PowerPoint Presentation

The Griffith FamilyDec 2012SusanStephen23John20Kurt26Rick62SUSAN: God continues working in our family as we see Him work in our three sons. Our two older ones work in Seattle and our youngest (John) is in his first year at Biola University in Southern CA. We lived in the USA his first semester, pretending that he needed us until we returned to Singapore on January 5.

Kurt works in marketing & IT6

Stephen the PilotStephen the Pilot

6

Stephen is a pilot with Kenmore Airlines at Boeing Field, Seattle

Above Seattle66Stephen flies to the San Juan Islands with Kenmore Airlines

John at Biola UniversityJohn at Biola University

Our Mission Organization11

Our People

2013: 35 people from 10 nationsbiblestudydownloads.com

13biblestudydownloads.com7

14Stages of God's Plan in HistoryBeginningsPatriarchsExodusJudgesConquestsUnited KingdomDivided KingdomCaptivityRestorationSilent YearsChurchKingdom

20EternityCreationFallFloodBabelAbrahamIsaacJacobJosephMosesJoshuaCyclesS D SI (J) & J (R)I (A) & J (B)Z E NP G H R1st Coming2nd Coming1000Eternity15Noahic CovenantAdam rules with God (Gen. 1:26, 28; 2:19) Satan rules as god of this world (Gen. 3:15; 2 Cor. 4:4)Abrahamic CovenantLand CovenantDavidic CovenantNew CovenantMosaic CovenantGod covenants with Abraham to reestablish man's rule via Israel as a "kingdom of priests" (Gen. 12:1-3; Exod. 19:6)Kingdom Teaching...Fall of Man (Gen. 3)Israel's failure to witness to nations as a kingdom of priests is judged via exile under foreign ruleJeremiah 31:31-34 promises:ForgivenessIndwelling SpiritNew heart, nature, mindReunification of Israel and JudahNo need for evangelism2 Samuel 7:12-16 promises perpetual:Sons ("house" never wiped out)Kingdom (political dynasty)Throne (right to rule by descendants)Temple (son to build it)Genesis 15:18 (cf. Deut. 30:1-10) promises:Land from Wadi of Egypt to Euphrates River (Isa. 27:12)Eternal possession of land (Gen. 17:8) after exile/restorationWhole world blessed via the land (Isa. 14:1-2)Jesus extends His kingdom in mystery form to the Church (Matt. 13)Israel rejects Messiah's offer of kingdom (Matt. 12:41-42; 23:37-39)Christ subdues Israel's enemies and nation believes (Rom. 11:26-27)Israel judged for rejecting Messiah by dispersion away from land for 19 centuries (AD 70AD 1948) but now partially restored (Ezek. 37:1-7)Christ is Head over His Church, which is a spiritual temple (Eph. 2:19-22; 2 Cor. 6:16)Mosaic Law replaced with first three elements of the New Covenant (Luke 22:20; 2 Cor. 3:6)MESSIANIC KINGDOMMillennial EternalFull restoration (Ezek. 37:8-28) Jerusalem world capital(Isa. 2:1-5)New Jerusalem(Rev. 2122)Christ reigns over the world (Isa. 11) with saints (Rev. 5:10; 20:4-6)Christ rules over everything with saints (Eph. 1:9-10; Rev. 20:1-6; 22:5b)landseedblessingGenesis 12:1-3Christ hands kingdom over to Father (1 Cor. 15:24)Scripture has a dual kingdom-covenant emphasis. Israel's role from Abraham to Christ expands to include the Church (continuity) yet the Church never replaces the nation as the "new Israel" (discontinuity). Israel will again enjoy world prominence after trusting in Christ at His second coming.ISRAELCHURCH(National Focus)

The "New Man" (Eph. 2:15)Sixth Edition15 June 2012All 5 elements fulfilled in national restoration (Zech. 8)All things made new! (Rev. 21:5)Temporary (Gal. 3:19) and conditional (Deut. 28) to reveal sin (Rom. 7:7) and regulate Israel (Gal. 3:23-25)Law abolished, fulfilled, and replaced at the cross (Rom. 7:1-6;1 Cor. 9:19-21; Heb. 8:13)Genesis 6:18; 9:8-179gKingdom & Covenants Timeline22 &33717Slides 13 and 127 repeated

The Kingdom in Genesis 1 Uncreated God (1:1) Creation by Word alone (1:4) Creation with ease Sun and moon [gods] created (1:16) Shared rule with man (1:26)3018My View of the Bible's Theme

The Bible narrates God's restoring man to participate in His kingdom rule for His own glorymandated in Eden but lost in the Fall and accomplished by redeeming man through Israel as a kingdom of priests,through the Church proclaiming Christ, and ultimately through the Messiah, who will reign as Savior and King to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant3319

The Kingdom of God:The Bible's All-Encompassing ThemeGenesis 1:26-28

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish birds livestock all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground' God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'" Revelation 22:5

"There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."CommandFulfillmentThe Bible's Theme: God extends His rule to manCovenants3320

The Bible's ChiasmRepeated Patterns in Reverse Order

CreationNew CreationMan's Rule Lost at FallMan'sRule Restored at MillenniumChrist's RedemptionChrist's RuleNTS 44621Creation in Genesis 12 is repeated In the Restored, New Creation in Rev 2122Man was created to rule over the fish, birds, and land animals (Gen. 1:28) but he gave over his rule over to the god of this world, Satan (2 Cor. 4:4)However, this rule is restored during the 1000-year reign of the saints (Rev. 20:4-6)But Christ is the central Person of history: both as Lamb (Redeemer) and as Lion (Ruler of all creation in the line of David)

The New Heaven & New EarthNTS 44722(Neo-Babylonian Empire)625-539 BCThe BabyloniansDr. Rick Griffith, Singapore Bible Collegewww.biblestudydownloads.com

History of Babylon136Genesis 10:8-10; 11:2, 9; Rev. 17:1-6How did Babylon start?What motivated this beginning?What resulted from its founding?What did Babylon signify?The Name

The Location

The Tower of Babel

Babylon136Dominant Peoples in Mesopotamian History

Proto-Literate (3200-2850)Early Dynastic (2850-2360)Akkad (2360-2180)Guti (2180-2082)Ur III (2070-1960)Isin-Larsa (1960-1700)Old Babylonian (1830-1531)Old AssyrianHurrian Invasions (1700-1500)Kassites (1600-1150)Mitanni (1500-1380)Middle Assyrian (1366-1078)Aramean & Chaldean (1078-935)Neo-Assyrian (935-612)Neo Babylonian (625-539)Persian (539-332)Alexander (332- )Neo-Babylonian 625-539 BCAncient Near East136Nabopolassar 625-605 BC Nebuchadnezzar II (son) 605-568 BC Evil-Merodach (son) 561-560 BC Neriglissar (brother-in-law) 559-556 BC Labosoarchad (son) 556 BC Nabonidus 555-539 BC Belshazzar 539 BC

Nebuchadnezzar II 604-568 BCNeo-Babylonian Empire137Neo-Babylonian Rulers

Neo-Babylonian Empire137Neo-Babylonian Rulers

Map of Mesopotamia Babylonian Geography

Where was Babylonia?

