Although written more than 2,500 years ago, the book of Daniel remains profoundly relevant for God’s people in the 21st century. We shall note three areas in which Daniel can be relevant for us. God stands sovereign over our lives. Even when things go wrong, God stands sovereign and works through the whims of human actions … Continue reading –>
Another important concept that we need to keep in mind as we study the book of Daniel is the historicist approach to apocalyptic prophecies. This approach, also known as historicism, can be better understood if compared with the opposing views of preterism, futurism, and idealism. Preterism tends to view the prophetic events announced in Daniel as … Continue reading –>
The prophetic visions recorded in the book of Daniel are of a different nature than most prophetic messages delivered by other Old Testament prophets. Daniel’s prophecies belong to the category of apocalyptic prophecy, whereas most of the other Old Testament prophecies belong to the category of classical prophecy. An understanding of the basic difference between these prophetic genres … Continue reading –>
The arrangement of the Aramaic section of Daniel, chapters 2-7 (parts of Daniel were written in Hebrew and other parts in Aramaic), reveals the following structure, which helps reinforce a central message of that section, and of the book: A. Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of four kingdoms (Daniel chapter 2) B. God delivers … Continue reading –>
Read Luke 24:25-27; John 5:39; and 2 Corinthians 1:19-20. In what ways is Christ the center of the Scriptures? There is no question that Jesus is central to the Scriptures, and this includes Daniel as well. For example: Chapter 1 shows, although in a limited and imperfect way, that Daniel’s experience is analogous to that of Christ, who … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 24:25-27; 2 Peter 3:11-13; Jonah 3:3-10; Num. 14:34; Dan. 9:23; Dan. 10:11-12. Memory Text: “So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ ” (Acts 8:30, NKJV). Our church was born from within the pages of the book of Daniel, our study for this … Continue reading –>
Introduction: As the nineteenth century disappeared into the twentieth, a sense of optimism pervaded the West. Through science and technology, humanity was advancing toward a golden age, a future of wonderful possibilities when war, pestilence, poverty, and hunger would finally be ended. That was the hope, anyway. Of course, the twentieth century proved this hope … Continue reading –>
Seeing the Big Picture By Andrew McChesney, adventistmission.org A family of five came nearly every day to the Seventh-day Adventist compound in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, to ask for food. Peter Fenoy, a missionary physician running the small Munuki Seventh-day Adventist Clinic on the compound, found the family’s actions puzzling. “What is going on with … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Privilege of Prayer”, pages 93–104, in Steps to Christ. “The work of restoration and reform carried on by the returned exiles, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, presents a picture of a work of spiritual restoration that is to be wrought in the closing days of this earth’s history. … Continue reading –>
Read Ezra 8:21-23, Ezra 8:31-32. Would you consider Ezra’s decision not to speak to the king as foolish or brave? How did Ezra and the people show humility? Sometime later, Nehemiah accepted the king’s entourage for protection. But in Ezra’s instance, he believed that God could show Himself best if they did not ask anything of the … Continue reading –>
