Introduction to the Book of Amos

Purpose: To pronounce God’s judgement upon Israel, the northern Kingdom, for their complacency, Idolatry and oppression of the poor.

Author: Amos

Key People: Amos and Uzziah and Jeroboam II

Key Places: Bethel and Samaria

MAJOR THEOLOGICAL THEMES

There are four major themes

1. Everyone answers to God – Amos pronounced judgement from God for all the surrounding nations then he included Judah and Israel. God is in supreme control of all the nations. Everyone is accountable to him.

2. Complacency – Everyone was optimistic. Business was booming, people were happy, except for the poor and the oppressed. With all the comfort and luxury came a self- sufficiency and false sense of security. Prosperity brought corruption and destruction.

3. Oppressing the poor – The wealthy people of Samaria had become prosperous, greedy and unfair. Illegal and immoral slavery came as a result of taxation and land grabbing. There was also cruelty and indifference to the poor. God is weary of greed and will not tolerate injustice.

4. Superficial Religion – Although people had abandon real faith in God, they still pretend to be religious. They were carrying on normal religious practices instead of having spiritual integrity and practicing heart-felt obedience towards God.

THEOLOGICAL OUTLINE

Amos saw himself called to be spokesman of God not a religious leader. He sought to call his people to a relationship with God that would preserve their proper relationship in their relationship with fellow human beings and that would in turn return result in proper worship. He called them to righteousness that reflected a right relationship with God. He warned his people that a failure to respond would ultimately bring the judgement and wrath of God.

The ministry of Amos was set near the end of 8th century in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II. He was the first of the great eight century prophets followed by Hosea, Micah and Isaiah. God called Amos from a Southern Kingdom to confront the sins of the people of the Northern Kingdom.

The times in which Amos ministered were times of great prosperity in the Northern Kingdom. The economic growth of the nation was unprecedented. Israel control more territory than in any other time in history, except during the reigns of David and Solomon. In addition, religious observers were at an all time high with many shrines and worship sanctuaries that were full with people. To all appearances, everything in the Northern Kingdom was going well. The proper theology of the day, even as in ours indicated that external prosperity was a clear indication of the blessings of God. But was such a belief correct?

To a large extend the Northern Kingdom became prosperous because the wealthy political leaders oppressed the poor, especially, the poor farmers. The cause had been corrupted by bribery, many of the poor had been forced to give up their land, received as part of their tribal inheritance. They even had to sell themselves into slavery. The leaders merely believed that this was an indication of that the poor were unrighteous and the rich were righteous. The religion of the day was primarily an assimilation of the worship of God of Israel with that of the Baals. Canaanite religion, centered on fertility cult that appealed to the urges of the people gradually led Israel astray from God but still believed that prosperity resulted from the faithfulness in ritual and worship. Unfortunately, the missed the fact that worship, to have any value must affect people where they live. So Amos found a people that needed to re-arrage the theological system and practice of their way. Could they change their way of living and practice of prosperity?

Amos set before the people of Israel several themes that they desperately needed to hear. He began by attacking with enthusiasm the false believe of the day, and then  pointing out the true concepts on which the covenant relationships with God was to be based. Merely observing proper forms of worship is not sufficient for righteous relationship with God.

Any religion that does not result in right treatment of the poor is a worthless religion. The leaders of Israel oppressed the helpless. These helpless people had been rendered even helpless by corrupt courts and politicians who sought for and received bribes. Even women in their lust for luxury had lost their compassion and attitude of helping the helpless poor. To such people, Amos issued a call for practical righteousness as a proper foundation for proper worship. Being apart of God’s people doesn’t guarantee exemption from God’s judgement. The people of Israel had forgotten the idea that privilege carries a responsibility. They had assumed rightly that the day of the Lord would bring judgement on God’s enemies. They had also assumed wrongly that it would bring deliverance for God’s people. There own action of social oppression had made them into enemies of God. So instead of deliverance, judgement had become inescapable certainty.

Rebellion will be judged. Not all judgement seek to penalize and hurt. In fact Amos described most temporal judgement as being redemptive, aimed at bringing people into a right relationship with God.

God calls whom he wills to be an agent of his revelation. God’s prophet becomes a prophet in response to God’s revelation, not through training or a result of vocational choice. On the other hand, it is clear that the prophet proclaimed the word of God in his own human words. God spoke through a particular person to a specific people at a particular time. This revelation lays the foundation for the idea that God can and still does the same

MODERN DAY APPLICATION

God is involved and concerned with life as it is and as he intended. Basic to this confrontation are basics ideas.

