Bible+Culture 2015: 5. Daniel 9–12

DANIEL Day 5: chapters 9–12

Daniel 9

?What are the scenes?

What is the plot line?

What characters are involved, and how are they portrayed?

What words, phrases or ideas are repeated?

Scene 1 Daniel prays to the Lord (9:1–19)

Scene 2 Gabriel appears with a message (9:20–27)

climax

setting9:1

‘occasioning incident’

9:2

Gabriel: 20–23

covenantabominationdestruction

9:27

Daniel fasts & prays: 3–4

Daniel confesses sin: 5–10

D acknowledges God: 11–16

Listen! Act! 17–19

70 weeks: 24–26

What do all the images mean?

70 weeks = 490 days

70 sevens of years = 490 years

7 sevens

from the word to restore

Jerusalem to the anointed

one

62 sevens

times of trouble – rebuilding of Jerusalem

1 seven

from anointed cut off &

covenant to destruction

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One wonders why so many commentators use such literalistic interpretations and are at such pains to make the dates exactly fit the known history. That’s not the nature of prophecy, let alone the nature of apocalyptic literature. . . .

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. . . One of the characteristics of apocalyptic literature is that it frequently uses numbers as symbols.

Sidney Greidanus

• 7 = perfection/completion/sacredness

• 10 = fullness/round number

• 70 sevens = 7 x 10 x 7 = perfect and full period

a. 7 sevens: relatively short; complete period of time from word going out to destroy Jerusalem until an anointed one (9:25a)

b. 62 sevens: quite long; troubled time (9:25b)

c. 1 seven: short; complete period in which the anointed one is put to death, city and temple destroyed

‘an anointed one, a prince/ruler’ (9:25)

62 sevens – more building; ‘a troubled time’ (9:25)

‘Anointed One’ put to death; city & temple destroyed (9:26)

‘until the end that is decreed is poured out on the destroyer’

Ezra (cf Ezra 7:1–5)

Occupation by Greece, Ptolemies, Seleucids, Rome

Jesus’s death;destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70

Jesus’s second coming; final victory over the Antichrist

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We believe that the people mentioned are the Romans and the prince is Titus Vespasianus, who came to Palestine and in the year 70 A.D. destroyed the city and the sanctuary. . . . This interpretation, and this alone, fills the requirements of the text. . . .

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. . . The Messiah has been cut off by death, and thereupon the city and the sanctuary will be destroyed. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled in a most remarkable manner.

E.J. Young

One who confirms a covenant with many

My righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.(Matthew 26:28)

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And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.

(Daniel 9:27, ESV)

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He will confirm a covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of that week he will bring sacrifices and offerings to a halt.

On the wing of abominations will come one who destroys, until the decreed end is poured out on the one who destroys.

(Daniel 9:27, NET Bible)

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The passage is Messianic through and through. Well will it be for us, if we too, in our study of this supremely important prophecy, place our emphasis, not upon dates and mathematical calculations, but upon that central Figure who . . .

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. . . by being cut off has made reconciliation for iniquity and brought in the only righteousness that is acceptable with God, even his own eternal righteousness.

E.J. Young

?What is the theme?

What is the goal?

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Theme: ‘In response to Daniel’s prayer for forgiveness and the restoration of Jerusalem, Israel’s faithful covenant God promises in seventy weeks not only to restore Jerusalem but also to bring in his everlasting kingdom.’

Sidney Greidanus

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Aim: ‘to give Israel in exile hope by reassuring them that their time of exile is almost over because their faithful covenant God has decreed seventy weeks in which not only to restore Jerusalem but also to bring in his everlasting kingdom.’

Sidney Greidanus

Daniel 10–12

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Authoritative preaching of the message of apocalyptic literature demands that we major on the major themes, and be less concerned about the meaning and significance of fine details.

Daniel Block

?What are the scenes?

What characters are involved?

Try to identify the plot line.

Scene 1 Daniel sees a vision and mourns; trance (10:1–9)

Scene 2a Angel speaks with Daniel (10:10 – 11:1)

Scene 2b Angel announces truth about the future (11:2 – 12:4)

Scene 3 Final vision; dialogue about the end (12:5–13)

climax

setting10:1

‘occasioning incident’10:4–9

‘Yet he will come to his end’ 11:45b

book sealed12:4

Angel touches Daniel:

10:10–19

Angel announces truth: 11:2–45a

Michael: 12:1a

preliminary incident’s10:2–3

Deliverance: 12:1b–3

climax

vision of 2 angels12:5

words sealed12:9

Daniel will rise 12:13

How long? 12:6

What will be the outcome? 12:8

wise understand12:10

persevering are blessed: 12:11

?What is the theme?

What is the goal?

Theme: God, who is absolutely sovereign over even the details of human history, will deliver his people from the extreme persecution of the last days, even raising them to everlasting life in his eternal kingdom.

Goal: to encourage and comfort God’s persecuted people by helping them understand God’s intention to rescue his people, even from death.

How do we get to Jesus?1. Redemptive-historical progression 2. Promise-fulfilment 3. Anticipations (typology) 4. Analogy 5. Longitudinal themes 6. New Testament references 7. Contrast

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Authoritative preaching of the message of apocalyptic literature demands that we major on the major themes, and be less concerned about the meaning and significance of fine details.

Daniel Block

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We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. . . .

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Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

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Whether he is discussing the past, present or future, the prophet is seeking to make God the most genuine reality that men can know and experience.

A.B. Mickelson‘Interpreting the Bible’, p. 287

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Even though there is a dramatic contrast in genre between the two halves of the book, . . . the overall message of the book is uniform: In spite of present appearances, God is in control.

Tremper Longman III

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