Essay 1: Narrative and Apocalyptic Passage
Presented to Professor Jeffery Dickson
Liberty University
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
BIBL 450-D01
Daniel - Revelations
by
Stacy Ghere
March 30, 2020
Introduction
The Old Testament book of Daniel is one that contains multiple directives, inspirations,
and warnings. Although the book of Daniel has spurned great criticisms surrounding its
authenticity of date and authorship, this great literary work has withheld its place in both the
Jewish and Protestant canons. The accounts found in the book of Daniel are written in two
literary forms. Chapters 1-6 “comprise six stories centered around the figure Daniel and his
friends” while chapters 7-12 “consist of four apocalyptic visions attributed to the same figure”. 1
Narrative Passage
The narratives found in the first six chapters of the book of Daniel document the journey
of Daniel and his three friends during the time of the 6th century B.C. It was at this time that
Jerusalem was besieged, at which point they were taken into Babylon captivity by King
Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar “instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring
some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young
men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing
knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and who they
might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans” (Dan. 1:3-4)2. Based on this criteria, it
is believed that “these teenage boys were from families of high social standing”.3 It is in this first
chapter that unprecedented faith and loyalty towards God can be seen within Daniel and his
friends, which carries on throughout the text.
1 Holm, Tawny L. Of Courtiers and Kings: The Biblical Daniel Narratives and Ancient Story-Collections. Winona
Lake: Pennsylvania State University Press. 2012. P. 184
2 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New King James Version (Thomas Nelson,
1982)
3 Miller, Stephen, R., New American Commentary Vol 18: Daniel. B&H Publishing Group. 2012. P.
These young captive sons of Judah were placed into a three-year training program to
prepare them for their future positions. The Hebrew names that these four were originally given
were foretold declarations of mercy, grace, and favor over them, evidenced through the
documented accounts found throughout the text. Their Jewish names and meanings were as
follows: “Daniel (‘God is my judge’), Hananiah (‘The Lord is gracious’), Mishael (‘Who is what
God is?’), and Azariah (‘The Lord will Help’)”. 4 In the beginning of their captivity they had
been assigned new names that referenced pagan gods, that were native to the Babylonian culture,
seen as follows: Daniel=Belteshazzar; Hananiah=Shadrach; Mishael=Meshach;
Azariah=Abednego.
During their time of training, they were offered a portion of the king’s delicacies for
nourishment. It is here that faith is demonstrated through the bravery and boldness of these
teenage boys. Although they were far from home, family, and any human accountability to their
beliefs, they chose to maintain their loyalty to their God. Daniel and his friends understood that
consuming food and wine that was not properly prepared and or utilized for the worshipping of
false gods would only defile them in the eyes of God. Daniel proposed a test to their overseer, by
asking to maintain a strict water and vegetarian diet over a ten-day period to prove that they
could sustain their good health without partaking from the kings table. God’s hand was upon
Daniel from the beginning as seen in the favor he quickly gained with the chief official
overseeing his training, therefore the challenge was accepted. “At the end of the ten days their
features appeared better and fatter in flesh that all the young men who ate the portion of the
king’s delicacies” (Dan. 1:15). For the rest of their training, God continued to pour out His
blessings upon them and allowed them to have great “knowledge and skill in all literature and
wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams” (Dan. 1:16) At the end of their
4 Miller, Stephen B., 1997. Daniel. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group. 1997. P. 20
training they were brought before King Nebuchadnezzar, and upon examination they were found
to be “ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm” (Daniel
1:20). God had positioned His children in the most powerful kingdom in the world for an
appointed time. Daniel remained faithful in his dedication to God, which in turn maintained his
anointing of favor he held with multiple rulers throughout his seventy years of captivity.
Apocalyptic Passage
The 7th chapter of the book of Daniel is the first chapter of the prophetic apocalyptic
messages given to Daniel. The opening text reveals that this occurred in the first year of the reign
of Belshazzar. In this chapter, Daniel is given a vision that greatly troubles him. He records
seeing four huge beasts rise up out of the sea. “The sea regularly stands for the peoples or nations
of the earth in the symbolism of scripture.”5 The identity of the four beasts, which are
comparable to the four elements seen in the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream interpreted by
Daniel in chapter 2, are revealed as four kingdoms by an angel of the Lord. The winged lion was
Babylon, the bear was Medo-Persians, the leopard was Greece, and final beast, which was
terrifying and frightening, was believed to be the future Roman Empire.
