ROUTE 66 EP 032

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Daniel — Kingdoms, Captivity, and Hope

Opening Framework: The Four-Part Approach to Each Book

Panoramic view of the book
Primary events and people
Pictures of Jesus in the book
Practical living and application

Panoramic View of Daniel

The Bible is not arranged strictly chronologically; Daniel sits within the historical period of Babylonian captivity.
Key theme: “Kingdom” recurs heavily in Daniel, contrasting human empires with God’s eternal Kingdom.
Purpose: Daniel was written to encourage Jews in bondage, to reveal God’s plan after captivity, and to point toward ultimate restoration and God’s everlasting rule.

Historical Context

Israel’s monarchy (Saul, David) gives way to decline (noted in Chronicles), leading to Babylon’s conquest and Judah’s captivity.
God promised Israel a land; partial obedience (failure to fully obey and drive out enemies) bred compromise, trouble, and eventual captivity.
Biblical pattern (e.g., Judges): disobedience brings consequences, yet God sends deliverers and calls for repentance, offering hope.

Scripture and Exposition

Daniel: God’s Everlasting Kingdom

Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 2:44
- Meaning:
  - Despite the rise and fall of earthly powers, God’s Kingdom is eternal and triumphant.
  - A verse of hope for people under oppression or uncertainty.

Kingdom of Heaven vs. Kingdom of God

Teaching distinction:
- “Kingdom of Heaven”: often connected to the physical, national promises to Israel (land, political rule).
- “Kingdom of God”: spiritual reality present within believers by the Holy Spirit.
Application:
- For Christians, the Kingdom of God indwells us—God’s reign in the heart by the Spirit.
- Ultimately, God unites spiritual and physical realities under Christ’s comprehensive rule.

Post-Captivity Restoration and Prophetic Timeline

Daniel proclaims God’s plan “after their captivity” for hope and clarity.
Historical referent:
- Highlighted Scripture: Nehemiah 2 — rebuilding after the exile begins.
Doctrinal note:
- Daniel’s “seventy weeks” prophecy points toward Israel’s future restoration and God’s culminating purposes after “the times of the Gentiles.”

Jesus’ Teaching on “Those Days” and the Times of the Gentiles

Highlighted Scripture: Luke 21:23–24
- Meaning:
  - “Those days” signal the tribulation period (commonly understood as two halves of 3½ years).
  - “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled,” aligning with Daniel’s future distress and ultimate deliverance.

Paul on Israel’s Future (Anticipated)

Highlighted Scripture: Romans 11
- Emphasis:
  - Israel’s present unbelief does not nullify God’s promises; there remains a plan for restoration.

Primary Events and People in Daniel

Daniel’s ministry occurs during Babylonian captivity.
Daniel functions as a prophet in this period alongside earlier/overlapping voices like Isaiah and Jeremiah.
The book reveals:
- God’s sovereignty over earthly kingdoms.
- The sequence and fate of world empires.
- Assurance of God’s coming, everlasting Kingdom.
Post-captivity restoration signaled:
- After 70 years, Jews return and begin rebuilding (cf. Nehemiah 2).
- Daniel’s prophecies anticipate restoration and point beyond it to God’s final plan.

Who God Is and How He Responds to Humans

God is sovereign over all kingdoms and history.
God is faithful to His promises; He gives land and a future even when His people fail.
God disciplines disobedience—sin has consequences; captivity follows compromise.
God is merciful—He sends prophets to call for repentance and announce restoration.
God’s Kingdom is eternal; He will unite spiritual and physical realities under Christ’s reign.

Who God Says We Are and How We Are to Live

In Christ, believers belong to the Kingdom of God—a spiritual reality indwelling us by the Holy Spirit.
Identity in Christ transcends national distinctions; in the church, we are “in Christ Jesus.”
We are called to full trust and obedience; partial obedience leads to defeat and bondage.
We are to repent when off track; God sends His Word and messengers to draw us back.

Practical Living and Application

Key Applications

Trust God for full obedience.
- Israel’s failure to fully obey led to long-term consequences. Trust God even when “giants” intimidate.
Recognize consequences of sin, but embrace hope through repentance.
- If life is in disarray, examine choices; turn back—God restores.
Live consciously under God’s Kingdom now.
- The Kingdom of God is within you by the Holy Spirit. Let His reign shape decisions, relationships, and endurance.
Read prophecy as fuel for faith, not fear.
- Daniel, Luke 21, and Romans 11 show God’s control over history. Anchor hope in Christ’s eternal Kingdom.
Engage Scripture in context.
- Note terms like “those days” signaling tribulation. Track God’s timeline to cultivate discernment and steadfastness.

