Notes & Outlines

DANIEL

Dr. J. Vernon McGee

 DANIEL

BACKGROUND: The Book of Daniel has been the battlefield

between conservative and liberal scholars for years. The heat of bat-
tle is now past — with each side claiming a major victory. However,
the very fact that the Book of Daniel remains intact in Scripture and
that the early dating of this book (the 6th century B.C.) has been
maintained successfully by conservative scholars against the massed
onslaught of arrogant liberalism, is in itself a valid argument for the
original and conservative position.
Porphyry, a heretic in the 3rd century A.D., declared that the Book
of Daniel was a forgery, written during the time of Antiochus
Epiphanes and the Maccabees (170 B.C.) — almost 400 years after
Daniel had lived. The German critics seized upon this hypothesis
and, along with Dr. S. R. Driver, developed it. These critics, as well
as present-day unbelievers, assume the premise that the supernatural
does not exist, hence there can be no foretelling since foreknowl-
edge is supernatural.
However, the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament
written prior to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, contains the Book
of Daniel! Also, Josephus records an incident during the time of
Alexander the Great which supports the early authorship. When
Alexander’s invasion reached the Near East, Jaddua, the high priest,
went out to meet him and showed to him a copy of the Book of
Daniel in which he was clearly mentioned. Alexander was so
impressed by this that instead of destroying Jerusalem, he entered
the city peaceably and worshiped at the temple.
It is not in the purview of these brief notes to enter into useless
argument and fight again about that which has been already won.
We accept the findings of conservative scholarship — that the man
Daniel was not a deceiver and that his book was not a forgery. We
feel that the statement of Edward B. Pusey is apropos here: “The
rest which has been said is mostly mere insolent assumptions
against Scripture, grounded on unbelief.” Sir Isaac Newton
declared, “To reject Daniel is to reject the Christian religion.”
Our Lord called the Pharisees “hypocrites,” but He called Daniel
“the prophet.” He has never reversed this arrangement, and the
endorsement of the Lord Jesus Christ is valid and sufficient for
every believer whether or not he has examined the arguments of the
critics. It satisfies the sincere saint without his having studied the
answers of conservative scholarship (see Hebrews 11:33).

WRITER: We know more of Daniel the man than we do of any

other prophet. He gave us a personal account of his life from the
time he was carried captive to Babylon in the third year of the reign
of Jehoiakim, which was about 606 B.C. (Daniel 1:1), until the first
year of King Cyrus, which was about 536 B.C. (Daniel 1:21 and also
9:2). Daniel’s life and ministry bridged the entire 70 years of captiv-
ity. At the beginning of the book he is a boy in his teens, and at the
end he is an old man of fourscore or more years.
Here is God’s estimate of the man: “O Daniel, a man greatly
beloved” (Daniel 10:11).
There are three words that characterize Daniel’s life: purpose,
prayer, and prophecy.
(1) Daniel was a man of purpose (Daniel 1:8; 6:10). He deter-
mined that he would not be defiled by the immorality of paganism
or be involved in the degradation of idolatry. This is the practical
teaching of prophecy.
The study of prophecy should not lead to fanaticism or sensation-
alism. Rather, it should lead to a life of holiness and fear of the
Lord.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself even as he is pure. (1 John 3:3)
(2) Daniel was a man of prayer (Daniel 2:17-23; 6:10; 9:3-19;
10). His total life and his every decision in a pagan court were
paved by prayer.
The study of prophecy should not be engaged in for the satisfac-
tion of curiosity or to be grist for polemic argumentation. Instead, it
should inspire us to spiritual living and an earnest study of the Word
of God.
(3) Daniel was a man of prophecy. The bulk of his book relates
to prophetic themes. Our Lord labeled him, “Daniel the prophet”
(Matthew 24:15).
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is
of any private interpretation. (2 Peter 1:20)
 Daniel gave us the skeleton of prophecy on which all prophecy is
placed. The image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (chapter 2) and the
beasts (chapter 7) are the backbone of prophecy; the seventy weeks
(chapter 9) are the ribs which fit into their proper place.
The study of prophecy should not lead to idle speculation or wild
theories. On the contrary, it produces a practical, profitable, plenary,
and purposeful life.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is prof-

itable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may
be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2
Timothy 3:16, 17)

DATE: As previously indicated, we hold to the early date of the

Book of Daniel — between the third year of the reign of
Nebuchadnezzar, about 606 B.C. and the first year of Cyrus, about
536 B.C.

