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Sunday School Handout on Book of Daniel

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NOTES ON BOOK OF DANIEL

SUNDAY SCHOOL HANDOUT

LESSONS 3-1-20 THROUGH 4-19-20

Randy Skidmore

4-14-20

RESOURCES

David Jeremiah’s “The Handwriting on the Wall”

J. Vernon McGee’s commentary on Daniel

Pastor Danny Penny’s Handout on Daniel’s 70 Weeks

Dake Annotated Reference Bible


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As a Sunday School teacher for several years now, I was very excited when we

began this unit on the Prophecies of Daniel. After three lessons, we had to

temporarily stop our regular church services due to the Coronavirus. Even

though we were not in Sunday School for most of the lessons, I continued to

put together my notes, and have decided to put them together as a handout. I

hope it helps you as much as it has me.

3-1-20 Chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Statue

3-8-20 Chapter 4 Nebuchadnezzar’s Heart Changed to an Animal

3-15-20 Chapter 5 Handwriting on the Wall

3-22-20 Chapter 7 Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts (Empires)

3-29-20 Chapter 8 Daniel’s Vision of Ram and Goat

4-5-20 Chapter 9 Daniel’s Prophecy of Seventy Weeks

4-19-20 Chapter 10-12 Daniel’s End Times Prophecy


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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON, 3-1-20

Today we begin a new unit on the book of Daniel

Our first lesson is from Daniel chapter 2.

J. Vernon McGee says in his commentary that Isaiah has been called the “prince of the

prophets”

Having said that, McGee then says that Daniel is the “king of the prophets”

The book of Daniel has been debated by conservative and liberal scholars

Most of the debate has to do with when it was written

Based on history, and the Bible & Daniel’s words, it was written about (605-520 B.C.)

The liberal commentaries say it was written much later

Liberals want to put it at around 170 B.C, the time of the Maccabees (not by Daniel)

More about that another day

Daniel was born around 623 B.C.

Do you remember the handout by Pastor Penny, about the Kings of Judah & Israel?

I reference it often in our SS class.

Two years ago, we studied a unit on the Kings of Judah.

Remember Judah’s king Josiah?

Josiah became King of Judah at 8 years old, around 640 B.C.

He was the last good king of Judah

In 609 B.C., Egyptian Pharoah Neco came north to help the Assyrians fight the Babylonians

King Josiah of Judah decides to block Egypt from going to help the Assyrians

King Josiah was killed in the battle with Egyptians in the valley of Megiddo

Josiah was king of Judah for 31 years

Josiah’s middle son, Jehoahaz becomes king of Judah

He was king for 90 days, removed by same Pharoah Necho, then taken captive to Egypt

Josiah’s oldest son, Jehoiakim then becomes king of Judah

That same year, the Babylonians will conquer Egypt and the Assyrians, and become the world

power

When that happens, Judah becomes a “vassal state”, ruled by Babylon

Under King Jehoiakim, Judah pays a yearly tribute to Babylon

For three years Jehoiakim pays tribute, then decides to stop

In 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar comes to Jerusalem the 1st time

City not destroyed at this time

But Nebudchadnezzar takes certain valueable items from the Temple in Jerusalem back to

Babylon

Daniel (teenager) and many others are also taken to Babylon, mostly young people, the best and

smartest

King Jehoiakim is taken prisoner to Babylon

Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin then becomes king of Judah, he is grandson of Josiah

He rules 3 months and 10 days

Nebuchadnezzar comes a 2nd time, takes Jehoiachin, the prophet Ezekiel, and many more

captive back to Babylon

Also takes the remaining Temple vessels taken to Babylon


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Zedekiah becomes final king of Judah, he is youngest son of Josiah

In 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar will come a 3rd time, this time the Temple and the city of

Jerusalem will be destroyed

The book of Daniel was written by Daniel while he was captive in Babylon

He will live the remainder of his life there

One of the unusual things about book of Daniel, is that the middle part is written in Aramaic

Those 250 verses, and the book of Ezra are the only parts of the O.T. written in Aramaic, the

rest is written in Hebrew

Aramaic language used by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians

So the Jews from Judah, while in captivity in Babylon, learn the Aramaic language

When they return to Judah years later, the Aramaic language begins to replace Hebrew as the

spoken language

The indoctrination of the young Jews taken captive begins with a name change

We know three other Jewish young men taken into captivity: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah

There Babylonian names given were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego

Daniel was also given new name: Belteshazzar

All new names were given to begin to indoctrinate them to Babylonian culture

They are taught the Aramaic language, and Babylonian history

Then they are assigned the best food and drink, from King Nebuchadnezzar’s table

Our unit begins with chapter 2 of Daniel

In chapter 1, is the familiar story of Daniel and the others resisting to defile themselves with the

food

WHY?

The food was probably part of offerings to false gods, drink possibly alchoholic – things

forbidden or taught against in Jewish religion

At the end of the 3 year indoctrination, Daniel and his friends are the smartest

There are “top of the class” of already special young people

Daniel is given a position in the king’s administration

In addition, God gives to Daniel, the supernatural ability to interpret dreams and vision

Here is where chapter 2 picks up

Many people avoid reading and studying prophecy, thinking they can’t understand it. But,

with the many tools we have in commentaries and different Bible translations, we should

include prophecy in our study

Nobody gets it all the first time, but bit by bit, little by little, we can develop a good grasp of

prophecy, which helps us understand other parts of the Bible

King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that troubles him.

He calls for his magicians and sorcers, and commands them to tell him the dream he had, and

also its interpretatiton.

They plead for the king to tell them his dream, saying “there is no other who can tell it to the

king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh”

But in about 600 years, that will change. The Lord of Heaven, Jesus Christ, will come as a man

to this world to seek and to save the lost


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The book of Daniel is a testament to the universal soverignty of God

Some pagans, probably including Nebuchadnezzar believed in many gods

They thought gods were regional or national. The Babylonians thought the God of Judah

(Israel) did not have power beyond borders of Judah.

But that is not true. The God of Israel, the Creator of all things, reveals His authority many

times in the Bible, including when He reveals Himself to Nebuchadnezzar

One fifth of the content of Scripture was predictive at the time of its writing

A large segment of that has been fulfilled as of today.