This vision focuses on the fourth beast and its ten horns, in particularly a little horn that
rises up and pushes out three of the original ten horns. The ten horns are believed to represent the
ten kingdoms that derived from Rome. The little horn that arises would then conquer three of
these ten kingdoms, which would then establish control over all of Rome. This recorded vision
mirrors the vision that is given to John in the 13th chapter of the book of Revelation, which
identifies this power fourth beast as the future Antichrist. Daniel then states, “I watched till the
beast was slain and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. As for the rest of the
5 Miller, Stephen, R., New American Commentary Vol 18: Daniel. B&H Publishing Group. 2012. P.
beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a
time” (Dan. 7:11-12).
As the vision continues in verses 11-14, “God the Father is pictured as the ‘Ancient of
Days’ who judges the little horn and presents the kingdom to Christ, designated as ‘a son of
man”.6 Daniel describes seeing “One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven”
(Dan. 7:13), which indicates that one in the form of a man will enter into the throne of heaven.
Jesus states in Mark 14:62; “you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power
and coming with the clouds of heaven”. Daniel describes approaching an angel that was
standing present in the vision to seek the interpretation of what he was being shown. Daniel is
then explained that the kingdoms of the earth would be in subjection to the judgement of God
and that the Antichrist would be destroyed at the time that the Son of Man returns. “Verses 13-14
related that the “son of man” will be coronated as the ruler of a great kingdom, be worshiped by
all the peoples of the earth and have an everlasting dominion”.7
Mixture of Narrative and Apocalyptic Passages
The mixture of the narrative and apocalyptic literature confirms the hope that God is in
full control. The narrative chapters highlight the sovereignty of God over not only his chosen
people, but over all the rulers and kingdoms in the world. This can be seen through the accounts
of the fiery furnace, Daniel’s experience in the lion’s den, Nebuchadnezzar’s pride being stripped
away as he became a beast in the field, and the handwriting that appeared on the wall at the end
of the Babylonian Empire. The apocalyptic message conveyed in the latter chapters of Daniel
reveal God’s plan to deal with the kingdom rulers of the world as well as the Antichrist at the end
6 Hindson, Ed., Illustrated Bible Survey. B&H Academic. 2017. P. 268
7 Miller, Stephen, R., New American Commentary Vol 18: Daniel. B&H Publishing Group. 2012. P.
of ages. The text identifies God’s redemptive plan to be fulfilled through the second coming of
Jesus Christ, six hundred years before his life, death, and resurrection. These combined accounts
provide encouragement and assurance of the great rewards for those that are faithful followers of
God.
The two passages of the book of Daniel discussed in this essay, chapters 1 and 7,
contribute to the overall message of God’s sovereignty in the earth. God was in control of
Babylon’s ability to conquer Judah and to take the spoils that included those chosen to enter into
captivity. Chapter 1 evidences God strategic plan to place Daniel and his companions into the
favorable servitude of the king. Daniel’s voice in the leadership arena was what God used to
reveal that He was the one true God. Chapter 7 begins the apocalyptic message that carries over
into the last book of the Bible, Revelation. This particular vision given to Daniel foretold the
outcomes of future ruling kingdoms as well as the second coming of Christ, which remains
anticipated to this very day. The strategies and revelations of God can be found throughout the
book of Daniel. Within the first chapters of each literature style, the additional chapters are
pulled together to present the main message Daniel is conveying, which is that there is only one
all-powerful and all-knowing true God.
Bibliography
Hindson, Ed, Illustrated Bible Study. B&H Academic. 2017. Retrieved from
.,
e
l
https://app.wordseachbible.com
Holm, Tawny L., Of Courtiers and Kings: The Biblical Daniel Narratives and Ancient Story-
Collections. Winona Lake: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2012.
Miller, Stephen R., New American Commentary Vol 18: Daniel. B&H Publishing Group. 2012.
Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com
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