THE BOOK OF DANIEL, INTRODUCTION

THE BOOK OF DANIEL

Key Verses: 2:20-23, 44
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

The Book of Daniel was written sometime

between 606-530 BC when Daniel prophesied
through the times of Nebuchadnezzar,
Belshazzar, and Darius the son of Ahasurus in
Babylon. The Book contains dreams, visions,
and prophecies related to
global politics revolving around the Jews whose
nation Israel/Judah was snatched from them
through conquests, first by Assyria and then by
Babylon in 586 BC. The dreams, visions, and
prophecies declare that though Israel was
suspended as a nation from the realm of politics,
God‘s sovereign rulership over world politics
had not come to cease. In terms of ethno-religio-political locus, the Book portrays
one center: The Messiah who is the Son of David (the next immediate
circumferential center being the Jewish people to whom He first belongs, ethno-
religio-politically speaking). In terms of geo-political locus, the center is
Jerusalem, the City of David (the immediate circumferential center
being Palestine). Jerusalem is destined to be the Capital of the future political
world. The Land (Palestine) is a subject of many prophecies in this Book. Though
now seemingly forsaken, it has a central place in God’s charter of world politics.

DOMENIC MARBANIANG
CITS, ITARSI, SEPT 2010
 THE BOOK OF DANIEL, INTRODUCTION

The Key Verses are 2:20-23, 44

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and
ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and
the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth
wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know
understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth
what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee,
and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me
wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we
desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s
matter. (Dan 2:20-23)

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not
be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Dan 2:44)

VERSES 20-23
The Sovereignty of the LORD (YHWH)

The verses declare the Sovereignty of God over the world. Israel’s ceasing as a
nation didn’t mean the cessation of divine activity. God is Sovereign forever
“Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever” and He governs the world with
His wisdom and His might “for wisdom and might are his”.

1. Sovereignty over World History

“he changeth the times and the seasons”

Whether we speak in terms of historical time-shifts or major historical events,

God’s hand is over history. Be it the Aryan migration or the Mughal invasion, the
British conquest of the quest for freedom, God’s hand was over the history of our
country; so over every country and nation, globally and territorially. Whether one
speaks of great transitions from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, from the Classical
Age to the Renaissance, from the Dark Age to the Age of Industrial Revolution;

DOMENIC MARBANIANG
CITS, ITARSI, SEPT 2010
 THE BOOK OF DANIEL, INTRODUCTION

whether one speaks of Ashoka’s edicts or the Great Depression, of

Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Age or this Great Recession, Daniel declares that it is
YHWH, the Sovereign Lord of the universe, who “changeth the times and the
seasons”. His hand is upon the panorama of all history.

2. Sovereignty over World Politics

“he removeth kings, and setteth up kings”

The Bible declares that all political and judicial authority is divinely ordained
(Romans 13:1-2). The men and women in authority are called ministers of God for
good (Romans 13:4) though they might not acknowledge themselves as such.
Their placement in political history is by divine determination (cf. Esther 4:14).
Whether it is a monarchy, an oligarchy, or a democracy, it is God who removes
leaders and sets up leaders. The devil himself may inspire certain leaders, but he
doesn’t have permission apart from God’s judicious determinations; even the anti-
christ will not appear until God allows him to appear. Then, it will be God alone,
no mortal hand, that will put an end to the reign of the beast.1 It is necessary for all
people to honor authority, though the one in the position may be evil. Remember
Paul, the great missionary, almost a household name in his day, when he stood
before the magistrates and the governors, how he conducted himself with boldness
and sincerity of faith, but with great humility and respect for authority.

3. Sovereignty over Education and Propagation of Knowledge

“he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know
understanding”

Schools and Universities rule the world. Information is power, someone said; and,
the world has seen an awakening out of superstitious slumbers into the dawn of
Reason.2 The Universities are getting increasing and intensely secular. Harvey
Cox had suggested four decades ago that this was to be Biblically anticipated. The
unshackling of the ecclesiastical from the secular is the act of God. In this manner,
man was liberated from dogmatic tutors to freedom of thought and expression.
Research has become more scientific, if not totally bias-free. This has enabled
greater strides in the area of civilization and culture. The world has grown smaller

1
It is said that the Beast will recover from a mortal wound (Revelation 13:3). Perhaps, there will be an attempt to
assasination; but, that attempt will not prevail because God’s order has ordained the Beast’s destruction only at the
hands of the Messiah.
2
At whichever age, however, cynicism and credulity, both opposite tendencies, were never totally dismissed.