Question: are there still prophets today? What do you think?

I tend to think there are servants of God, who can give a prophetic word about a person or

circumstance

But, yet, I think end times events have already been prophesied, no more prophecy needed for

that time.

The world is filled with questions and uncertainty

Many people look to the sensationalism of false teachings and teachers

In our present time, there are wars and conflicts everywhere.

There is much concern about the Coronavirus, and what its impact will be on the world, our

country, the stock market, and our401K’s and IRA’s

Never forget that no matter the circumstances of the world, God is in charge

That was true when the people of Judah were carried away into captivity (judgment) in

Babylon, and it is still true today

God has a plan, He knows the outcome of all events. The Bible declares the ending

Our responsibility is to trust Him, and share our faith. That is what Daniel was doing

God will take care of you.

God knows how to take care of us!

R. Skidmore 2-29-20


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Today, we continue our unit on the book of Daniel

David Jeremiah, wrote a (3) volume study guide, “The Handwriting on the Wall”, about book

of Daniel, I recommend it, and have used as a resource in my studies

I mentioned last week that the book of Daniel has been debated by conservative and liberal

scholars

The debate has mostly been about when and who wrote it

Daniel’s book, says he ministered from the 1st year of Nebuchadnezzar (605 B.C.), until 3rd year

of Cyrus, around 535 B.C.

Book of Daniel written during his ministry

The liberal commentaries say it was written much later. They want to put it at around 170 B.C,

the time of the Maccabees, which would mean Daniel did not write this book.

Rarely is a challenge to the Bible an attempt to find the truth

Most times it comes from unbelief, and a goal of hurting Christianity

It is interesting how challenges to the Bible are always proven wrong in time

The Word of God is accurate.

Proofs against later writing date

Daniel says in his book that Nebuchadnezzar took the Temple vessels back to Babylon

And put them in the house of his god

Critics said “this is something that is never heard of in secular history” and “It is an unknown

custom, something that was never done”

But in the last 50 years, an inscription was uncovered informing us that Nebuchadnezzar

always put the choicest spoils in the house of his god. It was a custom peculiar to him

In chapter 5 (next week’s lesson)

Daniel writes that Belshazzar, king of Babylon was killed the night the city of Babylon fell to the

Persians

Secular history identifies the last king of Babylon as Nabonidus, and that he was not present

when the city fell

Nobody had any idea how to reconcile Daniel to history

But about 200 years ago, a Babylonian cylinder was found in the Euphrates valley that included

inscriptions that said there were two kings of Babylon during Daniel’s later life

King Nabonidus, had made his son Belshazzar co-regent, and allowed him to use the royal title

Nabonidus lived outside the city

Belshazzar lived in the city, and was killed on the night the Persians captured it

The Greek translation of the O.T., called the Septuagint, was done some 100 years (270 B.C.)

before time of the Maccabees, and it contains the book of Daniel

Josephus, Jewish historian lived in the 1st century AD

In AD 73, he finished a book about Jewish revolt on Romans

In AD 93, he finished his history of Jews, Creation to time of Romans, (Antiquities of the Jews).

In Book 11, chapter 8), Josephus records an incident during the time of Alexander the Great

which supports the Biblical timeline & authorship of Daniel.


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When Alexander’s invasion of Middle East, 332 B.C. reached the edge of Judah, the high priest,

went out to meet him, and showed him a copy of the Book of Daniel in which Alexander was

clearly mentioned

Alexander was so impressed by this that, instead of destroying Jerusalem, he entered the city

peaceably and worshiped at the temple.

In Matthew & Mark, Jesus called Daniel “the prophet”

The endorsement Jesus Christ is sufficient for me to believe in Daniel and his writing

In our lesson today, we will read about a judgment God sent upon Nebuchadnezzar; because of

his pride

Some say that the most fundamental sin is the sin of pride

Question: is pride what we do, or how we think???

This section of Daniel includes the words of Daniel, but also of Nebuchadnezzar

In our lesson today, Nebuchadnezzar has another dream / vision

The DAKE Bible lists (34) dreams in scripture

Book of Daniel includes (5) of those

It is obvious that God is dealing with Nebuchadnezzar’s heart

At times, Nebuchadnezzar speaks well of God, and especially concerning Daniel. But yet, he

falls short of really recognizing the One & True God.

But when God finishes with him, Nebuchadnezzar is a different man

Daniel 4:16, not in our printed text says

“Let his heart (Nebuchadnezzar) be changed from man’s and let a beast’s heart be given unto

him, and let seven times pass over him”

The NIV translation says

“let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of an animal”

Some commentaries say that Nebuchadnezzar was mentally ill

Others go so far as to say he was suffering from “Boanthropy” (BO-an-thro-py)

A pyschological disorder, that causes a person to believe they are an ox, or cow, or bovine

(cattle like: buffalo, bison, yak)

J. Vernon McGee says Nebuchadnezzar had a form of insanity called “hysteria”

McGee says Nebuchadnezzar “was not ruling with a full deck”, “was a little off”

We take great risk, when we fail to acknowledge God, when we fail to turn to Him, but instead

turn from Him, and go our own way

There are hundreds of places in the Bible where it speaks of changed hearts

Most are related to a heart being changed toward God, not away

The Apostle Paul was confronted by Christ on the road to Damascus, and it changed him.

Ezekiel writes

“A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you”

“I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”


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Psalm 51 says

"Create in me a CLEAN heart, O God; and renew a RIGHT spirit within me"

In our lesson today, Nebuchadnezzar’s heart is changed, so that he will know that God is in

control

Nebuchadnezzar recognized God revealed mysteries to Daniel, but he failed to acknowledge

God as his Lord

Many people recognize God exists

They may even believe He does miracles

But, they stop short of receiving the gift of salvation, and accepting Christ as Lord

I can’t explain how God makes decisions

For Nebuchadnezzar, God dealt directly with him, using dreams / visions; allowing him to see

God’s power and soverignty through prophet Daniel

In our story, Daniel pleads with him to turn from his sin, seek righteousness, and to show mercy

to the poor

I suspect many other men have gone through difficulties, judgments, when God was trying to

get their attention

I’m sure some realized what was happening and turned to God

While others did not, and entered eternity without knowing God

I don’t want God to have to drive me out, to change my heart to that of an animal, or to blind

me with a light

But, I am so thankful that He has allowed me to know the truth. That God has put me in a

place where I can be fed spiritually, where I can fellowship with other believers.

