The Throne Room.
After the vision of the great powers, (beasts) Daniel kept looking and was shown a truly amazing scene. This was the very throne room of God in the third heaven with the Ancient of Days on His throne.
It is the Lord Himself in His ageless, timeless, changeless character. His white garment symbolizes His purity, His holiness, while His hair like pure wool indicates His great wisdom.
The fiery flame of His throne issuing forth a fiery stream, reveals that this is a
Daniel`s Vision.
Although Daniel had this vision in the time of the previous king, Belshazzar, it does complete this section of the book of Daniel relating to the Nations. Thus this vision is presented after the narrative of Daniel`s life so far.
God had revealed the times of the Gentiles ruling from Babylon to the final Gentile Government in our day. Now, Daniel is given the view of the great powers leading up to this final Gentile rulership when God will judge it and bring in His ow
THE PLOT AGAINST DANIEL.
King Darius (the Mede) was now ruler over the great kingdom. He set Daniel in a very high position as one of the three governors overall. Daniel excelled above the others and the king thought to raise him over them. This caused envy among the other governors who set about to trap Daniel.
Since they could find no fault with Daniel they devised a scheme whereby they would have a law established that they knew Daniel would not uphold – praying to God instead of th
THE FEAST.
Over time another king arose, called Belshazzar. He was a proud man and decided to give a feast for a thousand of his lords, their wives and concubines. As they drank the wine, Belshazzar called for the vessels of gold and silver taken from the temple in Jerusalem.
Then as they praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone, a man`s hand appeared with writing on the wall.
The king was troubled and cried out for his astrologers, soothsa
THE KING IS HUMBLED.
Many years later King Nebuchadnezzar had another dream. He called all his magicians and counsellors to interpret the dream. When they couldn`t tell the king what his dream meant, Daniel was called and the king told him the dream.
“I was looking and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong: and it could be seen to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were lovely, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for a
BOW OR BURN.
King Nebuchadnezzar had a great golden image made. He sent word to gather all the governors, administrators, counsellors, judges and officials of the province to come to the dedication. Then when they heard the music they were to fall down and worship it or be cast into the fiery furnace.
Everyone did except Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. The king was in rage and fury and spoke to them, “Is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set
Daniel then explained that this Gentile system of Government would be done away with and God would establish His own kingdom rulership. God would set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed.
`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 these kingdoms; and it shall stand forever.` (Dan. 2: 44)
`Inasmuch as you saw that the stone w
THE GREAT IMAGE.
King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which troubled his spirit. He tested his magicians, astrologers and sorcerers to tell him the dream and its interpretation. If they couldn`t the king said he would have them killed.
The king`s counsellors said that no one but the gods could know such a thing. The decree went out to kill all the counsellors, even Daniel and his friends. So Daniel went into the king to ask him for time that he might tell the king the interpretation.
Life in the Babylonian Court.
The nation of Israel had turned from God and eventually was taken into exile by the Babylonians who were the rulers of that time. Daniel and his friends were selected for special training as they were of royal descent.
`The king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of the eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king`s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom,
Section 1. The Nations.
The Book of Daniel is set in the time when rebellious Israel had been defeated by the king of Babylon and his army. The rulership was taken from Israel and given to the Nations, but only for a certain time. God set Nebuchadnezzar as the first `king of kings, ` but revealed Himself as the ultimate power and authority.
Many of the people of Israel were taken captive and brought to Babylon, the centre of the Empire. Daniel and his three companions were among them.
OVERVIEW
DANIEL: God is my Judge.
Dani`el - Dan, means judge, and `el, means God. God is my Judge.
Daniel is a well-known prophet and counsellor in Babylon. God placed him in a position of influence at the Political centre of the Babylonian Empire, when the Jews were taken into exile about 606 B.C.
Daniel not only reveals God`s judgments upon kings but also God`s judgment upon the whole Gentile rulership throughout the ages. This broad sweep of God`s dealings provide the ove
CONCLUSION
All the great truths of the Lord Jesus Christ`s purpose for the Body of Christ have been revealed. God`s word, by His Holy Spirit unfolds the process as each truth is given to Paul`s disciples.
From the first understanding of the `catching away,` before the Day of the Lord, through to the whole Counsel of God, we read how believers stand firm with Paul rejoicing amid great trials of faith.