1. Greed for the things of this world can destroy our thinking and our living, leading oppress or to be indifferent to our fellows and to be  alienated from God.
2. Our lives must be measured against God’s word and not popular teaching.
3. Believe in the standard theological propositions accompanied by the proper observance of religious rituals are of great value when accompanied by righteousness in our dealings with others.
4. God sometimes uses tragedy and natural calamity to call people to an honest confrontation with sin, seeking to lead us to repent, turning from  sin to God.
5. God is sovereign ruler of the universe and will ultimately accomplish his purpose with or without obedient service of his people.
6. God expects us today to be ready to obey him even to the point of facing hostile situation as servants of his love.

TIMELINE APPLICATION

Amos was written during the time of Jeroboam II of Israel and Uzziah of Judah between 760 BC to 750 BC.

Introduction to the Book of Joel

Purpose: To warn Judah of God’s impending Judgement because of their sin and to turn them back to God

Author: Joel

Key People: Joel and the people of Judah

Key Places: Jerusalem

THEOLOGICAL OUTLINE

There are three major theological themes

Punishment – Like a destroying army of locust, God’s punishment of sins is dreadful, overwhelming and unavoidable. When it comes, there will be no food, no water, no protection and no escape. The day for settling accounts with God for how we have lived is fast approaching

Forgiveness – God is getting ready to forgive and restore all those who would come to him and turn away from sin. God wants to shower his people with his love and restore them to proper relationship with him

Holy Spirit – Joel Predicts the time when God will pour his Holy Spirit on all people. It will be the beginning of new and fresh worship of God by those who believe in him, but also the beginning of judgement for those who reject him.

THEOLOGICAL OUTLINE

The land of Judah was devastated. Locust, like a huge army had destroyed much of the vegetation. A severe drought made the situation even worse. Although there had been locust invasion before, no one can remember. Human and beast alike were suffering greatly.

In the midst of this tragedy, God called one of the citizens of Judah, a man named Joel to provide a proper interpretation of the terrible events, and to recommend a course of action for the people to follow. Actually we know very little about this man, even the date of his ministry is not certain. Perhaps it was the 9th century or in the latest 400 BC. No one can be sure.We know his name means the LORD is GOD and we know he suffered along with his people. Joel understood that the problem was primarily a theological matter. He knew the solution to be theological in nature. He interpreted the calamity as a judgement God send because of the sin of unfaithfulness of God’s people. The day of the LORD, the day of Judgement was at hand.

Joel still had a lot of hope, but only if people sought the Lord in prayer and fasting. He honestly encouraged all the citizens of Judah to return in genuine faith to God and to seek his grace and his mercy. Joel provided a rarity among biblical prophets. Israel most often ignored and rejected prophetic counsel. Apparently they heeded the words of Joel. The people repented and God forgave them. God removed the fate of locust and send rain upon the parched land. The peace brought forth a good harvest, and once again peace reigned in Judah as God hath said to his people.

In the last half of the book, Joel turns his attention to a more distant future. He describes a time in which God would pour his Spirit on all flesh, signs on earth and heaven would accompany God’s action. Another day of the LORD, a day of decision for all nations would be ushered in. Those who would would welcome the grace of God in their lives, would be forever blessed. Those who reject him would judged and separated from the people of God.

The day of the LORD is the center of Joel’s theology. Joel used traditional language to interpret a national catastrophe. God never adores sin. Judgement is certain to come. God uses nature to discipline his people. Joel, like other authors in the bible, felt that entire universe suffer when people disobey God and live a life of unfaithfulness. No sin is insignificant. All have covenant implication. God however, is a merciful and gracious God. He is eager for sins to turn from evil ways. He is always ready to forgive all those who turn to him in genuine repentance.

Restoration of a correct relationship between God and his people bring healing and joy to the  people as well as to the land. Now, restoration is not automatic. It involves repentance from the heart, not just participation in the public rites and ceremonies. God calls his people to observe such rites as a testimony to a sincere change of life’s direction. Only such change signify true repentance. Those who live in accordance to God’s purpose in obedience to faithfulness will be forever blessed. Those who do not will ultimately be cut off from him completely. Each person deserves his or her own eternal destiny.

The fate of locust, was not just an act of nature, it was an act of God. It was God’s way of judging a sinful nation.  Such a day of the Lord was not a final day, however. That would come after God has put his Spirit on all people, to know his will just as prophets knew him and his will by receiving his Spirit.  Thus Joel’s prophecy pointed to Pentecost and beyond to the final day of the Lord.

