The Story of Daniel the Prophet

CHAPTER I

DANIEL AND HIS FOLLOWERS TESTED

Although Daniel lived twenty-five hundred years ago, he is a latter-day prophet. His character should be studied, for its development reveals the secret of God’s preparation of those who will welcome Christ at his appearing. His prophecies should be understood, for in them is the key which unlocks history to the end of time. The Saviour himself bore witness to this. When the disciples asked, “What shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?” he said, “When ye see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet ...whoso readeth, let him understand.” In this we have the divine permission to read and understand the prophecies of Daniel. These prophecies are intended, therefore, to warn a people of the coming of Christ. SDP 13.1

True, it was once a sealed book, for the prophet was told to shut up the words, and seal the book “to the time of the end,” “for at ^Margin the time of the end shall be the vision.” And again, “The words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” But the time of the end has come. It began in 1798, and though “none of the wicked shall understand,” yet “the wise shall understand.” With the book of Daniel in hand, and a heart open to hear the voice of God, man may come in touch with the Father of light. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith.” SDP 13.2

Daniel begins the book with the simple statement that in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, 607 B. C., Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came unto Jerusalem and besieged it; that in the siege, Jehoiakim was given by the Lord into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, but allowed to remain on the throne in Jerusalem, yet Nebuchadnezzar carried with him to Babylon, as tribute, a part of the vessels of the house of God, and, as hostages, some of the members of the royal household. SDP 14.1

This act, with similar ones which followed in swift succession, was but the culmination of events which began years before. In order to appreciate this climax, it is essential that we study the causes which led to it. Since the captivity of Judah is an object lesson to people of the last generation, it is doubly necessary that we trace the relationship between certain causes and results. SDP 14.2