Read through the visions in the second half of the book of Daniel (Daniel 7-12). Is there anything here that seems key to the survival of the Jewish people? How would having the book of Daniel have helped the Jewish people go through difficult times, e.g., the time of Antiochus Epiphanes?
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Apocalyptic Visions of Daniel (extra credit)
Read through the visions in the second half of the book of Daniel (Daniel 7-12). Is there anything here that seems key to the survival of the Jewish people? How would having the book of Daniel have helped the Jewish people go through difficult times, e.g., the time of Antiochus Epiphanes?
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Daniel 8:1-7 talks about a vision of two goats that go against each other and one wins the fight. The understanding seems to be that God is more powerful then any other being. This would have been something good for the Jewish people to remember during their times of trail. That no matter what God is stronger than anything they may face. To simply trust in Him and He would see them trough whatever they face. Trust in God and things will turn out a they should.
ReplyDeleteDaniel 8:13-14 "Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transfression of desolation, to give both the sancuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then sahll the sanctuary be cleansed" The important thing for the Jews here is that at first things may be difficult at first, and it may last a long time, however, good things will come to those who wait. That's a message that people of all times need to remember.
ReplyDeleteThis part of Daniel gives the Jewish people a road map to coming events. There will be the raise and fall of several Kings before the might of the Jewish people is restored. It predicts the downfall of those who have seen to enslave them. It gives them hope that there is a time when God will allow his people to be victorious again.
ReplyDeleteThis part of Daniel gives the Jewish people a road map to coming events. There will be the raise and fall of several Kings before the might of the Jewish people is restored. It predicts the downfall of those who have seen to enslave them. It gives them hope that there is a time when God will allow his people to be victorious again.
ReplyDeleteThe book tells the faith of the people of Israel. He knows of the ends of day. It shows the hardship they will go through and what will come in the end for the righteous and the evil. I don't think anything would listen to Daniel if he told them of end times. They would laugh. The one who are righteous and living Gods way would. The rest would laugh be probably like they did a Noah when he was building the ark. The only believed after it was to late when it started to rain. This is how most the people would be like only believing once it is to late to do anything.
ReplyDeleteMost of the dreams and visions were kind of hard to interpret (at least for me) but there were definitely some encouraging lines in there as well. one such was: 13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[a] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. That had to be some kind of encouragment for people going through what the jews were at this time period. Basically this book is telling the people that things are not that great right now, but there going to get better, and you just need to hold on to the faith.
ReplyDeleteDue to the futuristic nature of Daniel's visions, some encouragement can be gleaned for the future of the Jewish people. When times were especially difficult for the Jews, as in Antiochus Epiphanes was going all crazy, encouragement and hope would have been reassuring for them...if, of course, these visions would have made sense for them, because they sure don't make much sense to me!
ReplyDeleteI think that this portion of the Book would have helped the Jews to seek hope, look for signs of what is to come, and ultimately to prepare themselves for the difficulties they would face. It would have greatly benefited the Jews to be able to have some sort of understanding of what was going on, and also to give them hope through the exposing validity of what Daniel was saying. This would have given the Jews hope for a future after the horrific reign of Epiphanies.
ReplyDeleteDaniel goes through so much, but stays so strong through it all. I think this is his best quality, something that ALL people can look up to. Refusal of kings meat, refusal to pray to idols, and protected in the lion’s den. That message is the most powerful one for me. 70 years in exile, tested constantly, and good things happen because he keeps faith. His dreams are less helpful to me in these chapters than actions. But his dreams should also give hope to the Jews because they are road maps to the future. Daniel explains the succession of rulers that will be, before the Jewish return to Jerusalem.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 7, we hear of all of the evil and terrible rulers that are going on in the world. But one thing in the chapter that i thought would give hope to the Jewish people, was in verses 13 & 14. In these verses we hear of "son of man" who will have authority, glory, and sovereign power, and an everlasting kingdom. This would bring hope to the Jewish people because, they would be done living in world where they were ruled by the evil earthy kings, and instead would have an eternal king in heaven.
ReplyDeleteDaniel is one of the most important people in the Bible. He is responsible for keeping the faith alive and sending the people back to Israel. He then experiencing visions of a terrible future, but in the present he already sees the terrible present. With bad rules and destruction of everything around him. But his dreams give hopes to the Jewish people because they give hope to the future. They are promised the future and they give hope to what the people will one day have.
ReplyDeleteLiz