MODERN DAY APPLICATION

Tragedy ought to direct to think of the judgement of God. The idea that every calamity is due to God’s judgement of sin still haunts people. On the other end, when serious difficulty come to a people or a nation, it is wise to take some time for self-examination. Perhaps individual or corporate sin is to be confessed and removed. If so, there is no other solution to be added. Members of the  body of Christ are benefactors of God’s work in the Holy Spirit. Peter interpreted the promise of God as given by Joel as fulfilled in Pentecost. Through Christ and Pentecost, believers have been given fuller understanding of God that was not even given to Joel. The Spirit now dwells within us to guide and instruct. He helps us understand what God is doing in his word. As Christians, we need to remember that God’s richest blessings has been fully given to us, not because we deserve them, but because we have accepted Christ. Without him we have nothing. The good-news is that nothing can separate us from God. Even Christians sin and our sins are serious. The dilute our joy. They harm on us, and have adverse effect on the world we live. The book of Joel continues to remind us of the ongoing need for confession and for life of faithfulness. It also reminds to encourage non Christians to decide to turn to the Lord for forgiveness and abundant life.

TIMELINE APPLICATION

Joel wrote his book as things happened. Joel wrote and prophesied from about 835 BC to 796 BC.

JOEL CHAPTER 2: 28 – 32 – A PROPHECY OF THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The Promise of the Spirit

²⁸ “^[a]It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all ^[b]mankind;
And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will dream dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
²⁹ “Even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

The Day of the Lord

³⁰ “I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
Blood, fire and columns of smoke.
³¹ “The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood
Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
³² “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Will be delivered;
For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
There will be those who escape,
As the Lord has said,
Even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

Introduction to the Book Hosea

Purpose: To illustrate God’s love for his sinful people

Author: Hosea (His names Salvation)

Key People: Hosea, Gomer and their children

Key Places: Northern Kingdom (i.e Israel), Samaria and Ephraim

MAJOR THEOLOGICAL THEMES

• The Nation’s sins:

Just as Hosea’s wife Gomer was unfaithful to him so the nation of Israel was unfaithful to God.  Israel’s idolatry was like adultery. They sought illicit relationship with Assyria and Egypt to give them military might. They mixed Baal worship with the worship of God.

• God’s Judgement

Hosea was solemnly warning Judah against following Israel’s example because Judah broke the covenant, turning away from God, and forgot their maker. Judah experienced a devastating invasion and then exile. Sin does have terrible consequences.

• God’s Love

Just as Hosea went after his unfaithful wife and bring her back, so the Lord pursues us with his love. His love is tender, loyal, unchanging and undying. No matter what, God still loves us.

• Restoration

Although God will discipline his people for sin, He encourages and restores those who have repented. True repentance opens a way to a new beginning. God forgives and restores.

THEOLOGICAL OUTLINE

How does God continue to put up with an unfaithful people, unfaithfulness with Israel’s besetting sin? The people of Israel had fallen to the temptation of Baal’s cult. Their attraction to the fertility right associated with Baal worship began long before they occupied the land of Canaan. The high places dedicated to local Baals continued to influence Israel throughout their history. The fact was, especially during the days of Hosea.

The appeal of Baal worship to the basic lust of sexual immorality and greed for gain may explain Israel’s involvement. Then again, the fall to Baal worship may have had the promise of reward in form of fertile flocks and fields and families. Perhaps the Israelites observed the pagan methods and rituals in the land of Canaan, especially the ritual of seeking productivity for their herds, their crops through magic. Influenced by the successful neighbors, Israel resorted to the Baal’s rite and engaged them in immoral fertility right. They thought believe in Baal would give them needed rain, bountiful harvest, productive herd and many children. In so doing, they turned away from covenant God. They committed spiritual adultery, pursuing pagan worship and neglecting God.

How would a faithful God, react to such unfaithful people? What could faithless people expect from a loving God? Could God’s covenant election be detoured or destroyed by the people’s stand? 

This were Hosea’s questions. Hosea’s ministry as Prophet to Israel, the Northern Kingdom came at the close of an era of peace and prosperity for Israel and Judah. Both nations had hard trouble handling the good times in faithfulness. Hosea witnessed a rapid deterioration of Israel’s society, religion and politics.  He had to do this honor of preaching God’s word to a nation sick unto death. Amos had announced the of Israel, and Hosea watched the fulfillment of His word. Apparently, Hosea was a native of Israel. At least that relationship seems to be indicated by his personal identification of the depravity of his people and by his intimate knowledge of their moral, religious and political activities.

