A look at Daneil and his writin
Daniel – God Rules the World
| Mainly Historical: || Mainly Predictive: | | 6 Historical Narratives || 4 Apocalyptic Visions | |———————————————||—————————–| | Daniel Interprets Others Dreams || Angel Interprets | | || Daniel’s Dreams | |———————————————||—————————–| | Nebuchadnezzar | Belshazzar | Darius | Belshazzar | Darius | Cyrus | | ~~~~~~~~~~~| ~~~~| | |~~ |~~~~ | |—————-|—————————–|—————————–| | 1 | 2 | 3 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 12 | |—————-|—————————–|—————————–| | Written in || Written in Aramaic (Syriac) || Written in Hebrew | | Hebrew || || | |—————||———————————————————–| | Introduction || | Gentile Nations || Hebrew Nation | |—————||———————————————————–| | Israel in a ||****|| Impotent ||****|| -Destiny in God’s Plan| | Gentile ||****|| in ||****|| -Blessed for Obeying | | Setting ||****|| Opposing God ||****|| God. | | ||****||———————-||****|| Through all the Ages | | ||**** Destinies in God’s Hand *****|| to the End of Time. | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PROPHESY OF DANIEL
Recently, We have been confronted with numerous books and scholarly text that attempt to “PUT DOWN” the prophesies of Daniel and even claim to have “proofs” that DANIEL was not the author of the prophesies. WE MUST AGREE WITH THAT CONTENTION; However, I agree only on the basis that the AUTHOR was GOD and DANIEL was the scribe for the LORD. The other “proofs” would not hold up to scrutiny and WE welcome the presentation by ANYONE that has any such proof.
Otherwise, we believe that NOT ONE ERROR exist in the bible in relation to ANY aspect – Scientific, Geographical, Historical or Religion.
In EACH AND EVERY case where a person has presented me with “proof of error” we have shown where no error existed – only mis-conceptions.
As to Daniel, IF GOD IS TRUTH and IF DANIEL WAS A PROPHET of GOD, then the prophesies MUST BE TRUE AND EXACT. To miss a prophesy by even a small factor would effectively distroy the basis for believeing a person to be a prophet. Daniel met the test of a Prophet of God. A Little History and a Little simple math will show the accuracy of Daniel. It would seem that the majority of dispute is centered around the last week of Daniel’s famous 70 week prophesy. If the prophesy about WHAT IS TO COME is questioned, then it would follow that its accuracy must be judged on the accuracy of WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED.
Daniel states that SEVEN and THREESCORE and TWO WEEKS after “THE ORDER” to restore Jerusalem, the MESSIAH would enter its gates! To phrase it in today’s English language,
“The MESSIAH will come through the gates of JERUSALEM sixty nine weeks after the command to rebuild Jerusalem. Mind you, this is SIX HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE JESUS! The fact that Daniel gives a firm date for the prophesy to be fulfilled is really “laying it on the line” in that if the prophesy is NOT fulfilled EXACTLY as prophesied then Daniel was a Fakir and not of God. HOWEVER; if Daniel’s prophesy is correct then it would flow logically that Daniel’s prophesies of events still to come will be AS ACCURATE and from God. Let us look CLOSELY at the “69 WEEKS (7 and threescore and two = 7 + 60 + 2 = 69).
The Jewish calendar consist of years made up of 360 days and not 365 as we have at present. Daniel’s weeks represented seven week periods and we KNOW that years were meant because History records that it took EXACTLY 49 years (completion 396 B.C.) which corresponds with Daniel’s “seven weeks”. The impossibility of building a great city in just 7 weeks time is also a factor in KNOWING that the weeks mean seven year periods. The 360 day years is also found in Revelation (11:3) where the 3 1/2 year tribulation is given as 1,260 days or 3.5 times 360 days per year. Now we can look at the mathmatics of the prophesy.
Sixty-Nine sets of seven year periods come out to 483 years (Keep the 360 day year in mind). History tells us that the order to rebuild Jerusalem was issued in 445 B.C. Now let’s take it carefully to see if Daniel was correct.
- Daniel prophesied that the Messiah would arrive in Jerusalem in 173,880 Days after the order to rebuild was issued. This is shown thus: 69 “weeks” = 483 years (69 times 7) 483 years times 360 days (The Jewish years of that time) = 173,880 days.
- The ACTUAL DATE of the decree was MARCH 14, 445 B.C. We know this from Neh 2:1-6 that the decree was issued “in the Month of Nisan, in the 20th year” of Artaxerxes’ reign. History records Artaxerxes’ reign as being from 465 – 425 B.C. History also records that “The 1st of Nisan is a new year for the computation of the reign of Kings and for festivals” so we know that the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, which would have been a Major decree was issued on the First of Nisan which in 445 B.C. fell on March 14.
- History and Church documents show that Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on April 6, 32 A.D. (Zech 9:9). Other facts prove this to be the date and I will gladly provide the facts if requested.
