Introduction

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

Throughout this study in Daniel we will follow two themes. One will be the life of Daniel as he lived in Babylon and the other will be the visions which God gave to Daniel and their out-working in history through to our present day.

THERE ARE TWO BABYLONS

As we look at the life of Daniel it is first of all important to know that in the Bible, God tells us about two places named Babylon. The first is the literal place where Daniel lived. The second Babylon is found in the book of The Revelation at the end of your Bible.  This second Babylon is not just a place but a system.  It is in fact, the prophetic name given to the system under which we live today - the 1990's!

The chief instigators of both these Babylons, the literal and the system, were Cush and his son, Nimrod, along with Nim­rod's mother Semiramis, whom Nimrod married.  Cush was the son of Ham, who was the son of Noah.  In reading from the Book of Genesis, chapters ten and eleven we find another link between these two Babylons.  They were both striving for one world unity.  Today this unity is referred to as the 'New World Order'.  In The Revela­tion chapter sixteen and verse nineteen we discover that Babylon is divided into three sections.  Those three sections are, 1.  One World Religion - which many churches are trying to achieve under the banner 'ecumenicism', 2.  One World Government - this is being out-worked today through bod­ies such as the 'United Nations' and, 3.  One World Economy - this is ac­tively being brought in by the World Banks. 

Although the literal Babylon of Daniel's day was overtaken in 536 BC the Bible tells us in the Book of The Reve­lation that this Babylonish system in which we live today will be with us up until the second coming of Jesus and that Great Judgement Day.  At this time God will bring in HIS 'New World Or­der'. That's right!  The Babylonish 'New World Order' is Satan's at­tempt to counterfeit God's system.  There will be a one world govern­ment and Jesus will be at the head of it.  There will be no other gods before Him.  He will re-institute His Laws and way of Life. 

Therefore, knowing this, in studying the life of Daniel we will find the best example to follow in regard to how we should live our lives today, as Christians, in this Babylonish system.  It was God who in His Wis­dom parallelled these two Babylons for us.

HERE AND THERE

Material from every  chapter in Daniel is either quoted or alluded to in the book of  The Revelation.  Only two chapters in The Revelation are without some background in Daniel.  Daniel is a key book with a vital message.  We need to have an understanding of the Book of Daniel if we are going to have any grasp on Bible prophecy.  Seventy-five per­cent of the Bible deals with prophecy.  So without an understanding of prophecy there is a lot of God's Word which we miss.  The Book of The Revelation is an entire book of prophecy and it is almost impos­sible to understand this book without first understanding the book of Daniel.

Let's follow the visions and prophecies in the Book of Daniel step by step, verse by verse.  This story, history, (or 'HIS-story' - God's plan for the ages) begins in 606 BC and continues on beyond the second coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The prophecy in the Book of Daniel is so incredi­bly accurate that people whom we shall refer to as 'modernists' don't believe it was written in 606 BC but that, because of its accuracy, it must have been written after the events took place.  This however is not the case.  Je­sus himself verified the existence of the writings of Daniel (Matthew 24:15) and no indica­tion was given by Him to say that Daniel's book was written at any other time than when Daniel said it was written.

Modernists attempt to discredit this book by saying such things as, 'There was no such person as Daniel,' 'The stories in the book are fictitious,' 'Some one else actually wrote the book and called himself Daniel,' and that 'It was written in modern times''.  Throughout this book we will refute each of these claims and more.  God placed the Book of Daniel in the Bible as it pleased Him.  There is no reason for us to doubt His Word.  Doubt is usually due to a lack of understanding.

The book itself can be broken up into four main sections.  They are as follows:

1. Chapter 1         Narrative stories
2. Chapter 2         Prophecy
3. Chapters 3-6    Narrative stories
4. Chapters 7-12  Prophecy

The language of the Book of Daniel is Aramaic, or Chaldee, from chapter two verse four to chapter seven verse twenty-eight.  This was the commercial and diplomatic language of the time. It has been said that the writings of Daniel are among the oldest existing in the Ara­maic language.  The rest of the book is written in Hebrew.

I would like to make a suggestion now before going any further.  Before you read each chapter of this book I suggest that you read the corresponding chapter from the Book of Daniel in the Bible.  If you read chapter one from the Book of Daniel before reading chapter one from this book it will give you a better understanding of the message and principles that I am trying to bring out in this book.

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