Introduction to Daniel

Outline

ESV Study Bible

1. Daniel and His Three Friends at the Babylonian Court (chs. 1–6)
   • Prologue (ch. 1)
   • Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Statue (ch. 2)
   • Nebuchadnezzar Builds a Great Statue (ch. 3)
   • Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Toppled Tree (ch. 4)
   • Belshazzar’s Feast (ch. 5)
   • The Lions’ Den (ch. 6)
2. The Visions of Daniel (chs. 7–12)
   • The Vision of the Four Great Beasts and the Heavenly Court (ch. 7)
   • The Vision of the Ram, the Goat, and the Little Horn (ch. 8)
   • Daniel’s Prayer and Its Answer: The Seventy Weeks (ch. 9)
   • Daniel’s Vision of the Final Conflict (chs. 10–12)

The Four Visions of Daniel

Vision	Babylonian Empire	Persian Empire	Greek Empire	Roman Empire	Future Events
Ch. 2: Vision of the Statue	Head of gold	Chest and arms of silver	Middle and thighs of bronze	Legs of iron; feet of iron mixed with clay	Stone = kingdom of the Messiah
Ch. 4: Vision of the Tree	Nebuchadnezzar humbled	—	—	—	—
Ch. 7: Vision of Four Beasts	Lion with wings of an eagle	Bear raised up on one side	Leopard with four wings and four heads	Terrifying beast with iron teeth	Little horn = Antichrist
Ch. 8: Vision of the Ram and Goat	—	Ram with two horns	Male goat: one horn, then four horns; Antiochus	—	—

Themes (ESV Study Bible)

1. It is possible to live faithfully in exile, surrounded by pagan influences and propaganda, if one sets one’s mind to serving the Lord wholeheartedly (ch. 1).
2. God can vindicate his faithful servants before pagan rulers by giving them unusual wisdom and insight into divine mysteries (ch. 2) and by protecting them (chs. 3, 6). Nevertheless, rescue from martyrdom cannot be assumed (3:16–18).
3. God humbles the proud and raises up the humble; even the hearts of the greatest kings are under his control (chs. 4–5).
4. This world will be a place of torment and persecution for the saints until the end, getting worse and worse rather than better and better (chs. 2, 7). Yet the Lord will judge the kingdoms of this world and bring them to an end, replacing them with his own kingdom that will never end.
5. God is sovereign over the course of history, even over those who rebel against him and seek to destroy his people (ch. 8).
6. The exile was not the end of Israel’s history of rebellion and judgment. In the future, Israel would transgress against the Lord, and Jerusalem would be handed over into the power of her enemies, who would trample her temple and do abominable things (chs. 8, 9, 12). Eventually, though, the anointed ruler would come to deliver her from her sins (9:24–27).
7. Earthly events mirror a great cosmic conflict in the heavenly realms between angelic forces of good and evil (ch. 10). Prayer is a significant weapon in that conflict (9:23).
8. God rules over all of these conflicts and events, limits their scope, and has a precise timetable for the trials of the saints. He will finally intervene to cleanse and deliver his people (ch. 12).
9. In the meantime, the saints must be patient and faithful amid a hostile world, looking to the Lord alone for deliverance (11:33–35).

New Testament Use of Daniel

Daniel 7:13–14 — The Son of Man

“With the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man.”

• Jesus’ Eschatological Discourse: Matt. 24:30 (cf. 25:31); Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27.
• Jesus’ confession before the high priest: Matt. 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69.
• Other allusions: John 5:22, 27; Rev. 1:7, 13; 14:14.

Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 — The Abomination That Causes Desolation

“The abomination that causes desolation.”

• Jesus’ Eschatological Discourse: Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14.
• Daniel 9:36 → 2 Thess. 2:4: “the man of lawlessness.”

Daniel 12:2 — Resurrection

Daniel foretells the resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

• John 5:28–29
• Acts 24:15
• Rev. 20:11–15