BabyloniaTigris & Euphrates

Climate

Ideal for Trade137

Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon

137Babylonians had many gods Sumerian, Akkadian, imports from mountainous regions (N & E of Meso.) which reflected their needs and fears

Marduk (Bel / Baal) 1. Son of Ea (wisdom) 2. Chief of Babylon's gods (rising sun) 3. Temples & a huge ziggurat (the temple of Esgalia) 4. Wife called Sarpanitu / Son - Nabu 5. Sacred number 10 / Planet Jupiter 6. Statue of pure gold Babylon 7. Made men and fashioned the world

RELIGION13831

Worship of MARDUKBabylon - time of Nebuchadnezzar IIEsagila - a huge sanctuary complex / temple of Marduk, and E-Temen-an-ki, the great ziggurat of Babylon, probably the prototype of the Tower of BabelRELIGION13832Worship of MARDUK

RELIGION13833OTHER BABYLONIAN GODSPantheons overlapped many citiesEvery street bore the name of one of the gods SHAMASH (sun god) - In charge of justiceISHTAR (goddess of Venus) war and loveANU (Sumerian An) god of heavensENLIL King of the landsEA (Sumerian Enki) god of wisdom & magicSIN (Sumerian Nanna) moon godADAD (weather god) - In charge of the weatherRELIGION13834

Where were the gods? RELIGIONEverywhere!13935

Temples and Rituals A RELIGIOUS METROPOLIS 53 temples of the chief gods 55 chapels of Marduk 300 chapels for earthly deities 600 for heavenly deities 180 altars for the goddess Ishtar 180 for gods Nergal and Adad 12 other altars for different godsBabylon, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth (Revelation 17:5)RELIGION13936

RITUALS Daily presentation of offerings Cleaning garments of divine statues Purification of temples Special festivals (Akitu New Year)TEMPLES Each city had its own god and temple Had own land, slaves, animals & precious stones Priests foretold by reading nature & other elements Selling of charms and magical formulaeRELIGION13937PERSONAL IDOLS Each Babylonian citizen had a 'personal' god Individuals made special requests (e.g., relief from illness) Acted as mediators from devotees to higher gods Benefit-driven so one would often abandon his godZiggurats Shows the city and king's devotion to their city god Huge stepped structure

RELIGION13938

Ziggurats RELIGION139Tower of Babel (Gen. 11)39Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians' pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses;There the owls will dwell, hyenas will howl in her strongholds, jackals in her luxurious palaces.- Isaiah 13:19-23

RELIGION40

LITERATURECUNEIFORM41IMPACT OF SUMERIA (continued)Sumerian writings incorporated - translation to Akkadian (lingua franca of ANE) Schools of scribes copied compositions and created catalogsSumero-Babylonian dictionaries popularized the myths, epics, hymns, etc.After fall of Babylon in 539 BC, Aramaic and Greek became the common languagesLITERATURE13942POETRYParallelism rendered ideas 2 different ways side by sideCouplets, singlets and tripletsNo rhyme and meter Several Epics - Enuma Elish & Gilgamesh Epic

MUSIC Story telling or chanting of a verse - religious ceremonies & entertainment Used reed, flute, lyre, drum, trumpet and harpLITERATURE TYPES13943Babylonian MythologyMany gods (Polytheism)Gods quarrel /disagree Confusion as to why the Flood cameAdad - thunder Ninurta- winds Annunaki - lightningBiblical AccountOne God (Monotheism)A Holy GodGod saw evil and punished the corrupt peopleYahweh:CreatorSustainerJudgeBABYLONIAN VERSION OF THE FLOOD (2000 BC)Gilgamesh Epic

LITERATURE TYPES14044WISDOM LITERATUREMany such writings problem of evil and suffering / devout pious observers Examples The Theodicy, Dialogue of PessimismPROPHECYBabylonian prophecy forerunner of many occult religions and mystical booksDescribed past events in prophetic terms to validate their foretelling other eventsLITERATURE TYPES14045LAW CODESA number of documents called the Law Codes (from 2350 to 1750 BC)Almost all in verbal agreement showing no legal codes but royal decreesKing's divine mission administer justlyTHE CODE OF HAMMURAPI (1780 BC)Established legal practice in Babylon's institutions & customsRetaliation tit for tat in cases of physical injuries (lex talionois)LAW & ORDER

Technological Achievements141

Building the Tower of BabelSCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTSAstronomy Astrology - recorded meticulously over centuries - correct calculations of the solar & lunar yearMATHEMATICS Geometry / algebra (Euclid & Pythagoras later developed) Developed the numerical system (sexagesimal) Measurement of time and degrees of the angles - 60 mins (1 hour) / 360 degrees / decimal - square roots / value of pi

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS Calendar system 12 lunar months Measurement Water or the sun clock Medicine Surgery / anatomy / physiology Circulation of blood/ pulse

SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE140AGRICULTUREEconomic base barley, wheat, fruits, vegetables, cattle & sheepIRRIGATION SYSTEMSwamp and desert conditionsTigris and Euphrates Sumerian (Idiglat & Buranin)Canal systems / flood banks

ECONOMY & SOCIAL STRUCTURE

140

ARTTapestries / rugsFashion gold and silver goodsCut gems and manufactured textiles

TRADEKey to Babylon's wealthProtection from bandits prosper till 1000 BC Taxation on the peopleECONOMY & SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Why the Exile?Ezra 5:12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 51Why the Exile?MediterraneanSeaSyriaEgyptBabylonian ExpansionIsraelPersianGulfJudahBabylon586 BCThe Babylonian Threat52

Sequence and SizeDateKing of JudahKey Captives1: Minor605 BCJehoiakimDaniel, 3 friends and other nobility and royalty (Dan 1:3)2: Moderate598 BCJehoiakim

3023 people(Jer 52:28)3: Major597 BCJehoiachin10,000 (Jehoiachin, Ezekiel, Mordecai)(2 Kings 24:12b, Ezek. 1:2, Esther 2:6)4: Minor587 BCZedekiah832 people(Jer 52:29)5: Major(Temple Ruin)586 BCZedekiahca. 10,400 people(2 Kings 25:11)6: Minor582 BC-745 people(Jer. 52:30)Summary of the Exiles14253Why the Exile?Babylonian deportationChronology of Jeremiah1233 months3 months11 years11 yearsJeremiah prophesied from the 13th year of Josiah (627 BC) past the fall of Judah (586 BC) to about 580 BC.

His ministry spanned 4 decades and the reigns of 5 kings of Judah.560475Major Events:605597586627609CallJosiah's deathBabylonian invasionBabylonian exilePERIODS OF PROPHETIC MINISTRY627-622608-605593-586586-585Kings of Judah:Josiah(640-609)Jehoahaz(609)Jehoiakim(608-598)Jehoiachin(598-597)Zedekiah(597-586)Daniel ministers in BabylonEzekiel ministers in BabylonAn Evil End to JudahZedekiah(Mattaniah)597-586(11 yrs.)Jehoahaz(Shallum)609(3 mos.)Jehoiachin(Jeconiah/Coniah)597(3 mos.)Josiah640-609(31 yrs.)Jehoiakim (Eliakim)609-597(11 yrs.)Johanan(no rule)Exiled256Good king in whiteEvil kings in yellowBabylon1234555560232342586JeremiahEzekielDaniel597605Josiah's Sons & ProphetsBrief Puppet KingsCity FellZedekiah609JehoiachinJehoiakimJosiah(3 mos.)(3 mos.)(11 yrs.)(11 yrs.)627Jehoahaz56Walk Through The Bible 1989Daniel

"Dreams" 57MediterraneanSeaSyriaEgyptWestward ExpansionIsraelPersianGulfJudahBabylon605 BCNineveh50The Babylonian KingdomCarchemish58

The City of Babylon

Was there ever a city greater than Babylon?The Context 59Why the Exile?

