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Daniel

Daniel predicts the precise year of the appearance of Jesus Christ (cf. Daniel 9:25-26). He foretells the history of his portion of the world from the time of Nebuchadnezzar up to the beginning of the Christian era, accurately forecasting the rise and fall of the Medes and Persians, the Greek kingdom of Alexander the Great and his successors, and Rome. He speaks of some things yet to come.

Although these predictions are important, they are not necessarily the most important themes in Daniel… the great and most important theme of Daniel is that there is but one God, who is Jehovah, and that he is sovereign over the events of history.

—James Montgomery Boice

Source: Boyce, James M. Daniel. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1989.

Unlike the other prophets, Daniel dealt more fully with the Gentile nations than with his own Jewish nation. The other prophets only mention the Gentiles as incidental to something concerning Israel. But Daniel gave us the history of the Gentile powers from Babylon to the end. The prophecies are considered among the most remarkable in all the Scriptures.  

—Henrietta Mears

Source: This content is from What the Bible Is All About, written by Henrietta Mears. Copyright © 1953, 2011 by Gospel Light. Copyright assigned to Tyndale House Publishers, 2015. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

Oh, what an unanswerable argument is a believer’s life! Oh, what an epistle of Christ is the daily conduct of a child of God! Men cannot see your hearts, nor understand your principles—but they can see your lives! And if they find that pious masters, servants, brothers, friends, sisters, husbands, wives, do far exceed all others in their several positions, then you are bringing glory to God and honor to your Redeemer. Think not that your profession is worth anything, if it is not known of others by its godly fruit; without this it is little better than sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.  

We do not find that Daniel blew his trumpet before him, and talked everywhere about his own experience, but he walked close to God, and his life spoke for him, and his character became known in Babylon, and even his enemies were obliged to confess—The hand of God is here, the Lord is truly with this man! 

—J.C. Ryle  

Source: Ryle, J.C. “Daniel Found Faithful.” Grace Gems. Accessed May 25, 2023.

The book of Daniel is unusual in that it is written in two languages: 1:1-2:4a and chapters 8-12 are in Hebrew, and 2:4a-7:28 is in Aramaic, the lingua franca of the prophet’s day. Hebrew was the language of God’s covenant people Israel, and Aramaic was the language of the Gentile world. Though the Book of Daniel is a single literary work, it has two major emphases. One has to do with God’s program for the Gentile nations. This is contained in 2:4a-7:28. It was fitting that this prophecy concerning the Gentiles should be in their language. Hence the prophet used Aramaic in that portion of the book. The second major emphasis is on the nation Israel and the influence or effect of the Gentiles on Israel. This theme is developed in 1:1-2:4a and chapters 8-12. Therefore it was fitting that Daniel wrote those portions in Hebrew, that language of the Jews.  

—Dwight Pentecost

Source: Dwight Pentecost. The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Chicago: Victor Books, 1987), 1324. Quote retrieved from Dr. Tim White’s article, “The Aramaic of Daniel,” published at Dr. Tim White (January 15, 2020).

Remember how Daniel is placed in the Bible. If you’re reading in the Jewish Bible, it’s placed in the history books, but if you’re reading the Christian Bible it’s placed in the prophetic books. Why? Well because in Daniel we have two distinct kinds of literature. You have this narrative literature that carries [chapters] 1-6 and really what we have learned there is that you can be at home in Babylon and be productive and fruitful. But the second half—everything is different. You’re not at home in Babylon, you’re trying to get home from Babylon, and the genre shifts to this apocalyptic visionary literature. So when you look at chapter 7 the first thing that strikes you is that now Daniel is receiving words from God through a vision. That hasn’t happened yet in the sense that earlier, God had a word for the world. He was always talking to the pagan kings, and Daniel was there to interpret. But now God has something to say to his own people, and Daniel himself is in need of an interpreter… so everything has changed in [chapters] 7-12.… [In chapters 1-6] God has a salvation word for the world. He’s desperate to say something to the world. He keeps talking to the world’s leaders, but in [chapters] 7-12, he’s got something very important to say to his own people, and the shift then begins to take place. So you don’t want to quit after chapter 6.

—David Helm

Source: Helm, David. Interview with Nancy Guthrie. Help Me Teach the Bible. Podcast Audio. August 6, 2015. This podcast originally appeared here at The Gospel Coalition.

Understanding Bible prophecy encourages in two unique ways. First, it serves as a reminder that God controls history. When you read from the pages of Scripture how He keeps His promises, your faith is strengthened…By reflecting on the fulfilled promises of the past, you can find great comfort as you look toward the future. Second, understanding God’s promises for the future provides a solid foundation to which you can anchor your hope—a sturdy shield with which you can deflect your doubts and fears about tomorrow…When you reflect on God’s plans and promises for you and for the world, you can face the future without fear. 

—John MacArthur  

Source: MacArthur, John. Quote retrieved here from Grace Quotes at gracequotes.org.

Today’s society is a good deal like the one Daniel lived in centuries ago. The world still wants God’s people to conform to its standards and follow its practices. “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold” is the way J.B. Phillips translates Romans 12:2, and Daniel and his friends obeyed that admonition. We should obey it today. We need Christians who have the faith and courage to be resolute—not odd, but resolute. As we study the book Daniel wrote for us, we’ll meet Daniel’s God, the Sovereign Lord who rules in the kingdom of men (4:32) and who confidently announces things to come. In Daniel’s life and ministry we will see how true believers live in the light of biblical prophecy—how they relate to the Sovereign Lord and accomplish his good, acceptable, and perfect will. In a world in which people find it easy to do what is right in their own eyes, the Lord is searching for men and women who will do what’s right in his eyes and dare to be resolute. Will you be among them?  

—Warren Wiersbe  

Source: Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Resolute: Determining to Go God’s Direction. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2000.