The Book of Daniel

1
The Book of Daniel

• The Most High rules in the kingdoms of men

2
Daniel 11-2 Three Rulers

• In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king
  of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to
  Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave
  Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with
  some of the vessels of the house of God and he
  brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house
  of his god, and he brought the vessels into the
  treasury of his god.
• City of Man defeats City of God
• BUT
• GOD IS IN CONTROL!

3
Dan. 11-2 Three Rulers

• Jehoiakim Corrupt
• Defiled worship of God (2Kgs 2334-244)
• Despised word of God (Jer 3622-24)
• Nebuchadnezzar Conquering
• Builder of Babylon (Dan 430)
• Destroyer of Jerusalem (2Chr 3618-21)
• Jehovah Controlling
• Tells Future Events (Isa 396-7 4428-51)
• Appoints Kings (Dan 417,25,32 Rom 131)
• Judges Nations (Hab 15-7)

4
Dan. 13-7 Battle for the Heart

• The Kings Mandate Best of the Best
• Noble, Healthy, Intelligent, Capable (vs. 3-4)
• The Kings Motive Make Them Chaldeans
• enter the service of the King (v. 5)
• The Kings Methods
• Isolate from Family, Worship (new priorities)
• Language Literature (new culture)
• Comfort Position (new pleasures)
• Name Change (new identity)

5
Name Changes

• Daniel (God is my judge) Belteshazzar
  (protected by Bel)
• Hananiah (God has given) Shadrach
  (commanded by Aku)
• Mishael (who is like God) Meshach (who is
  like Aku)
• Azariah (God is my helper) Abednego
  (servant of Nebo)

6
Dan. 18-16 Resolution to Resist

• Purposed In Heart Not to Defile
• Obedience Holiness began in his heart
• Could have easily excused compromise
• Humbly and Politely Abstained
• Gave a soft answer in a hostile culture
• Trusted in God to Provide a Way
• Was assured of Gods power promises

7
Dan. 117-21 Honor From God

• How Were They Favored by God?
• Excelled in understanding
• Different from others (in wisdom)
• Given an opportunity to influence
• How Were They Found by Nebuchadnezzar?
• Ten times better

8
Our World System

• We live in a culture that is just as
  all-encompassing
• Our indoctrination
• Get money
• Get status, prestige
• Get entertainment
• Get sex, pleasure
• Get high
• Get open-minded (deny all objective
  truth-nothing is truly wrong)

9
Dan. 13-7 Battle for the Heart
Money, status, entertainment, sex, pleasure,
drugs, open-mindedness

• Satans Methods???
• Isolate from Family, Worship (new priorities)
• Language Literature (new culture)
• Comfort Position (new pleasures)
• Name Change (new identity)

School, television, movies, dress, music,
I-Pods, Internet, friends
10
Will You Become A Christian?
Hear the Gospel (Rom. 1017) Believe in Jesus
as the Son of God (Mark 1616) Repent of Your
Sins (Acts 1730) Confess Jesus as Lord (Romans
109-10) Be Baptized for Forgiveness of Sins
(Acts 238) Live Faithfully until You Die (Rev.
210)