HIS MESSAGE: Daniel was the prophet of “the times of the

Gentiles” (see Luke 21:24). The major portion of his prophecies
were directly concerned with the gentile nations. The notable excep-
tion is Daniel 9, which concerns the seventy weeks, but here the
emphasis is upon the interval after the cutting off of the Messiah
between the 69th week and the 70th week. It is during this period
that the city and sanctuary are destroyed, and “the times of the
Gentiles” are identified as the time when “Jerusalem shall be trod-
den down of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). Evidently, the “wise men
from the east” knew the prophecy of Daniel. A portion of the Book
of Daniel was written in Aramaic, the language of the Gentiles of
that day. All this does not imply that the Book of Daniel was not
written for the nation Israel; on the contrary, Israel was acquainted
with the prophecies of Daniel in his day. Ezekiel, who was with the
captives, made reference to the character of Daniel and to his office
as a prophet (Ezekiel 14:14, 20; 28:3). By the way, this reference to
Daniel by Ezekiel, who was Daniel’s contemporary, is conclusive
evidence against the theory that this book belongs to the Maccabean
period.
THEME:
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven
set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and
the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it
shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms,
and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:44)

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan gave this theme: “Persistent Government

of God in the Government of the World.” This is the book of the uni-
versal sovereignty of God. Prophecy is interwoven with history to
show that God is overruling the idolatry, blasphemy, self-will, and
intolerance of the Gentiles.

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the

book, even to the time of the end; many shall run to
and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel
12:4)

More specifically, Daniel 12:4 brings together “the times of the

Gentiles” and “the time of the end” for the nation Israel in the Great
Tribulation. This coming crisis eventuates in Christ setting up the
Millennial Kingdom.
Daniel dealt with political issues apart from ecclesiastical mat-
ters. His book gives the final outcome of events and issues that are
at work in the world today and answers the question, “Who will
rule the world?” — not “How will the world be converted?”
Our Lord, in the Olivet Discourse, quoted only from the Book of
Daniel. The Book of Revelation is largely an enigma without the
Book of Daniel. Paul’s revelation concerning “the man of sin”
needs Daniel’s account for amplification and clarification.

OUTLINE:

I. The historic night with prophetic light, Chapters 1 — 6

A. Decline of Judah; fall of Jerusalem; Daniel taken captive
to Babylon; his decision to be true to God, Chapter 1
B. Dream of Nebuchadnezzar about a multimetallic image;
interpretation by Daniel concerning the four kingdoms of
“the times of the Gentiles,” Chapter 2
 C. Decree of Nebuchadnezzar to enforce universal idolatry;
three Hebrews cast into the furnace for refusal to bow to
image of gold, Chapter 3
D. Dream of Nebuchadnezzar about a great tree hewn down
to a stump; fulfilled in subsequent period of madness of
the king, Chapter 4
E. Downfall of Babylon foretold by Daniel as he read the
handwriting on the wall at the feast of Belshazzar,
Chapter 5
F. Decree of Darius, the Median, to enforce worship of
himself; Daniel cast into den of lions for praying to the
God of heaven, Chapter 6

