BibleSF

In this lesson, Daniel receives prophecy regarding the immediate and distant future. He's lived through three different kingdoms rising and toppling: Israel, Babylon, and the Medo-Persians. He has seen his share of nation rising up against nation, the excesses of the rich and powerful and their unrepentant, haughty attitudes, and the dreaded feeling of not knowing what the point of it all really is. He’s around 85 years old, and have lived most of his life in a pagan land of all kinds of idolatry and wicked practices. He longs to see God show nations His Holy and Righteous ways through Israel’s restoration in repentance into God’s promises so that God’s people can reveal what is true and eternal. But he’s crying out to God in repentance on behalf of a self-satisfied, ungrateful people who may not necessarily care for the plans and will of God. Sounds familiar? How can we develop into God’s people have if we live just like the world, indiscriminating adopting its selfish, arrogant, sinful philosophy of life, its resistance against God's principles that lead to peace and life?

I. in chp10. We learn about The Truth of the Spiritual Realm - DANIEL 10:1-11:1

(The material realm is a small part of a much larger world of entities, actors, and forces)

A.) Spiritual Struggle in Prayer and Understanding 10:1-9

B.) Spiritual Conflict and Battle Revealed 10:10-11:1

In chp 11, we learn about

II. The Truth behind Earthly Conflicts - DANIEL 11:2-45

(Governmts care less about living according to God’s values and ways, but by their own predatory schemes and strategies. There is no ultimate hope in human governmts).

A.) Earthly Battles Are Foreknown 11:2-35

B.) Battles Prelude the Anti-Christ and through his powerful deception 11:36-45

III. The Truth of the End Times - DANIEL 12

A.) Deliverance and Resurrection will mark the beginning of the end 12:1-3

B.) The Prophecy is sealed; but endurance reveals those who are Steadfast Heart through purification12:4-13

PRINCIPLES:

1. The visible world veils an unseen spiritual movement that affects everyone.

2. God calls out and invites “open immigration” to His Kingdom for all who will repent and seek Him.

3. Only His Kingdom will endure forever: He is our eternal inheritance.

Here is Daniel, having lived through three different kingdoms rising and toppling: Israel, Babylon, and the Medo-Persians. He has seen his share of nation rising up against nation, the excesses of the rich and powerful and their unrepentant, haughty attitudes, and the dreaded feeling of not knowing what the point of it all really is. He’s around 85 years old, and have lived most of his life in a pagan land of all kinds of idolatry and wicked practices. He longs to see God show nations His Holy and Righteous ways through Israel’s restoration in repentance into God’s promises so that God’s people can reveal what is true and eternal. But he’s crying out to God in repentance on behalf of a self-satisfied, ungrateful people who may not necessarily care for the plans and will of God. Sounds familiar? How can we develop into God’s people have if we live just like the world, indiscriminating adopting its selfish, arrogant, sinful philosophy of life, its resistance against God's principles that lead to peace and life?

I. in chp10. We learn about The Truth of the Spiritual Realm - DANIEL 10:1-11:1

(The material realm is a small part of a much larger world of entities, actors, and forces)

A.) Spiritual Struggle in Prayer and Understanding 10:1-9

B.) Spiritual Conflict and Battle Revealed 10:10-11:1

In chp 11, we learn about

II. The Truth behind Earthly Conflicts - DANIEL 11:2-45

(Governmts care less about living according to God’s values and ways, but by their own predatory schemes and strategies. There is no ultimate hope in human governmts).

A.) Earthly Battles Are Foreknown 11:2-35

B.) Battles Prelude the Anti-Christ and through his powerful deception 11:36-45

III. The Truth of the End Times - DANIEL 12

A.) Deliverance and Resurrection will mark the beginning of the end 12:1-3

B.) The Prophecy is sealed; but endurance reveals those who are Steadfast Heart through purification12:4-13

PRINCIPLES:

1. The visible world veils an unseen spiritual movement that affects everyone.

2. God calls out and invites “open immigration” to His Kingdom for all who will repent and seek Him.

3. Only His Kingdom will endure forever: He is our eternal inheritance.

Do our Prayers matter?