Examples and Pastoral Illustrations

Israel’s “part-time obedience” (refusing to drive out mountain giants) shows how compromise breeds long-term trouble.
Judges’ cycle (sin, oppression, deliverer, brief faithfulness, relapse) mirrors personal spiritual cycles and invites honest repentance.
Prophetic encouragement: Daniel speaks hope to captives—God has a plan after the pain.

Summary of Scriptures Cited

Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 2:44
Highlighted Scripture: Luke 21:23–24
Highlighted Scripture: Nehemiah 2
Highlighted Scripture: Romans 11
Referenced: Isaiah

Closing Hope

God’s Kingdom is present and powerful for believers today.
Jesus’ Kingdom is unshakeable—anchor life in His eternal reign through obedience and repentance.

Sermon Title: Daniel—Faithfulness in Exile and God’s Sovereign Plan

Opening Context: Romans and the Mystery Concerning Israel

Highlighted Scripture: Romans 11:25
- Key Teaching:
  - Romans establishes universal sin and salvation, then devotes Romans 9–11 to Israel before turning to sanctification in Romans 12 onward.
  - God is not done with Israel. “Blindness in part” is a divine mystery; believers must avoid pride and ignorance.
  - “Fullness of the Gentiles”: a set period of Gentile ingathering. When this fullness “comes in,” God will gather His church (“rapture” used descriptively) and renew His focus on Israel.
- Application:
  - Do not forget Israel in God’s plan.
  - Gentile believers are “grafted in”—respond with humility and gratitude.
  - Shift focus from temporal politics to advancing God’s Kingdom.

Big Picture of Daniel: Prophecy and Faithfulness Under Discipline

Scripture: Hebrews 12:5–11 (discipline theme); Book of Daniel overview
Key Teaching about God:
- God is sovereign over kings and kingdoms, even under foreign rule.
- Exile is divine discipline—God lovingly corrects His people.
- God’s sovereignty appears through miracles and prophetic revelation in captivity.
Who God Says We Are:
- Discipline evidences sonship, not abandonment.
- Believers are called to faithfulness in all circumstances.
Cultural Corrective:
- Hardship is not proof of God’s absence; discipline or testing often affirms belonging.
- Avoid prosperity or feelings-based judgments; Jesus suffered though sinless. Faithfulness is not measured by ease.

Examples of Righteous Suffering and Caution in Judging Hardship

Scripture: Matthew 11:11 (John the Baptist), Job 1–2
Key Teaching:
- John’s martyrdom and Job’s trials were not due to sin but righteousness.
- We often cannot know why hardship comes—avoid simplistic judgments.
- Sometimes bondage arises from others’ sins; God remains present and faithful.

Kingdom Focus Over Political Zeal

Scripture: Romans 11 (kingdom timeline), Daniel (kingdoms passing)
Key Teaching:
- Earthly kingdoms pass away; God’s Kingdom triumphs.
- Do not let politics overshadow the Gospel and God’s Kingdom.
- As God’s focus returns to Israel at the fullness of Gentiles, nations will face turbulence—prioritize spiritual mission.

Narrative Survey: Daniel’s Life and Witness

Scripture: Daniel 1–6 (historical accounts), Daniel 7–12 (prophetic visions)
Key People and Events:
- Daniel and friends taken to Babylon as youths; trained for royal service.
- Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue representing successive empires.
- Fiery furnace: refusal to worship the image; “one like the Son of God” appears with them (cf. Daniel 3).
- Belshazzar’s feast: desecration of temple vessels; “writing on the wall” announces judgment (Daniel 5).
- Lion’s den: Daniel prays despite the decree; God delivers him; adversaries judged (Daniel 6).
Application:
- Daniel models faithfulness under hostile pressure—prayer, worship, conviction, obedience.
- Deliverances through fire and lions affirm God’s power and presence in exile.

Aramaic/Hebrew Context

Scripture: Daniel (linguistic note)
Key Teaching:
- Daniel contains Hebrew and Aramaic sections, reflecting its international scope across empires.

Principle: Obedience in the Small Things Opens Vision for Greater Things

Highlighted Scripture: Psalm 119:105
Key Teaching:
- God entrusts deeper revelation to those obeying in daily steps.
- Faithfulness in private leads to greater responsibility and illumination.
- Illustration: match → candle → flashlight → floodlight → sun—greater light with obedient walking.
Application:
- Lead yourself first; let Scripture reform thinking, attitudes, behavior.
- Expect difficulty; persist in integrity when no one is watching.