A place where I can be saved. A place where I can serve Him

I’m also glad, when I come up short, that He does not throw me away

But that His Holy Spirit, speaks to me, and draws me to a proper place in Him

R. Skidmore 3-7-20


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Today we continue unit on the book of Daniel

Last week we discussed Daniel chapter 4, where Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon had a

dream about a large tree, that is cut down, but the stump left

Daniel interprets that dream, Nebuchadnezzar is the tree, and Daniel tells him he will be driven

from men, live as an animal for 7 years; and things happened just as Daniel said they would

Today’s lesson comes from Daniel 5. Pastor Danny preached on last Sunday.

Thirty years have passed since Nebuchadnezzar was judged and restored

Nebuchadnezzar has died.

His son Evil-Merodach (Hebrew name) became king, reigned 4 years, and was assassinated

It is at about this time, that Daniel and the other leaders associated with Nebuchadnezzar were

releaved of their government positions.

Evil-Merodach was succeeded by another Neriglassar, another son of Nebuchadnezzar. He

reigned 4 years, and was killed in battle

Then a man from everyday Babylonians, Labashi-Marduk, became king

He was succeeded by Nabonidus, a son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar

After about a year on the throne, he named his son Belshazzar co-regent

Nabonidus lived outside the city of Babylon, and was very involved with army

By the time of our lesson, Nabonidus has been captured fighting the Medes & Persians

Some believe that his capture, and Belshazzar becoming the reigning king; is possibly the

reason for the great feast in our lesson today

History tells us that during this feast, the Babylonian god Bel was honored. Several

commentaries believe this is false god, is the same as Canaanite god Baal

Archaeologists tell us that the hall where this feast (party) was held was 60’ wide and 172’ long

The walls were decorated in stucco, with etchings of the Babylonian empire accomplishments

on the walls

Daniel 5:2 says Belshazzar gave the command that to bring the gold and silver vessels

Nebuchadnezzar had taken Temple, so they could drink wine from them

I think the Temple and the items inside it were beyond our imagination

I’ve read that AT&T stadium, Dallas Cowboys football, cost about $1.3B; one of the most

expensive sports stadiums ever built

That is nothing compared to Temple in Jerusalem.

I’ve read that the materials, gathered by King David iIncluded 100K talents of gold = 3750 tons,

and 1M talents of silver = 37,500 tons

Just the gold and silver of 1st Temple worth about $56B, fifty times present day AT&T stadium

The Temple included many gold and silver items. There was a gold menorrah (lamp stand),

and two silver trumpets, and many other items too.

I believe the last mention of the Ark of the Covenant was during the time of King Josiah (the

last good king of Judah). Josiah was king about 25 years before Nebuchadnezzar destroyed

Temple

Josiah had the Ark and the Torah scroll (written by Moses) hidden in a secret place. Maybe in

the catacombs, tunnels, caverns under the Temple

Back to the fall of Babylon

History says that the Babylonians had about 20 years of provisions inside city


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Persian King Cyrus knew he could not wait for their food to run out, he needed another way to

get into the city

Remember, that the Euphrates river flowed through city of Babylon

Years before Persian attack, Queen Nitocris, Belshazzar’s mother, wanted a bridge built over

the river, connecting the two halves of the city

She had workmen dig a huge basin (47 miles in circumference) north of the city

She had great stones prepared for bridge, and a canal was dug diverting the river to the basin

Then, the stones were set in the river bed, to be the foundation for the bridge

Then canal filled in, the river restored, and the bridge built

When the Persians came to take Babylon, King Cyrus had his army dig 180 channels on each

side of the river, diverting the great river away from Babylon to the old basin

Persian army marched through the river bed, some believe only a few feet deep, into Babylon

Our timeline is October 13, 556 B.C.

Around A.D. 455, Rome was entered by the Vandals. German tribal people.

I read after the Vandals were inside Rome, they heard a speaker in the Roman Senate

proposing a plan to stop them, if they should invade the land

The Vandals (enemy) were already there, even inside the Roman Senate, and the Roman

senators did not realize it

One historian said the enemy “poked the Roman Senators” to see if they were alive; because

they looked like statues, they were asleep

The Romans had become so insensitive to their decaying society, they failed to see the threat

that was already there

I think this is applicable to our society and lives today, (the enemy lives among us)

God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to take the holy vessels from the Temple back to Babylon (punish

Judah)

But when Bellshazzar desecrated the holy vessels of God, Babylon had crossed a line that led to

destruction

There is a line, I can not say exactly where it is, that a nation can cross, that leads to judgment

That same thing is true for individuals, there is a line we can cross where judgment will follow.

I believe there is even a place we can cross where we forfeit our salvation. I’m not sure where it

is, but I believe it is there

Daniel had asked Nebuchadnezzar to renounce his sins, do what is right. Be kind to the

oppressed; that his prosperity might continue.

But Nebuchadnezzar ignored Daniel’s waring

For Bellshazzar, there was no warning, no option to turn and avoid judgment

For Bellshazzar and Babylon, judgment was already at the gate

That very night, the Medes & Persians, Darius and Cyrus, destroyed the Babylonian kingdom,

and killed Bellshazzar

Even when people don’t believe or recognize it, the Lord is in control

His plans are moving forward, often without human awareness

God’s providence is not limited to a particular area, but rather is world wide, over all creation.


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Psalms says

“He is ruler over the nations”

He certainly can use a righteous nation to over throw wicked ones. An example is God using

Joshua and the Israelites to judge the inhabitants of the Promised Land

He has also used a wicked nation to chastise a better nation. An example is God using the

Babylonians to judge the southern kingdom of Judah in 586 B.C.

