11. The End (Daniel 11-12)
Spanning two chapters, the final and longest prophecy in Daniel surveys what will happen to the Jewish people under the Persians and the Greeks, before abruptly skipping ahead to the end of the world. Why the jump? Because once again, Daniel is learning that earlier periods of history foreshadow later ones—in this case, the rule of the Antichrist just prior to Christ’s return.
Scripture passages cited in this message include Daniel 8:19; 9:26; and 11-12.
9. Daniel’s Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9)
So far Daniel has learned that before God restores Israel’s kingdom, they will be ruled over by a succession of Gentile empires, culminating with a final end-times ruler called the Antichrist. But how long will this period last? In Daniel 9, God reveals to Daniel a 490-year timeline for Israel’s restoration. That timeline includes the destruction of the Antichrist—and most importantly, the coming of an “Anointed One” who will die and rise again.
Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Daniel 2:10-11; 7:25; 9; Isaiah 46:10; John 13:19; 2 Peter 1:19; Jeremiah 25:8-9, 11; Leviticus 25:2-5; 26:27-28, 33-35; Deuteronomy 30:1-3; Ezra 1:2-4; 6:6-12; 7:12-26; Nehemiah 2:5-6; Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:42; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; Revelation 13:1-15; and Matthew 24:15.
8. The ABCs of Prophecy (Daniel 8)
As God reveals to Daniel what will happen to his people in the future, he teaches him the “ABCs” of how to interpret Bible prophecy—especially the role of typology. A type is a historical thing or person that foreshadows a future thing or person. And so, in Daniel 8, we’re introduced to a figure known to history as Antiochus Epiphanes. A cruel pagan king who reigned between 175-164 BC and remembered today in connection with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, Antiochus Epiphanes is a type of the Antichrist. Like the Antichrist, Antiochus was an arrogant blasphemer who desecrated the temple, oppressed the people of God—and eventually was defeated.
Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Matthew 24:21, 29; Daniel 7:25, 28; 8; 12:1; Revelation 7:14; and Jeremiah 30:7.
7. He Will Reign Forever (Daniel 7)
From the seventh chapter of Daniel onward, we’re given a progressively zoomed-in view of the future—and in particular, an end-times ruler the Bible calls “the Antichrist.” Who is this figure, where is he spoken of in Scripture, what will he do, and how will he be defeated? As chapter seven speaks into these questions, it also points us to how the prophecies of Daniel point us to the hope of Jesus.
Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include John 10:10; Mark 14:62; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8; 1 John 2:18; 4:3; Daniel 7; 9; 11; Revelation 13; John 16:21; and Matthew 24:8.
Daniel: 5. Pride Comes Before the Fall (Daniel 5)
In Daniel's youth, Babylon was the world's greatest empire. Yet by the time he was an old man, the Babylonian empire had fallen. What caused such a mighty kingdom to crumble? One answer according to Daniel 5 is pride. Pride is one of the most insidious and sneakiest forms of sin, whose radical grip can only be cured by an equally radical cure.
Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Daniel 4:17; Jeremiah 27:5-7; 51:36-37, 39; Romans 2:1; and Philippians 2:6-8.
2. Thy Kingdom Come (Daniel 2)
We live in a world that is deeply broken. But for followers of Jesus the future is full of hope, because one day God will set up a kingdom in which everything broken will be made whole. In chapter two of Daniel, God reveals key information about what that kingdom will be like, to be developed over the rest of the book.
Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Deuteronomy 28:13, 15, 20-21, 43; Jeremiah 22:30; Leviticus 25:2-5; 26:14-16, 33-35, 43; 2 Chronicles 36:20-21; Matthew 18:22; Daniel 2; 5:30-31; 8:20-21; Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:15; and 2 Peter 1:19.
1. Into Exile (Daniel 1)
How can God's people thrive in a hostile culture? Instead of hiding from the world or blending with the world, the example of Daniel offers another way. Carried into exile in his youth, Daniel demonstrates what is required to cultivate a resilient faith that flourishes in the face of opposition.
Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Daniel 1; Leviticus 26:33; Genesis 11:1-4; and 1 Peter 3:15.