Conviction Versus Culture: Daniel’s Food Refusal and Modern Parallels

Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 1
Key Teaching:
- Daniel refused food likely linked to idolatry, choosing holiness over convenience.
- Modern anecdotes: prior generations avoided certain venues/practices by conviction; not legalism, but principled faithfulness.
Application:
- Recover a heart of conviction.
- Resist cultural pressure to “fit in” at the cost of conscience.

Chapter-by-Chapter Highlights (Daniel 1–6)

Highlighted Scriptures:
- Daniel 1: Food refusal; God honors conviction with favor and wisdom.
- Daniel 2: Statue dream—four world empires; Daniel credits God for revelation.
- Daniel 3: Fiery furnace; miraculous deliverance with “one like the Son of God.”
- Daniel 4: Nebuchadnezzar humbled until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty.
- Daniel 5: Belshazzar’s blasphemy; “writing on the wall”; Babylon’s fall.
- Daniel 6: Lion’s den; God shuts the lions’ mouths; adversaries judged.

Chapter-by-Chapter Highlights (Daniel 7–12)

Highlighted Scriptures:
- Daniel 7: Four beasts—parallels the statue; God’s Kingdom prevails.
- Daniel 8: Ram and goat—conflicts of empires; foretaste of future oppression.
- Daniel 9: Seventy weeks—pivotal timeline concerning Israel, Messiah, and future desolations.
- Daniel 10: Angelic messenger reveals spiritual and earthly struggles.
- Daniel 11: Detailed prophecy of kings of North and South; mounting conflict.
- Daniel 12: End times, resurrection, and deliverance.

Practical Exhortations: Faithfulness in Exile Today

Who God Is:
- Sovereign, disciplinary Father; faithful Deliverer; Revealer of mysteries.
Who We Are:
- Beloved children under His care; called to faithful witness.
How to Live:
- Stand firm in conviction amid cultural pressure.
- Prioritize God’s Kingdom over national agendas.
- Embrace daily obedience leading to deeper revelation and usefulness.
- Avoid simplistic judgments about suffering; encourage the afflicted.

Closing Encouragement

Highlighted Scriptures: Daniel 12:1–3, Romans 11:25, Psalm 119:105
Takeaway:
- In captivity and opposition, God is at work. Be faithful, courageous, and kingdom-focused, trusting God’s sovereign timeline for Israel and the nations.
- Walk in obedience in “small” things; God will increase your light and influence for His glory.

Daniel 9: The Seventy Weeks and the Times of the Gentiles

Title: Daniel’s Seventy Weeks

Overview and Opening Assertions

God is trustworthy; being entrusted with His message requires discernment.
Scripture is complete; open visions or angelic messages are not normative today—test all claims against the Word.

Caution Against Spiritual Sensationalism

Movements that justify extravagant or unbiblical initiatives by private “revelations” are warned against.
Key conviction:
- People often prefer being “spiritual” over being “scriptural” because Scripture restrains personal plans.
Application:
- Ask, “Can you show me that in the Book?” Submit feelings and experiences to Scripture for truth and stability.

Daniel’s Prophetic Timeline

Daniel 2: Four Kingdoms

Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 2
- Babylon (gold), Medo-Persia (silver), Greece (bronze), Rome (iron), and a future ten-toe phase linked to Antichrist.

“Times of the Gentiles”

Begins with Babylon’s conquest of Judah and continues through successive empires until the end.

Daniel 9:24–27 — Seventy Weeks

Text and Interpretation

Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 9:24–27
- “Seventy weeks” (heptads of years) = 490 years decreed for Israel and Jerusalem.

Biblical Pattern for “Day-Year” Equivalence

Highlighted Scripture: Numbers 14:33–34 — “each day for a year” used as a supporting pattern.

Starting Point of the Clock

Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 9:25
- Countdown begins at “the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem.”
Historical anchor:
- Highlighted Scripture: Nehemiah 2 — decree to rebuild Jerusalem, dated approximately 445 BC.

The Messiah’s Arrival and Cutting Off

Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 9:25–26
- Seven weeks + sixty-two weeks = 69 weeks (483 years) unto “Messiah the Prince.”
- “Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself”—pointing to crucifixion (placed around 33 AD).

The Gap and the Church Age

Parenthesis after the 69th week:
- Church Age as a “mystery” not previously revealed.
Highlighted Scriptures: Ephesians 3, Acts 7 (Stephen sees Jesus standing, interpreted as readiness to return had Israel repented).
Historical note:
- Temple destroyed by Titus in 70 AD; gospel goes to Gentiles (Acts).

