Book of daniel apocalyptic visions

I was reading the book of daniel, which is filled with extraordinary and apocalyptic visions. The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our lord and of his christ i. Although apocalyptic has its roots in ot prophecy in general, the real prototype of the nonbiblical ap. The fully apocalyptic visions in daniel 712, as well as those in the new testaments revelation, can trace their roots to the preexilic latter biblical prophets. The balance of daniels book contains four visions concerning world powers, but also other visions of future events and an appearance of gods angel. At the onset of the reign of belshazzar, nabonidus son, 5 daniel. This period is called the great tribulation by jesus in matthew 24. The book of daniel is divided into two sections on the basis of its content. Bills series on apocalypse begins his analysis of the apocalyptic writing of the old testament known as the book of the prophet daniel.

Together with the bookending chapter of its first part. Nebuchadnezzar had seen an enormous statue with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver. The theological theme of the book is summarized in 4. And in fact the book of revelation is largely a christian interpretation of the book of daniel. The four visions of chapters seven to twelve are an early example of apocalyptic literature and, in contrast to the earlier chapters, are introduced in the first person.

The book of daniel originated as a collection of folktales among the jewish community in babylon and mesopotamia in the persian and early hellenistic periods 5th to 3rd centuries bce, before being expanded in the maccabean era mid2nd century by the addition of the visions in chapters 712. It also describes the apocalyptic visions given by god. Chapters 1 to 6 describe daniels interpretation of king nebuchadnezzars dream. The balance of daniel s book contains four visions concerning world powers, but also other visions of future events and an appearance of gods angel. The prophecy of daniel is a series of five visions occurring over a period of about 70 years. One feature of this section is daniels reliance on. The book of daniel chapters 1 to 6 describe daniels interpretation of king nebuchadnezzars dream. The strategic structural position of chapter 7 provides a key not. Introduction to the old testament hebrew bible rlst 145 with christine hayes the book of ruth, in which a foreign woman enters the.

One feature of this section is daniels reliance on heavenly figures to interpret and explain his visions. One of the more fascinating books of the bible is the book of daniel. Book of daniel oxford research encyclopedia of religion. The final chapters of daniel record visions of the future that daniel. List of books and articles about book of daniel online. Symbols such as these are especially plentiful in the book of daniel. The visions he has now will give more details concerning the events he foresaw in nebuchadnezzars original dream. The book of daniel is about how god shows his everlasting wisdom, power, and faithfulness through one of israels greatest prophets. Daniel is a legendary figure, probably chosen for the books hero because of his reputation as a. These are purportedly daniels own visions of things to come. Daniel belongs to the latter group, a type of writing that in many respects sharply contrasts prophetic literature. Many old testament prophets were given visions by god of what society would be like.

Apocalyptic definition and meaning bible dictionary. It also describes the apocalyptic visions given by god, and reveals the events. It isnt just stuff daniel said, its also tales of things that happened to him and the people associated with him. The fact is, it is in these visions especially in daniel, in ezekiel, and in revelation that for long ages believers have typically found their arguments with one another, in large part because they have not based their interpretations on an understanding of daniels visions as species of apocalyptic literature. So the book of daniel was written in the 2nd century bce by someone claiming to be daniel living in the 6th century bce. Daniel article about daniel by the free dictionary. As with all of scripture, the book of daniel is profitable for our study 2 ti 3. One feature of this section is daniel s reliance on heavenly figures to interpret and explain his visions. This book takes its name not from the author, who is actually unknown, but from its hero, who was allegedly among the first jews deported to babylon, where he lived at least until 538 b. From daniel and his three friends, we will learn the power of faith and commitment b. Bce the book of daniel contains many features and themes of apocalyptic literature, including an eschatology according to which god dramatically. In summary, the use of apocalyptic writing in the bible was inspired by god, and this style serves as an excellent literary medium for conveying future prophetic events. With chapter 7 we enter the second half of the book of daniel and leave.