II. The prophetic light in the historic night, Chapters 7 — 12

A. Daniel’s vision of four beasts concerning four kingdoms
of “the times of the Gentiles,” Chapter 7
B. Daniel’s vision of ram and he goat and another little
horn, Chapter 8
C. Daniel’s vision of seventy weeks concerning the nation
Israel, Chapter 9
D. Daniel’s vision relating to Israel in immediate future and
latter days; historical little horn and little horn of the
latter days, Chapters 10 — 12
1. Preparation for vision by prayer of Daniel; ap-
pearance of a heavenly messenger, Chapter 10
2. Prophecy concerning Persia and Grecia, histori-
cal “little horn”; eschatological “little horn,”
Chapter 11
3. Preview of Israel in latter days; Great Tribula-
tion; resurrections; rewards; final word about
the end times, Chapter 12

The Old Testament is written in the Hebrew language, with

but one exception — a portion of the Book of Daniel. From chapter
2, verse 4, through chapter 7, Daniel is in Aramaic, the Gentile and
diplomatic language of Daniel’s day. This section deals exclusively
with “the times of the Gentiles.” The remainder of the book corre-
lates the nation Israel with this program. The Book of Daniel deals
with Gentiles and Jews — the church is totally excluded. This book
is first to the Gentiles but also to the Jews.

COMMENT:

Chapter 1 — Daniel was given a heathen name, but he refused to

adopt heathen customs. He lived during the entire period of the seven-
ty years of Babylonian captivity (compare vv. 1, 2 with v. 21). He
bridged the gap of the entire period. He was God’s prophet in a pagan
court. Part of the Book of Daniel is written in Aramaic (2:4 to 7:28).
The Book of Daniel probably should be divided at three God-given
breaks:

1. Personal history of Daniel, Chapters 1:1 — 2:3

2. Prophetic history of Daniel relating to gentile nations,
Chapters 2:4 — 7:28
3. Prophecies relating to the nation Israel, Chapters 8:1 —
12:13

Chapters 2 and 7 — These two chapters cover the same chronologi-

cal period, “the times of the Gentiles,” and the identical subjects —
the four nations which are the only world powers during this period.
These are identified as Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

Image Beasts Nations

(Chapter 2) (Chapter 7) Designated
Head of gold Lion Babylon
Arms of silver Bear Media-Persia
Sides of brass Panther Greece
(Leopard) (Graeco-Macedonian)
Legs of iron and Composite beast Rome
feet of iron and clay

More attention is given to the last metal and the last beast than all
the others put together. It is still of chief concern in our day.
The first three metals and beasts are historical. They have been
poured into the mold of the deep freeze of history. The Roman
Empire is to continue until the time it is destroyed by the stone cut
out without hands (2:34).
 There is no fifth beast. Nothing follows Rome. Rome is in exis-
tence in the present day. It did not die or disappear. Rome, like
Humpty Dumpty, had a great fall. All the king’s horses and king’s
men could not put it back together again. All it needs is a leader
capable of bringing together all of its divergent parts. There is com-
ing a little horn, the man of sin, Satan’s masterpiece, who will
accomplish this Herculean task.

Chapter 3 — The excessive pride of Nebuchadnezzar is discovered

here, which was one of the symptoms of his insanity. The three
Hebrew children refused to worship the image in keeping with the
1st and 2nd commandments:

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt

not make unto thee any carved image, or any likeness
of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the
earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve
them; for I, the LORD thy God, am a jealous God, visit-
ing the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto
the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love
me, and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:3-6)

This image is evidently a picture of the abomination of desolation

which will appear in the midst of the Great Tribulation Period.

When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desola-

tion, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy
place (whosoever readeth, let him understand). (Matthew
24:15)

Note the emphasis on worldly music accompanying the worship

(Daniel 3:15), which appeals to the natural man. The deliverance of
the children of Israel from the fiery furnace is a picture of God’s
deliverance of Israel in the Great Tribulation Period.

Chapter 4 — The insanity of Nebuchadnezzar was evidently what

modern psychology labels hysteria. This runs in cycles. This chapter
reveals the character of gentile rulership of this world (v. 17).

Chapter 5 — The banquet of Belshazzar is a foregleam of the man-

ner in which the times of the Gentiles will end. They go out in a
blaze of human glory. Daniel’s interpretation of the handwriting on
the wall is God’s estimation of the entire period of the Gentiles and
their final judgment (Matthew 25:31-46).