The city of Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. Approximately 70K Jews were taken

into captivity for 70 years

Nearly 700 years later, A.D. 70, at maybe the height of Israel’s rebellion against God, including

the murder of the Messiah, God sent the Romans to judge Israel

Josephus says 1M Hebrews were killed, and thousands more taken into slavery

So, we should not be surprised to see God send the Medes & Persians, to judge the Babylonians

The question is asked “will God continue to judge nations?” I think the answer is yes.

But God is long suffering, not willing that any should perish.

But yet, He is Holy, and will judge sin

I share the concern of Thomas Jefferson:

“I tremble for my country, when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever”

Our country is not immune to His judgment

In addition, as individuals, we need to guard our hearts from things that would separate us

from God, or that could hinder our walk and witness

So we can enjoy His blessing, and avoid His judgment

R. Skidmore 3-14-20


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I’ve been very excited about teaching our SS unit on the book of Daniel. Due to the

Coronavirus situation, our last SS class was on 3-15-20.

I hope you and your family are staying healthy and safe. I’ve put together some notes

for the 3-22-20 lesson we missed. I hope you find them helpful.

This lesson is from Daniel chapter 7, “Prophecy About Four Empires”

Some Bible scholars believe that the 7th chapter of Daniel provides the most

comprehensive and detailed prophecy of future events given in the Old Testament.

Remember that chapters one through six of Daniel are historic and chronological. In

these chapters, Daniel interpreted dreams for others.

Chapters seven thru twelve are visions that Daniel himself had during during the time

described in chapters one through six.

The vision Daniel had in chapter 7, happened during the first year of Belshazzar king of

Babylon. Remember that Belshazzar’s father, king Nabonidus, had named Bellshazzar

“co-regent”.

Verses 1-8 includes symbols of these earthly kingdoms:

Daniel saw a great sea. In his dream, Daniel was standing beside the

Mediterranean Sea. There is also figurative meaning to the Bible word sea, it is

the “sea of humanity.”

Daniel saw four winds blowing on that sea. Winds blowing from every corner of

the earth. This is a picture of the condition of the world; one of political strife,

struggles, wars, and bloodshed.

Daniel saw four great beasts coming up out of the sea. In the ancient world,

animals were used as symbols of kingdoms. The same thing still happens today.

Today, the lion is a symbol of Great Britain; and the eagle a symbol of the

United States. Most nations have an animal for a symbol. These beasts that

Daniel saw coming up out of the sea, were real kingdoms that have existed in the

history of our world.

These beasts (kingdoms) did not come up at the same time. They followed each other,

one at a time.

These beasts represent the same kingdoms described in Daniel chapter 2.

Remember the great statue that Nebuchadnezzar saw. The head of gold was

Babylon. The arms and chest of silver was the Medes and Persians. The belly of

bronze was Greece. And the legs of iron was Rome.

The first beast that Daniel saw was like a lion that had eagle wings. This is the

Babylonian kingdom. The national symbol of Babylon was a winged lion. In the book

of Jeremiah, which was written before the Israelites (and Daniel) were taken captive to

Babylon, the lion and the eagle are used to describe Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon).

The second beast that Daniel saw was a bear. This is the Medes and Persian empire.

Daniel saw the bear lifted up on one side. In the Medo-Persian Empire, the Persians


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were dominant. By the end of the book of Daniel, the Medes were about gone, and the

Persians were in control. The Medes and the Persians conquered Babylon.

The third beast that Daniel saw was like a leopard, which had four wings on its back.

This beast also had four heads. This is the Greek empire under Alexander the Great.

Persia was defeated by Greece. The four heads represent the four generals of

Alexander the Great, that divided his empire after his death: Ptolemy, Seleucus,

Lysimachus, and Cassander.

The fourth beast that Daniel saw is described as dreadful, terrible, and very strong. It

had ten horns, and was different than the beasts before it. There isn’t any animal on

earth that compares to the description of this fourth beast. This is a kingdom that was

cruel beyond measure. It was Rome that crucified the Lord Jesus, and the Apostle

Peter. It was Rome who beheaded the Apostle Paul. It was Rome that burned the

Christians, and murdered them in their coliseum games. The ten horns are ten

kingdoms who rule at the same time. There has never been a ten part Roman Empire,

so this is a picture of the future. One of the ten kingdoms will conquer and dominate

the others. This is the Antichrist.

Some people call this ten part kingdom a “fifth kingdom.” However, these ten horns

grow out of the fourth beast (maybe a final development of the fourth beast). Rome

was not conquered. It did not disappear. It fell from within. The nations of western

Europe and those near the Mediterranean Sea are geographically part of what was the

Roman empire.

Notice that these kingdoms get worse and worse; conquering, destroying, and

devouring each other.

Verses 9-14, a picture of the Lord in Heaven

The vision of Daniel shifts from the kingdoms of earth, to the Lord in Heaven

Daniel says he saw the “Ancient of Days”. This is the only place in the Bible where the

Ancient of Days is mentioned. It is the only passage in the Bible where God the Father

is pictured in human form. We know God is not human, He is a spirit. I think God

allows Daniel to see him in this manner, to help him understand the vision.

The term Ancient of Days means “the elderly one, the One who has been forever, and

the One who never had a beginning.”

These verses speak to us of God’s eternity, purity, majesty, authority, and deity.

Note the contrast between events on earth and in Heaven. The earth is filled with

turmoil, strife, kingdoms competing for control. But in Heaven, God is on the throne.

He is in control. None of earth’s events are of surprise to Him. His eternal plan is

moving per His will.

Verses 11 and 12, tell us of the ending for the Antichrist and the False Prophet. They

are judged guilty of sin and rebellion, and cast forever into the lake of fire.

Verse 13, Daniel sees “One like the Son of Man” (Jesus Christ) as He comes before the

Ancient of Days, God the Father. Christ will judge the world, and He is given an

eternal kingdom, over all nations and people.


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The earthly kingdoms are limited in power and time. But the Kingdom of God, of Jesus

Christ has no limits, and Christ will reign for eternity.

Verses 15-28, are about the Antichrist

The Antichrist is the “other horn” that came up from the ten horns. He will reign over

the final form of the final earthly kingdom.

