The Kethuvim:

Apocalyptic Literature
and
Daniel
 Apocalyptic Literature
• Apocalyptic is a Greek term meaning “a revealing.”
• Apocalypses are unveilings of things to come,
revelations of the patterns of events that will lead to
the end of the present historical epoch and the
beginning of a new age.
• Apocalyptic Literature usually surfaces from times of
seeming hopelessness
• This type of literature allows For MANY attempts at
interpretation. (Not all attempts are correct)
 Characteristics of
Apocalyptic Literature
• Visions from God given to a Person
• Reveal the end of an age & the dawn of a new age.
– Typically contrasting the CURRENT age and a NEW
– Typically contrasting GOOD (righteousness) and EVIL
– Typically viewed as contrasting HEAVEN and EARTH
• Filled with highly symbolic language
• Often speaks of life after (beyond) death
• Often mentions the agent(s) who will rule in the
new age
 Daniel
Structure and Outline
• Daniel & His Three Friends Chapters 1—6
– Introduction & Prologue Chap. 1
– Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Statue Chap. 2
– The Fiery Furnace Chap. 3
– Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree Chap. 4
– Handwriting on the Wall Chap. 5
– The Lion’s Den Chap. 6
• Daniel’s Visions Chapters 7—10
– Four Beasts & The Heavenly Court Chap. 7
– The Ram, Goat, and the Little Horn Chap. 8
– Daniel’s Prayer Chap. 9
– Message of Spiritual Conflict Chap. 10
– Coming Earthly Conflicts Chap. 11
– The Time of the End Chap. 12
 Daniel
• What Is Daniel?
Daniel begins with an introduction to Daniel and his three
friends, Shadrach, Meshachand Abednego. They were Jewish
exiles living in Babylon who rose to high positions in the king’s
court. The first six chapters describe the encounters these four
men had with various kings. In the first four chapters,
Nebuchadnezzar is king; chapter 5 takes place during
Belshazzar’s reign; chapter 6 is under Darius the Mede.
The last six chapters primarily consist of Daniel’s visions.
Chapters 7 & 8 recount visions of the rise and fall of earthly
kingdoms as well as the overall sovereignty of “the Ancient of
Days.” Chapter 9 records a lengthy prayer of Daniel. The last
three chapters present visions of spiritual conflict until the time
of the resurrection and final judgment.
 Daniel
• Who Was Daniel?
Daniel was a man of noble descent from among the
first Jewish exiles to Babylon during the reign of Jehoiakim of
Judah (609-597 B.C.). He rose to prominence, serving in the
Babylonian court and the Medo-Persian court (following the
fall of Babylon). The events in the book take place from
about 605 B.C., during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, until the
Persian king Cyrus’s third year in about 536 B.C.
 Daniel
• Why Was Daniel Written?
The first half of the book exemplifies faithful living,
while the second half contains apocalyptic visions that reveal
God’s faithfulness. Overall, the main message is that kings
and kingdoms rise and fall, but God is sovereign over all
nations. For a people living in exile, the Jews would have
been encouraged by the reassurance that God is always
ultimately in control and will have the final victory.
Modern believers hold to this same message, and the
book of Daniel encourages them to stay faithful in the
confident assurance of God’s triumph and their reward.
 Daniel
Possible Explanations as to Why
Daniel Was Placed In the Kethuvim?
1. Depending on the date of its authorship, the Prophetic
Canon may have been considered closed.
2. It does not contain traditional marks of prophecy:
– Does not explicitly condemn sinful behavior
– Does not explicitly commend keeping God’s Law
 Daniel & His Friends
• Nebuchadnezzar takes the youths of Jerusalem captive
in 605 B.C. These Included…
Jewish Names (by birth) Babylonian Names (given by ruling authorities)

– Daniel Belteshazar
– Hananiah Shadrach
– Mishael Meshach
– Azariah Abednego
• Daniel & His Friends Did Not Defile Themselves
– They ate only vegetables and water, and appeared healthier.
• God gave them knowledge and wisdom.
– Daniel could even interpret dreams and visions
– They were all placed in the king’s personal service
 Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Statue
Daniel 2
• Nebuchadnezzar has a dream and calls for his
magicians and interpreters to decipher it.
– He will not describe the dream to them
– He warns them he will kill them all if they cannot interpret
• Daniel Offers to Interpret the Dream
– The head of gold on the statue represents Nebuchadnezzar
– The other sections of the stature represent subsequent
kingdoms
– Finally God’s Kingdom will crush them all and last forever.
• At This Daniel was praised and promoted.
– And the King honored Daniel’s God
 The Fiery Furnace
Daniel 3
• Nebuchadnezzar made an image of Gold for the
people to worship
– When the music plays, the people were to worship
– Those who do not worship would be thrown into a furnace
• Shadrach, Meshech, & Abednego Refuse to Bow
– Nebuchadnezzar is outraged and demands them to account
– They answer him in Daniel 3:17
• They are thrown into the Furnace
– Three are thrown in….four are seen inside. They were saved.
• The King blessed their God publicly
 The Vision of the Tree
Daniel 4
• Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a large tree
– The tree was beautiful and perfect
– Then an angel gives orders for it to be cut down & destroyed
• Daniel Interprets the Dream
– Nebuchadnezzar will be removed because of his arrogance
– He will only be restored upon his acknowledgement of God
• Nebuchadnezzar Fulfills the Dream
– 12 months later his arrogance reaches its fulfillment
– He is driven to insanity, becoming like a beast of the field.
– After the period was over, the (former) king praises God
and is restored.
 The Writing on the Wall
Daniel 5
• Belshazzar has a Feast Honoring the gods of Gold & Silver
– He uses the Jewish artifacts seized by Nebuchadnezzar
• A Finger Appears and Writes a Message on the Wall
– The king is terrified, and Daniel is called to interpret
– This is the interpretation: “God has numbered your kingdom
and put an end to it.” “You have been weighed upon the scales
and found deficient.” “Your kingdom has been divided and
given to the Medes and Persians.”
• That Night Belshazzar was slain.
• Darius the Mede became King.
 The Lions Den Daniel 6
• Daniel was distinguished, and the others didn’t like it.
– They tried to find fault in him but could not.
• The Others Convince The King to Make a New Law
– The Law: No one can pray to any god for 30.
– The Punishment: If guilty, he will be thrown into a den of lions
• After learning of this, Daniel continued to pray
– He followed his same custom…three times daily.
• Daniel is Thrown into the Den of Lions
– The king seems convinced that Daniel will survive
– The king rises at dawn to go and see Daniel’s outcome
• Daniel is spared, The King declares Yahweh as God.
 Popular Interpretation Of Daniel’s
Vision of the Beasts
Nebuchadnezzzar’s Daniel’s Vision of The Empires
Dream of a Statue the Four Beasts Represented

Head of Gold First Beast Babylonian Empire

Breast of Silver Second Beast Medo-Persian Empire

Belly of Brass Third Beast Greek Empire

Legs of Iron Fourth Beast Roman Empire

 Key Themes and Theology in
Daniel
• Earthly Kingdoms Will Rise and Fall
• God’s Kingdom Is/ Will Be Everlasting
• God Is Faithful To Those Whose Faith Is In Him
• The Most High Always Rules
• God’s Saints Will One day Inherit An
Indestructible Kingdom