Daniel for the Rest of Us (3.1-30, Part 1)

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther went public with his 95 Theses, his points of contention with the theological and social abuses of the Roman Catholic Church.  The Church was a bloated political juggernaut exploiting the poor the sake of building the pope’s kingdom. Luther did not waste time or mince words.  The Church was wrong on papal authority, wrong on conciliar authority, wrong on the Mass, wrong on indulgences, […]

Daniel for the Rest of Us (2.1-49, Part 2)

In Part 6, we got a handle on the text of Daniel 2.  What then are we to make of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? Who are these kingdoms? You may have a Bible whose editors provide headings for each kingdom but we should first make some preliminary big picture observations (remember the box top!). 1.  Nebuchadnezzar’s dream represents the general flow of history from Babylong to the onset of the Messianic kingdom.  […]

Daniel for the Rest of Us (1.3-21, Part 2)

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16.33). In Part 4, we examined the text of Daniel 1.  There are some important propositions we should consider in light of the passage.  You may want to review Part 3 to refresh the biblical-theological theme of “Babylon.” In Babylon, […]

Daniel for the Rest of Us (1.1-2, Part 2)

In Part 2, we introduced the first two verses of Daniel.  They have important implications for interpreting the book as a whole.  They establish the big picture, not only for Daniel but all of biblical theology. You don’t start a jigsaw puzzle by carefully analyzing each piece.  You first examine the box top, getting familiar with the colors and sense of the landscape or picture.  Then when you do look […]

Daniel for the Rest of Us (Introduction)

The book of Daniel is many things to many people.  For children it’s a wild story about superheroes in fiery furnaces and lions’ dens.  For eschatomaniacs and their biblical cartographers it’s a brilliant algorithmic masterpiece predicting the end of the world.  We’re either to be like Daniel in face of our own “lions” (courageous, prayerful, faithful, etc.).  Or, we are to look to the East for our imminent rapture.  We […]