Daniel Unlocked #6

When Jesus met with two disciples after the resurrection as they made their way to Emmaus, it says He explained to them all the things in the scriptures concerning Himself and they declared “ Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”(Luke 24:13-32)

One of the most important goals of Bible study is to learn about Jesus. There is no question that Jesus is central to the Scriptures, and this includes Daniel as well. For example: Daniel was a prince of Judah, at the beginning of his ministry he was tempted by his appetite. Chapter 1 shows, that Daniel’s experience is analogous to that of Christ, who left his father’s house to live in this sinful world and confront the powers of darkness. Moreover, Daniel and his companions are endowed from above with Christ-like wisdom to face the challenges of the Babylonian culture. Chapter 2 describes the figure of the end-time stone to indicate that the kingdom of Christ will eventually replace all the kingdoms of the world. Chapter 3 reveals Christ walking with His faithful servants within a furnace of fire. Chapter 4 shows God removing Nebuchadnezzar from his kingdom for a period of time so that the king could understand that “Heaven rules” (Dan. 4:26). The expression “Heaven rules” reminds us that Christ, as “the Son of Man” (Dan. 7:13), receives the dominion and the kingdom, as depicted in Daniel 7. The gospels use this title from Daniel 7, 85 times. Chapter 5 shows the demise of King Belshazzar and the fall of Babylon to the Persians during a night of revelry and debauchery. This foreshadows the defeat of satan and the obliteration of end-time Babylon by Christ and His angels. Chapter 6 shows the plot against Daniel in ways that resemble the false accusations voiced against Jesus by the chief priests. Just as King Darius unsuccessfully tries to spare Daniel, Pilate unsuccessfully tries to spare Jesus (Matt. 27:17-24). Chapter 7 depicts Christ as the Son of man receiving the kingdom and reigning over His people. Chapter 8 shows Christ as a priest of the heavenly sanctuary. Chapter 9 portrays Christ as the sacrificial victim whose death reconfirms the covenant between God and His people. And chapters 10-12 present Christ as Michael, the commander-in-chief, who fights the forces of evil and victoriously rescues God’s people, even from the power of death. Daniel in the king’s court stands for his people. When he is exulted, all his people are exalted with him. The name Daniel means “God is my judge.”