The Bible has successfully survived all the attacks of its enemies for thousands of years. It remains today a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). In love to you, God gave the Bible long ago. “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21. Others of His servants through the ages have preserved God’s Word for you, at the cost of countless suffering and even martyrdom. The Book of the prophet Daniel has likewise endured and survived all the attacks of those who would oppose the inspiration of the Scriptures.
Why study the book of Daniel and Revelation? “Ministers should present the sure word of prophecy as the foundation of [our] faith. The prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation should be carefully studied, and in connection with them the words, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’” –Gospel Workers, p. 148
“When the books of Daniel and Revelation are better understood, believers will have an entirely different religious experience. They will be given such glimpses of the open gates of heaven that heart and mind will be impressed with the character that all must develop in order to realize the blessedness which is to be the reward of the pure in heart.” –Testimonies to Ministers, p. 114. We can see from these inspired statements how important it is to have a pure heart and to develop a perfect character in order to meet with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
In regard to interpretation of Bible prophecy we use the Historicist method, not futurism or preterism. The Historicist method was the standard one before and during the time of the reformation. To turn the attention away from the papacy, during the reformation era, two Jesuit priests were asked by the papacy at that time to develop a different school of apocalyptic prophetic interpretation. Ribera developed futurism which put apocalyptic prophecy in the far future; and Alcazar developed preterism which taught that all prophecy had past fulfilment in the time of the Imperial Roman Empire. In later years, Protestantism accepted more and more the method of futurism for the interpretation of apocalyptic or last day’s prophetic events. We follow strictly the Historicist method for the interpretation of the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation.
In Daniel chapter 1, we read a story in which we find Daniel and his friends in a situation which none of us would like to be in. They were taken into captivity. God had made a covenant with the people of Israel, promising that He would care for them and bless them if they obeyed His statutes, but if they disobeyed, He would chasten them and scatter them among the Gentiles,. “And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.” Leviticus 26:33
From history we know that around 605 B.C., Nineveh and Assyria had fallen. It was just Egypt and Babylon who were seeking world supremacy. The young brilliant new king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, went out and defeated the Egyptians at Carchemish. He marched on to Judah, during Jehoiakim’s reign, and took thousands of Hebrews back to Babylon, including Daniel.
Ancient Babylon was situated near where Baghdad today is, about 500 kilometres north west of the Persian Gulf and about 50 kilometres south west of what is called Baghdad today. Nebuchadnezzar made two more attacks when he heard of the rebellion in Judah. The 2nd attack was in 597 B.C. Each time he took captives, including Ezekiel the prophet. The 3rd attack took place around 586 B.C.
Only a remnant of the weakest, poorest, and least threatening Jews remained and Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed.
The first chapter explains how Daniel was called, prepared, matured, and blessed of God. Vital parts of this chapter and not only this particular chapter but throughout the book of Daniel, are three important things which God’s enemy, Satan does: First, Nebuchadnezzar attacks the city and the Sanctuary; Second, Nebuchadnezzar takes God’s people into captivity; Third, Nebuchadnezzar takes the sacred vessels of God’s sanctuary, dedicated to the true worship of God, and places them in a pagan temple. When we look carefully at these three attacks, namely against the Sanctuary, against God’s people, and against God Himself, we will notice that these attacks are what Satan uses as a pattern against God in this controversy throughout history. The book of Daniel gives us several examples. “And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.” Daniel 8:9–11. Is he attacking the Sanctuary? Is Satan attacking God? Is he attacking His people? Also in Daniel chapter 11 the same story is recorded of attacking God, His people, and the Sanctuary. “And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.” Daniel 11:31–33. It is important to understand this in order to be prepared and not be taken by surprise.
Daniel chapter 1 introduces theme of the great controversy; the conflict between Christ and Satan, between good and evil, between right and wrong. Two kings, Jehoiakim and Nebuchadnezzar. Two cities, Jerusalem and Babylon: Jerusalem, the city of God, the city of truth, and Babylon, the centre for rebellion against God, the centre of confusion and error. “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.” Daniel 1: 1–2. Have you ever heard people say, If God is so good, why is it that wrong seems to triumph over right? Good people end up bad and bad people apparently succeed in this life. A man named Asaph was envious when he saw that the wicked prospered and the righteous going through affliction. “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.” Psalm 73:3, 13. When did Asaph understand the end of the wicked people? “Until I went into the Sanctuary of God, then I understood their end.” Psalm 73:17. The sanctuary of God teaches us how God deals with the problem of sin and Satan hates that because if we understand this issue then he loses us.