God did more than just tell Hosea to preach. The Lord commanded Hosea to take an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness. By this action, the prophet symbolized in his family life, the nation’s life. The nation was guilty of adultery and departing from the Lord. Later, God commanded the prophet to “Go show your love to your wife again,” though she had served the other lovers. The prophet’s faithful obedience symbolized the fact that the Lord loves the Israelite’s, though they turned to other gods.

Hosea’s relationship to family were diminutive of God’s relationship to Israel. Hosea domestic problems became tools in God’s hand aimed at turning Israel away from baalism and back to God. The prophet magnified the love of God as the initiating force in his relationship to Israel.  He threatened God’s judgement upon his people, priests and prophets. He promised a new beginning, if only they returned back to God. He said God would heal their waywardness, and love them freely, and be like the dew to them.

Hosea hoped to negate the false teachings of Baal cult and to lead Israel to trust God alone for their life of prosperity.  Thus the nation could avoid disaster and doom Hosea had announced.

The love of God is the doctrinal foundation for the book of Hosea. The book names strong warning of God’s rebellious and unfaithful people.  At the same time it contains promises of forgiveness, hope and blessing for those who repent. God message’s love is the basis for both the warning to the unfaithful and for the promise to the repentant. From that base the author presents five conclusions;

1. God’s love prompts him to enter in covenant relationships with his people.

2. God’s love for his people is consistent, in spite of their unfaithfulness.

3. God’s love lead him to discipline and to judge his unfaithful people.

4. God’s love for his people causes him to expect them to love him consistently.

5. Genuine repentance on the part of God’s people results in divine forgiveness, love and blessings.

God initiated a relationship with Israel, based on love. He chose them to be his people. Not only when Israel was  young and inexperienced nation, but they were also slaves in Egypt, they were chosen as God’s people and gave them His covenant. God’s care is constant and tender, like that of a father for his son. God’s guiding hand was upon them as the nation began to grow and develop. His love sustained them through hard and trying times, as they struggled to establish themselves in the land God gave them.

God’s love remain consistent in the face of Israel’s repeated lapses in her love for God. The nation fell into the trap of Baal worship even before they entered the promised land. Again and again, the fertility rite associated with the pagan worship lured Israel away from God. Hosea’s children bore names that made the walking sermons, expressing Israel’s deteriorating relationship to God. God’s love for Israel was example for Hosea to go and love his unfaithful wife. God’s love is tender, but is not weak. In love, God disciplined his wayward wife, Israel. Election into covenant did not protect unfaithful people from discipline and judgement. Through judgement upon the nation, he deprived them of a King, deprived them of sacrifices and of the normal ways of seeking God.  Punishment was not aimed at the nation’s destruction, but at the need for repentance and restoration to God.

What God wanted from his people was not more and more offering, not more elaborate rituals, but more consistency in their love. His controversy with the nation was more with the absence of expected faithfulness, loyal love and the knowledge of God. The whole nation failed to live by the covenant principles God had established. Priests and prophets failed to fulfill their calling, and the people fell deeper and deeper into their sins. Social injustice, immorality and political anarchy, all reveal Israel’s lack of loyal love. Their loyal love was like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early.  God wanted their love to be as faithful as his. Under the heavy had of God’s judgement, the nation was gone. Still God’s judgement was faithful to offer forgiveness, love and blessings if the nation would repent. God promised a repentant people that he would heal the backsliding, love them freely and be like the dew to them. A faithful God would love anew and faithful people would respond to his loving discipline.

MODERN DAY APPLICATION

The word of the Lord that came to Hosea is relevant to the successful church in the twentieth century. God’s people are lured by local gods and material  greed to turn away from the true and living God. Social injustice, immorality and political injury mare modern life and need to be addressed. Repentant sinner need to know that God’s forgiveness, love and blessings are available to them.

The church can learn the following lessons from Hosea.

1. God’s judgement comes upon his people, when they turn away from God and devote themselves to material prosperity.
2. God disciplines his people to turn away from false gods and false gold and return to himself.
3. God opens the door of hope out of the valley of trouble.
4. God loves his people, even when they turn to other gods.
5. God keeps his ways of calling his unfaithful people to account for the infidelity.
6. God’s ministers are not immune to judgement when they lead God’s people astray and engage the same sins as the people.
7. Immorality and drunkenness take away ability to think straight and to make good moral decisions.
8. Large offerings and elaborate rituals are not acceptable substitute for loyal love.
9. The Holy God can restrain from expressing his Holy wrath by His over powering compassion.
10. When God’s people repent, they can expect God to forgive them, love them and bless them.