The Final Week: The Tribulation

Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 9:27
- Antichrist confirms a covenant for one week (7 years), typically divided into two halves of 3½ years.
Additional Scriptures:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3 — “Peace and safety” then sudden destruction.
- Revelation 11–13 — 42 months/1,260 days (3½ years).

Fulfillment and Remaining Prophecy

Elements concerning Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome have been fulfilled.
Remaining portion: the 70th week (7-year Tribulation).
Rapture placement: prior to or at the beginning of the final week (pre-tribulational emphasis).

Contemporary Considerations and Warnings

On Political Power and Global Control

Many pursue global power; absolute power corrupts.
Antichrist will offer stability and peace, enticing nations.

Social and Economic Temptations

Warnings about offers of “free” systems that trade liberty for control.
Spiritual lesson:
- Discern the cost of peace that bypasses God’s truth; short-term relief may mask long-term destruction.

The Role of Rome in the End Times

Suggestion that Rome may again play a significant role.
Views exist that Roman Catholic structures could be strategically significant; some suggest the Antichrist could be a pope (pastoral opinion; examine Scripture carefully).

Application: Living Scripturally in a Sensational Age

Who God Is and How He Responds

God is faithful, sovereign, and precise in prophecy.
He has revealed all necessary truth in Scripture; test all claims by His Word.
God is just and merciful—Messiah was “cut off, but not for Himself,” accomplishing reconciliation.

Who We Are in Christ

The Church is part of God’s mystery revealed in Christ; grafted into His plan in the present age.
We are called to discernment, scriptural grounding, and hope, awaiting Christ’s return.

How We Are to Live

Submit experiences to God’s Word; refuse manipulation.
Anticipate fulfillment without speculation; stay faithful and watchful.
Guard against cultural/political promises that undermine truth.
Share the gospel faithfully to Jews and Gentiles.

Scripture References Highlighted

Daniel 2
Daniel 9:24–27
Numbers 14:33–34
Nehemiah 2
Ephesians 3
Acts 7
1 Thessalonians 5:3
Revelation 11–13

Concluding Encouragement

Anchor life in Scripture rather than sensational claims. Live with discernment, hope, and readiness as God’s prophetic plan unfolds.

Sermon Title: Christ in Daniel (Prophecy, Conviction, and Courage)

Sermon Context and Flow

Themes: God’s sovereignty in history, Christ revealed in Daniel, and practical conviction and courage for Christians in modern American culture.

God’s Purpose in History and the Church

The Church serves within God’s overarching work with Israel—used to provoke Israel to jealousy (cf. Romans 11).
Patterns of sevens and the millennial reign emphasized:
- Highlighted Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8 — “One day with the Lord is as a thousand years.”
Key takeaway:
- God is sovereign over time and history; Christ will reign; God’s covenant purposes are trustworthy.

Christ Revealed in Daniel

Christ as the “stone made without hands” that demolishes the statue (world empires) and establishes God’s Kingdom.
- Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 2
“Angel of the Lord”: divine appearance—Christ’s pre-incarnate presence in delivering His people (e.g., the furnace).
Who God is:
- Sovereign Redeemer who intervenes.
Who we are:
- Believers in Christ’s unshakeable Kingdom, called to trust His authority over earthly powers.

Four Stories in Daniel: Conviction and Courage

1) Daniel 1: Identity and Conviction

Highlighted Scriptures: Daniel 1:3–8, 12
- Youths selected for training; names changed; Daniel “purposed in his heart” not to defile himself.
- Ten-day test with vegetables and water.
Identity emphasis:
- Names reflect calling; the world seeks to rename and reshape identity.
Application:
- Purpose convictions before tests come; guard purity (media, substances).
- Pastoral exhortation: “Your faith will never be able to be trusted if your faith is never tested.”
Who God is:
- Honors conviction and sustains under pressure.

2) Daniel 3: Courage in the Furnace

Highlighted Scriptures: Daniel 3:6, 13, 16
- Refusal to bow; “we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.”
Christ in the fire:
- “Another in the fire”—Jesus present with His servants.
Application:
- Do not bow to cultural idols; expect trials; trust Christ’s presence.
Who God is:
- Deliverer who stands with His people.

3) Daniel 2: The Smiting Stone and Kingdoms

Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 2
- Jesus as the smiting stone—toppling worldly systems to establish His Kingdom.
Application:
- Live as citizens of Christ’s Kingdom; resist idolatrous systems.

