BibleProject | One Story That Leads to Jesusਨਮੂਨਾ

Empires that depend on violence will rise and fall, but people who relate rightly with God and neighbor will live forever. So the book of Daniel suggests in its final chapters. Daniel becomes a message of hope for all who walk the way of exile.

Today’s reading covers Daniel’s third and final vision. This vision includes the same sequence of kingdoms as before: Persia, then Greece and Alexander the Great, followed by lesser kings that all lead up to the final “king of the north.”

This northern king is the same nasty ruler we heard about in yesterday’s reading, the one who defiles Jerusalem’s temple and exalts himself above God. Daniel’s final vision concludes with this arrogant king in utter ruin, his same fate as in Daniel’s other dreams. Savage empires can brandish their swords and spears, but they will all disintegrate into nothing and stay that way forever. But those bringing many into “righteousness,” or right ways of relating to God and others, will be as numerous and eternal as the stars (Dan. 12:13; see also Gen. 12:2-3).

The angel’s final words to Daniel also apply to the book’s readers: Stay the course of faithfulness until the end. Beastly Babylons bring pain and look unstoppable, but they cannot last. Nothing good is built with evil.

God creates and rules over all. We can trust him to make things right, ultimately and forever.

The book of Daniel can bring encouragement for those suffering in their own kind of exile, showing readers a picture of faithfulness to God against all odds. Even (perhaps especially) when Babylon makes it difficult and costly to do so.

Reflection Questions

• Where else have you seen a dejected Israelite exile who sees a vision of a brilliant, glowing figure while sitting on a riverbank? (Turn back to Ezekiel 1-3 for a hint.) What does this hyperlink show you about Daniel and his message?
• Take a moment to look up other hints about resurrection in the Hebrew Bible in Psalm 16:10, Isaiah 25:7-8, and Isaiah 26:19. Compare these passages and Daniel 12:2 with Paul’s discussion of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. What hopes does the Hebrew Bible raise for life after death? How are these hopes fulfilled in Jesus?