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Email: <lelgee@voicenet.com>Copyright © L. L. Griffith, 1996. ISBN 0-929554-06-X. This document may be reproduced in whole or in part provided that this copyright notice is reproduced on each copy made.
Daniel is one of three men named in the Bible as worthy of God's glory. In analyzing the texts which speak of these three men - Noah, Job, and Daniel - it is clearly shown that these men were industrious workers. They were men intent upon pleasing God. They were men intent upon understanding the Word of God, and intent upon understanding God Himself. They were men of prayer, men who were obedient to do as they were commanded by God and by their earthly masters. They were men of integrity; perfect men in the sight of God.
Not only were they men who believed in God and the power of the heavens, but they were also men who knew themselves as men. Theirs, therefore, was not a dead faith, a faith intellectually assented to but not yet unpracticed. They lived within their faith; they worked within their faith, because the spirit of God lived within them. They loved God; they loved their fellowman, and did the things which they believed were the Word of God and right! They were constant, watchful of the things commanded by God. They were men who were faithful to their word, and loyal in work. They knew how to occupy their lives and how to redeem the time. They were teachers of good things...
They were honest, diligent workers, without guile, noble men.
This too, was the man, Daniel.
Because of their continual disobedience to the Word of God, the ten rebel tribes of Israel had been sent into a captivity among the nations in 722 B.C. God was loathe to dismiss the remaining two tribes of Israel - Judah, and little Benjamin - from His presence on account of His promises, and His covenant made with all the tribes just after the exodus from Egypt. The final Word from the God of Israel to them after the dispersion following the return from Babylon was, "For I [am] the LORD, I change not," Malachi 3:6, "therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed."
The remaining people - "you sons of Jacob" - had been sent in 585 B.C. into captivity on account of the obstinacy of the reigning priests and kings to hear His Word. At that time in Jerusalem, the LORD overturned the throne of the reigning king "until he should come whose right it was, and it should be given to him," i.e., the LORD's coming Anointed Savior of the people and of the nation; Israel's promised Messiah.
By this Word, the right to the throne was established...
- Either, for its inheritance at the first coming of Jesus Christ,
- Or, for its inheritance at the second coming of the Lord.
- Which coming qualifies for the inheritance rights? The first, or the second?
...for inheritance at the time of "the end."
In the opening statements of Daniel's book of prophecy, the last years of Judah's ruling king, Jehoiakim, are alluded to. After him Jehoiachin succeeds to the throne, was deposed, and replaced by Zedekiah's rebellious reign against Babylon. In all, their reigns encompass a period of twenty years - the last twenty years before the temple is burned to destruction. The full Bible history of these times can be found in the Second book of the Kings and of (their) Chronicles, and in the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
The reader should become familiar with all the records concerning Nebuchadnezzar which are written in the books of the Holy Scriptures. Without that comprehension the terse records found in Daniel's book are rather empty and deficient concerning Nebuchadnezzar's character. Furthermore, familiarity with the Bible history of Daniel's time will provide an understanding of his prophecy which is much easier to comprehend than either the "continuing Church age" theme; or its sibling, the "continuous history" philosophy which has been added to disguise the truth of the apocalyptic prophecies by the Word of the LORD. (For fuller reference, see under Nebuchadnezzar, in a Bible concordance; but be aware that the editors themselves may also be followers of the expansive "continuous historical" philosophy. Know your book's publisher and its religious affiliation and bias.)
The king of Babylon has come to Jerusalem to collect the tribute due to him because Judah too - at last - has fallen under the judgment of the LORD. Read Jeremiah 25:1-14 for the judgment's declaration. Second Chronicles 36 provides the historical setting and chronology of this turbulent time.
The captives taken by Nebuchadnezzar must endure seventy years of captivity. When the seventy years are finished, both the king of Babylon, and the land of the Chaldeans will be punished for their iniquity. According to the Chronicles of the kings, "Those who had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, (until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths, as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath) to fulfil threescore and ten years." In the fourth year of Jehoiakim's reign, 606-605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar is ruling as the king of Babylon. A second deportation occurs in Jehoiachin's short reign, 597 B.C., and a third in Zedekiah's reign, 586-5 B.C.
A 70-year generation passes before The Return.
According to the usual Babylonian policy, choice individuals of the king's household are selected as hostages, and sent to Babylon to insure compliance with the terms of surrender and tribute. There the hostages will be taught all the language, manners and policies of the Babylonian realm.
With the first captivity (deported in 606-05 B.C.), Daniel and his companions are taken away to spend a lifetime as slaves in Babylon. Daniel became a high government servant, highly valued by his master. With the captives later taken, all the people of Judah would normally become mixed with and assimilated into the Babylonian society. But this is not the will of God for Judah. It was not the will of Daniel and his three friends to absorb any part of the Babylonian religious customs or other social traditions into their faith in God.
Go to Chapter Two.