CHAPTER ONE

Contents: Personal history of Daniel. Reason for appearance of Daniel and his friends before Nebuchadnezzar.

Characters: Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel, Hananiah, Judah, Mishael, Azariah, Ashpenaz, Cyrus, Jehoiakim, Melzar.

Conclusion: Plain living and high thinking go together. When God's people are in Babylon, they should take special care that they partake not of her sins (Psa. 141:4). It is to the praise of God's people not to relish the delights of sense, but to look upon them with indifference.

Key Word: Heart purpose, v. 8.

Strong Verses: 8 .

Striking Facts: This book is written by a man "greatly beloved" (9:23), and deals with much the same prophecies as those of Revelation written by "the beloved disciple," (John). Note similarity between the two: 1. In captivity. Dan. 1:6; 8:2; Rev. 1:9. 2. Beloved. 10:11; John 13:23. 3. Heard the Lord's voice. 8:16; 10:9; Rev. 1:10. 4. Saw the Lord's face. Dan. 10:6; Rev. 1:14. 5. Prostrated. 10:8-9; Rev. 1:17. 6. Quickened. 10:10, 18; Rev. 1:17. 7 Angel taught. 10:11, 12; Rev. 1:1.

CHAPTER TWO

Contents: Visions of Nebuchadnezzar and their results. The forgotten dream and the failure of the astrologers. Daniel's interpretation after prayer for wisdom.

Characters: Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abedego, Arioch, Astrologers.

Conclusion: The wisest of men are clouded with a veil of flesh which confounds their understanding of divine things. The sacred things belong to the Lord our God, but believers by prayer are let into His mysteries concerning the last days. The kings of earth have no power but what is given them from above, and in due time all earth kingdoms will be done away and replaced by the eternal kingdom of Christ on earth.

Key Word: Dreams, v. 1.

Strong Verses:   20, 21, 22, 44.

Striking Facts: The vision has to do with the course of the times of the Gentiles, during which four great world kingdoms would succeed each other. The last of the four (Rome) would divide into legs and then into ten toes (7:27). (Gentile world powers of the last days.) The smiting stone (7:34-35) is to destroy this system of kingdoms in its final form by a sudden blow from heaven (not by gradual process). (See Dan. 7:1-28; Rev. 13-19.) When this destruction comes it will be immediately followed by the kingdom of Christ, which will fill the whole earth at once. Christ is the stone cut out without hands, who will smite the nations, and then become a great mountain, filling the earth with His glory.

CHAPTER THREE

Contents: Pride of Nebuchadnezzar and his punishment. The image of gold. The three Jews refuse to worship the image. Fiery furnace proven harmless. The king convinced.

Characters: God, Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego.

Conclusion: We should obey the powers that be until they tell us to disobey and dishonor God (Rom. 13:1), then we should obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). If we are called to pass through the fire, Christ walked there before us, and will walk there with us (John 15:20), and nothing will be lost by being true to Him.

Key Word: Deliver, vv. 17, 28.

Strong Verses:   17, 28.

Striking Facts: v. 25. Many think this was the eternal Son of God, not a created angel. Hereby Christ shows that what is done against His people He takes as done against Himself. Whoever throws them into the furnace do in effect throw Him in (Isa. 63:9). Those who suffer for Him are therefore assured of His precious presence with them.

CHAPTER FOUR

Contents: Nebuchadnezzar's proclamation. The true vision and its interpretation. Vision fulfilled; the restoration of Nebuchadnezzar.

Characters: God, Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, Astrologers.

Conclusion: God has power to humble the haughtiest of men who would in their pride act in competition with Him. Those so confident of their own sufficiency will be brought sooner or later to own God's dominion over them and their own utter weakness. Many have been brought to themselves by being made beside themselves.

Key Word: Pride abased, v. 37.

Strong Verses:   35, 37.

CHAPTER FIVE

Contents: Daniel's personal history under Belshazzar and Darius. The pride of Belshazzar and his downfall. The writing on the wall. Its interpretation and fulfillment.

Characters: God, Belshazzar, Queen, Daniel, Darius, Nebuchadnezzar, Astrologers.

Conclusion: God expects from the greatest of men that their hearts will be humbled before Him by acknowledgment that, great as they are, to Him they are accountable. If they persist in their pride and impenitence, they will be made to know that the Most High God rules.

Key Word: Pound wanting, v. 27.

Strong Verses:   21.

CHAPTER SIX

Contents: Daniel's history to the accession of Cyrus. Decree of Darius. Daniel's steadfastness. Daniel in the lion's den and his deliverance. Darius' new decree.

Characters: God, Daniel, Darius, Princes.

Conclusion: "God first" means "safety first." That which believers do faithfully in conscience toward God may often be represented as done with obstinate motives by men, but God knows the heart, and whatever the test, will give peace and deliverance, and will clear the integrity of His trusting child.

Key Word: Delivered, vv. 16, 20, 23.

Strong Verses:   5, 10, 16 (b), 23 (b), 26.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Contents: The beast vision of Daniel, forecasting the four world empires and the final heading up under anti-Christ. Vision of Christ coming in glory. Interpretation of the beast vision.

Characters: God, Christ, Daniel, Belshazzar, anti-Christ.

