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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Due 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!
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.
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