Daniel - Study Guides and Videos
Daniel 11 part 2
May 1, 2024 • Pastor Spencer Fusselman • Daniel 11:36–45
In this final portion of Daniel 11 (vs 36-45) the timeline shifts to the future for us, even further to the future for Daniel as we are now looking into the time of the end. We are reintroduced to the character of the coming antichrist who would set himself up against God, blaspheming Him, and have no regard for any god other than himself. When we really boil this down it starts to sound like a lot of the people we know that are lost and in need of the Savior. Revelation 13:1–8 describes him as a man who would receive power from the dragon (Satan). Ultimately we see a man who would be a willing puppet for satan. A mouthpiece for the forces of darkness. We could also see this as a man used and manipulated by satan as he would die alone and nobody would help him. This is the sad state of the problem of sin. When we don’t have regard for God, but regard ourselves as better than others and put ourselves on the throne of our lives our fate will be the same as this antichrist. We will meet our end, and nobody will help us. This is true in the physical sense as well as the spiritual. The problem of sin is that it corrupts our minds, distorts our hearts, and drives us away from God and from people. How many people do we know that are being manipulated by the forces of darkness today? How can we have compassion on them and share with them the truth of Jesus? What does it mean to regard God above all?
Daniel 10 part 2
Most Christians look forward to hearing ‘well done good and faithful servant,’, but there will be some that enter the gates of heaven without hearing a word of it. In chapter 10, Daniel is called a “man greatly beloved”. How do we aspire to ‘earn’ such a title? Our goal as believers in many ways is to hear “well done”, indicating that we were faithful servants of His Glory while on earth. Though Daniel stands apart from most biblical characters we study, this week we are digging into why he is so significant, and why God would use him to write such heavy and impactful prophecy. I believe the character of a person is one of the most important attributes we can cultivate as believers. It’s every part of who we are, and who Christ has made us to be. If one claims to be a follower of Christ, but exhibits no Christ-like behavior, can we assume he is saved? As the adage goes, “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character”. Character, then, is a result of the inner workings of our thought lives. As we meditate on scripture, it stands to reason that we should be transforming our character through the renewing of our minds. Daniel is truly a man of Christ-like character, he was a man of the word, reading and studying scripture, he was a man of prayer and a man of integrity. Over our study of Daniel thus far, what are some attributes of Daniel’s Character?
Daniel 10 part 1
The battle lines are drawn! Whether we like it or not, we have been drawn into a war that has been going on since the beginning of our perceived time. Mighty spiritual forces stand in the way of an all-powerful God. It’s a war of power beyond what we can comprehend, with an enemy fixed on taking as many souls from God as possible, but the outcome that has already been foretold. Does that mean the struggle will not come? In Daniel chapter 10 we see a struggle between the Lord and a ‘prince’ of Persia who has the power to delay the word from reaching Daniel for 21 days. This cues us to several facts regarding spiritual warfare. First and foremost, our enemy the devil is more powerful than you could possibly imagine. We don’t have the power to defeat him, only the Lord of Heaven’s Armies can. As such, we are called to stand firm in our faith and in the power of the Lord. Meaning we are not called to attack. We should not arrogantly test God by taking on ( praying against or otherwise) demonic forces and expecting God to protect us. Finally, much of scripture shows that these spiritual forces of darkness have authority in this world, and influence world governments (See Dan 10:20, Psalm 82). In this dark influence over our world governments, we can be sure that times will not simply get better. We are beginning to enter into a time when these dark forces will no longer hide behind their masks. Yet, we can have confidence in this war because we are not alone. As we raise the Shield of faith, with our brothers and sisters in Christ, (rather than against) we stand firm in God’s armor. It’s His war, His victory, and His power alone. So, what is our part in it? As Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12 and in 1 Timothy 6:12, we have a part in this fight of faith. We wrestle against these dark forces, and not our fellow man. Our faith will always be a struggle, but the victory and glory are for Christ. How does understanding that help us ‘fight’ for God’s Glory in everyday life? In Ephesians 6:12 Paul says we ‘wrestle’ (πάλη - palē: to sway; wrestling; fight, contest) against these spiritual forces. What comes to mind when you think of the term ‘Wrestle’?
Daniel 9 Part 2
March 24, 2024
When Israel first entered the promised land they were commanded to follow God. Even to the extent of letting the land rest every 7th year. Due to their disobedience, they were exiled. God had raised up Babylon to conquer them and exile them for a period of 70 years. Coincidentally, there were 70 years’ worth of sabbath rests for the land, that was due. This speaks to the intentionality, righteousness, and justice of God. Now that this period of ‘rest’ was coming to a close, it was time for reconciliation. The prophecy in this chapter shows us God’s heart for reconciliation as it gives us 6 ‘line items’, three that dealt with sin and three that dealt with righteousness. Further, it may be one of the most important prophesies as it calculated the days to the exact day Jesus would be crucified. As verse 26 shows us, "Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;”. Looking at this physically, He would be innocent in death while spiritually speaking, He did not receive the kingdom at that moment. Instead of a crown of gold to reign over the Jews, He was given a crown of thorns receiving nothing for Himself at this time. So why is God waiting so long to bring the kingdom? Because of His long-suffering, and His willingness that none should perish and His kindness is to lead us to repentance. (Romans 2:4,2nd Peter 3:9) Read Daniel 9:20-27. Why is reconciliation such a big deal in the Bible? 20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision: 24 “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. 25 “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Da 9:20–27.
