Daniel Prophet and Man of God

II. The Contribution of the Book of Daniel

THE BOOK OF DANIEL AND THE NEW TESTAMENT

The measure of the influence of the book of Daniel is seen in the use made of it in the New Testament.

Many of the saying of our Lord are based on the language of the book of Daniel, including the description of the great tree in the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:32; Mark 4:32; Luke 13:19); the pictures of the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven (Matthew 24:30;26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62), and other expressions in the great discourse of the Last Things (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21).

The most notable parallels to be seen, however, are those between the apocalyptic visions of the book of Daniel and those of the Apostle John’s Revelation. The Beast which John saw coming up out of the sea (Revelation 13:1) is a make-up of the Four Beasts which Daniel saw lifting their heads from the sea (Daniel 7:3-7). Daniel saw a lion with eagle’s wings, a bear. a leopard with four wings and four heads, and a beast with ten horns. John combines the features of these four beasts into one beast.

For other parallels, compare these passages: Daniel 7:7 with Revelation 12:1-6; 7:13 with 1:7; 7:19 with 1:14; 7:7, 20 with 5:5-7; 7:9, 22 with 20:4; 8:10 with 12:4; 12:4 with 22:10-15.

The last vision of Daniel (chapters 10-12) suggests at once to us two other famous visions of the Future Time, both in the New Testament. Jesus in Matthew 24 prophesied the signs which would take place before the End, and His Second Coming, and quoted from the prophet Daniel (24:15).

The other famous vision of the approaching End of Time is given in the Book of Revelation, the vision of the Seven Seals, chapters 4 to 8:5. 

Daniel’s Contribution to the Scriptures

(handout page 27 - note footnote)

(1) The Book of Daniel provides us with valuable insights into conditions in Babylon during the 70 years of Judah’s Babylonian captivity.

(2) The Book of Daniel testifies to the accuracy and reliability of the Word of God. All that God had said would happen to the southern kingdom of Judah did happen, as the Book of Daniel bears witness.

(3) The Book of Daniel links the Old Testament to the New by prophetically revealing the events to take place in the 400 “silent years” between the two testaments. Bible students have often commented concerning that 400 year period in which no book of the Bible was written. While God may have, in one sense, been “silent” during the 400 years, He was not silent about the 400 years. Daniel describes some of the events which will take place during these four centuries with such accuracy, the critics insist it must be history rather than prophecy.

(4) The Book of Daniel is perhaps the most comprehensive layout of God’s prophetic plans in all of the Old Testament. The theology, themes and symbolism of Daniel provide the student of Scriptures with the “key to prophecy” :

Of the three prophetic programs revealed in Scripture, outlining the course of the nations, Israel, and the church, Daniel alone reveals the details of God’s plan for both the nations and Israel. Although other prophets like Jeremiah had much to say to the nations and Israel, Daniel brings together and interrelates these great themes of prophecy as does no other portion of Scripture. For this reason, the book of Daniel is essential to the structure of prophecy and is the key to the entire Old Testament prophetic revelation.¹

Concerning the importance of this Book, Waltke writes,

“This is of greatest importance for at least three reasons.

First, the sovereignty of the revealed God in this book is at

stake. If Daniel’s God was able to predict the future, then there

is reason to believe that the course of history is completely

under Yahweh’s sovereignty. On the other hand, if the predictions

are fraudulent, then one must remain agnostic about Daniel’s God.

Second, the divine inspiration of the Bible hangs in the balance.

If the book contains true predictions, then there is firm reason

to believe that this book ultimately owes its origin to One who

can predict the future. On the contrary, if it is a spurious,

fraudulent, although well-intentioned piece of literature, then

the reliability of other books in the canon of Scripture may

legitimately be questioned. Third, one’s understanding of the

nature of Jesus Christ depends on the answer to the date of the

book. Jesus Christ regarded the Book of Daniel as a prophetic

preview of future history and indeed of the divine program for a

future that still lies ahead (Matt. 24:15-16; Mark 13:14; Luke

21:20). If he is wrong in His interpretation of the book, then He

must be less than the omniscient, inerrant God incarnate. On the

other hand, if His appraisal is right, then His claim to deity

cannot be questioned in this regard” (Bruce K. Waltke, “The Date

of the Book of Daniel.” Bibliotheca Sacra 133 (1976): 320).

Daniel’s Contribution God’s People

(1) The godly personal life of Daniel is a model for the saints. Daniel was not a priest nor was he a typical prophet like Isaiah or Jeremiah. We are not told that he ever had a “prophetic call” like that Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-13) or Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1-10) or Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:1-7). So far as we are know, Daniel was not given direct revelation to guide him in those daily decisions which proved to be turning points in his life and ministry. In his youth, as in his final days, Daniel remained faithful to God and his fellowmen. Daniel is a man whose personal piety can challenge and inspire us in our walk with God.

(2) The life and ministry of Daniel provide us with some valuable insights on Christian leadership. Daniel was indeed a great leader whose ministry impacted the lives of several of the greatest political leaders of his time. How Daniel got to be a leader, and the way in which he led, are not the way of our culture (Christian or heathen). Daniel is a model leader, and we should learn about leadership from him.

(3) Daniel was a man who served God in the midst of his suffering. Though he suffered because of the sins of his nation and because of his own personal piety, Daniel faithfully served God even in the midst of affliction and has much to say to those who suffer.

(4) Daniel is a book which has much to say about prophecy and about personal piety. In the New Testament, Peter instructs us that prophecy should inspire the Christian to personal piety (see 2 Peter 3:11-13). Daniel demonstrates how this is done.

(5) Daniel is a book which inspires hope and comfort, giving constant witness to the sovereignty of God. God is in control just as he was in the defeat and captivity of Judah. He was in control of the history of the world, so He could foretell the powers who would rule from Daniel’s day onward. He was in control, using the captivity of Judah for their good, and for the blessing of the Gentiles. Daniel bears witness to the comforting truth of God’s power and His control over the affairs of men. The book assures us that nothing happens to His people which is not a part of His plan, designed for our good and His glory.

(6) The Book of Daniel teaches the Christian how to relate to a godless, heathen society, outside of church walls and stained glass windows. The people of Judah were inclined to think that God was with them only when they were in the promised land and in the proximity of the temple. God was still present and active among His people in Babylon, as seen in His intervention on behalf of Daniel and his friends. They are examples of how saints can live in a heathen society so as to bear witness to the majesty, power, and grace of God. This book shows how to live godly lives in a fallen world and how to impact a heathen society, even when a minority as small as “one.”