The Hanging GardensWas Babylon an undefeatable power?60Why the Exile?KEY WORD: SOVEREIGNTYKEY VERSE: 2:20-21aDaniel said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. 21It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings."

DANIEL = laYEnID; (MEANS LITERALLY "EL IS MY JUDGE")533Title, Key Word, Key Verse61

Internal evidence: 7:212:13 (1st person); 8:1; 9:2; 12:4533Who Wrote Daniel?External evidence: Ezek. 14:14, 20; Matt. 24:15

62 650 800 900 9501000 500 550 85010501100 450United Kingdom1050-930Divided Kingdom930-722Solitary Kingdom722-586Exile 586-536Post- Exile 536-425

7 5 0 Daniel 605-536 BC 7 0 0 600Daniel in OT History63150300400450500BC/AD 50350550600 50Daniel's Ministry (1:1; 10:1)605-536Daniel's Prophecies (chaps. 2-11)605-AD 70Antiochus Desecrates Temple167-164Critics see historical events recorded as "prophecies" Critics Date Daniel after 1642 5 0 2 0 0 100The Date of Daniel

64

Significance of the Dead Sea ScrollsShrine of the Book

The DSS proves the conservative dating of OT booksWhen was Daniel written?DSS Daniel copy200-100 BC534Liberals164 BCConservatives560 BC65232 & 342586HabakkukJoelJerusalem's FallJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDaniel597605627538Jerusalem's FallKey Dates66DANIEL = laYEnID (MEANS LITERALLY "EL [GOD] IS MY JUDGE")Apocalypse of the OTGod kept him in his profession as a politicianThe date is debated more than any other biblical bookIn 2 languages (Hebrew: 1, 812 and Aramaic: 27)Recorded outside of IsraelDaniel saw God's rule over the nationsTimes of Gentiles (Luke 21:24)"and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (Luke 21:24)535CHARACTERISTICS:67Two 70-Year Exiles560586Two 70-Year ExilesPeople ExileTemple Exile53953651660568UNIVERSAL SOVEREIGNTY IN TIMES OF THE GENTILESSovereignty over DanielSovereignty over GentilesSovereignty over JewsChapter 1Chapters 27Chapters 812NarrativeVisions in NarrativeVisionHebrewAramaicHebrewGentile Names for GodGentile Names for GodJewish Names for GodThird person ("Daniel")Third person ("Daniel")First person ("I")Daniel's ExampleDaniel Interprets King's DreamsAngel Interprets Daniel's DreamsThe Man DanielImagesKingsIsrael's FutureExile

1:1-7Food

1:8-16Exalted

1:17-21Varied

2

PromotedGold

3

FurnaceNeb.

4

ExileBel.

5

Party

Dar.

6

LionsAll

7

BeastsMedo-PersiaTo Greece

8

ReturntoSeventy"7s"

9Intertest-amentPeriod toTribulation

10-12

Babylon605-536 BCOutline of Daniel53269Daniel605-536 B.C.Personal 1Hebrew Chapter 170

Extent of the Babylonian Kingdom71Handsome Men in M.Div. Studies at the University of Babylon

72Names of Daniel & His FriendsAbednego"Servant of Nego"(or Nebo, i.e., the god Nabu)Azariah"The LORD helps"(or "Whom the LORD helps")Meshach"Who is what Aku is?"Mishael"Who is what God is?"Shadrach"Command of Aku (moon god)"Hananiah"The LORD is gracious"Belteshazzar"Bel, protect his life!"Daniel"God [El] is my judge"BabylonianHebrew544a73Hard to remember their names?

Shad's shack

My shack

And a bungalow74Daniel says "no" to defiled food

75

The King's Choice Food?76

The King's Choice Food?Add Brussels sprouts77

Daniel's Food of Choice78Daniel's Diet

DANIEL'S DIET: The 10-Day Detox & Weight Loss PlanAre our Christian teenagers TODAY doing better or worse than Daniel at holding to godly convictions?Q 899 Barna

Barna Research Online, 'The Year's Most Intriguing Findings, From Barna Research Studies,' December 12, 2000, www.barna.org."A minority of born-again adults (44%) and an even smaller proportion of born-again teenagers (9%) are certain of the existence of absolute moral truth." 81www.barna.org/cgi-bin/PagePressRelease.asp?PressReleaseID=77&Reference=E&Key=moral%20truth

Foster Letter 2002

"The 'American Family In Crises Research' by the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life uncovered some disturbing facts. Of the children raised in evangelical homes, 88% leave the church at age 18 and never return."Pastor's Weekly Briefing, Focus on the Family, 26 July 2002, quoted in Gary Foster, The Foster Letter, 10 Aug. 2002, p. 1.82From Carl KerbyFollowing is the entire quote that was in my newsletter. My source was the 7/26/02 issue of Pastor's Weekly Briefing published by the Pastoral Ministries department of Focus on the Family.American Family In Crises Research by the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life has uncovered some disturbing facts that are leading the group to emphasize the need to rebuild the American family. 88% of the children raised in evangelical homes leave church at the age of 18, never to return. The divorce ratio among members of evangelical churches is virtually the same as non-church members. One million children in the U.S. see their parents divorce. Personal bankruptcies are at an all-time high in America.The majority of children in America have less than 10 minutes of significant and meaningful conversation with their parents each week. If you remove the mother, you can measure this statistic in seconds. The council recommends that families set aside one evening a week as a family night, on which no local church activities would be scheduled to interfere. It also urged an increased emphasis on biblically based premarital counseling. (PWB 7/26)Gary D. FosterGary D. Foster Consulting334 Sutherland PlaceManitou Springs, CO 80829Phone: 719-685-1138 E-mail: GFosterCns@rmi.net Website: http://www.garydfoster.com/"Helping Christian ministries & product companies discover new revenue streams and to better leverage existing ones."Already Gone 04802Already Goneby Ken Ham and Britt Beemer, with Todd Hillard

Answers in Genesis-USAgeneral books83

High school attendedCatholic schoolCharter schoolHome schoolChristian schoolPublic school0.6%3.2%3.4%6.9%85.9%84Survey done by American Research Group (similar to Barna and Gallup)professional statistically valid study paid for by AiG supportersSurvey 20-29 year olds who grew up in church but don't go to church any more, to find out why.

