The Book of Daniel | The future of the gentile reign and the jewish remnant

Listener’s Guide | Session 8 | Daniel 6:1-28 | Dr. Randy White

Daniel the preferred president | Daniel 6:1-3

• Time-line of the book of Daniel (a review)

  • Chapter 1: Daniel goes to exile: 606 BC
  • Chapter 2: Nebuchadnezzar's Dream: 604BC
  • Chapter 3: Nebuchadnezzar's golden image: 580BC
  • Chapter 4: Nebuchadnezzar's second dream: 570 BC
  • Chapter 5: Belshazzar’s feast: 539 BC
  • Chapter 6: Darius’s Decree: 538 BC

• By the time of Esther, the 120 provinces had risen to 127 provinces (Esther 1:1).

The dirty decree | Daniel 6:4-9

• Verse 4 - Integrity is always a threat to selfish agendas, and so those with integrity in leadership will almost always be threatened at some point.

• Verse 5 - Under the times of the gentiles, the closer time comes to the end of this era, the more man will exalt himself and attempt to make God illegal.

• Verse 7 –

  • All the presidents - They were forced to resort to lies to build their case, and Darius would later regret that he did not dig deeper. However, blame should not be shifted to Darius, but must remain on the unethical tactics of these self-serving men.
  • To make a firm decree… - This is, in effect, the establishment of a State "Church," which requires obedience to the "Church." This is a tactic often used in history to prohibit true faith and provide allegiance to the Almighty State.

• Verse 9 - The most successful appeal to leadership is almost always built on a leader’s ego.

Daniel prays and darius laments | Daniel 6:10-16

• Verse 10 – Daniel knew - Daniel's faith was real, and so the threat of punishment didn't stop him from doing that which he had always done.

• Verse 12 – the law of the Medes and the Persians - The Medes and the Persians invented the law of the Medes and the Persians, and it was such a dumb law that no other known culture / government has tried it again.

• Verse 14 - An interesting thing about the Kings of the exile is that they were all, for the most part, good kings. This is indicative of the entire "times of the gentiles" and the reign of gentile kings. Even the Antichrist will be accepted as a magnanimous beneficial king, but will later become beastly.

• Verse 16 –

  • Darius' "testimony of faith" is not a "confession of faith."

    • Faith in God's power and placing your faith in the resurrected Savior are not the same thing.

  • Note- some modern translation say, "May God...deliver you." While this is not an accurate translation, the language does allow for "God must deliver you" with the implication that Darius has done all that he can humanly do.

Daniel in the lion’s den | Daniel 6:17-24

• Verses 17-24 contain one of the most familiar stories in all the Bible.
• Verse 22 - Sadly, those who are anti-God cannot see that it is no hurt to allow the free expression of the Christian religion.

Darius’ Second Decree | Daniel 6:25-28

• Verse 26 - As in previous verses of Nebuchadnezzar and Darius, this should not be interpreted as an Age of Grace "confession of faith." It is an acknowledgement of the greatness and power of God, and such an acknowledgment does not equate to salvation. (Note that Darius still calls God the God of Daniel.)