Then we also see that there are corrections to be made, especially to the
Practical Advice - (1 Timothy & Titus)
The Apostle Paul is coming towards the end of his ministry and he desires to pass on to the younger men practical advice for ministering among believers and for holding fast to sound doctrine.
Timothy was like a son to the aging Paul. Thus he entrusts Timothy to the oversight of believers at Ephesus and Titus to Cyprus. Guidelines are given as to the conduct of those whom would be given responsibility among the believers.
`Remind them (
Paul Released and goes to Macedonia. (AD 62)
After two years the Apostle Paul is acquitted and released from prison. It is then that many think that Paul wrote to the Hebrew Christians. This is an important book as it not only writes of the supremacy of Christ, but also of the different inheritances of the Old Testament saints and those in the Body of Christ.
Supremacy of Christ. (Hebrews)
Christ is better than angels, for they worship Him, He is better than Moses, for He c
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body had given the Apostle Paul all the great truths of His purpose for the Body of Christ. Paul taught these, the whole Counsel of God and also warned of the heresies trying to deceive the believer. Then the Lord gave to Paul the encouragement to give the believers as they went through various trials.
Thus while in prison Paul wrote more letters, some to groups and some to individuals - Philippians, Philemon and Ephesians. These are important, for we
Paul`s Prison Letters. (AD 56 - 60) (Acts 21: 27 - 28)
Heresies - (Colossians)
Paul also told the elders of Ekklesia at Ephesus that he may soon be imprisoned when he went to Jerusalem. He warned them of the dangers to come.
` For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.` (Acts 20: 29 & 30)
Aft
The Whole Counsel of God - (Ephesians)
While Paul was on his way back to Jerusalem he sent for the elders of the ekklesia in Ephesus because he was nearby on the coast. He told them that bonds may await him but he desires to see and pray with them before he sails once more.
`They all wept freely, and fell on Paul`s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.` (Acts 20: 37 & 38)
H
Paul`s Third Missionary Journey. (AD 53 - 56) (Acts 18: 23 - 21: 26)
4. Truth - the Day of Christ.(Corinthians)
While on Paul`s third missionary journey, at Ephesus he wrote to the Corinthians. Paul wrote in detail concerning the Body of Christ and the Holy Spirit`s gifts.
`For as the Body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.` (1 Cor. 12: 12)
He reveals that the time period of the forming of the
Paul`s second Missionary Journey. (AD 49 - 52) (Acts 15: 36 - 18: 22)
2.Truth - His Coming for the Saints. (Thessalonians)
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body, was giving Paul fresh revelation of His further purposes - the Body of Christ. This revelation was not known in previous times.
When Paul went on his second missionary journey he went over into Macedonia spending time with the new converts in Thessalonica and also in other towns. Then when Paul was in Corinth
Paul goes to Jerusalem. (AD 49) (Acts 15: 1 - 35)
Corrections - Certain men taught circumcision.
`And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15: 1)
Thus there arose dissension and a disputation concerning circumcision. Paul and Barnabas and others, were then asked to go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders about this question. Some of the sect of the Pharisees
Jesus is Lord of All.
Many years passed as Christ by His Holy Spirit worked with His Jewish Apostles. They healed the sick and challenged the people of Israel concerning who Jesus was. However they still had a Jewish understanding of God`s purposes.
Thus it was that the Holy Spirit gave Peter a vision concerning what was clean or unclean. This lead to Peter visiting Cornelius, a Gentile and saw that after they believed the Holy Spirit fell on them too. (Acts 10)
Peter then realis
The Impartation of the Divine nature.
The people heard Peter and changed their mind as to who Jesus was, they were then baptised and received the Holy Spirit.
`Then those who gladly received his word were baptised; and that day about three thousand souls were added.`(Acts 2: 41)
These Jewish converts were taught of the Lord, His life, death, resurrection and ascension. They knew about God`s promises to Israel that their Messiah would come and that Israel would rule the nations.
The Forming of the Body of Christ.
When Christ ascended to the Right hand of the Father, He was made Head of the Body by His Father. This was a whole new purpose of God for His Son.
` (God the Father)...raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and seated Him at the right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come .
And He put all things under His feet, and ga
Jewish Converts.
`Then Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.` (Acts 2: 38 & 39)
About three thousand souls were added to the number of Jewish disciples. They continued to go to the Temple daily and also from house to house sharing food, possessions and prais