If Daniel was correct then 173,880 days would have to pass from March 14,445 B.C. to April 6, 32 A.D. Now we do our math.
- From March 14,445 B.C. to April 6,32 A.D. would seem to be 477 years and 24 days; However, we must deduct One Year as there is only one year between 1 B.C. and 1 A.D. This means that we have 476 Years and 24 days. We now take 476 times 365 (our Julian Calendar) and we come up with 173,740 days and add the 24 days and we have 173,764.
- Our Julian calendar has numerous peculiarities such as LEAP YEAR. We find that there were 119 LEAP YEARS (476 divided by 4 = 119) and thus must add
- 173,764 + 119 = 173,883 days
- This would seem to be THREE Days TOO MANY. Other people have calculated to this point and not progressed beyond it and claim that it “is close enough to prove Christ was the Messiah and that Daniel was a prophet.” They fail; However, in considering a little known fact of our Julian Calendar. Our years are actually 1/128th of a day TOO LONG and every 128 YEARS we must skip LEAP YEAR every 128 years!!! Therefore, we find that this skipping occured three times (483 divided by 128 = 3+). NOW WE SUBTRACT THREE DAYS: 173,883 – 3 = 173,880 DAYS!!!
EXACTLY THE NUMBER OF DAYS PROPHESIED BY DANIEL!!!
Now, we can see that Daniel was a true prophet of God. We also see that he was TOTALLY correct and accurate to the degree on would demand from a prophet of God. It would also hold that (1) If Daniel were correct in prophesies that were fulfilled in our history but in his future, then (2) the prophesies of our future will stand to be as accurate!
This study is not intended to prove theory or this writer’s mathmatical abilities. It is intended to show that the Book of Daniel, written SIX CENTURIES before Christ, was inspired and given to man by GOD.
Persons who wish to debate whether Daniel actually was the author miss the point of scripture – the MESSAGE FROM GOD TO HIS CREATIONS.
We believe Daniel wrote the book. The only proof I need of that is that all indications are that Daniel wrote it, and We feel that its authorship was of GOD. It really is not material as to who actualy took pen in hand and scribed the characters. The importance of the Bible and all of its books is that IT IS THE WORD OF GOD.
I pray that this study will help re-direct its readers to this ONE TRUTH and bring those who wish to argue “against the wind” that they are wasting time they could be using for HIS Glory. This study is dedicated to our Lord, Jesus Christ. COMPUTERS FOR CHRIST 5340 THORNWOOD DRIVE SAN JOSE,CA 95123 (408) 578-3162 Daniel and His Contemporaries – Historical Chart Date B.C. Biblical Contemporary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Creation of the World Various Geological Ages. Prehistoric Stone Ages. Creation of Man. Farming, domestication of animals, Cainite Civilization crude art, first villages found. The Flood 5000 Development into Nations Early Chalcolithic Age, pottery of Noah’s sons. developed, copper introduced. Badarian, Amratian cultures in Egypt. 4700 Tower of Babel Earliest levels of Nineveh, Tepe Confusion of Tongues Gawra, Tell ed-Judeideh. Great tower buildings (Minerettes, Pyramids) 4500-3000 Urban cultures in Halafian Culture(4500), Obeidan Babylonia Culture(3600) at Tell Obeid near Ur. Uruk or Erech(3200); writing invented , earliest cylinder seals, Jemdet Nasr Culture(3000). 3000-2700 Noah Union of Egypt Dynasties I,II(29-2700) to Summerian Period in Babylon(28-2360) 2700-2200 Abraham Egyptian Old Kingdom Dynasties III,VI (2700-2200) Pyramids built (?) First Semitic Dynasty (2360-2180) Sargon I. 2250-2200 Terah born Dark Age in Egypt (2200-1989) 2161 Birth of Abraham Gutian Rule in Babylon(2180-2070) Summerian Revival Dynasty III in Ur (2070-1960) 2086 Abraham’s entrance into Ur-Nammu, Dungi, Bur-Sin, and Ibi-Sin Cannan rule in power at Ur, Abrahams birthplace 2075 Gen 14 Invasion of Mesopotamian Kings 2050 Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah 1950 Isaac Fall of Ur(19660). Elamite princes in Isin and Larsa in Babylonia. Small Amorite and Elamite states in Babylonia. 