The world is ready for a person that can solve its problems. The Antichrist will make

the world believe that he has the answers. When he does, they will welcome him as

world leader.

The Antichrist will have great appeal. He will be a great public speaker. Yet he will

speak against the Most High (God).

The Antichrist will capture the attention and approval of the world; and it will follow

him.

The Bible also says there will be something about him that the world finds attractive.

Daniel says his “appearance was greater than his fellows.” Saul, the first king of Israel

was head and shoulders above others. This may speak of the Antichrist’s rank or

stature.

No doubt, the Antichrist will be a powerful politician. Somehow, he will subdue or

replace three of the other ten kings (verse 8).

The Antichrist will not only be a great politician, but he will be a religious leader. He

will speak against the God in Heaven, and put himself in God’s place, and cause the

people of the world to worship him.

Verse 25 says that the Antichrist “shall intend to change times and laws.” Most believe

he will try and change the morals and natural laws of our world. Some believe he will

even try and change our calendar. Many think he will do away with religious holidays.

His goal is to strip away our history and religious beliefs. In many ways, we already see

modern day society trying to do this.

Based on Second Thessalonians 2:9, Satan will give the Antichrist supernatural powers,

and he will be able to do things this world has not seen since Christ walked this earth.

The Antichrist will persecute the saints of God. Many believers today, especially those

in communist ruled countries are already persecuted for their faith in Christ. When

the Antichrist is in control, he will “wear out the saints”, and many will have to give

their lives for their faith in Christ.

Most leaders of this world have found their way into positions of leadership through

economic means. It was Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Communist Party of the Soviet

Union, who said “the surest way to overthrow an existing social order is to debauch the

currency.” Perhaps, the Antichrist will come on the scene with answers to the world’s

economic problems.


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It is important that we know the signs of the times. But our concern should not be about

the Antichrist, but rather to make sure that we, our family and friends, are ready for the

return of Christ. I believe the church will be raptured, taken out of this world, before this

“man of sin” reveals himself.

As we see things that should point to Christ’s soon return, remember the Words of Jesus

concerning this time, that Luke records in his Gospel:

L u k e 2 1 : 2 8

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look

up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth

nigh.”

R. Skidmore 3-27-20


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I’ve sure missed being in SS, and teaching our class about the book of Daniel. Due to

the Coronavirus situation, our last SS class was on 3-15-20.

I hope you and your family are staying healthy and safe. Like I did last week, I’ve put

together some notes for the 3-29-20 lesson we will miss. I hope you find them helpful.

This lesson is from Daniel chapter 8, “Vision of the Ram and Goat”

Remember that this is the second vision that was given to Daniel, and God gives it to

Daniel at the end of the Babylonian kingdom. The Medes and Persians will soon

destroy the Babylonian kingdom.

Remember that chapters one through six of Daniel are historic and chronological. In

these chapters, Daniel interpreted dreams for others.

Chapters seven through twelve are visions that Daniel himself received during the time

of chapters one through six.

Nearly all of the Old Testament was orignally written in Hebrew. When Daniel was in

Babylon, Aramaic was the common language. Most of Daniel’s book is written in

Aramaic. But here in chapter 8, we find part of Daniel written in Hebrew. Maybe

because the events that are written about here will affect the Jews.

Daniel tells us that this vision came to him in the third year of King Bellshazzar, so

about two years have passed since the vision Daniel had in Chapter 7 about the four

beasts (earthly kingdoms).

The date for the events in Chapter 8 are around 550 B.C. Daniel is now in his sixties.

In relation to the first part of Daniel, many believe Daniel’s vision in Chapter 8, took

place chronologically between chapters four (Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great

tree) and five (the handwriting on the wall during Bellshazzar’s feast).

What Daniel saw in this second vision, will help him to interpret the writing on the wall

(by the hand of God) during Bellshazzar’s feast.

I want to repeat something I said during our 3-15-20 SS class. The hand that writes on

the banquet hall wall during Bellshazzar’s feast, is the same hand that wrote the

commandments on tablets for Moses. This is the same hand that bent down and wrote

on the ground, when the Jews wanted to stone the adultress woman, and it is the same

hand that will be nailed to the cross for our sins.

The Ram and the Goat

Daniel says that when this vision came to him, that he was in Shushan, the city where

the king’s palace was. Remember, this is a vision about the future. At the time Daniel

has this vision, Shushan was a small city on the fringe of the Babylonian kingdom; a

relatively unknown place with no significance to the Babylonian kingdom.

Daniel says in verse 3 that he saw a Ram, with two horns, and one was higher than the

other, and the higher one came up last. This shows how the Medes came first, and then

were joined by the Persians. Over time, the Persian kingdom became dominant, and

absorbed the Medes.


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Daniel says the ram pushed westward, northward, and soutward; and no animal could

withstand him. This is a picture of the strength of the Medes and Persians, and how

they conquer and control the known world.

Daniel then says that suddenly, a male goat came from the west, and crossed the whole

earth, without touching the ground; and this goat had a “notable horn” between his

eyes. This male goat is Greece, and the notable horn is Alexander the Great.

In Daniel’s vision, the goat attacked the ram, and broke its two horns. This is a picture

of Greece defeating the Medes and Persians.

The goat grew stronger, and when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and from

it came up four notable ones.

The great horn being broken is the death of Alexander the Great.

Remember, Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C. Daniel’s prophecy about the coming

world power of Greece, and the death of Alexander the Great, was written about 200

years before it happened.

The four notable horns are the four generals of Alexander the Great, that divided his

empire after he died. They are Ptolemy, Seleucus, Cassander, and Lysimachus.

The period from the death of Alexander the Great, until around 150 B.C., is called the

Hellenistic period in world history. The word Hellenistic refers to the Greek culture.

Verse 9 says out of one of this group of generals turned kings, came a “little horn.” In

Daniels writing a horn speaks of a king, or kingdom.

From this Hellenistic period, from the kingdom of Seleucus (Seleucid kingdom) came a

ruler named Antiochus Epiphanes. He greatly persecuted the Jews, and was a type of

the Antichrist.

Antichus Epiphanes attacked Jerusalem around 167 B.C. When he did, he killed 80K

Jews, and sold another 40K into slavery.