The book of which he is the hero divides into two parts, a set of tales in chapters 16 from no earlier than the hellenistic period 32330 bce, and the series of visions in chapters 712 from the maccabean era. The book of daniel chapters 1 to 6 describe daniel s interpretation of king nebuchadnezzars dream. Nov 17, 2014 a final connection between the book of daniel and the new testament is daniel s apocalyptic visions that also are reflected in the book of revelation daniel 10. Although the jewish scriptures evaluated the book of daniel differently from the christian old testament, by placing it in the writings instead of with the major prophets, it remains a book of apocalyptic visions. Daniel the character comes to us from the babylonian exile. But just as the distinctive themes of apocalyptic appear throughout the scriptures, so we find that its literary forms have walkon parts in many other books eze. The book of daniel in the ot and the revelation in the nt are possible exceptions. The book, however, was written in a later time of national crisiswhen the jews were suffering severe persecution under antiochus iv epiphanes. The time of composition has become a matter of interest. The last six chapters are filled with apocalyptic visions that challenge even the most advanced. Chapter 7 is both a historical and apocalyptic vision. Apocalyptic literature encyclopedia of the bible bible. This traditional view is also supported by classical historians such as. In many ways, daniel is a book of paradox, offering very straightforward narratives revealing gods greatness and power while also revealing startling visions and opaque prophetic imagery.

Daniels visions talk about the end a great deal, but neither the book of daniel nor the character of daniel ever gives one precise timeline for the end. Book of daniel, book of the prophet daniel example of. The book of daniel is a 2ndcentury bc biblical apocalypse combining a prophecy of history. Strictly speaking, the book does not belong to the prophetic writings but rather to a distinctive type of literature known as apocalyptic, of which it is an early specimen. Bce the book of daniel contains many features and themes of apocalyptic literature, including an eschatology according to which god dramatically intervenes in human history, destroying the wicked understood as other nations and saving the righteous understood as israel. This apocalyptic object of the book of daniel is admitted by most scholars of the present day, and is in harmony with the place assigned to that sacred writing in the hebrew bible, where it appears not among the prophets, or second great division of the original text. For their part, chapters 712 contain four apocalyptic vision narratives written in the first person.

Not only that, but what daniel means by the end seems to change from one chapter to another. They point to several key events in the future history of the jews. In the first two apocalyptic visions of the second part of the book of daniel, in daniel 7 and 8, the history of the time before antiochus iv epiphanes arrival on the. The earliest manuscripts of the book of daniel consist of a series of six thirdperson narratives followed by four apocalyptic. But the visions preserved in the latter chapters of daniels record share messages the lord intended for the jews and for us. The informed description of historical events in chapters 1 to 6 and the use of the first person in the apocalyptic visions of chapters 7 to 12 suggest that daniel likely originated the book during his lifetime.

The genre of the book of daniel is narrative history, prophetic oracle, and it includes apocalyptic material. Daniels prayer, and the vision of the seventy weeks 9. Daniel, extolled for his upright character, is presented as a model for the persecuted community. It seems improbable that a second century writer would fabricate such a story or allow it to pass without comment in a situation where the preservation of the purity of the jewish faith was considered. The most high god is sovereign over the kingdoms of men. Daniel and the three friends at the babylonian court. Miraculously, the lions mouth remains shut the entire time daniel is there.

Nov 15, 2018 but the visions preserved in the latter chapters of daniels record share messages the lord intended for the jews and for us. The first half of the book chapters 16 contains stories in the third person about the experiences of daniel and his friends under kings nebuchadrezzar ii, belshazzar, darius i, and. The book of daniel i have been arguing that to understand the radically new view of the afterlife that emerged in ancient judea in the horrible years leading up to the maccabean revolt, it is important to know something about a new genre or literature that began to be produced at the time, the apocalypse. Daniel s more of a visionary than a really prophetic prophet like, a real prophets prophet, anyway. However, adding to the confusion is that chapters 27 are preserved in aramaic, while chapters 1 and 812 are in hebrew. The book of daniel presents a collection of popular stories about daniel, a loyal jew, and the record of visions granted to him, with the babylonian exile of the 6th century bce as their background. The book of daniel is a part of the christian old testament that tells of how daniel, a judean exile at the court of nebuchadnezzar ii, the ruler of babylon, becomes a government official and has many different visions. The most striking is the resemblance they all bear to the book of daniel. Written during a period of persecution in the 2 nd c. The first six chapters contain accounts of faith that inspire both young and old b. The five visions of daniel daniel 2, 7, 8, 9, 1012 the. The book of daniel is an apocalypse, a literary genre in which a heavenly reality is revealed to a human recipient. In considering the books beauty and complexity, several important areas of background study assist in clarifying the overall direction of this book.