If you don't believe, when did you first have doubts?Don't knowElementary schoolCollegeMiddle schoolHigh school1.61%4.37%10.57%39.77%43.68%85

Which of these makes you question the Bible the most?Those Who Often Attended Sunday School45.2%Miracles not trueBible not make senseToo many rulesEarth not 10K yrsNoneCreation account4.3%10.7%11.2%14.4%29.7%25.6%86

Which of these makes you question the Bible the most?Those Who Rarely Attended Sunday School32.1%Miracles not trueBible not make senseToo many rulesEarth not 10K yrsNoneCreation account0.8%11.7%13.5%10.7%17.8%43.4%87We are not saying that we should get rid of Sunday school. But we are suggesting that we need to change the curriculum and the training.Most Sunday school teachers, like most Christian adults don't know how to defend the faith against the skeptical challenges that are coming through the schools, media, science programs on TV, etc. We need apologetics training for the teachers and then they need to give it to the kids.Psalm 11:3 NAS

Psalm 11:3If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?88Typical House

89House 2 0041990Suppose many huge trucks rumbled around the house without ever touching it. Typical House collapsed

91Blocks-Genesis + Doctrine 00874

DOCTRINEGENESISXX92Blocks Genesis/doctrine/sin grey

DOCTRINEGENESISSINGENESIS93Blocks Genesis/doctrine/clothing grey

CLOTHINGDOCTRINEGENESISGENESIS94talk again about modestywedding pictures we get from committed Christians with very immodest wedding dresses, in most churches where I speak including our own, teens and older women are immodestly dressedjust reflective of the influence of nudity in our culture and our ignorance of the Genesis foundation of the Bible's teaching on clothes. Men, teach your wives and daughters. Wives and daughters, ask your husbands and dads about specific clothing.

Blks-Gen Doc + Doc

GENESISGENESISDOCTRINE7-DAY WEEKDOMINIONWORKCURSENATIONS1st COMING2nd COMING95Blocks Genesis/doctrine/marriage grey

MARRIAGEDOCTRINEGENESISGENESIS96Mal. 2:16God hates divorceMarriage silhouettes

97So as Christians, when we are confronted with this issue of homosexual marriage, which picture is consistent with the Christian foundation found in the book of Genesis? God ordained marriage as one man for one woman for life in the book of Genesis.Blocks-Genesis + Gospel 00872

DEATHGENESIS98

99WHY?999999See 124

Why would a loving God allow earthquakes?100100Fossil dinosaur with scientist

101Picture from Dinosaur National Monument (national park) in Utah & ColoradoShow my fossil shells

FOSSIL RECORDPAINDEATHKILLINGDISEASESTRUGGLESUFFERINGEXTINCTIONMILLIONS OF YEARS=102Evolution Millions of Years + Creation 01133

EVOLUTIONMILLIONS OF YEARSMAN'SEXISTENCEDEATHSuffering Disease BloodshedCREATIONMAN'SACTIONSSINDEATH103103Do these two views agree? No, of course not. They are diametrically opposed to each other.Gen. 1:29-30 NAS

Genesis 1:29-3029. Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;30. and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so.104

If God cursed the earth with thorns AFTER Adam sinnedGenesis 3:18"Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you"WHY do we find FOSSIL THORNS from "millions of years ago"?Psilophyton crenulatumLower Devonian 360-408 million yearsWhich will you believe?105Whitehead 2003dino cancer

John Whitehead, "Dinosaurs got cancer," Discover, 21 Oct. 2003, .One of 10,000 dinosaur bones X-rayed in the USA"Many dinosaurs had cancer, researchers have discovered. Their tumours were like those of human patients, showing that cancer has been around, essentially unchanged, for a very long time. 'Diseases look the same independent of what critter is affected,' says Bruce Rothschild ..."

106Picture and quote from http://www.nature.com/nsu/031020/031020-2.html

Two Histories of Death

BeginningFutureDeath is an enemyMan's sin brought DeathDEATH will be done away withONLY THOUSANDS OF YEARSDeath is temporaryNO DEATHNO DEATHGod's WordMan's OpinionMILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF YEARSLife and death have always been togetherAs long as there is life, there will be deathDeath is a permanent part of historyMove the black box over to translate underneath107Death 2 views

DeathVERY GOOD!DeathDeathDeathPRESENTFUTUREPASTMillions of YearsAdamNo DeathDeathDeathNo DeathAdamVERY GOOD!PRESENTFUTUREPASTMove the black box over to translate underneath108

Gap Where Fit Mil of Yrs 00845WHERE DO YOU "FIT" MILLIONS OF YEARS?

Somewhere?

Between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2(gap theorists)

Spread the millions of years out in the six "days"(progressive creationists and theistic evolutionists)DAYDAYDAYEARTH, SPACE, TIME & LIGHTATMOSPHEREDRY LAND & PLANTSDAYDAYDAYSUN, MOON & STARSSEA & FLYING CREATURESLAND ANIMALS & MAN109Choose your battles carefullydon't insist on your "godly" name (1:7)Obey God even when others compromise (1:8a)Appeal to proper authority when asked to do something wrong (1:8b)Test God's faithfulness by setting yourself apart (1:11f.)Show "staying power" despite changes in authorities (1:21)Appeal to proper authority when threatened (2:16)Wait on God instead of doing something rash (2:16)544aPrinciples of ObedienceDespite their pagan names, these men exemplified many principles of obedience:110Involve others in solving problems (2:17)Pray to God for wisdom and mercy (2:18)Give God the credit for abilities he has given you (2:19, 28-30)Worship God alone despite the outcome (3:12; 6:7)Accept the consequences of obedience (3:16-18; 6:16)Humble yourself so God will not have to humble you (4:28-37; 5:22)Handle all your affairs with utmost integrity (6:3-4)Obey publiclynot just privately (6:10)Respect your persecutors with authority even over your life (6:21-22)544aPrinciples of Obedience111

You can serve God in a pagan environment without violating your godly convictions.544aThe Point of Daniel 1Daniel is the model exile.112Daniel605-536 B.C.Personal 1Prophetic 212Gentiles 27AramaicHebrewInterpreterStatue 2 Chapter 2113

Dreaming of an Image114

Daniel 1-2, 4-5An Interpreter of DreamsA Prophet of GodA Person of IntegrityA Highly Respected LeaderDaniel's ReputationBabylon

116

GoldSilverBronzeIronIron & ClayBabylonPersiaGreeceRomeAntichristKingdomStoneThe Image of Daniel 2

117

What is Christ's Kingdom?118

Note that ALL of the kingdoms will fall at the same time!119Daniel605-536 B.C.Personal 1 God rules the worldProphetic 212Gentiles 27AramaicHebrewInterpreterStatue 2 Idol 3 Chapter 3120

Daniel 2Many materialsStatues can become a bad habit

Daniel 3All Gold at 9 x 90 feet!121

Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah122

Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego123Standing Alone

124

The Fiery Furnace125

"I see four men..."

126Daniel605-536 B.C.JudgmentPersonal 1 God rules the worldProphetic 212Gentiles 27AramaicHebrewInterpreterStatue 2 Idol 3 Tree 4 Chapter 4127

The Tree of Daniel 4128

Nebuchadnezzar Exalts Himself (4:30)As he looked out across the city, he said, 'Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.'129

Involuntary Vegetarianism130

But he lived as an animalFamous Painting "Nebuchadnezzar" by William Blake131232 & 342586HabakkukJoelJerusalem's FallJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDaniel597605627538Jerusalem's FallKey Dates132

Chart of the Exile232 & 342The Babylonian ExileJohn C. Whitcomb, 4th rev. ed., Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 1962, 1968133

Chart of the Exile232 & 342The Babylonian ExileJohn C. Whitcomb, 4th rev. ed., Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 1962, 1968134Neo-Babylonian KingsNebuchadnezzar605-562 (43 yrs.)Conquered JudahBelshazzar553-539(14 yrs.)Nabopolassar625-605 (20 yrs.)Conquered NinevehNabonidus556-539(17 yrs.)Neriglissar560-556 (4 yrs.)Self-Imposed Exile342First Dynasty in whiteOthers in yellowTema1247Evil-Merodach562-560 (2 yrs.)Released Jehoiakim (2 Kings 25:27)36Labashi-Marduk556 (9 months)5135Source: Matthias Henze, The Madness of King Nebuchadnezzar: The ancient Near Eastern Origins and Early History of Interpretation of Daniel 4, Supplements to the Journal for the study of Judaism, vol. 61 (Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill), 57.

