem,tookthewomenandchildrenasprisonersandbegantosystematicallyblotouteverytraceofJewishreligion,replacingitwithGreekthoughtandculture.Heremovedthetemple’saltarforburntofferingsanderectedapaganaltarinitsplace.During that time, the faithful Jews resisted him. They continued to teach the peopleGod’s Word, at the risk of losing their lives. Some took up arms to fight AntiochusEpiphanes. Many died, sometimes betrayed by fellow Jews. This time of persecutionunderAntiochusEpiphanescausesomewhoprofessedGod’snametofall.Forothers,itwasapurifyingandpruningexperience,andthereforeatimeofspiritualstrengthening.As a faithful Jew living in those dark times, onewould be encouraged to read thesewords:butonlyforatime(v24),butheshallnotstand(v25),butitshallnotprosper,forthe endwill still beat theappointed time (v27),at theappointed time (v29), until thetimeoftheend;becauseitisstillfortheappointedtime(v35).Ittellshimthatdespitetheapparent sway Antiochus Epiphanes had over all things, God was ultimately still incontrol,workingoutHispurposeswitheachsucceedingyear.And,forthefaithfulJew,thisGodishisGod!DANIEL11:36‐45Thefocusofthese10versesisonacomingperson:theAntichrist.AntiochusEpiphaneswas but a prefigurement of him. He would make his appearance at the end of thisworld.2Thessalonians2callshimamanofsin,thesonofperdition.Duringhistime,thereshallbeafallingawayofthosewhoprofessedtobeChristians.Hehimselfwould‘opposeandexalthimselfaboveallthatiscalledGodorthatisworshiped,sothathesitsasGodinthetempleofGod,showinghimselfthatheisGod.”ComparethiswithDANIEL11:36‐39.ComingbacktoDANIEL11,wefindthispersonfightingagainsteveryone,symbolizedby the Northern Kingdom, Southern Kingdom, Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia and manycountries. Only Edom, Moab and Ammon were spared (verse 41) because theysymbolizedthetraditionalenemiesofIsrael.Thingsstarttobeclearernow,asweseethathismainandfinalobjectiveistowipeoutGod’speople,symbolizedbyIsrael(theGloriousLand).As a faithful Christian living at that time, what comfort can this passage give? Godknowsandisinfullcontrol,forHeisabletotellustheriseofthispersonandtheevilshewilldo.Inaddition,wereadthathisendshallcome:yetheshallcometohisend,andnoonewillhelphim(v45)!EvilmighthaveitsdaybutGodshallhavethefinalsay!!WhathaveyoulearntfromreadingtheSummaryNotes?Sharewhatyouhavelearntwithsomeone:________________________________________ (Name)

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Day4ReadDANIEL12:1‐4The first four verses of DANIEL 12 continue from the vision in DANIEL 11. DANIEL11:45informsusthattheAntiochus­Epiphanes­likefigure(theAntichrist)shallcometohisendandnoonewillhelphim.DANIEL12:1bringsusback to the timebefore theendof theAntichrist.Weare toldthatlifethenwouldbe‘atimeoftrouble,suchasneverwassincetherewasanation,eventothattime.’Inotherwords,unprecedentedtroubles!YetGod’speopleshallbedeliveredandtheAntichristshallbedefeated!How?‘AtthattimeMichaelshallstandup. . .’ ishowverse1begins.ThedeliveranceofGod’speopleandthedefeatoftheAntichristhavemuchtodowithMichael.1. WhowasMichael,accordingtoverse1?2. Michael was also mentioned in other parts of the Bible. Read the verses listed

belowandcopythemout:

DANIEL10:13~

DANIEL10:21‐11:1~Jude1:9~

Revelation12:7~

Note: MichaelwasthearchangelwhoguardedthepeopleofGod.FromtheBiblereferences,weknowthathewasafightingarchangel!AndstandingbehindhimwasourLordHimself (manclothedwith linen),strengtheninghimtoguardHispeople!

Day5ReadDANIEL12:1‐4again1. Verse 1 says that God’s people shall be delivered. How shall they be delivered?

(Verse2)2. (a) Whowouldshinelikethebrightnessofthefirmament?(Verse3a)

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(b)Whowouldshinelikethestars?(Verse3b)

(c) Whatdoyouthinkisthepurposeofverse3?