Daniel Chapter 9
March 17, 2024
The time is coming close for the prophesied return from exile. As Daniel is a man of the word, he knows this, and his excitement seems to resonate through his prayers. We can see Daniel as being an example of a balanced believer—one who is equal in both scripture study and prayer. Yet, to fully understand the context of how Daniel found himself here in the first place, I would challenge you to read Jeremiah 25:7-11. Where we clearly find that God does not bless sin, and Israel had been banished from their promised land as a result of ‘not listening’ to the word of the Lord. The reason for Daniel’s hope here is found in Jeremiah 29:12-14. Daniel’s prayer here for the prophesied return of Israel seems to model the Lord’s Prayer. They both open with praise and exaltation of the Most High, acknowledging God’s holiness against our sinfulness. This theme is carried out in Daniel’s confessions of sin for himself and his people. He then petitions the Lord not on his own merit, but on the character and mercy of God. And finally, yields to God’s sovereign will. Daniel fervently prays to the Lord for this expected restoration of Israel despite it having already been foretold by the prophet Jeremiah. As the time draws near for the coming of Christ, are we praying as fervently? Read Daniel 9:1-19, How does Daniel’s prayer mirror the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6? What is the consistent heart behind Daniel’s prayer?
Daniel Chapter 8
March 3, 2024
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. - 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4. Daniel 8 is a complex chapter full of rich imagery and prophesy that speaks near events and end times events simultaneously this is the law or concept of dual reference, meaning, that some prophecy tends to speak of events that are separated by time, as though they were not, and that they have an immediate or near meaning as well as a distant one. Gabriel the angel here that explained the prophecy to Daniel said that this vision was about the end of days. However, we also see it fulfilled in striking detail throughout history. (Alexander the Great, Antiochus IV Epiphanies, the Maccabean conflict) Yet, just as we have types of Christ found in scripture, it is also true that we have many types of ‘antichrist’. In fact, 1st John 2:18 says, “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.”. We are in the last days, and as such we must guard ourselves from dissection. A characteristic of the antichrist is to oppose the truth, “and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered” (Da 8:12) “Through his cunning, He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;…” (Da 8:25) Read Daniel 8:1-27. Discuss the imagery and what sticks out to you. As 1st John shows there are in fact ‘many antichrists’ What does this mean? What is an AntiChrist?
Daniel Chapter 7
March 10, 2024
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 1 John 4:1–3. One of the biggest themes of Daniel 7 revolves around the coming antichrist, it is important to know that the spirit of the antichrist is alive and well in this world. As Paul writes in Ephesians 6 “11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Our war is waging and the influence of deception is conquering quickly. It seems that every day, the darkness gains ground, and the number of those being deceived grows. How does this arm us with compassion for the deceived and oppressed? Spiritually influenced Earthly Kingdoms of destruction will rise, fall, and eventually end at the feet of Christ. No matter how dark this world gets, there will be a righteous judgment against evil, and God’s people will receive the kingdom! Read Daniel 7. Discuss the imagery and what sticks out to you. How does this compare with Mark 13?
Daniel Chapter 6
Daniel Chapter 6 is probably one of the most famous Sunday school stories. It’s a story of courage in the face of opposition. It is noncompliance at its finest, but does this mean we ought to live our lives in defiance of the world? As we dig deeper into the story today, let’s analyze the nature of Daniel’s courageous ‘defiance’. He was humble, a great worker, vehemently disliked by other government leaders, but his results and work ethic told the real story. He had an excellent spirit in him that made him stand out above the rest of his peers. One could say he was set apart as in ‘Holy’. Since the spirit in him was Holy. Verse 10 describes the defiant prayer as his custom, or what we will call his habits of righteousness. Another key point to tune into was that his behavior here was normal. He wasn’t flippantly cursing the king and making a big show for everyone to see as he prayed to his God. He simply went about his business as usual. All though he was technically a prisoner of war, Daniel served his captors well, and became a model citizen, even earning the friendship of the pagan king Darius. As Jesus commanded, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (MK 12:17) God has appointed this government over us for His purpose and glory. We recognize God’s Sovereignty when we strive to be a good citizen, until being a good citizen makes you a bad Christian. Our Testimony depends on it! Read Daniel 6 together. What stands out most to you about Daniel’s courage?
