The Book of Daniel contains several prophecies concerning the end times. In this study we will review these prophecies.
1. Who was Daniel? Read Daniel 1:1-6.
2. Read Daniel 2.
a. “Mountain” is often used symbolically in Scripture for kingdoms. What do you think this stone and mountain represent? Look of the following references: Psalm 118:22 Isaiah 28:16 Zechariah 10:4 Matthew 1:42 Ephesians 2:20 1 Peter 2:4-8.
b. History concerning the statute:
(1 Babylon was called the golden kingdom. The god, Marduk, was called the god of gold. The Babylonian empire lasted from 626–538 B.C. ruling over Israel from 605 B.C.
(2 The Medea-Persians empire (notice the two arms of the statue) ruled from 538–331 B.C. Silver is a symbol of money. It had a great system of money and roads to collect that money.
(3 The Greek empire (ruled by Alexander the Great) ruled from 331–146 B.C. It had weapons of bronze. It conquered kingdoms until It ruled all the earth.
(4 Rome ruled from 146 B.C. until A.D. 500. It shattered all the other kingdoms.
3. Read Daniel 7. How do the four beasts of Daniel 7 correlate with the four kingdoms of the statue in Daniel 2.
4. Read Daniel 9.
a. How did Daniel know when the exile in Babylon would come to an end? When would it end? Read Jeremiah 25:11-12.
b. Why did Daniel pray for fervently if he knew that the Babylonian exile would soon be over? (Leviticus 26:27-45 will help you understand) Had the Jewish people repented? What would happen if they did not repent?
c. How did God answer Daniel’s prayer?
d. Daniel 9:24-27 is one of the most important prophecies in the Bible. It is a summary of end times. “Sevens” in the Hebrew could refer to days, weeks or years. In Genesis 29:16-30 it is used of years. Probably, in this passage, one “seven” would equal seven years. Sixty-nine “sevens” would be 483 years, and seventy “sevens” would be 490 years. (The Jews reckoned 360 days per year.)
(1 To whom did these seventy “sevens” pertain?
(2 What are the six things which happen in these seventy “sevens”? Have they all happened?
(3 When will the seventy “sevens” start? Look up Nehemiah 2:1-9. Note the king’s name and what is decreed. This happened in 445 or 446 B.C.
(4 What will happen during the first seven “sevens” and sixty-two “sevens” (sixty-nine “sevens”)?
(5 What will happen after the sixty-two sevens (plus seven “sevens” equals sixty nine “sevens”)? Scholars have found that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey 483 years to the day after the degree was issued to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.
(6 Who will destroy the city and the sanctuary? (Titus, a Roman governor, destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70). Jesus prophesied this also. What do you learn in Luke 21:20-24.
(7 What is going to happen until the end?
(8 How long will “he” make a covenant with the many?
(9 What is going to happen in the middle of this time?
(10 What will happen to the one who sets up an abomination that cause desolation?
* Many Christians believe the first sixty-nine “sevens” was fulfilled at the coming of the Messiah. Since the seventy “sevens” concern the nation of Israel, the “time of the Gentiles” or the age in which we are living is not included in the seventy “sevens” and is an indefinite period of time. The final seven years after which Jesus sets up His kingdom will begin when the Antichrist makes a covenant with the many (Israel will make a “covenant of death” Isaiah 28:14-22).
5. Read Daniel 11:36-12:12. We will examine 11:36-45 in a later study since these verses tell about the Antichrist.
a. “At that time” (Daniel 12:1) refers to what time?
b. Who are “your people”?
c. At that time what will happen to Daniel’s people? Distress (trouble KJV)–tsarah–straitness, distress
(1 Describe the time of distress that occurs according to Daniel 12.
(2 Look up Jeremiah 30:7 to use what else you can learn about this “time of distress” for Israel.
(3 What do you learn about distress in Matthew 24 and Mark 13?
d. What can we learn about Michael?
(1 Daniel 10:12-21
(2 Daniel 12:1
(3 Jude 9
(4 Revelation 12:7-9
e. Michael will arise. Arise (stand up KJV)–Amad–stand still or fast. When will he arise? What do you think this means?
f. Whose names are written in the book? (Psalm 69:28 Philippians 4:3 Revelation 3:5, 13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27)
g. Compare Daniel 12:2 to John 5:28-29. What will happen at this time?
h. According to Daniel 12:6-7, when will these things recorded in Daniel 11:36-12:7 be completed and what is going to happen to the “holy people” during that time?
i. What does Daniel 12:3 make you want to be? What will do you about it?