All rulers who exalt themselves will be humbled

Saddam saw himself as the "New Nebuchadnezzar." This included his end!1361NARRATIVE1:1-7 Exile1:8-16 Food1:17-21 Exaltation27 VISIONS IN NARRATIVE 2Kingdom: "Image" of history destroyed 3 Deliverance from fiery furnace 4 Nebuchadnezzar humbled 5Belshazzar humbled6 Deliverance from lion's den 7Kingdom: "Beasts" of history destroyedoutline536ChiasmChiasm in Daniel 27137

"But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom [endures] from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven.And [among] the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?'

At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me.

'Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.'" Daniel 4:34-37Nebuchadnezzar Humbled138Daniel605-536 B.C.JudgmentPersonal 1 God rules the worldProphetic 212ConsolationGentiles 27Israel 812AramaicHebrewHebrewInterpreterInquirerStatue 2 Idol 3 Tree 4 Hand 5 Chapter 5139

Belshazzar HumbledRembrandt140

Persians entered under the water gates!Daniel 5(Belshazzar's Feast)510aBABYLON FELL in 539 BC141"Babylon was being besieged by the Persian army, led by Ugbaru, governor of Gutium, while Belshazzar, inside the city, was giving a great banquet for 1,000 of his nobles. Belshazzar's name means "Bel (another name for the god Marduk) has protected the king." Perhaps the banquet was given to show Belshazzar's contempt for the Persians and to allay his people's fears. Archeologists have excavated a large hall in Babylon 55 feet wide and 165 feet long that had plastered walls. Such a room would have been sufficient to house a gathering of this size. Belshazzar considered his city secure from assault because of its massive walls. Within the city were supplies that would sustain it for 20 years. Therefore the king felt he had little cause for concern."John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary., The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 1:1344."[Cyrus] placed a portion of his army at the point where the river enters the city, and another body at the back of the place where it issues forth, with orders to march into the town by the bed of the stream, as soon as the water became shallow enough: he then himself drew off with the unwarlike portion of his host, and made for the place where Nitocris dug the basin for the river, where he did exactly what she had done formerly: he turned the Euphrates by a canal into the basin, which was then a marsh, on which the river sank to such an extent that the natural bed of the stream became fordable."Hereupon the Persians who had been left for the purpose at Babylon by the river-side, entered the stream, which had now sunk so as to reach about midway up a man's thigh, and thus got into the town. 544bThe History of the Persian Wars 1.191 (430 BC)Babylon's Fall (Herodotus)142"Had the Babylonians been apprised of what Cyrus was about, or had they noticed their danger, they would never have allowed the Persians to enter the city, but would have destroyed them utterly; for they would have made fast all the street-gates which gave upon the river, and mounting upon the walls along both sides of the stream, would so have caught the enemy, as it were, in a trap. But, as it was, the Persians came upon them by surprise and so took the city. Owing to the vast size of the place, the inhabitants of the central parts (as the residents at Babylon declare) long after the outer portions of the town were taken, knew nothing of what had chanced, but as they were engaged in a festival, continued dancing and reveling until they learnt the capture but too certainly. Such, then, were the circumstances of the first taking of Babylon."

The History of the Persian Wars 1.191 (written over a century later in 430 BC)Babylon's Fall (Herodotus)544b143Daniel605-536 B.C.JudgmentPersonal 1 God rules the worldProphetic 212Gentiles 27AramaicHebrewInterpreterStatue 2 Idol 3 Tree 4 Hand 5 Lions 6 Chapter 6144

Daniel prayed with windows open to Jerusalem145Hungry lions (but not for Daniel)

146

Darius the Mede conquered Belshazzar (grandson of Nebuchadnezzar). Darius also acknowledged God's sovereignty:"I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed and His dominion [will be] forever. He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has [also] delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."

Daniel 6:26-27Darius Humbled147Daniel605-536 B.C.JudgmentPersonal 1 God rules the worldProphetic 212ConsolationGentiles 27Israel 812AramaicHebrewHebrewInterpreterInquirerStatue 2 Idol 3 Tree 4 Hand 5 Lions 6 Chapter 61482.The man Daniel appears in the third person in chapters 17. But chapters 812 are written in the first person.3.Chapters 17 focus on Gentiles whereas in chapters 812 Daniel's visions all focus on Jews. outlineDaniel 17The Aramaic part is chapters 27 (not 16). Therefore, a division after chapter 7 treats the book the way it presents itself. An example of the link is that the Aramaic word for God (Hla]) in chapters 16 also appears in chapter 7.Support for Dividing Daniel Between Chapters 7 & 8150Daniel605-536 B.C.JudgmentPersonal 1 God rules the worldProphetic 212ConsolationGentiles 27Israel 812AramaicHebrewHebrewInterpreterBeasts 7 InquirerStatue 2 Idol 3 Tree 4 Hand 5 Lions 6 Chapter 7151

Daniel 7 Beasts from the Sea152

Nations in Daniel 7BabylonMedo-PersiaGreeceRomeDaniel605-536 B.C.JudgmentPersonal 1 God rules the worldProphetic 212ConsolationGentiles 27Israel 812AramaicHebrewHebrewInterpreterBeasts 7 Horns 8 InquirerStatue 2 Idol 3 Tree 4 Hand 5 Lions 6 Daniel 8154

The King of Babylon (605-562) said:"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride."

(Daniel 4:34-37)Darius the Mede (son of Ahasuerus) ruled after the death of Belshazzar, said:"I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel."

(Daniel 6:26-27)WHY?THEOLOGY OF DANIEL 1-7155King Nebuchadnezzar's act of besieging the Jerusalem was not only by his own might and strength, but it was God who had given King Jehoiakim into his hand (1:1-2).2. God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, when Daniel steadfastly resisted the cultural pressure to compromise (1:9).Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officialsIn the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god. I. GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL PEOPLE156

3.God gave the four Jewish youth intelligence in many fields and Daniel could understand all visions and dreams.4. The God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego controlled the forces of nature to humble Nebuchadnezzar through the furnace (ch. 3) and Darius through Daniel in the lions' den (ch. 6)."As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every [branch of] literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all [kinds of] visions and dreams" (1:17).I. GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL PEOPLE 157

6. By handwriting on the wall God showed His sovereign control over nations and individual rulers (ch. 5)5. God gave Daniel ability to interpret dreams and visions that perplexed the nobles and wise men in Babylon (chs. 2, 4, 5)I. GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL PEOPLE158Daniel answered the king, "As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians [nor] diviners are able to declare [it] to the king. However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind [while] on your bed" (2:27-28).7. Daniel not only prophesied against Babylon but also later empires that opposed God and oppressed His people everywhere (ch. 2). Rulers of the world fight against the kingdom of God!8. Daniel had a vision of four beasts (nations) that threatened to exterminate God's people. But the Ancient of Days prevailed to establish an eternal kingdom for his people. Thus, God's sovereignty is shown in human history (ch. 7).I. GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL PEOPLE159

Daniel's friends: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But [even] if [He does] not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18 and they were thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fireII. PERSECUTION OF THE FAITHFUL160

"Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or... corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was... found in him. Then these men said, 'We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find [it] against him with regard to the law of his God.'

"Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, 'Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you'" (Daniel 6:4-5, 16).II. PERSECUTION OF THE FAITHFUL 161

. . . was Daniel cast into the lions' den?

were they thrown into the midst of the blazing furnace?WHY?II. PERSECUTION OF THE FAITHFUL 1621. Suffering persecution will occur in each believer's life who is standing on the law of God. Loyalty to God's Word brings us even death (chs. 3, 6), but God will vindicate us through resurrection and judgment at the end as ch. 12 depicts.2. Through every circumstance of life it is possible to live a life of faith and victory with God's help (3:24-27; 6:19-24). This is living under the sovereignty of God.

II. PERSECUTION OF THE FAITHFUL1631. Persecution will occur in each believer's life who is standing on the law of God. Loyalty to God's Word brings us even death (ch. 3, 6), but God will vindicate us through resurrection and judgment at the end as ch. 12 depicts.2. Through every circumstance of life we can live a life of faith and victory with God's help (3:24-27; 6:19-24). This is living under the sovereignty of God.3. The NT teaches even more on the suffering of God's people:"Blessed are the persecuted for theirs is the kingdom of God" (Matt. 5:10-12)"All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12) II. PERSECUTION OF THE FAITHFUL164 "If they persecuted Me they will also persecute you" (John 15:20)

II. PERSECUTION OF THE FAITHFUL 165

Nebuchadnezzar said:"Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?"

Daniel 3:14-15III. GOD JUDGES THE PROUD 166Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which [was] in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain.

Daniel 5:3-4, 30

III. GOD JUDGES THE PROUD 167MAN'S PRIDE refuses to depend on God and be subject to Him, but attributes to self the honor due to him, This the very root of sin."I. H. Marshall, New Bible Dictionary (IVP, 1995), 995God sent Babylon to besiege Jerusalem because of Judah's pride.

This contrasted with the obedient people of God. Daniel and his three friends did not want to go against the law of God.Chapter 1: And I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me and have offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands (Jer. 1:16)Woe to the rebellious childrenWho proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! (Isa. 30:1-2)

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help. [And] rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord! Return to Him from whom you have deeply defected, O sons of Israel (Isa. 31:1,6)III. GOD JUDGES THE PROUD168Chapter 2: Nebuchadnezzar's dream was revealed to Daniel by God alone. This contrasts with human pride which has no ability to discern God's message. 2. The mighty kingdoms are destroyed by other kingdoms, but God's kingdom will never be destroyed. Human pride will finally be destroyed!"The Chaldeans answered the king and said, 'There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no great king or ruler has [ever] asked anything like this of any magician, conjurer or Chaldean.''Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with [mortal] flesh'" (2:10-11).III. GOD JUDGES THE PROUD 169In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and [that] kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.Daniel 2:44-45III. GOD JUDGES THE PROUD 170Chapter 3:Nebuchadnezzar's pride is subdued by God's miraculous work in protecting Daniel's 3 friends.

His arrogant proclamation in v. 7 is contrasted with his humble proclamation in v. 29.Verse 7:"Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and [men of every] language fell down [and] worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up."Verse 29:"Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way." III. GOD JUDGES THE PROUD 171Chapter 4:God gave Nebuchadnezzar a dream of a large tree. Through the interpretation of Daniel, God showed how fragile human pride and might is.

"The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth and whose foliage [was] beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which [was] food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt and in whose branches the birds of the sky lodged-- it IS YOU, O KING; for you have become great and grown strong, and your majesty has become great and reached to the sky and your dominion to the end of the earth."4:20-22III. GOD JUDGES THE PROUD 172

"This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place BE WITH THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, UNTIL YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THE MOST HIGH IS RULER OVER THE REALM OF MANKIND and bestows it on whomever He wishes" (4:24-25).III. GOD JUDGES THE PROUD 173III. GOD JUDGES THE PROUD xcvxcv

`!ysi(r>p;W lqET. anEm. anEm. MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN

"This is the interpretation of the message: `MENE'--God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.`TEKEL'--you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. `PERES'--your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain" (5:26-28, 30).Chapter 5:Belshazzar's arrogance was subdued, for he was using the temple vessels and praising gods of idolatry. 174III. GOD JUDGES THE PROUD Chapter 6:Daniel's fellow officers were jealous of Daniel and tricked King Darius to cast Daniel into lions' den. The death of the his accusers in the same den instead of Daniel contrasts human pride with honoring God.

"The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children and their wives into the lions' den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones" (6:24).175Chapter 7:

Four great beasts in Daniel's vision symbolize kings or kingdoms who will arise from the earth. But these kingdoms will be finally destroyed. God will give His people an everlasting kingdom when Jesus returns and establishes it. Human pride will be destroyed.

"Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of [all] the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom [will be] an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him" (Dan. 7:27; Rev. 13)III. GOD JUDGES THE PROUD 176IV. GOD'S MESSIAH OF THE WORLD

THE NATIONSISRAELThe Book of Daniel corrects this narrow view by presenting the Messiah as universal and victorious over evil in general.Israel saw their Messiah as only over Israel and victorious over Israel's enemies.177"And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and [men of every] language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed."Dan. 7:13-14

IV. GOD'S MESSIAH OF THE WORLD178Four Beasts of Daniel 7

Beast 1: Winged Lion (Babylon)

Beast 2: Bear (Medo-Persia)

Beast 3: Leopard (Greece)Beast 4: Terrifying (Rome)

Daniel 7:7

Little Horn on Beast 4 (Antichrist)Daniel 7:8World Empires in Daniel

545Bible Visual Resource Book, 133

185The Neo-Babylonian Empire

545186

1010Control of the World Political System:10101010101010107 Heads RomanConsecutivePast Rev. 17:9-1110 Kings WorldwideSimultaneousFuture Rev. 17:12Beast (8th King) WorldwideControls 10 KingsFuture Rev. 17:13

398

Daniel 8Can God know the future almost 300 years in advance?Well, of course He can!188

Flow of Daniel 8Chapter 8vv. 3-4The powerful ram with two horns (Persia)5-7A goat defeats a ram (Alex over Persians)8Horn replaced by four horns (Alex's generals)9-12 The small horn (Antiochus IV Epiphanes)His CareerHis DefeatHis FuryHis death (cf. v. 25)13-14The Maccabees and Hanukkah (167-164 BC)15-27 The interpretation539189Which is stronger & faster?557

Goat?

Ram?