Chapter 6 — Daniel cast in the den of lions and his subsequent

deliverance and exaltation is another premier of God’s preservation
of the remnant during the Great Tribulation when they shall be
hated by all nations (Matthew 24:9) and persecuted by the devil
who will seek to destroy them (Revelation 12:13-17). But they will
be miraculously preserved by God (Revelation 7:4-8).

Chapter 7 — Daniel’s vision of four beasts concerning four king-

doms of the “times of the Gentiles” (see Chapter 2).
Chapter 8 — This prophecy of the ram with two unmatched horns
and the he-goat with one horn places a microscope down on the
conflict between the 2nd and 3rd world empires in the struggle of
East and West, Orient and Occident, Asia and Europe. This struggle
had tremendous repercussions in the nation Israel, and there is given
here a “little horn” which was fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes (170
B.C.), the great persecutor of the Jews, called “the Nero of Jewish
history.” He slaughtered Israelites like animals and offered a sow on
the altar in the temple and poured the broth on the holy places. He
is known as “the great profaner.”
Chapter 9 — The 70-year captivity predicted by Jeremiah
(Jeremiah 25:11-12) was coming to an end (from 606 B.C. to the
Decree of Cyrus in 536 B.C. — Ezra 1:1-4). Daniel was moved to
prayer. Consider carefully his prayer, as it is one of the greatest in
the Old Testament. It was revealed to Daniel that the kingdom of
heaven would not be set up at the end of the 70 years but that 70
weeks more were to pass in respect to the nation Israel (v. 24). The
70 weeks are weeks of years.
 1 week = 7 years
70 weeks = 490 years
70 weeks divided into 3 periods:
7 weeks — 62 weeks — 1 week
(See chart on opposite page)
Things accomplished in 70 weeks (v. 24):
1. “To finish the transgression” of Israel.
2. “To make an end of sins,” Ezekiel 37:23, Zechariah
12:10 —13:1.
3. “To make reconciliation for iniquity.”
4. “To bring in everlasting righteousness,” Jeremiah 33:14-
16, 31:31-34, Isaiah 1:26.
5. “Seal up the vision and prophecy.” Vindicate the truth of
this vision.
6. “To anoint the Most Holy” in the millennial temple,
Ezekiel 40 — 48, Acts 15:16.
Chapters 10 — 12 — These three chapters constitute one vision.
Some Bible scholars count this last vision as the most important in
the Book of Daniel. This section is remarkable from several view-
points.
Chapter 10 — The seriousness and sincerity of Daniel is obvious
here. For three weeks he observed a time of fasting. Fasting is not a
rule for believers today, but it has its merits and rewards for those
willing to pay the price.
The delay in the answer to Daniel’s prayer was caused by a
satanic hindrance. The angel sent to answer his prayer was blocked
by one of Satan’s emissaries of higher rank and greater power
labeled “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” (v. 13). The angel had
to go for reinforcements. Michael, the archangel, came to remove
the blockade. This reveals the spiritual warfare in which we all are
engaged (see Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). There are
different ranks of both good and bad angels.
Daniel needed to be strengthened by his contact with the super-
natural.
 THE 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL 9

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(v. 25) (v. 26)

7 weeks = 49 years 62 weeks = 434 years (70th week = 7 years)
20th year of Malachi “Prince that shall come” (v. 26)
CHURCH
Artaxerxes (End of O.T.)
Antichrist breaks covenant

Entry
(Nehemiah 2:1-8) (Jerusalem
2

in midst of week

Triumphal
,5 8

restored)
5:51 13-1

Daniel 7:25

Pentecost
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Revelation 12:6, 14
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HISTORI CAL
69 weeks have run their course ESC
HATOLOGICAL
(See Sir Robert Anderson’s The Coming Prince: The Last Great Monarch of Christendom)
FUTURE
Chapter 11 — This chapter is a prophetic preview of the period
between the Testaments. This gives an accurate account of the warfare
between two divisions of the Grecian Empire — Syria and Egypt. The
“vile person” (little horn) of v. 21 is Antiochus Epiphanes of the
Syrian kingdom, the eschatological section (future) begins at v. 36 —
this little horn appears in the latter days and is the little horn of Daniel
7 (the Antichrist), see Gaebelein’s The Prophet Daniel.