It covers the major kingdoms in the world from babylons day to the latter days. So the visions of daniel are really one of our first important pieces of apocalyptic literature, responding to a period of crisis and oppression and using apocalypse. The book of daniel, also called the prophecy of daniel, a book of the old testament found in the ketuvim writings, the third section of the jewish canon, but placed among the prophets in the christian canon. The five visions of daniel daniel 2, 7, 8, 9, 1012. So, the book is named after daniel, but unlike with isaiah and ezekiel it isnt just a compendium of his prophecies and visions. Bc, and a series of apocalyptic visions arising from the time of the maccabean emergency 167164 bc, which clearly presuppose the history of palestine in the hellenistic era after alexander the great d. It combines court tales, perhaps originating from the 6th cent. The rest of the book involves an intense, apocalyptic vision of daniel. Those who conspired against daniel are fed to the lions, and daniel s position is restored. First i will give you an overview of the next 6 chapters then we will go into detail about the visions and their historical fulfillment. Daniels more of a visionary than a really prophetic prophet like, a real prophets prophet, anyway. In fact, the character of daniel provides many different calculations and depictions of the end. Sermons from daniel 3 the book of daniel introduction introduction 1. And in fact the book of revelation is largely a christian interpretation of the.

Written during a period of persecution in the 2nd c. The apocalypse section of this book is not a prophecy, i. The book of ruth, in which a foreign woman enters the community of israel and becomes greatgrandmother to none other than king david, expresses a view of gentiles entirely opposed to that of ezra and nehemiah. On the simplest level the book of daniel might be divided by language, or by genre. The narrative of daniel 7, though full of complex details, is simply. They are designed to reassure gods people that, in spite of their present persecution and suffering, god is in control and will ultimately be victorious. Those who conspired against daniel are fed to the lions, and daniels position is restored. Dear rabbi, i was reading the book of daniel, which is filled with extraordinary and apocalyptic visions. The book of daniel serves as the major apocalyptic book of the old testament, as chapters 712 foretell the end times. Extrabiblical apocalyptic works like 1 enoch first. Dec 03, 2012 features of apocalyptic literature 29.

A final connection between the book of daniel and the new testament is daniels apocalyptic visions that also are reflected in the book of revelation daniel. The climax of his sovereign rule is described in revelation. Daniel also has vivid, symbolic visions about the future of israel, world kingdoms, and the kingdom of godexposing us to some of gods longterm plan for the world. The vision focuses on a wicked king who arises to challenge the army of the lord by removing the daily temple sacrifice and desecrating the sanctuary for a. The unknown author may have drawn inspiration from ugaritic and phoenician sources that speak of a legendary figure notable for his righteousness and wisdom. The bible contains two great examples of apocalyptic. The book of daniel has sometimes been classified with the prophetic books of the old testament, a mistake owing largely to a failure to distinguish between the predominant characteristics of prophetic and apocalyptic writings. I was amazed to learn that it is not included in the section of the bible known as the prophets, and that the talmud does not even consider daniel to have been a prophet. The book of daniel is a composite text of dubious historicity from various genres, and daniel himself is a legendary figure. The book of daniel is the apocalyptic book of the hebrew bible. The second half of the book daniel 712 contains apocalyptic visions. Similar to the book of daniel, many of them describe visions their authors purportedly saw. Closer examination demonstrates a complex literary structure throughout the book see table 5. Prophecy in the book of daniel 2233 words 123 help me.