Bible 101: Lesson 25

Daniel

Daniel was a youth of about 15 when the first deportation of Israel to Babylon took place. He was quickly chosen to be among a select group of Israelite nobility who were given special training to serve in the King’s court. Daniel distinguishes himself right away by publicly standing for God and later by being an interpreter of dreams and prophecies.

Daniel can’t be properly called a prophet. He did not give long statements bracketed by “Thus says the Lord”. Instead he saw visions and interpreted other people’s dreams and visions. He was remarkable for having served as the chief official in four successive kingdoms. Generally speaking, officials from one kingdom were killed or dismissed from their posts to ensure a court loyal to the new king.

There is very important background material in Daniel for the book of Revelation and also for the ministry of Jesus. The title “Son of Man” that Jesus used for himself is found in 7:13. Daniel also gives a precise date for when the Messiah would appear in 9:25.

Messianic prophecies in Daniel

His kingdom triumphant
OT References: Dan 2:44-45
NT Fulfillment: Luke 1:33; 1 Cor 15:24; 2 Pet 1:11; Rev 11:15

Son of Man in power
OT References: Dan 7:13-14
NT Fulfillment: Matt 24:30; 25:31; 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:61-62; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:9-11; Rev 1:7

Kingdom for the saints
OT References: Dan 7:27
NT Fulfillment: Luke 1:33; 1 Cor 15:24; Rev 11:15; 20:4; 22:5

Bible 101: Lesson 24

Ezekiel

Ezekiel is the most colorful of the Old Testament prophets. He used all kinds of visual aids to help underline his messages: slapping his thighs, eating a scroll, baking bread over a fire made of human dung, and many other things. His ministry was mostly carried out in exile, after the second deportation from Jerusalem in 597 B.C.

This book has the closest relationship of any in the Old Testament with the New Testament book of Revelations, and is alluded to or quoted in all but one chapter. In chapters 40-48 of Ezekiel there is a prophetic picture of a future temple which will exist during the reign of the “Prince”. The book also stresses more than any in other part of the Old Testament the extent to which we are all individually accountable before God for our own sins.

Messianic prophecies in Ezekiel

A tree planted by God
OT References: Ezek 17:22-24
NT Fulfillment: Matt 13:31-32

The humble exalted
OT References: Ezek 21:26-27
NT Fulfillment: Luke 1:52

The good Shepherd
OT References: Ezek 34:23-24
NT Fulfillment: John 10:11