In this final section of the book of Daniel, we are reminded that the biblical message is oriented towards the future, the people of God will be persecuted, but that persecution will end at God’s appointed time. We also learn that the persecution will result in the spiritual growth of God’s people.
Read Daniel 12:5-13
This passage is an OT prophecy of the great tribulation. To comfort God’s people the prophecy speaks of Michael who protects God’s people, the final resurrection and judgment, the glorification of the people of God and the certainty of the prophecy.
Read Daniel 12:1-4
This passage is intended to encourage God’s people as they face opposition and persecution. It does so by first of all giving a biblical perspective on history and secondly by showing that persecution belongs to God’s plan for his people.
Read Daniel 11:2-45
Daniel is very discouraged by the difficulties that the returned exiles are having in Jerusalem. He is encouraged by an angel who reflects the glory of God, assures Daniel of God’s favor, shows him that prayer has an impact in the spiritual war, and strengthens him.
Read Daniel 10:1 - 11:1
This passage teaches that the fulfillment of the promise to bring Israel from captivity back to the promised land would eventually include release from the bondage of sin through the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Read Daniel 9:20-27
This passage provides us with instruction about prayer. The fact that Daniel prays for something that God had promised gives us insight into the relationship between prayer and the plan of God. Daniel’s prayer shows us the importance of having a Biblical understanding of the God to whom we pray, confession of sin and asking for forgiveness and praying for the glory of God.
Read Daniel 9:1-19
This vision centers on a period of extreme persecution of God’s people that would take place in the future. The point of this vision is that God is in control even when his people must go through persecution. It also teaches that the persecution will last only as long as God permits and that in the end the persecutors of God’s people will be punished. Daniel’s response to the vision reminds us that we are called to show concern for brothers and sisters who are being persecuted today.
Read Daniel 8:1-27
This is the first chapter in Daniel of what is called apocalyptic literature. The purpose of this kind of writing in the Bible is to describe the struggle between God and his enemies using very colourful imagery. In this chapter the beasts, and the horns stand for evil kingdoms which seek to harm and destroy the people of God. The message of the chapter is that God will judge the evil kingdoms and that the son of man will have an everlasting dominion.
Read Daniel 7:1-28
To understand the gospel we must understand what we are saved from. This passage teaches that apart from salvation all of mankind is unrighteous before God. It shows us a number of the characteristics of our sinfulness and confronts us with the truth that we are all accountable to God. The passage makes it clear that there is no hope of salvation from man’s side. We need to be rescued. The verses and chapters that follow describe how God does this in Christ.
Read Daniel 6:1-28
The overall message of this chapter is that one cannot defy the living God and get away with it. This is a warning passage which stresses that our lives are in God’s hands, they are evaluated by God and if found wanting punishment will follow. The good news in the passage is that God calls to repentance and God will deliver those who humble themselves before him.
Read Daniel 5:1-31
