Old Testament Survey

Lesson 32 w/AnswersDaniel (Part 3)

We continue our Old Testament survey with a look at more of the future unfulfilled end time prophecy found in the book of Daniel.

In our last lesson, we took a look at one of two key end-time prophecies: the four beasts and the statue dream found in Chapter 2.

Bible

In this lesson, we will look at those beasts and further detail provided in Chapter 7 of Daniel, as well as other details provided in the book of Revelation, Chapters 12 and 13. In our next lesson, we will look Daniel’s vision of the 70 weeks and its prophecy concerning the Tribulation period.

Read Daniel Chapter 7 and Revelation Chapters 12 and 13; then consider the following questions:

  1. What is the length in days of a "prophetic year", and how many days would be found in one half of prophetic year?
    1. ANSWER 1: 360 days is the normal standard for interpreting prophesy in terms of a prophetic year.
    2. ANSWER 2: Based on the above, we would determine that 180 days is one half of a prophetic year.
  2. Read the following references. Based on them, what can we determine is the time meant by the phrase "a time, times, and a half time" in years or days or months?
    • Daniel 7:25
    • Daniel 9:27
    • Revelation 11:3
    • Revelation 12:14
    • Revelation 13:5
    1. ANSWER: Three and one half years, or 1,260 days, or 42 months.
  3. What characteristics are described within Daniel 7:21-25 regarding the Fourth Kingdom which indicate that it is a future kingdom?
    1. ANSWER 1: It is different from all previous kingdoms.
    2. ANSWER 2: It will devour the whole earth and crush it, meaning it will have complete dominion over the entire earth.
    3. ANSWER 3: There will be ten kings who come from this kingdom.
    4. ANSWER 4: Then, an eleventh king will arise, different from the other ten kings; and he will subdue three of the ten kings.
    5. ANSWER 5: This eleventh king will speak against God and oppress His saints and try to change the "set times and laws".
    6. ANSWER 6: The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times, and a half time.
  4. This prophecy has never been fulfilled in all of history. Even the Roman Empire does not have this history—ten kings, three subdued and one world ruler. There has never been a world ruler with a confederacy of ten, then seven, kings supporting him. In addition to setting up his worldly kingdom, what things can you think of that set this particular king apart from all other kings ever known? (See Daniel 8:23-26, for example.)
    1. ANSWER 1: He will lift himself up above all gods, include God and proclaim himself to be God.
    2. ANSWER 2: He will be a master of intrigue.
    3. ANSWER 3: He will cause astounding devastation and succeed at everything he does.
    4. ANSWER 4: He will destroy the mighty men and the Holy People.
    5. ANSWER 5: He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior.
    6. ANSWER 6: He will be destroyed, however, NOT by human power.
  5. From our reading of Revelation Chapters 12 and 13, who or what is described in Rev. 12:1-5, Rev. 12:7-17, and Revelation Chapter 13?
    1. Revelation 12:1-5 (see also, Gen 37:9)
      1. ANSWER: The nation of Israel is described in this passage. Many interpret the Sun and Moon as picturing Jacob and his wife Rachel, and the stars representing the twelve tribes. The pregnant woman represents Israel waiting for the arrival of the Messiah.
    2. Revelation 12:7-17 (see also Daniel 7:7 and Revelation 13:1)
      1. ANSWER: This passage describes Satan, The Dragon, making war against the Roman Empire during the Tribulation Period.
    3. Chapter 13 (see also Daniel 7:21-25)
      1. ANSWER: This chapter describes the kingdom that Satan will establish, first with the ten kings, then the seven; and the persecution of the Jews during the second half of the Tribulation Period.

As we continue to see from our study of the book of Daniel, God laid out through prophecy the specific schedule of events and the role of Satan and Christ in bringing an end to the times of the Gentiles, and then ushering in the eternal reign of Christ. In our next lesson, we will take a close look at that schedule, as we study Daniel’s dream about the seventy weeks.

Thanks for studying with us, and have a great week everyone.

In Christ,

Wes

[2021]

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