Conclusion: The thrones of the kingdoms of this world in their final heading up will be thrown down. The people of God in every age should be encouraged under their troubles with the prospect of Christ's coming in glory, for God has sworn that he will in due time put His King upon the throne of earth and make an end of all unrighteous rule.

Key Word: Kingdom visions, v. 1.

Strong Verses:   9, 14, 27.

Striking Facts: vv. 13, 14; identical with Rev. 5:6-10. The order of events will be:

1. Investure of Christ's earthly kingdom (13, 14; Rev. 5:6-10). 2. The vexing of Psa. 2:5. See also Matt. 24:21, 22; Rev. 6:18. 3. Return of Christ in glory to deliver the smiting blow of 2:45; 7:9-11; Rev. 19:11-21. 4. Judgment of nations and setting up of kingdom (7:10, 26, 27; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:1-6).

CHAPTER EIGHT

Contents: The ram and rough goat vision, and its interpretation.

Characters: God, Christ, Gabriel, Daniel, Belshazzar, anti-Christ.

Conclusion: Out from the kingdoms of the last days a king of fierce countenance, the anti-Christ, will arise, and acting by the power 'of Satan, will bring transgression to the full. Though he will for a time prosper in his hellish schemes, the sudden brightness of Christ's coming will utterly destroy him.

Key Word: End-time Indignation, v. 19.

Strong Verses: 23,24,25.

Striking Facts: Two ends are in view in this chapter historically the end of the Grecian empire of Alexander; prophetically, the end of the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24; Rev. 16:14), when the "little horn" of 7:8, 24-26, the beast, will arise, followed by the return of Christ.

CHAPTER NINE

Contents: Vision of the seventy weeks. Daniel's prayer and confession.

Characters: God, Christ, Daniel, Jeremiah, Darius, Gabriel.

Conclusion: God's Word is intended to encourage our prayers, and when we see the day of the performance of His prophecies approaching, we should the more earnestly confess our sins and pray, not only being forward to speak to God, but as forward to hear what He has to say to us.

Key Word: Prayer, v. 3. Vision, v. 21.

Striking Facts: vv. 24-27. Reduced to calendar years, this 69 weeks of years (v. 25) is 476 years. The edict to restore Jerusalem was issued 446 B. C. Applying 476 to this point brings us to Christ's birth and 30 years over, the very time of the cutting off of Messiah by His crucifixion (v. 26). Luke 3:23 says that Jesus began His ministry at 30 years and an error is imagined by some, but Scripture is accurate, for when in the sixth century, the time A. D. and B. C. was divided, an error of four years was made in the calendar so that really 30 A. D. is 34. Christ's ministry extended nearly four years; thus 30 A. D. in our chronology was the time of Christ's death. At the close of the age, the other week of years will be fulfilled in awful tribulation, after which Christ will appear suddenly in the clouds to set up His eternal kingdom.

CHAPTER TEN

Contents: Visions of the glory of God. The heavenly messenger detained, but comes at last to show Daniel things to come, in answer to prayer.

Characters: God, Christ, Daniel, Michael, Cyrus, Princes of Persia and Greece. Conclusion: From the day that we begin to look toward God in the way of duty, He is ready to meet us in the way of mercy. When we rightly understand the methods of God's providence and grace concerning us, we will be better reconciled to them. Failure to complete transactions with God is responsible for many unanswered prayers.

Key Word: Great vision, v. 8.

Strong Verses:   12, 19, 21.

Striking Facts: vv. 6, 16, 17. Christ here appears in the same resemblance wherein He appeared to John in Rev. 1:13-15, viz., in His priestly dress, girded ready to His work on behalf of His people.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Contents: Prophecy covering the period from Darius to anti-Christ, showing the conflicts of nations, and final heading up for destruction.

Characters: God, Daniel, Kings of Persia and Greece, anti-Christ.

Conclusion: That which God has declared in His Word concerning the end of kingdoms shall surely come to pass, and then the sins of men and the wickedness of anti-Christ and Satan shall be made to serve His purposes andcontribute to the bringing of his counsels to birth in their season. Though sin comes to an awful heading up under anti-Christ, it will surely come to eternal destruction when Christ conies to set up His glorious kingdom.

Key Word: Time of the end, v. 40.

Strong Verses:   32, 33.

Striking Facts: v. 45. This was not fulfilled in Antiochus, for he died in Tabal, Persia. This man, the anti-Christ, will come to his end in Judea between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean, and it is the brightness of Christ's coming only that will bring him to his doom (2 Thess. 2:8' Rev 19:20).

CHAPTER TWELVE

Contents: The great tribulation of the last days, and the resurrection foretold. The last message to Daniel.

Characters: God, Daniel, Michael.

Conclusion: The present age is to close in a time of tribulation such as the world has never known. Christ will come to save His people and to raise the bodies of many from the dust. Glorious rewards will be conferred upon those who have themselves been wise and have instructed others in the way of salvation.

Key Word: Time of the end, vv. 4, 9.

Strong Verses:   2, 3.

Striking Facts: The time of the end or day of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), will be a time of tribulation such as was not from the beginning of the world, nor ever shall be (Matt. 24:21). The New Testament adds many details concerning it. But for the appearing of Christ in glory no flesh would be spared through it. Those who know Christ as their Saviour will not be called upon to pass through it (Rev. 3:10), but will be caught up before it begins (1 Thess. 4:16-18).