190

Goat Beats Ram (Dan. 8)?557191Alexander Made Headlines

539192

The Ram and Goat (Dan. 8)

557193

Alexander's Conquests

557194

His DownfallDue to Pride:Desire for worshipWineWomenSong195After Alexander

SeleucusPtolemyCassanderLysimacus"And the he-goat is the king of Greece; and the great horn between his eyes is the first king. As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation but not with his power" (Daniel 8:21-22 RSV)

557Greek Empire196Daniel605-536 B.C.JudgmentPersonal 1 God rules the worldProphetic 212ConsolationGentiles 27Israel 812AramaicHebrewHebrewInterpreterBeasts 7 Horns 8 Prayer 9 InquirerStatue 2 Idol 3 Tree 4 Hand 5 Lions 6 Chapter 9197Chapter 9 OutlineThere exist 4 major views on the 70 weeks539Daniel's prayer: How long? (9:1-19)God's reply: 70 x 7 (9:20-27)

198The Number of

Creation Gen. 2:2Rain Gen. 7:4Sabbath Ex. 20:10Jericho Josh. 6:4Sons Job 1:2; Ruth 4:15 Prophecy Dan. 9:24Forgive Matt. 18:21Completion540Before the Curtain Closes (9:24 NLT)A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy cityto finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place."These were NOT fulfilled in the first centuryso the 70 weeks must have a future fulfillment540TribulationMillenniumJews will be sought (Zech. 8:23)649

"This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, 'Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you'" (NLT).

25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.27And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.""All Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:25-27)NTS 155w70 "Weeks" in Daniel 9:25-2769 sevens = 483 years1 seven = 7 years7 sevens + 62 sevensAnointed OneDecree551"Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed" (Dan. 9:25-26 NIV).203

Triumphal Entry: "Anointed One comes"Zech. 9:9Dan. 9:2530 March AD 334 Views on the 70 "Weeks"Jer. 25:11-12605/ 586 BC5547 wks62 weeks1 wkCriticalCy-rus

De-cree538 BCArt. 2nd

De-cree444 BCJeru-sa-lem

Re-built395 BCMur-der

of

Oni-as171 BCAnti-ochus

De-se-cra-tion167 BCTem-ple

Re-ded-ica-tion164 BCChrist DeathAD 33 Titus

De-stroy

Jeru-sa-lem AD 70Church Age7 Yr.

Trib-ula-tionMil-len-nial

King-domSymbolicMessianicPremillennial7 wks62 weeks1 wk7 wks62 weeks1 wk7 wks62 weeks1 wk2051. Critical View555Critique of Critical View:Weeks add up to 422 or 441 years (not 490)Antiochus was hardly a Messianic figure!Antiochus IV made no covenant with IsraelProphecy seen only as imaginative predictionJer. 25:11-12605/ 586 BC7 wks62 weeks1 wkCriticalCy-rus

De-cree538 BCMur-der

of

Oni-as171 BCAnti-ochus

De-se-cra-tion167 BCTem-ple

Re-ded-ica-tion164 BC2062. Amillennial Symbolic View55570 seen as indefinite era to lead people to salvation 7 as a mark of divine work, symbolizing completionFirst 7 years begins with the Cyrus decree (538 BC)The 62 weeks = the gospel is preached The final week = Antichrist rule, Christ lost influence70 years end in Christ's second comingCy-rus

De-cree538 BCArt. 2nd

De-cree444 BCChurch Age7 Yr.

Trib-ula-tionSymbolic7 wks62 weeks1 wk2072. Amillennial Symbolic View555Critique of the Symbolic View70x7 seen as for all people, not exclusive to IsraelGlosses over details of prophetic elementsCyrus's decree was closest to the time Daniel's prayer but did not restore Jerusalem but only the temple

Cy-rus

De-cree538 BCArt. 2nd

De-cree444 BCChurch Age7 Yr.

Trib-ula-tionSymbolic7 wks62 weeks1 wk2083. Messianic/Historic View5557 wks starts from Cyrus decree62 wks ends at Christ's first advent (9:26 occurs after this)Final week Death of Christ abolished sacrificeDestruction of Jerusalem in AD 70Rejects the gap theory The final prince not seen as the Antichrist but as Christ Sees Abomination of Desolation (Matt 24:15) as fulfilled in AD 70 (then Matthew wrote about it)Cy-rus

De-cree538 BCArt. 2nd

De-cree444 BCChrist DeathAD 33 Titus

De-stroy

Jeru-sa-lem AD 70Messianic7 wks62 weeks1 wk2093. Messianic/Historic View555Critique of the Messianic View Interpretation as new covenant (Heb. 8:13) and desolation (Heb. 9:25-26) lackingDoes not account for Antichrist in Rev 13:5 who will rule 42 months. 2 Thess. 2:4 says Antichrist (not Christ) will claim deity in temple However, Young does see 11:40-44 as referring to Antichrist (Young, 248, 251)Cy-rus

De-cree538 BCArt. 2nd

De-cree444 BCChrist DeathAD 33 Titus

De-stroy

Jeru-sa-lem AD 70Messianic7 wks62 weeks1 wk210Messianic View of James E. Smith

The Major Prophets (Joplin, MO: College Press, 1995), LOGOS electronic version chart 22Problems?The one who stops the sacrifice (Dan. 9:27) also desecrates the temple (cf. 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:5)211Messianic View of James E. SmithThe Major Prophets (Joplin, MO: College Press, 1995), LOGOS electronic version chart 24

Problems?Travel and knowledge did not vastly increase in AD 60s (Dan. 12:2)No abomination stood in the temple in AD 662124. Premillennial View5557 weeks began at Artaxerxes's 444 BC decree to Nehemiah62 weeks end with Christ's Triumphal Entry Gap = the church age = times of Gentiles (note Jesus' prophecy in Luke 21:24) The final week = 7 year TribulationJer. 25:11-12605/ 586 BCCy-rus

De-cree538 BCArt. 2nd

De-cree444 BCJeru-sa-lem

Re-built395 BCMur-der

of

Oni-as171 BCAnti-ochus

De-se-cra-tion167 BCTem-ple

Re-ded-ica-tion164 BCChrist DeathAD 33 Titus

De-stroy

Jeru-sa-lem AD 70Church Age7 Yr.

Trib-ula-tionMil-len-nial

King-domPremillennial7 wks62 weeks1 wk213The Seventy "Weeks" of Daniel69 sevens = 483 years444 BC 395 BC1 seven = 7 years7 sevens 62 sevens395 BC AD 33Anointed OneDecree551214555Questions on the Premillennial ViewWhich decree is in 9:25? Four options:(1) Cyrus decree to rebuild the temple (2 Chron. 36: 22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; 6:1-5); (2) Darius decree confirming the decree of Cyrus (Ezra 6:6-12);(3) Artaxerxes decree #1 (Ezra 7:11-26); (4) Artaxerxes decree #2 given to Nehemiah authorizing the rebuilding of the city (Neh. 2:1-8).