4) Prophecy and Scripture Harmony: Daniel and Jeremiah

Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 9:2
- Daniel understands the seventy years from Jeremiah’s writings; coherence of prophecy.
Application:
- Trust Scripture’s reliability; study deeply; live with prophetic awareness.

Key Points

Purpose in your heart before the pressure arrives; conviction guards your identity. (Daniel 1:8, 12)
The world seeks to rename and reshape you; God calls you by His name and purpose. (Daniel 1:7)
Christ is present in the fire; do not bow to cultural idols. (Daniel 3:16)
Jesus is the smiting stone who will topple worldly systems and establish His Kingdom. (Daniel 2)
Prophecy is trustworthy; Scripture harmonizes across books and centuries (Daniel and Jeremiah). (Daniel 9:2; Daniel 9:24–27)
“Your faith will never be trusted if it is never tested.” Trials prove and strengthen faith. (James 1:2–4 implied)

Practical Applications for Today’s Culture

Identity: Reject worldly labels; embrace God-given calling.
Purity: Set clear convictions regarding sexuality and media; guard your heart.
Discipline: Make Scripture-informed pre-decisions; hold firm under pressure.
Courage: Refuse conformity when culture demands compromise; speak truth with grace.
Hope: Anchor life in Christ’s coming Kingdom; do not be swayed by cultural trends.

Who God Is and Who You Are

God:
- Sovereign over history and nations.
- Faithful to His covenant with Israel and the Church.
- Present with His people in trials; Redeemer and returning King.
You:
- A child of God with a holy identity.
- Called to live with conviction, purity, and courage.
- A witness to Christ’s Kingdom in a compromising age.

Closing Exhortation

Purpose in your heart: “I will not defile myself.”
Let your faith be proven through tests.
Recognize Christ as the rock and refuge in every furnace.
Study and trust God’s Word; live in hope of Christ’s reign.

“Resolve in the Book of Daniel” — Sermon Recap

Overview

Theme: Courageous faith and resolve in a hostile culture, drawn from Daniel.
Aim: Call believers to conviction, resistance, and visible loyalty to God, trusting His sovereign deliverance.
Emphases: God’s presence in trials; the cost and beauty of visible obedience; repentance and restoration; fearless prayer and public witness.

Cultural Context and Call to Distinctiveness

Christians may appear “uncool” or strange due to convictions.
Embrace faithful difference rooted in obedience, not oddity for its own sake.
Resolve is essential: purpose in the heart to honor God under cultural pressure.

Daniel 3: The Fiery Furnace — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Highlighted Scriptures: Daniel 3:16–18, 24–25
- “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us… But if not… we will not serve thy gods.”
- Nebuchadnezzar sees “four men loose… the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Observations:
- Non-negotiable allegiance to God; “But if not” faith.
- Visible presence: God’s nearness in suffering.
- Public witness: Courage allows the world to “see Jesus.”
Application:
- Face the fire; do not compromise to avoid hardship.
- Encourage resolve; faithful few can change the world.
- Trust God’s comprehensive protection.

Daniel 4: Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride and Restoration

Highlighted Scripture: Daniel 4
Observations:
- Judgment for pride; refusal to honor God leads to dehumanization.
- Restoration through repentance; mercy follows humility.
Application:
- Repent from indulgence and self-rule; honor God’s sovereignty.
- Illustration: addiction and “werewolf” metaphor—degradation and the need for restoration.

Daniel 6: Daniel in the Lions’ Den

Highlighted Scriptures: Daniel 6:10, 16, 22
- Daniel prays with windows open; cast into lions’ den; “God… shut the lions’ mouths.”
Observations:
- Visible devotion and consistent discipline.
- Deliverance is God’s act, not human strength.
- Accusers later destroyed, showcasing God’s specific protection.
Application:
- Practice courageous, public prayer.
- Keep windows open—let faith be seen.
- Trust God’s intervention over human prowess.

Who God Is and How He Responds

Sovereign over kings, beasts, fire, and lions.
Present with His people in trials.
Delivers according to His will—sometimes miraculously, always faithfully.
Humbles the proud and restores the repentant.
Honors visible, uncompromising faith.

Who We Are and How We Are to Live

Identity: God’s people, set apart, often perceived as “strange.”
Calling: Purpose to obey; resist idolatry and cultural pressure.
Practice:
- Face trials with courage (“face the fire”).
- Pray consistently and openly (“windows open” faith).
- Honor God publicly; refuse secret compromise.
- Repent quickly; seek restoration.