He looted the Temple, and desecrated the Temple by sacrificing a pig on the Holy altar.

He wanted to destroy the Jewish religion, and replace it with Greek worship and

culture.

He forbid the Holy scriptures from being read, and destroyed as many copies of the

Torah that he could find.

He stopped the Jewish circumcision of males.

He stopped the Jews from celebrating their feasts, and caused the Jews to celebrate

Greek feasts to false gods.

There was living in that day, a priest named Mattathias from the city of Modein (just

outside Jerusalem). He was a great man, and a leader among the Jews.

One day, an officer of Antiochus Epiphanes, came to Modein, to make the Jews worship

at an altar of the Greek god Jupiter.

Mattathias killed a Jew who was about to worship, and also killed the officer of

Antiochus.

This began a Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid kingdom. Mattathias would die about

a year into the rebellion, but his son Judas Maccabaeus would continue to lead the

rebellion


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This war lasted about seven years, and resulted in a Jewish victory, and expulsion of the

occupying enemy.

After expelling the enemy, the Jews began a ceremony to reconsecrate the Temple. The

ceremony required eight days. But they could only find enough oil for the golden light

stand for one day. Jewish tradition says the cruse of oil lasted for all eight days. In

celebration of that miracle and the rededication of the Temple, the Jewish people

celebrate Hanukkah, also called Festival of Lights for eight days.

Verse 23, says “when the transgressors have reached their fullness”, a king shall arise

who is fierce and mighty. The Bible says that by peace he shall destroy many; and this

king will stand up against the “Prince of princes.”

Without a doubt, Daniel has seen the rise of the Antichrist in the end times.

I made several comments about the Antichrist in my 3-15-20 notes.

Verse 24, says concerning the Antichrist, “his power shall be mighty, but not by his own

power.” The Antichrist’s power will come from Satan. He will be demonic, demon

possessed.

Revelation 13:2 says the Dragon (Satan) gave to the Antichrist his power and his seat,

and his great authority.

Like Alexander the Great, and Antiochus Epiphanes, the Antichrist will conquer

everyone and everything that gets in his way; at least for a time.

But in the end, the Lord Jesus Christ will come to establish His Millenium Kingdom.

When Christ comes, He will defeat the Antichrist, with His power, and will cast him into

the Lake of Fire forever.

Antiochus Epiphanes was also destroyed “without human hands.” When the Jews cast

the image of the Greek god Jupiter out of the Temple in Jerusalem; Antiochus claimed

he would make Jerusalem a common burial ground. No sooner had he made this

statement, he was stricken with some type of disease. History says the smell of his own

body was horrible. He confessed that his suffering was because of what he had done to

the Jews. He died in agony, brought down supernaturally by the God in Heaven.

In my comments above about chapter 8, I have put what Daniel saw in his vision, with

the interpretion of what Daniel saw.

But when Daniel first had this vision, he did not understand the meaning.

God sends someone to explain its meaning. God sends the Archangel Gabriel. When

God had something special to share, He sent Gabriel.

This is the first mention of Gabriel in the Old Testament. In the New Testament,

Gabriel will appear to Zechariah in the Temple, and tell him that his wife is going to

conceive a son, and to name him John (John the Baptist). Then Gabriel will appear to

Mary, and tell her she will concieve a Son, and to name Him Jesus.

Alongside the Archangel Michael, Gabriel is described as the guardian angel of Israel.


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Part of Daniel’s vision and interpretation has happened, it is recorded in world history.

The part about the final king (Antichrist) will also come true.

God’s Word is true. It is all true, and is always true.

R. Skidmore 3-28-20


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Today is the 3rd SS lesson we have missed.

Below are some notes for Daniel chapter 9, Prophecy About Seventy Weeks

Many Bible commentaries believe that Daniel chapter 9 is the most important chapter

in the book of Daniel, and also one of the most important books in the whole Bible.

Remember that chapters 1-6 of Daniel are historic and chronological. In these

chapters, Daniel interpreted dreams for others.

Chapters 7-12 are visions that Daniel himself received during the time of chapters one

through six.

In our lesson, today Daniel is now in his mid to late eighties. He has seen a new world

empire come to power; the Medes and the Persians who conquered the Babylonian

empire in 538 B.C.

Remember the Medes and the Persians were represented in the great statue that

Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of as the “breast and arms of silver.”

Daniel has been thinking about the future of his people. His concern for the Jews,

causes him to turn to the Word of God, and more specifically the writings of Jeremiah.

Daniel himself provides a timeline for the events in this chapter. He says they happened

during the first year of the reign of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, probably around 537

B.C.

The Israelites, even in their rebellion against God, are still the chosen people of God.

The Lord is willing to discipline them severely to turn their hearts back to Him.

This makes me consider would he do the same to us. Gods Word says:

“For I am the Lord, I change not …….” Malachi 3:6

Let us not forget, that just like we would do anything to save our children and family,

we can count on God to “press” on us as needed to get our attention, to turn us around,

and back to Him.

Daniel had read Jeremiah’s prophecy that the Israelites will be in captivity for seventy

years; so he knows the time is almost complete.

Daniel is a Jew, a captured Israelite living in Babylon. Jeremiah’s prophecy about their

captivity is very personal to him.

Daniel’s concern for his people, and the power of God’s Word, cause Daniel to call out

in prayer.

He prays to God about his people (Jews), their situation, and their future.

Daniel prays at 3:00 PM, the time for the evening sacrifice/offering at the Temple in

Jerusalem.

Daniel is far away from Jerusalem, and he has been far away for nearly seventy years.

Yet, he still faithfully follows the practices of the Jewish faith.

In verses 1-21, we read about the prayer of Daniel, and in the remaining six verses we

read about the prophecy of the Seventy Weeks.


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As Daniel prays, he connects himself with the Israelite people. He prays very

specifically about their sins, their transgressions, and failures before the Lord.

Daniel also recognizes the faithfulness of God, His watchfulness over the nation of

Israel, and His covenants with the Jews.

Daniel asks for the Lord to again deliver the Jews, not because they are worthy, but

because God is righteous and merciful.