In Revelations, we get repeated glimpses into the great value of our prayers which the elders hold in golden cisterns around the Throne of God. They bring instruments of praise in the other hand. With Praise and Prayer they enjoin in Worship in God's Presence (Rev 5:8).

Prayer is an important aspect of Worship. Worship is a kind of mental framework of our mind and heart for which we were created. Even atheists find at their most urgent and pressing time they impulsively cry out to God. Worship is not the meager thing we have institutionally made it: the building, the service, the hour of boredom and ritual which we have made it in our underwhelming institutions. True life of Worship is living in joyful thanksgiving, flourishing and thriving into all God's intended purposes for us with reverence and honor of Who God Is in them all - rejoicing in all He has given in who we are and what we can do. Worship is magnified in receiving God's grace and love through Jesus who laid down his life for us.

Worship however get obstructed. In Daniel, we see that FULL and unimpeded worship keeps getting obstructed, threatened, and hindered but God shows a life of true worship is essential for everything, and that life-liberating Worship can only be possible in Christ.

A heart of Worship will change our prayer, draws us into God’s greater purposes, and align our thoughts and views to God’s greater work being done. Worship is our Created purpose.

Can humans ever devise a social system that dignifies the value of all people, allow for their flourishing, and promote justice and righteousness in the way we interaction with one another?

The lesson study for this week explains in more detail the hidden entrapments and aggressions of the world's most glorious empires in Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the towering statue. For 600 years before the arrival of Christ were the most impressive world empires the world had ever seen. They would leave a legacy of empire building and behaving that would set the stage for all the peoples around the world for the next 2000 years, except for a people group not organized by ethnicity or territory: the People of God in Christ. The Christians would live and reign by a victory already accomplished above the material wars unresolved and brewing continuously in the hearts of people. Jesus's people live into a life of fulfilled victory, life, hope, and peace.

Talk Outline:

Division 1 – God Rules Over Human Kingdoms (7:1–28)

A. The Beasts Rise (7:1–8)

- Daniel sees four beasts rising from the sea — frightening and powerful.

- They show the reality of fallen humanity — kingdoms marked by pride, cruelty, and rebellion. Humanity’s fall corrupts kingdoms and power.

B. The Throne of God (7:9–14)

- The Ancient of Days takes His fiery throne, the books are opened.Sin and rebellion are judged before God.

- The Son of Man comes with the clouds, receiving everlasting dominion.Jesus is the Son of Man who secures eternal rule.

C. The Saints’ Victory (7:15–28)

- Daniel hears the interpretation: kingdoms rise, the little horn oppresses, but the saints will possess the kingdom.

Principle 1: God’s eternal kingdom outlasts and overrules every human kingdom.

Division 2 – God Limits and Ends Human Powers (8:1–27)

A. Kingdoms in Conflict (8:1–14)

- Daniel sees a ram and a goat clashing, horns rising and breaking, and a little horn exalting itself even against God.

- Worship is halted and truth trampled, but only for a set time. The fall drives rebellion against God, but judgment is certain.

B. Gabriel Explains (8:15–25)

- Gabriel names kingdoms, predicts their rise and fall.

- A fierce king opposes God but is “broken without human hand.” God’s omnipotent judgment ends human power.

Christ’s death and resurrection show God’s decisive power “without human hand.”

C. Daniel’s Response (8:26–27)

- Daniel is overwhelmed but returns to faithful service where God has assigned him. We all have divine assignments.

Principle 2: God determines the rise and fall of every power.

Writing on the Wall; Faith Stronger Than our Greatest Fears

What happens when we reject God, and completely give in to the belief of our personal autonomy, and dive into every instinct to party hard before it's all over? In today's study, we read about King Belshazzar who lived under a delusion of security from his perch on the throne of excess and self-centered confidence about life. He made a mockery of God's sacred artifacts of worship and polluting in profane use at his party. God sent word of His judgment that night, and the party ended faster than he ever thought possible. When life takes a turn, and we find ourselves naked, poor, wretched, and blind to the reckless and feckless way we had strut about this world while imagining ourselves kings and queens. Is God King or am I king? Let's explore that in today's lecture talk.

AIM: CATL God is true to His Word and faithful toward His people.