1871 Israel’s entrance into Strong Middle Kingdom in Egypt Egypt. (Dynasty XII). Joseph’s Viceroyship. Amenemes I-IV, Senwosret I-III (1989-1776) 1780 Israel in Egypt 1rst Dynasty of Babylon(1850-1550) Hammurabi(1728-1689). Mari Age. Hyskos Period of foreign domination in Egypt(1720-1570) 1520 Moses born New Empire, Dynasty XVIII(1570-1150) Kamose, Thutmose I,II Queen Hatshepsut(1570-1482) 1485 Final phase of Israelite Thutmose III(1482-1450) 1441 Exodus from Egypt Amenhotep II(1450-1425) Israel in wilderness Thutmose IV(1425-1412) 1401 Fall of Jerico Amenhotep III(1412-1387) Amarna period 1400- Conquest of Cannan Invasion of Palestine by Habiru. 1361 Joshua and Elders Amenhotep III(Iknaton)(1387-1366) Advance of Hittites. 1361 Oppresion of Cushan Tutankamen in Egypt(1366-1357) 1353 Othneil’s deliverance Harmhab – decline of Egyptian power 40 years peace and influence in Palestine. 1313 Oppresion by Eglon Seti I, Pharoah(1314-1290) of Moab 1295 Ehud’s deliverance Raamses II(1290-1224) – brilliant Peace for 80 years reign. Hittite advance into Syria. Merneptah’s Stele mentions Israel in Palestine. 1215 Jabin’s oppression Weak kings in Egypt: Amenomose, Siptah Seti II. 1195-1155 Deborah’s Exploit Raamses III(1198-1167) 40 Year peace Invasion of Sea People’s repulsed. The Trojan War(1200) 1155 Medianite Oppression Decline of Egyptian Power. 1148 Gideon’s Victory and Judgeship. 40 years peace after Gideon 1108 Abimelech king at Shechem Peleset(Phillistines) increase power. 1105 Ammonite Oppression, Jephthah judge 1099 Philistine Ascendancy 1085 Samson is judge 1065 Eli is judge 1050 Battle of Ebenezer Great Empires on Tigris-Euphrates, Philistines take Ark Halys, and Nile decline, Syria and Palestine open for conquest. 1020 Saul and Monarchy 1004 David King of Judah 998 David King of all Israel. 965 Solomon King 926 Division of the Monarchy. Rezon seizes power in Damascus. Judah Israel Rohoboam Jeroboam I Shishak’s Invasion(921) 910 Abijam 908 Asa Aramaean Kingdom of Dmascus expands under Hezion and Tabrimmon. 907 Nadab 906 Baasha 900 Aramaeans ascendant under Hezion. 883 Elah 882 Zimri Benhadad I of Damascus Omri 871 Ahab * E Rise of Assyria-Ashurnasirpal II Jehoshaphat * L Conquests of Shalmaneser III Jehoram * I Battle of Karkar – Syrian coalition * J against Assyria(853). 852 Ahaziah * A 851 Jehoram * H Ahaziah E 845 Athaliah Jehu * L Jehu surrenders to Assyrians Jehoash Jehoahaz * I Shamshi-Adad V Joash * S Adad-niari III 802 Amaziah H Decline of Assyria A A 787 Jeroboam II * M 785 * Uzziah * O I * S 747 S * Jothan Zechariah Tigleth-Pileser III overuns Syria 742 A M * Ahaz Shallum 740 I I * Menahem * HOSEA 736 A C * Pekahiah 734 H A * Pekah 732 H * Hoshea Damascus falls to Assyria(732) 725 * Hezekiah Shalmaneser V besieges Samaria. 721 Samaria Falls Sargon II takes Samaria Kingdom of Judah only 701 Sennacherib invades Judah 696 Manasseh’s idolatrous reign 681 Sennacherib’s death. Esarhaddon conquers Egypt. 669 Ashurbanipal 641 Amon 639 Josiah 614 Asshur falls to Medes 612 Nineveh falls to Medes & Babylonians 609 Josiah slain by Necho Defeat of Assyrians and Egyptians by Necho. Nebuchadnezzar defeats Necho 608 Jehoahaz Zedekiah 605 **** Daniel carried to Babylon Nabopolassar’s death || Nebuchanezzar II 598 || Johoiachin Johoiachin and Ezekiel carried to || Zedekiah Babylon. 589 || Lachish Letters 587 || Fall of Jerusalem. Jerusalem destroyed(587). || Daniel’s carreer. Nebuchanezzar conquers all Egypt. 70 Years Ezekiels prophesies. Evil-Merodach, liberation of || Jehoiachin(561) || Neriglassar(560-556) || Nabunaid(Nabonidus) (556-539). 539 || Fall of Babylon Belshazzar (co-regent) 538 || Edict of Cyrus 536 || Return of Remnant, Rule of Cyrus, founder of Persian 535 **** Temple started Empire till 530. Cambyses king of Persia(530-522). 522 Darius I (522-486) 520 Haggai,Zechariah building of Temple resumed 516 Temple completed by Zerubbabel Defeat of Persians at Marathon(490). Xerxes I (Ahasuerus,486-465). Persian defeat at Salamis(480). 476 Esther queen. 458 Ezra’s return. Revival Artaxerxes I(465-424) of the Law. 445 Nehemiah’s return to Periclean Age in Greece(460-429). rebuild walls. Herodotus, Socrates, Plato. 432 Malachi Prophesies.