Daniel says that while he was speaking in prayer (sounds like he was praying out loud),

the Angel Gabriel reached him.

One commentary said “as Daniel was praying, God told Gabriel, I want you to go give

Daniel information and I want you to go now.”

Another commentary said it takes about three minutes to repeat Daniel’s prayer in

Hebrew.

Scripture says Gabriel flew swiftly to Daniel. I’m not sure how far away Heaven is

from the earth, but Gabriel made the trip in less than three minutes.

Gabriel tells Daniel, “at the beginning of your supplications the command went out.”

God knew Daniel. God knew his heart, and even what he would pray before he prayed

it. That is one reason why God would send Gabriel to Daniel as he started to pray.

J. Vernon McGhee says in his commentary, that Daniel was “greatly beloved” in

heaven.

McGhee says “the believer in Jesus Christ is seen by God as being in Christ. According

to Ephesians 1:6 we are accepted in the Beloved—so the believer is loved in heaven

because he is in Christ.”

Gabriel’s job was to help Daniel understand the vision and prophecy.

In Daniel 9:24, the Angel Gabriel says:

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the

transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to

bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the

most Holy.”

The word for week in the Old Testament means “seven.”

If we substitute the word seven for weeks, the verse says “seventy sevens are

determined ….”

So, the next question is seventy sevens of what?

Daniel has been reading in Jeremiah about the seventy years of captivity.

Daniel was thinking about “years.”

So, considering the context of this scripture, the subject is years; seventy sevens of

years.

This is very much in agreement with other scripture.


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The Jews are in captivity because they failed to keep the Sabbath year. God had told

them in Leviticus 25:3-4

“Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its

fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to

the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard.”

In Leviticus 25:8-9, the Bible speaks of the Jubilee year, which comes after seven times

seven years (50th year).

In the Old Testament, the word “seven” was often used to describe not a week of days

as we think today, but a week of years.

One week = One seven = 7 years Seventy weeks = Seventy sevens = 490 years

Daniel 9:25 says

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore

and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and three score and

two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”

Nehemiah tells us in chapter 2:1 that in the twentieth year of Artaxerses reign (444

B.C.), on the first day of Nissan (March 14 on our calendar), the command was given to

rebuild the walls.

Many scholars recognize the timeline for the 483 years described in Daniel 9:25, as

beginning on with the decree os Artaxerxes.

The prophecy of Seventy Weeks has three divisions:

1st division, 7 sevens or 49 years, for the rebuilding of Jerusalem

2nd division, 62 sevens or 434 years, ended on March 30, A.D. 33, when Jesus

Christ rode into Jerusalem, and offered Himself as Messiah the King, fulfilling

Zechariah 9:9. A few days later, on Friday, April 3, A.D. 33 Christ was crucified

(“Messiah cut off”)

God’s calendar for the Jews “paused” when Christ was rejected and crucified. From

then till now, we have been and are living in the “time of the Gentiles.”

At this point in history (2020), sixty-nine of the seventy weeks of this prophecy have

been fulfilled; but the seventieth week is still ahead in the future.

When the Rapture happens, and the church is caught away, God’s time clock for the

Jews will start again, with only the 70th week, the 3rd division of 7 years remaining. .

In church prophecy, this seven year period is called the Tribulation Period. The last 3

½ years of the Tribulation are often called the Great Tribulation.


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Daniel 9:26-27 says:

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the

people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end

thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he

shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations

he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured

upon the desolate.

Daniel chapter 9 mentions two princes.

First, he mentions “Messiah the Prince”, this is Jesus Christ.

Second, he mentions “the prince who is to come”, this is the little horn, the man of sin,

the Antichrist

Verse 26 says “shall the Messiah be cut off”, this was fulfilled in Christ’s crucifixion

Verse 26 says “and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and

the sanctuary”, this was fulfilled when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the

Temple in A.D. 70

Verse 27 says “he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week”, this will be

fulfilled in the future, when the Antichrist makes a covenant with the Jews during the

Tribulation Period

Verse 27 says “in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to

cease”, this will be fulfilled in the future, when at the mid-point of the Tribulation (3 ½

years), the Antichrist will break the covenant he made with the Jews

Our church believes in “pre-tribulation rapture”, meaning the church will be raptured out

of this world before the Tribulation period begins. Our concern should not be how to

survive during the time of the Tribulation, but rather making sure that we are ready to be

called away, along with all of our friends and family.

R. Skidmore 4-5-20


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Today is the 7th and final SS lesson on the book of Daniel.

We’ve covered a lot of ground in the previous lessons, and in this final lesson we will hit the

high spots for chapters 10 through 12.

In Daniel we can read much about world history and past world powers.

God has revealed to Daniel several hundred years of people and events that will affect Israel

and the Jews. For us today, we can read those things in our history books, and as it always

does, we can can see the Word of God is accurate to the smallest detail.

This reminds me of the words of Jesus, recorded in Matthew 15:18

“For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no

wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled”

In this last part of Daniel, God also reveals to Daniel much about the end times.

Here we can read about the future, things yet to come. Of a coming war often called

Armgeddon. The war of all wars. The war that will bring more destruction and loss than any

war since the beginning of mankind.

But there is another important point we learn in Daniel: God is in control of all things and

events.

When God is ready, the end time events recorded in Daniel, will happen quickly, and finish

with Jesus Christ ruling and reigning for all eternity.

Over the centuries, many Bible critics have doubted that Daniel was the writer of this book.

These critics refuse to believe in the God of Heaven, and of the detailed prophecies of the Bible.

They deny that anyone could predict the future.

David Jeremiah says “they think because they have chosen not to believe something, that it

simply is not true. You can choose not to believe something, but by choosing you do not make it

untrue. The book of Daniel is true, whether we believe it or not.”

Daniel chapter 10

The timeline is the 3rd year of Cyrus King of Persia, about 535 B.C. Daniel is about 90 years

old.

Some commentaries believe it has been about five years since the vision of the 70 weeks.

In this chapter, Daniel says he had been fasting and praying for three weeks, and on the 24th

day of the first month, he was beside the Tigris River, and sees an angel.