DOMENIC MARBANIANG
CITS, ITARSI, SEPT 2010
 THE BOOK OF DANIEL, INTRODUCTION

in our age of globalization and information explosion. We are exposed to more

information than ever. Yet, it is God who gives wisdom and knowledge. Despite
the surge of anti-theistic tendencies in the field of education, for instance, Schools
and Universities throughout the world are filled with believers in God; which
indicate that the secularity and liberality of thought has little to do with the
motivation or discouragement of faith. Education can never overpower God
because God’s holds scepter over the domain of knowledge and education.

VERSE 44: THE COMING EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF

JESUS CHRIST
And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a
kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not
be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these
kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:44)

Daniel, unlike his contemporary Ezekiel, is more concerned about the political
future of the world and emphasizes on the Kingdom of God. He hailed from Judah
and the Lord had chartered his course into the palace of Babylon.

Ezekiel, on the other hand, was of a priestly family and his visions were primarily
related to the religious life of the people.

Ezekiel’s visions relate to the TEMPLE - the Glory of God, the Cherubim, etc.

Daniel’s vision is about the THRONE - the Kingdom of God.

Ezekiel envisions a coming world to be filled with the presence, knowledge,

and gloryof God.

Daniel envisions a world ruled absolutely by Jesus Christ.

DOMENIC MARBANIANG
CITS, ITARSI, SEPT 2010
 THE BOOK OF DANIEL, INTRODUCTION

OUTLINE
Daniel can be divided into two parts:

PART I: DANIEL THE INTERPRETER

A. The Test of Dainty (Ch.1)

B. The Vision & Interpretation: The Great Image Broken (Ch.2):
The Four Kingdoms:
Babylon (Golden Head): 606-538 BC
Medo-Persia (Silver Breast & Arms): 538-333 BC
Greece (Brass Belly & Thigh): 333-63 BC
Rome (Iron & Clay Legs): BC 63-AD?
C. The Test of Devotion: Shadrach, Meshech, & Abednego in Fire (Ch.3)
D. The Vision & Interpretation: The Great Tree Cut Down (Ch.4)
Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride brings him to the fields, perhaps zoanthrophy or lycanthropy
E. The Writing & Interpretation: MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN (Ch.5)
Belshazzar and Babylon’s Fall (538BC)
F. The Test of Decree: Daniel in Lion’s Den (Ch.6)

PART II: DANIEL THE SEER

A. The Four Beasts: The Four Beasts-Four Kings (Ch.7)

B. The Ram, the Goat, and the Horn (Ch.8)
Medo-Persia, Alexander, Antiochus Epiphanes (Anti-Christ)
C. Daniel’s Prayer & the Revelation of the 70 Weeks (Explained below) (Ch.9)
D. Daniel’s 21 Day Fast & the Vision of an Angel (Ch.10)
E. The Angel Reveals the Events Soon to Come (Ch.11)
From Cambyses to Antiochus Epiphanes (BC 530-164=366 Years)
F. The Time of Great Trouble and the Sealing of the Prophecy for Latter Days
(Ch.12)

DOMENIC MARBANIANG
CITS, ITARSI, SEPT 2010
 THE BOOK OF DANIEL, INTRODUCTION

DANIEL’S 70 WEEKS (DAN. 9:24-27)

Formula: 1 Week = 7 Years (Gen. 29:7)

“Going forth of the commandment” – March 14, 445 B.C. (Neh. 2:5)
“After 62 weeks shall Messiah be cut off.” – April 06, A.D. 32 (Mat. 21)
62+7 = 69 Weeks (Dan. 9:25) x 7 x 360 days = 173,880 days (Jewish Calendar)
March 14, 445 – April 06, 32 = 173,880 days (Our Calendar)
The Final Week (7 years of Tribulation) when the Anti-Christ will be revealed is
the 70th week (Dan. 9:27).

DOMENIC MARBANIANG
CITS, ITARSI, SEPT 2010