TIMELINE APPLICATION

Hosea wrote the book in 715 BC about the events that occurred from 753 – 715 BC.

What is God?

The best summary of the doctrine of God as taught in the Bible is found in answer to question four of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, “What is God?” The answer (that is the best definition of God ever penned by human hand) is ;

God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

Introduction to the Book of Daniel

PURPOSE: 

• To give an historical account of the faithful Jews who lived in captivity and to show how God is in control of heaven and earth directing the forces of nature, the destiny of nations and the care of his people.

AUTHOR:

• Daniel’s book is a product of his time in Babylon as a Jewish exile from Israel. While still a young man, Daniel travelled to Babylon with a group of young Israelite nobles, men of promise whom the conquering power felt could be of use in service (Daniel 1:3–4). Once Daniel arrived, the leadership in Babylon renamed him Belteshazzar in an effort to more closely identify him with his new home (1:7). Daniel lived there throughout the Jews’ seventy-year captivity (1:21; 9:2), eventually rising to become one of only three administrators over the provincial governors throughout the kingdom (6:1). –

WRITTEN TO:

• Other captives in the Babylon and God’s people everywhere.

KEY PEOPLE:

• Daniel, Nebuchanezzar, Shadrack, Meshack, Abednego, Belteshazzar and Dairus.

KEY PLACES:

• Nebuchadnezzar’s palace, the fiery furnace, Belteshazzar and the Den of Lions.

SPECIAL FEATURES TO BE FOUND IN DANIEL

• Apocalyptic visions Daniel had in chapters 8 – 12. This visions gives God’s plan for the ages including a direct prediction of the coming Messiah.

FOUR MAJOR THEOLOGICAL THEMES

1. God is in control. God is all knowing and he is in charge of the world events. God overrules and removes rebellious leaders who defy him. God will overcome evil and no one is exempt. But he will deliver the faithful who follow him.
2. Purpose in life. Daniel and his three friends are examples of dedication and commitment. They determined to serve God regardless of the consequences. They did not give in to pressures from ungodly society because they had a clear purpose in life.
3. Perseverence. Daniel served in a foreign land that was hostile to God for 70 years yet he did not compromise his faith in God. He was truthful, persistent in prayer and disinterested in power or personal glory.
4. God’s Faithfulness. God was faithful in Daniel’s life. He delivered him from prison, from a den of lions and from enemies who hated him. God cares for his people and deals patiently with them.

THEOLOGICAL OUTLINE
In every generation some people feel radically threatened. They seek encouragement and hope. They want to know if God still exist and if God is concerned about their lives.

The book of Daniel provide support and understanding for those living under drastic fear. The author of Daniel adopted a radically different form of communication from that of any other Old Testament book. He took the forms, imagery and literary forms from the world of wisdom and prophecy to challenge the prevailing fear and hopelessness of the day. He began his review of apocalyptic writing as a way of communicating God’s message to his people.

Isaiah chapters 24 – 27, Zachariah and portions of Ezekiel  use related language but not to the extend that Daniel does.  Revelation in the New Testament is and example of apocalytic literature. Apocalyptic expression involves the use of elaborate visions and images to describe God’s revelation of the last days of history, when the world order is rescued from indescribable threats and evil. Apocalyptic writing tells readers the ethical requirement of the faithful remnant through the terrible threat and often divides the final stages of history into periods which are each described by rich and mysterious  symbolism. Only who knows the symbols can understand the message of such writings.

The book of Daniel use six stories about four Israelite captives in Babylon after 597 BC to illustrate necessity of proper behavior during the perilous days. Daniel then offers a series of symbol aid visions to help readers understand their own place in history and the hope God wants to give them for the last days.

Students of the bible have earnest differences in their interpretations of the figures and images seen by Daniel. All agree that Babylonian, Persian and Greek empires are involved, a long with a lot of would be subdivisions of the Greek empire including the Ptolemy rule in Egypt and the Seleucid rulers in Syria.  A major figure is the Seleucid ruler Antiochus Epiphanes  who violated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC.

Some scholars see the revival of the Roman Empire as the final kingdom. Whatever the exact progression of historical references, the book presented important options to its readers.

