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Daniel Foretells History
Daniel Foretells History
We now enter the last half of the book. In these chapters, Daniel is shown what was going to happen in the world in the centuries after he has died. I remember my introduction to modern scholarship on such things. I picked up a ‘recommended’ commentary on the book of Daniel. I was impressed that the writer could identify Daniel’s text with such specific historical events that came long after Daniel. The end of the Persian empire, the rise and fall of Greece and Alexander the Great, the break of his kingdom and the civil wars that followed. I also saw that the writer of the commentary used such specific fulfillment to argue that the book of Daniel thus had to have been written after such events. Why? Because, as the ‘wise men’ of Daniel’s day said: “There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king” (Dan. 2:10). That is, men simply cannot foretell history.
The writer of the commentary overlooked what Daniel had said earlier: ““However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries”. Daniel didn’t foretell these things, God revealed. This was the argument Isaiah put forth to show the difference between pagan idols and the true God of heaven (Isa. 44:7; 45:20). Only God is able to tell what is going to happen. This is the God that we serve and love. This is God who rules in the kingdoms of men. God knows and God cares.
God foretold and promised the coming of the kingdom of Jesus and He brought it to pass. Jesus came “preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) Jesus, though rejected by men, was raised from the dead and made king of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 17:14). Believers are now in this kingdom that will never be destroyed (Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:6, 9). Are you part of this kingdom?
Hugh DeLong
If you would like to go deeper into your study of these chapters, I would recommend you begin by reading the notes that Shane Scott posted on his blog:
http://www.shanescottonline.com/search/label/Daniel