Why do we hold that the decree is Artaxerxes #2 in his 20th year (444 BC)? This is because Neh. 2:12-17 pictures Jerusalem in ruins at this time.215Luke 21:24 Times of the Gentiles

551Raymond Ludwigson, A Survey of Bible Prophecy216Daniel 9:25-27 (NLT)86b-d25Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a rulerthe Anointed Onecomes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.26"After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end. 27The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him."217An Astonishing Prediction!553The Jewish calendar has 360 days per year 69 Jewish "weeks" of 483 years = 476 solar yearsIssue of the decree on 5 March 444 BC after 476 solar years ends on 30 March 33. This is the exact date of Christ's Triumphant Entry!Compare Daniel 9:27 with Revelation 13:5, 14-15 where half of a "7" is 3 and years or 42 months

218Determinations of the Seventy Weeks

553J. Dwight Pentecost, Daniel, in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 1:1363219Determinations of the Seventy Weeks

553Harold Hoehner, Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ,139220Mind the Gap

Why the Gap?Why must there be a gap between the end of the 69th week and the beginning of the 70th week?Six Reasons69 sevens = 483 years444 BC 395 BC1 seven = 7 years7 sevens 62 sevens395 BC AD 33Anointed OneDecree552For a dispensational interpretation of each of these six phrases see the exegetical outline of Daniel 9:24 on the preceding pages.222Why the Gap?The six prophecies in Daniel 9:24 could not have been fulfilled at Christ's first advent. These prophecies relate not to the church but to Israel. Has Israel finished sinning (24a)? No.Has Israel had atonement for her sins (24b-c)? No.Has Israel seen everlasting righteousness (24d)? No. Paul still saw this as future for Israel (Rom. 11:25-27).Has vision and prophecy culminated (24e)? No.Has the holy of holies* been anointed yet (24f)? No.Six ReasonsReason #1*Although the phrase "most holy" has been sometimes interpreted to mean Christ's anointing (e.g., Young, The Prophecy of Daniel, 201), these are technical words always translated in the Old Testament as "holy of holies." The clear referent is the consecration of the millennial temple (cf. Ezek. 4046).540552aFor a dispensational interpretation of each of these six phrases see the exegetical outline of Daniel 9:24 on the preceding pages.223Before the Curtain Closes (9:24 NLT)A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy cityto finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place."These were NOT fulfilled in the first centuryso the 70 weeks must have a future fulfillment540TribulationMillennium224Why the Gap?The first word of verse 26, "after" (), indicates a gap. This gap occurs after the culmination of the sixty-ninth week at the cutting off of Messiah at Christ's crucifixion after the Triumphal Entry. Six ReasonsReason #2The traditional-historical school sees Christ's baptism ending the 69 weeks and His death at the middle of the 70th week. If this were so, the text would read that the cutting off of Messiah would occur "during" or "in the midst of" the seventieth week. However, verse 26 says that several events must occur before the beginning of the 70th week, such as Jerusalems destruction and many wars. Christs DeathAD 33 Titus DestroysJerusalem AD 70Church Age: "The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end" (9:26b)7 Yr. Tribulation7 wks62 weeks1 wk541552a225Daniel 9:25-27 (NLT)86b-d25Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a rulerthe Anointed Onecomes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.26"After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end. 27The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him."226Why the Gap?The idea of gaps may seem strange to the 21st century mind, but this was not true of the Jewish mindset.

For example, Isaiah 61:1-2 records the two advents of Christ in a single context. Christ quoted the portion of this passage relating to His first advent in Luke 4:18-19, thus revealing that a separation of many years appears. Concerning the Jewish mindset, Gundry notes, "The possibility of a gap between the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks is established by the well-accepted OT phenomenon of prophetic perspective, in which gaps such as that between the first and second advents were not perceived" (Robert H. Gundry, The Church and the Tribulation [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973], 190). Six ReasonsReason #3541552aFor a dispensational interpretation of each of these six phrases see the exegetical outline of Daniel 9:24 on the preceding pages.227Why the Gap?The person who confirms the covenant in Daniel 9:27 cannot be Christ.

The "He" in this verse looks back at "the prince who is to come" in the previous verse (Titus in AD 70) as its antecedent.

Also, if Christ is the confirmer of the covenant, then what covenant did He confirm and then break? Certainly not the new covenant!Six ReasonsReason #4541552aThis covenantal perspective finds recent support by Meredith G. Kline, "The Covenant of the Seventieth Week, in The Law and the Prophets. Old Testament Studies Prepared in Honor of Oswald Thompson Allis, ed. by John H. Skilton (Nutley, NJ, 1974), 452-69, esp. 461-69; cited by Hoehner, 132.228

The Temple Stood Until AD 70229Antonia Fortress

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Temple Assault by Titus, the "ruler [who] ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple" (9:26) Sept. AD 70231Why the Gap?Since Christ's death did not "put an end to sacrifice and offering" (Dan. 9:27), a gap must exist between the 69th and 70th weeks.

The Jews continued the sacrificial system until God stopped their abhorrent practice with Titus' destruction of the temple in AD 70.Six ReasonsReason #5541552a232

The Temple VeilThe Temple Veil Torn (Matt. 27:51)

It must have been sown up from AD 33-70Why the Gap?Parallel prophecies also have a gap:Jesus said in Matthew 24:15 that the abomination of desolation will occur after His earthly ministry. The wicked person of Daniel 9:27 has striking parallels with the future wicked man in Daniel 7:25; Revelation 12, 13, 19.The events of the second half of the 70th week (Dan. 9:27b) correlate with those of the latter half of the future Tribulation period in Rev. 13:4, 6, 12, 14-15 Six ReasonsReason #6541552a235

Daniel's 70 Weeks (Dan. 9:24-27)444 BCAD 33 69 Weeks552236

Chronology of the 70th "Week"5561260 DAYSRev. 12:6Sign of Son of ManMatt. 24:30 30 DAYS3 YEARS3 YEARSCovenant MadeDan. 9:27a 30 DAYSElection of BeastRev. 17:133 YEARS2nd ADVENT45 DAYSDan. 12:12Christ's Return CompleteCovenant BrokenDan. 9:27b1290 DAYSDan. 12:11Middle of the WeekAdapted from J. Dwight Pentecost, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1988The TribulationThe Great Tribulation"He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him" (Daniel 9:27 NIV) 237Daniel605-536 B.C.JudgmentPersonal 1 God rules the worldProphetic 212ConsolationGentiles 27Israel 812AramaicHebrewHebrewInterpreterBeasts 7 Horns 8 Prayer 9 Message 1012 InquirerStatue 2 Idol 3 Tree 4 Hand 5 Lions 6 Chapters 1012238Chapter 10541Daniel's prayer and fasting for 21 daysSatanic opposition to Israel's restorationIn History: Ezra, Esther, HitlerThe certainty of the prophecies = God prevails

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Chapter 11542Intertestamental History11:1-35 has over 100 prophecies of the Persian and Greek Empires from Alexander the Great to Antiochus IV fighting over the land of IsraelEnd Times History11:36-45 prophesies the Antichrist's final assault on IsraelPreviews intertestamental & end times history240Intertestamental History (11:1-35)542Alexander the Great until after his death, his empire is divided among the four generals: Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy and Seleucus (11:3-4)Ptolemies and the Seleucids battle (11:5-20)Antiochus IV forces Jews to be Greeks (11:21-32a)Mattathias and his sons, the Maccabees, revolt against Antiochus IV (11:32b-35)

The Persian Empire (11:1-2) The Greek Empire from Alexander the Great to Antiochus IV (11:3-35)241

Ptolemies and Seleucids558242

Ptolemies and Seleucids558243

Ptolemies and Seleucids558244Ptolemaic & Seleucid Kings (11:5-35)Ptolemies (Kings of the South) Seleucids (Kings of the North)Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285246): Signed treaty of peace and gave his daughter Berenice to Antiochus II. Died after his daughter's death (v. 6).Antiochus II Theos (246-226): Disposed of Laodice to marry Berenice. Laodice killed Berenice and her infant son (v. 6), and eventually poisoned Theos and put her own son Callinicus to the throne. 558

Ptolemaic & Seleucid Kings (11:5-35)Ptolemy v. Epiphanes (204-181): After Antiochus attacked, General Scopas of Egypt launched counter-offensive and punished pro-Seleucid Jews, but was later defeated (v. 14). (v. 17). Antiochus gave his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy V (