Daniel Chapter 5
February 18, 2024 • Daniel 4
The Writing On the Wall 22 “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. 23 And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven…” - Daniel 5:22 Daniel Chapter 5 reestablishes prophecy as we shift our focus from Nebuchadnezzar to his grandson, some two decades later, with a stark warning for those who, having seen the faithfulness of God, would rebel against God. Much like our lives, Belshazzar had no excuse not to know of God as Nebuchadnezzar previously made Him known to the kingdom, “29… any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” (Da 3:29) Such a decree would have been written and passed down. Later in the next chapter, we saw a truly humbled Nebuchadnezzar exalting God The Most High. And now, just two generations later, a king, with no reverence for the living God, must be reminded of God’s Sovereignty. A society with no purpose or conquest gets complacent; complacency leads to indulgence; indulgence to indifference; indifference to irreverence; and irreverence to idolatry and destruction. Thinking highly of itself, Babylon had become complacent. With the medo-Persian empire setting the kingdom under siege, Belshazzar (the king) hosted a party to entertain and distract the nobles from their impending doom. Full of indulgence and irreverence, he defiles the things of God. Using holy items as common things to worship false gods. The Lord wrote on the wall, ‘You have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found wanting’ (paraphrase). Read Daniel 5. How does it compare with Romans 1? If you were on God’s scales, how would you measure up?
Daniel Chapter 4
Daniel 4
God is Sovereign overall! Perhaps no other book of the Bible sums up this truth with more clarity than Daniel Chapter 4. It’s an obscure writing, not from Daniel, but a confession and conversion of King Nebuchadnezzar. In it, we find the power of God to humble the proud. Time after time King Nebuchadnezzar had opportunities to see the glorious wonders of God and repent of his pride and Idol worship, (and the worship of himself) but he always just added the “most high” to the top of his stack of gods. When, yet again, earthy wisdom and sorcery alike failed to explain another dream, God, by way of Daniel, stepped in with a warning to repent. Instead, he went straight back to his pride, puffed up with his accomplishments, and the word of God was fulfilled. He was sentenced to 7 years of a ‘mindless prison’ until he recognized the sovereignty of God. Read Daniel 4. It is the mercy of God to humble the proud. How is this severe ‘punishment’ for the benefit of Nebuchadnezzar? How has God humbled you?
Daniel Chapter 3 Part 2
February 7, 2024 • Pastor Spencer Fusselman
Daniel’s friends proved that their faith was their own. In the past, Daniel led by example, but in his absence, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego held to their convictions and God’s Law. (God’s Word) We all know the story of the fiery furnace, but we may miss the fact that the command to worship the image may be a test of loyalty more than just an exercise in Nebuchadnezzar’s vanity. The kingdom was made up of people from every race and nation, and this was a way to test the allegiance of the leaders of his royal staff. An interesting note is that the furnace used may have been a furnace used to smelt precious metals such as gold and silver. It is said that a silver smith can see his reflection in the molten silver once it is purified. If God were to test your allegiance, would He see His reflection in the silver? Read Daniel 3:16-30. Discuss how God has been with you in your fires and reined you.
Daniel Chapter 3
King Nebuchadnezzar set up a 90-foot-tall Gold statue to be worshiped by his subjects just after hearing the dream interpretation that he was the gold head on a statue doomed to collapse. Also, that God’s kingdom would reign forever. I can’t help but think that this is the king’s attempt to signify that his own kingdom should reign forever or that he is the ‘whole statue’. Either way, it begs the question, What kingdom are we trying to immortalize, our own or God’s? Idol worship isn’t always about a golden calf, but it is ALWAYS about desiring something more than God or letting something get in the way of or misrepresent God. When Christians replace God with a tangible item or icon of God it is the same result. No matter how pure our intentions were we are still ‘cheating’ on God. Our study this week revealed that our intentions are irrelevant when worshiping a sovereign God. The only thing that matters is an obedient heart. Obedient even to death? Well, yes. Jesus told his followers (us) “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross [a]daily, and follow Me.” (Lk 9:23) Jesus literally commands us to put our human feelings, wants and desires to death daily in order to follow him. And Him has a lot more to do with faith than belief. The belief that there is a God is different from the faith it takes to trust him, and his plan completely in every aspect of life. Even trusting that if God would not rescue us from certain doom, he is still good and sovereign over all.
Daniel Chapter 2
January 22, 2024 • Pastor Spencer Fusselman • Daniel 2
Wisdom… Daniel 2 can be summed up in the quest for REAL wisdom! King Nebuchadnezzar was deeply disturbed by a dream he had and summoned all his sorcerers, magicians, wise men, and astrologers (Horoscope readers) to tell him the dream and what it meant, but quickly realized in all of mankind there is no true wisdom. As the Chaldeans answered in verses 10 and 11, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Needless to say, the king didn’t like this answer. Where do we turn for wisdom, life advice and counsel?
Daniel Chapter 1
January 15, 2024 • Pastor Spencer Fusselman • Daniel 1
Daniel was captured by Babylon and forced into a 3-year training and indoctrination program in an attempt to ‘brainwash’ and assimilate him into the Babylonian culture of the day. Complete with new names. These new names also represented the new identities that these men would be forced to live in. It’s no different in today’s world. The enemy wants to give you a new name, he calls you by your sin and the false gods you follow, but God knows your real name. Do you?