It was the Lord who led Nebuchadnezzar to Jerusalem and Lord gave him the victory. Why would the Lord give victory to a foreign country over His people? They had been not faithful. Reading from history in 1st and 2nd Chronicles and 1st and 2nd Kings, you begin to see that Israel had not remained faithful to God and His covenant and God finally said; if you do not obey My statues you are going to go into bondage for seventy years (Jeremiah 25).
But there is something interesting in Daniel 1:3–4. “And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;
Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.” The king wanted to gather the noble, the wealthy young men, the people with a good heritage. “And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.” Daniel 1:5
We can only imagine what it must have been like for Daniel and his friends when they were taken away from their homes by force as they were traveling all the way to Babylon to possibly face a life of slavery. Imagine then the surprise they had when they reached Babylon to receive new clothes and food from the king’s table. The best food, the best drink for the next three years. “Now among these were the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-Nego.” Daniel 1:6–7. The king changed their names because he wanted to change their identity. When you change the person’s identity you change the person’s mission. In the Bible a name means something important. Jacob, which means deceiver, was changed to Israel which means overcomer. The names of these four Hebrews were tied to God. Daniel means “God is my Judge”, but they changed his name into Belteshazzar, which means Bel will protect. Bel was one of the Sumerian gods. They had changed their names from the true God to their god in an attempt to change their way of thinking from what they were raised to believe.
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” Daniel made a decision. How many of us have decided to do something at a certain point and later we changed our mind? But the Bible says, Daniel decided in his heart to be faithful to God, no matter what. When did he make that decision? Do you think that he made that decision when they brought out that food? “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. Any teenager who would make a decision that he would rather die than be unfaithful to God would have had a good upbringing. Daniel was raised to believe the truth, raised to believe the Bible, raised to believe in the God of Heaven, Who could watch over every move in his life, even when he was taken to Babylon. Daniel could look up to God and say; “Why Lord? Where are You? You said You would never leave me You would never forsake me, why is it that I am on my way to Babylon as a captive?” There were so many reasons for Daniel to doubt, but he did not. He made a decision in his heart; he purposed that he would not defile himself.
If we get anything out of this chapter, I think we need to make a decision to purpose in our hearts that we will not defile ourselves in any way, even beyond food. To be faithful to God and obey His word and whatever He asks us to do.
Sometimes, I talk to young people, and they say, “you know, it’s impossible to really be a Christian today and serve God, because everybody in my high school is having illicit relations.” At least they think everybody is. “Everybody in my high school is involved in drugs, everybody in my high school is involved in parties at night, and it is impossible to serve God in this environment.” Some men think, “I work in a very rough factory where everybody is cursing and swearing, and everybody is telling jokes. In the environment I work in, it is impossible to serve God.” Business people may think, “You cannot serve God and be honest, because if you are going to get ahead in business, you have to be dishonest.” Daniel is an example of a man in a corrupt, godless society, whose mind could have been shaped by that society, but the Bible tells us that Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
There is something very important in Daniel 1:16 that I would like to bring attention to, “Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse [vegetables].” It was the steward who took away their portion of the meat and wine. Unless you let God take away your gossip, your immorality, your jealousy, your anger, or any hindrances, you cannot receive blessings from God. To receive the richest blessings of God in your life, you must allow Him to take away the hindrances first.
In this first chapter we have learned something very important in our spiritual walk with our Mighty and Loving Father. We have learned about circumstances, choices, and commitment in the life of these four young and brave Hebrews. A wonderful first chapter with lessons to be learned and put to practice even in the 21st century. In the last days of earth’s history, God is looking for men and women who have one passion in their heart and one desire in their lives, namely to please Him, and not to defile themselves with the pressures to conform that constantly surround us. Are you willing to present yourself as a living sacrifice to God as Paul talks about? “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1–2. May this be our decision. Amen!
Nicholas Anca