MacArthur Bible Studies: Daniel

Top Highlights

“Daniel bridges the entire seventy years of the Babylonian captivity (605–536 b.c.; see 1:1 and 9:1–3). Nine of the twelve chapters relate revelation through dreams and visions. Daniel was God’s mouthpiece to the Gentile and Jewish world, declaring God’s current and future plans. What Revelation is to the New Testament prophetically and apocalyptically, Daniel is to the Old Testament.” (Page 1)

“By piecing together evidence from the biblical record we can conclude that Daniel likely grew up in a godly home, his parents having been impacted by the spiritual revival and cultural reforms spearheaded by King Josiah. Surely it was disheartening for this prominent Jewish family to watch as Judah’s brief repentance was snuffed out by the wicked kings Jehoahaz and then Jehoiakim.” (Page 6)

“The book begins in 605 b.c. when Babylon conquered Jerusalem and exiled Daniel, his three friends, and many others. It continues to the eventual demise of Babylonian supremacy in 539 b.c., when Medo-Persian besiegers conquered Babylon (5:30–31), and goes even beyond that to 536 b.c.” (Page 2)

“Clearly, there is a difference between holding to a belief and entering into a conviction. A conviction is, in the words of one unknown writer, ‘nothing more than a belief with its boots on … ready to march, ready to fight, ready to die.’” (Page 12)

“The king recognized the fourth person as divine; he called him a son of the gods (a common pagan phrase for supernatural beings) and an angel. This may actually have been Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate state.” (Page 32)