Note: TosealupthebookdoesnotmeanthatthethingsrevealedtoDanielwereto remaina secret.TheancientPersiancustomwas thatonceabookhadbeencopiedandpubliclycirculated,onecopywassealedandplacedinthelibrary.Thisissothatfuturegenerationscouldreadit.Hence,whatDanielwas told to do was to ensure that what was revealed to him would beknown to all the generations to come. In simple words, what God hadrevealed,Hewantedallmentoknow!

Day6ReadDANIEL12:5‐131. Inverses5‐8,wereadoftwoangelicbeings.Oneofthemaskedthemanclothedin

linenaquestion.

(a) Whatwashisquestion?

(b) Whatwastheanswergivenbythemanclothedinlinen?

(c) Whatdoyouthinkisthemeaningoftheanswer?

2. Inverses8‐13,Danielwasspeakingtothemanclothedinlinen.

(a) WhatwasDaniel’squestion?

(b) Whatwastheanswergiventohim?

(c) WhatwasDanieltoldtodoinstead?(V13)

(d) Howwasverse13anencouragementtoDaniel?

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Day7SummaryNotesforDANIEL12:1‐13We are told in the New Testament that angels are ministering spirits sent forth tominister to those who inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). DANIEL 12 is one suchexample.WehaveMichaelthearchangelstandinguptofightforGod’speopletodeliverthem.Weknow fromDANIEL11:1 thatMichaelwasable todo thisbecausehisLordand our Lord was behind him, confirming and strengthening him. What a greatencouragementtoknowthat“thosewhoarewithusaremorethanthosewhoarewiththem.”(2Kings6:16).ThemodeofdeliveranceforGod’speopleisnotwhatweexpect!TheAntichristandhiswicked followersmay actually triumph and kill believers. But they will not triumphultimatelyforthereismoretocomebeyondthegrave!Adayofresurrectionwillcome.Therighteouswillexperiencetheresurrectionofeverlastinglifewhilethewickedwillhavetheresurrectionofshameandeverlastingcontempt.Hence,deliveranceforGod’speoplemaynotbefromdeathbutthroughdeath!Duringsuchunprecedenteddarktimes,God’speopleareencouragedtoremainfaithfulto Him and to serve Him steadfastly, like the faithful Jews did during the times ofAntiochus Epiphanes. Faithful believers will shine like the firmament while faithfulservantsoftheLordwillshinelikethestars!Thetwoangelicbeingsdidn’tunderstandeverythingthatwasrevealedinDANIEL11.(Is that somewhat of a comfort to you?) So one of them asked, “How long shall thefulfillment of thesewonders be?” The answer givenwas a time, times andhalf a time.Whatdoesthismean?ItprobablymeansthattheAntichristwillholdswayforatime,andwhenwethinkhistimeisup,hewillholdswayfordoublethetime.Atthispoint,wewillthinkthathewillneverbedefeated,andyetattheheightofhispower,heshallbecutoff(halfatime)!“Evilwillnotbebrokenwhenitisatalowebb,butwhenitisatitsheight!”(StuartOlyott).ThereweresomethingsabouttherevelationthatDanielcouldn’tcomprehend.(Isthatacomforttoyouaswell?)Hewastoldthathedoesnotneedtounderstandthedetailsof the revelation.Rather, thosewho liveduring that timewill be able tounderstand.Instead,DanielwastoldtogoonlivingfortheLord(goyourwaytill theend),hewasassuredthatheshallrestandthenarisetohisinheritance!Andwiththat,weseeandhearthelastofDaniel,assuredthatweshallseehimagaininheaven,withhisandourgloriousLord!WhathaveyoulearntfromreadingtheSummaryNotes?Sharewhatyouhavelearntwithsomeone:________________________________________ (Name)

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Acknowledgement

WhatevertheweaknessesofthisRead‐The‐Bible‐Togetherguide,theywouldhavebeenfargreaterwithoutthekindhelpofbrotherPaulPHUAandsisterSarahSOH.

Theyhaveverykindlygiventheirtimeandenergytoreviewtheentireguide,askingquestionsallthewayandgivingmanyvaluablesuggestions.Thankyou,fellow

Shalomites!

Ironsharpensiron,andonemansharpensanother!(Proverbs27:17,ESV)