Chapter 12

v. 1 — This is a prophecy concerning the Great Tribulation to

which the Lord referred in Matthew 24:21, 22:

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not

since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor
ever shall be. And except those days should be short-
ened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s
sake those days shall be shortened.

v. 2 — The resurrections referred to here are of the people of the

Old Testament. Those “to everlasting life” evidently are the Old
Testament saints who are raised at the end of the Great Tribulation
in order to participate in the Millennium. The lost are raised at the
Great White Throne. The Old Testament saints are not raised with
the church, as they were not baptized with the Holy Spirit and are
not in the body of believers (1 Corinthians 12:13).

v. 4 — These are signs that are in our day.

vv. 5-9 — The period designated “the time of the end” is not the
end of time but refers to the Great Tribulation. Many of the features
of this book will not be unfolded until then.

v. 11 — Evidently this is what our Lord had reference to in

Matthew 24:15, and the number of days here and in v. 13 project
time beyond the actual Tribulation Period when adjustments will
have to be made which will usher in the millennial day — then
“shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings”
(Malachi 4:2).
NOTES:
NOTES:
RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
Anderson, Sir Robert. The Coming Prince: The Last Great Mon-
arch of Christendom. London, England: Hodder and
Stoughton, 1881.
Campbell, Donald K. Daniel: Decoder of Dreams. Wheaton,
Illinois: Victor Books, 1977.
Criswell, W. A. Expository Sermons on the Book of Daniel. Grand
Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1968.
DeHaan, M. R. Daniel the Prophet. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1947.
Feinberg, Charles L. Daniel: The Man and His Visions. Chappaqua,
New York: Christian Herald Books, 1981.
Gaebelein, Arno C. The Prophet Daniel. Neptune, New Jersey:
Loizeaux Brothers, 1911.
Ironside, H. A. Lectures on Daniel the Prophet. Neptune, New
Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers, 1911.
(Especially good for young Christians.)
Kelly, William. Lectures on the Book of Daniel. Addison, Illinois:
Bible Truth Publishers, 1881.
Larkin, Clarence. The Book of Daniel. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
The Larkin Estate, 1929. (Very helpful charts.)
Luck, G. Coleman. Daniel. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1958.
(Fine, inexpensive survey.)
McClain, Alva J. Daniel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. Winona
Lake, Indiana: Brethren Missionary Herald Co., 1940.
McGee, J. Vernon. Edited Messages on Daniel. Nashville,
Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991.
Strauss, Lehman. The Prophecies of Daniel. Neptune, New Jersey:
Loizeaux Brothers, 1969. (Very practical.)
Walvoord, John F. Daniel, The Key to Prophetic Revelation.
Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1971.
(Excellent, comprehensive interpretation.)
Wood, Leon J. Daniel: A Study Guide Commentary. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975.
(Excellent for individual and group study.)
 SAMPLE SUMMARY FOR EACH CHAPTER
(for your personal study)

1. Theme of chapter —

2. Most important verse —

3. Most prominent word —

4. Teaching about Christ —

5. Command to obey —

6. Promise to claim —

7. New truth learned —

These notes, prepared by J. Vernon McGee, are for the purpose of giving
assistance to the listeners of the THRU THE BIBLE RADIO program.
They are to be used with the Bible and will be more meaningful as you
look up all the Scripture references. Due to the necessary brevity of both
notes and broadcasts, a list of recommended books is included for those
wanting a more detailed study. These books may be obtained from a
Christian library or bookstore or ordered from the publishers.

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