The rush of time in history brought an ever deepening threat  to God’s people. Successive rulers brought them closer to despair. How could enslaved people hold on to their faith? What incentive did they have to look to the future? Was their God defeated? Should they follow the lifestyle of the enemies to avoid persecution? Would they dare to die to be true to the teachings God gave them? Should they live their faith, exposing themselves to all kinds of danger?

THEOLOGICAL OUTLINE

Amidst the visions, symbols and images, the book of Daniel makes strong theological  statements about the nature of God, the nature of Christian life, the nature of history, prayer and theological statements about the last days.

God, the God of Hebrews is a demanding God. He expects his people to remain faithful to him and his way of life for them. In the darkest moment of history and even in the midst of the most horrible threats, God is a dependable God. He will keep his promises to his people. Perseverance is necessary.

The central message of Daniel is a call for God’s people to keep on being faithful when human circumstances appear to hide all hope. Life with God does not guarantee returns. God’s people must persevere through the dark days.

In a world filled with voices and colorful allegiances, God’s people are called to follow him at all cost. The example of Daniel and his friends stands as a role model for each person to be listed among God’s people.

Faith involves risk. Just as Daniel and his friends had to act on faith, against immensely powerful opposition, so God’s people must risk even their lives to remain faithful.

History involves God’s judgement of his sinful people. God cannot complain of God being unjust when their own sins have brought God’s judgement upon them. God uses the forces of history, even arrogant moves to judge his people.

The meaning of history is not crystal clear on the surface. Events may appear to contradict theological interpretation and believes. God provides inspired speakers to interpret historical acts for his people. Only with certain inspired interpreters can God’s people understand God’s ways with his world.

History leads to God’s victory. Presences of war must not hinder God’s march of history for his people. Amidst the shadows of persecution and sacrilage, God works to accomplish his ultimate purpose. History does not naturally leads to certain victory through natural forces.  God’s activity alone, brings final victory.

Prayer keeps God’s people faithful. Only with constant communication with God can his people serve and follow the life he set out for them. Prayer is the highway to proper ethics for God’s people. Prayer brings hope in the midst of travail and threat.  When enemy surrounds God’s people, prayer is the link that gives vision and hope. Through prayer, God’s people confess their sins, and seek God’s view and directions for life. The leaders for God’s people must confess the people’s sins and intercede for them.

God has ultimate purpose for his people and his word. God knows the powers which invokes him, and knows that those powers will be defeated. Evil rulers may hold sway momentary, but God holds the ultimate key to victory. No human power or Kingdom is superior to Yahweh and his kingdom. The kingdom of God is opposed to those who approve of evil and are unfaithful to the end.

Persevering saints will see God’s victory and experience the joy of his kingdom to come. The faithful will inherit the eternal life. This book of Daniel, provide the Old Testament’s clearest teaching on ressurrection. God will reward his faithful servants with eternal life, raising the death from the grave.

MODERN DAY APPLICATION

Book of Daniel is a contagious word of encouragement through personal example. Daniel is a consistent role model. His actions are grounded in history. He was a real person who confronted real issues and dealt with many issues in the life of faith.

Daniel never re-adapted his daily dedication to God. The laws or threats of a dictator could not deter Daniel from his exalting God. Evil may prosper for a time. That time may extend beyond an individual life time.

Our call is not to have constant victory, but to have constant faith. Evil will be punished eventually.  God’s message will be unchanged, even though the medium may vary.

The book of Daniel reflect a time when prophetic utterances were unparalleled. Other times of proclamation is when they saw apocalyptic visions which have to be understand as an avenue of God’ voice.

God calls persons continually. The call of God may involve threat of tyrants, unrighteous laws, inordinate oppression and personal suffering. In all situations, God calls his people to lead and instruct his people. Our actions must be guarded by glorification of God and not glorification of selfish desires. God created the whole world. All nations are under God’s requirements. The faithful must exalt the living God constantly, and to uphold his word under all circumstances.

God is alive and at work.  Our time of suffering may dim our vision. God does not call us to explain our circumstances. He calls us to trust his and his word.

Resurrection hope is the answer to the world falling apart. Just reward and punishment does not always comes in this life. The righteous may die for their faithfulness. God will reward them through personal resurrection.

TIMELINE APPLICATION

Book of Daniel was written Circa 535 BC

Daniel wrote about events that occurred from 605 BC to about 535 BC.

DANIEL CHAPTER 7:13 – 14

¹³ I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

¹⁴ And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

This is a prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.