I. Faithless & Found Wanting (Daniel 5)

A. Partying like there’s no tomorrow (5:1-4)

B. An authority and Hand greater than his own (5:5-9)

C. God’s Witness provide true and needful explanation (5:10-29)

D. Divine Verdict and our Moral Choice (5:25-30)

Principle: The faithless walk in the flesh and fear and get lost in distractions, ill prepared for eternity.

II. Faithful & Found True (Daniel 6)

A. The wicked plots against the righteous (6:1-9)

B. Unwavering prayer life (6:10-11)

C. Unjustly Accused and Punished (6:12-18)

D. Divine Protection and Vindication (6:19-24)

E. A Global Witness where Pagans Praise (6:25-28)
Principle: The faithful live by the Word of God and are delivered from trial to glory.

The Inception of idolatrous lies, and the Sanity of Repentance: How Nebuchadnezzar's mind collapses under warping influences of idols.

How we understand Whose we are will determine how we think about Who we are.

But to be open to God and learn from Him, we need constant position of humility.

Humility is more than lack of arrogance, haughtiness, or pride, it is a contrite dependence on the sovereign rule and reign of God over all my life and my affairs.

A hymn says it well: "He knows the way that we take, A new heart within He'll create, He'll purify and cleanse and mold and shape us if we yield to Him, and to those that do, we'll come forth as gold refined in fire."

I. Chp 3 FAITH UNDER FIRE

(1-7) False worship

(8-18) Faith in action

(19-27) God rescues, delivers for His Name sake

(28-30) True worship reveals the true and living God, not made by human invention.

Principle 1: God walks with His own through all troubles

II. Chp 4 PRIDE UNDER SPIRITUAL POVERTY

(1-18) God warns the king

(19-27) God explains the dream through Daniel

(28-33) God judges the prideful

(34-37) God redeems, gives understanding to the humble

Principle 2: God humbles the proud so all may know He reigns over all humanity

BSF Exile and Return: Lesson 3

Daniel's devotion to God in his teens years cemented who he became and with Whom he aligned with all his life.

OUR TIMES OF TESTING REVEAL two important things about us:

Who we are 1, Daniel’s faith was tested in a personal, private way — what he would eat, who he would obey and how he would live when no one back home was watching.

Whose we are 2, the testing was public, even life-threatening — an impossible demand from a ruthless king who was ready to execute all his wise men if they couldn’t perform.

In both situations, Daniel could have panicked, compromised or looked for a way out. But instead, he showed us that God Himself provides His people with the strength they need.

Aim: Knowing God is on His throne, His people can live faithfully as His People.

When we read news headlines or experience personal hardships: 

Where is God?

• I. Where is God in exile, displacement, challenge? Ch 1     God is:

1. Working out His purposes, both judgment (Deut 28) and blessing (Jer 24, 27) 1-7  (doctrine)
2. Granting favor to His people 8-16
3. Positioning them for service 17-21

Principle: Knowing God is sovereign, His people can live with confidence in a world that is ignorant of His ways and principles.

• II. Where is God in crisis, confusion, and dismay? Ch.2      God is:

1. Available through prayer 1-23
2. Revealing the mysteries of His kingdom 24-45 (doctrine)
3. Revealing His greatness in ways we had not known 46-49

Principle: Knowing God is sovereign, His people can live with courage in times of crisis.

This week, BSF president Hollie Roberts is again our guest lecturer to give us a roundup on Lesson 2, Ezekiel's three profound visions which gives us our spiritual prognosis and need for the Great Savior and LifeGiver.

The Lecture Talk for Lesson 1 and 2 are provided by BSF Global HQ.

Presented by BSF President Hollie Roberts.

Hollie joined the BSF Headquarters Staff in 2018. She served as a Regional Director and Chief Field Development Officer before becoming the Executive Director. Hollie first attended BSF in Amarillo, Texas, where she began serving in leadership as a Children's Leader (CL) and Group Leader (GL).

Welcome back to our new BSF Study on the OT prophetic books during and after Israel's exile leading up to the arrival of the Messiah.

This lecture is a short overview of the season and the main themes for us to remember around God's faithfulness and trustworthy promises to His people.