The angel tells Daniel, that from the first day that he began to pray, God heard him.

But the angel says he was held up by the prince of the Kingdom of Persia for 21 days.

Who is this “prince of the Kingdom of Persia?”

Satan has evil angels that do his work, and from this scripture it seems that Satan has angels

that are assigned to certain countries and kingdoms.

The angel sent by God to Daniel, was finally able to break through and away from this evil

angel, when the Archangel Michael comes to help him.

The Archangel Michael is here again identified as a protector of Israel and the Jewish people.

Here we get a glimpse of that “other world.” Of the spiritual world, and the battle that has and

continues to go on between Satan’s forces and God’s kingdom.


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The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against pricipalities, against powers, against the

Rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

“Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the

evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Let us not forget that we are participants in this spiritual warfare. And that the “other world”,

the spiritual world is a greater reality, than the physical world we now live in.

One day, when we take our last breath in this life, in the next moment we will be in that other

world for all eternity. The question is where will we spend eternity, with the Lord, or in total

separation from Him.

Chapter 11

The angel sent from God, tells Daniel that three more Persian kings will follow Cyrus, then a

fourth king who will be greater than the previous three.

The next three were Cambyses (son of Cyrus), Pseudo-Smerdis, and Darius Hystaspis. The

fourth Persian king after Cyrus was Xerxes the Great. We know him as Ahasuerus in the book

of Esther.

Xerxes was far richer than the previous three, and the Bible says “he shall stir up all against the

realm of Greece.”

As a matter of fact, he stirred things up so much against Greece, that “a mighty king” arose.

This was Alexander the Great, and he conquered the Medes and Persians to become the next

world power.

Verse 4 says that when “he has arisen (speaking of Alexander), his kingdom shall be broken up

and divided toward the four winds of heaven.”

This speaks of Alexander’s four generals that divided his kingdom after his death.

Cassander took Greece, Macedon, the western part of the empire.

Lsyimachus took Asia Minor (modern day Turkey and Thrace), the northern part of the

empire.

Seleucus took the eastern part, including Syria and Babylon (modern day Syria, Lebanon, Iraq,

and Iran)

Ptolemy took the kingdom of Egypt, the southern part of the empire.

As you can see, just as the prophecy said, Alexander’s empire was literally divided toward the

four winds of heaven (east, west, north, and south).

This chapter mentions the struggles between the kingdoms of Ptolemy and Seleucus, one to the

south of Israel, and the other to the north of Israel; because often their battles took place in

Israel.

Verse 17, mentions “the daughter of women”, which many believe to be Cleopatra of Egypt.

Pastor Penny gave us a handout one Sunday night on Daniel 11, titled “The Time of the End.”

In that handout, our Pastor included lots about the evil ruler Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria

(Selucid empire).

Anticochus Epiphanes murdered many Jews in Jerusalem, and descrated the Temple.

History tells us of the Maccabees, and other brave warriors who fought against Antiochus, and

won.

That the Temple was cleansed, and Jewish worship restored.


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The final verses of chapter 11, tell us some about Armageddon.

The term Armageddon is a reference to the mountain of Megiddo in central Palestine; and of

the great plain that reaches all the way to the Mediterrabean Sea. This great plain in central

Palestine, is sometimes called the plains of Armageddon, and it is also called the valley of

Jezreel.

The battle of Armageddon will not limited to this plain. Most scholars believe the battle will be

fought in various places, but Jerusalem will be in the center of this great conflict.

Chapter 12

Here we find the last part of the vision and prophecy given to Daniel, that began in chapter 10.

This is a short chapter, and it is about the last days, especially the future Great Tribulation.

Before this time can begin, the Rapture, the catching away of the church has to happen.

Remember, Daniel was praying for his people, the Jews, the Israelites.

In this chapter, when the scripture says “your people”, it specifically means the nation of Israel.

Verse 2, speaks of a resurrection, and two groups of people:

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,

some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

This is not speaking about the New Testament saints whose bodies will be resurrected at the

Rapture.

But, verse 2 does speak of another bodily resurrection.

At our physical death, remembering that our souls live eternally, if we die in Christ, our

souls go to be with the Lord in Heaven, but if we die without Christ, our souls go to a place

of torment.

Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

The Bible records that Paradise was in Hades. Jesus spoke about this when he told the

parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16: “so it was that the beggar died, and was

carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And

being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in

his bosom.

The term Abraham’s bosom was another expression for Paradise.

Jesus said that between these two places, one of torment, and the other of rest; was “a great

gulf, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass

to us.”

The Bible says that after Christ’s crucifixion and death, that He went to Paradise, and took

the souls of the Old Testament saints from that place to Heaven.

Back to verse 2, remembering that this speaks of a bodily resurrection, those that awake to

everlasting life are the Old Testament saints, and those who have died in Christ during the

Great Tribulation. This group will be resurrected at the end of the Great Tribulation.

Those that awake to everlasting contempt are those from all time, who died in their sins,

without Christ. These will be resurrected at the end of the Millenium, and will immediately

stand before the Great White Throne judgment.

Daniel says twice in this chapter that he does not understand all of this.


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There is much also that we don’t understand, and we have much more information than

Daniel did. We have John’s book of Revelation that complements Daniel’s writings, and the

persepective of history.

Daniel had some of the writings of other prophets, but we have all of them.

Many of the prophets did not understand the things that God gave them to record. Peter

says that the prophets studied their own words in an effort to understand. They knew it

was about the future, but the details were often unknown to them.

Verses 5-7 tell us that this time, the Great Tribulation period, will last 3 ½ years:

“It shall be for a time, times, and half a time”

Daniel asks when this will happen, and is told:

“Go your way Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end”

Many have tried to figure out when these events will happen, but that time is only known by

God.

Daniel is told he will rest, meaning he will die before this happens.

And that he will arise to his inheritance at the end of the days.

J. Vernon McGee says “that is the future that is before us right now, a future that says

Jesus is coming to this earth to establish His kingdom.”

Eternal life in Christ’s eternal Kingdom is our great hope. It is our salvation through Him,

and nothing else, that gives us the hope and promise. He is the only way.

R. Skidmore 4-12-20

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