Pay attention to Daniel's prophecy

321 Pages·1999·1.36 MB·English

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Pay Attention to
DANIEL’S
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(cid:2)1999
WatchTowerBibleandTractSocietyofPennsylvania
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2006Printing
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NewWorldTranslationoftheHolyScriptures—WithReferences
PayAttentiontoDaniel’sProphecy!
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CONTENTS
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CHAPTER ONE
THE BOOK OF DANIEL
AND YOU
APOWERFUL king threatens to execute his wise men
becausetheyarenotabletorevealandinterprethispuz-
zlingdream.Threeyoungmenwhorefusetoworshipa
towering image are thrown into a superheated furnace,
yet they survive. In the midst of a festive celebration,
hundredsbeholdahandthatiswritingmysteriouswords
on a palace wall. Evil conspirators have an elderly man
thrown into a pit of lions, but he emerges without a
scratch.AprophetofGodseesfourbeastsinavision,and
theirsignificancestretchesmillenniumsintothefuture.
2Thesearejustsomeof theaccountsfoundintheBi-
blebookofDaniel.Dotheymeritseriousconsideration?
Whatpossiblerelevancecouldthisage-oldbookhavefor
ourday?Whyshouldwebeconcernedabouteventsthat
occurredsome2,600yearsago?
DANIEL—AN ANCIENT
BOOK FOR MODERN TIMES
3MuchofthebookofDanielfocusesonthethemeof
worldrulership, asubject that isof paramount concern
today. Almost everyone will agree that we live in dif-
ficult times. On a daily basis, news reports bombard us
withgrimremindersthat humansocietyissinkinginto
1, 2. (a) Whataresomeoftheunusualsituationspresentedinthe
BiblebookofDaniel?(b)Inourmoderntimes,whatquestionsarise
regardingthebookofDaniel?
3, 4. Whyaremanypeoplejustifiablyconcernedaboutthefuture
ofmankind?
6 PayAttentiontoDaniel’sProphecy!
aquagmireofperplexingproblems—andthisdespitere-
markableachievementsinscienceandtechnology.
4Consider this:Manhaswalkedonthemoon,butin
many places he cannot stroll on the streets of his own
planetwithoutfear.Hecanfurnishahomewithallsorts
ofmodernconveniences,buthecannotstemthetideof
brokenfamilies.Andhecanbringabouttheinformation
age,buthecannotteachpeopletolivetogetherpeaceful-
ly.HughThomas,aprofessorofhistory,oncewrote:“The
spreadofknowledgeandeducationhastaughtmankind
littleinthewayof self-controlandlessintheartof liv-
ingwithothermen.”
5In an attempt to establish a measure of order in
society,menhaveorganizedthemselvesunderawideva-
rietyofgovernments.Noneofthem,though,havebeen
exemptfromthetruthfulnessof KingSolomon’sobser-
vation: “Man has dominated man to his injury.”
(Ecclesiastes4:1;8:9)Ofcourse,somerulershavehadno-
ble ideals. Nevertheless, no king, president, or dictator
caneradicatesicknessanddeath.Nohumancanrestore
ourearthtotheParadisethatGodpurposedittobe.
6Yet, the Creator is both willing and able to do such
things.Hedoesnotneedthepermissionofhumangov-
ernments to accomplish his purpose, for to him “the
nations are as a drop from a bucket; and as the film of
dustonthescalestheyhavebeenaccounted.”(Isaiah40:
15) Yes, Jehovah is Sovereign Ruler of the universe. As
such,hehasauthorityfarabovethatofhumangovern-
ments.It is God’s Kingdom that will replace all human
rulerships, to mankind’s eternal blessing. Perhaps no-
5. Forthemostpart,whathasbeentheresultofman’srulership?
6. WhydoesJehovahnotneedthecooperationofhumanrulerships
toaccomplishhiswill?
TheBookofDanielandYou 7
where is this made clearer than in the Bible book of
Daniel.
DANIEL—GREATLY BELOVED BY GOD
7Jehovah God had great affection for Daniel, who
servedashisprophetformanyyears.Indeed,God’sangel
described Daniel as “someone very desirable.” (Dan-
iel9:23)TheoriginalHebrewtermtranslated“someone
very desirable” can mean “greatly beloved,” “highly
esteemed,” even “a favorite.” Daniel was especially pre-
ciousinGod’ssight.
8Let us briefly consider the unique circumstances
of this beloved prophet. In 618 B.C.E., Babylonian
King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. (Daniel 1:1)
Shortly thereafter, certain well-educated Jewish youths
were forcibly taken into exile in Babylon. Daniel was
amongthem.Atthetime,hewasprobablyinhisteens.
9DanielandhiscompanionsHananiah,Mishael,and
Azariah were among the Hebrews selected to receive
three years of training in “the writing and the tongue
of the Chaldeans.” (Daniel 1:3, 4) Some scholars note
that this was likely more than just a language course.
For instance, Professor C. F. Keil states: “Daniel and his
companions were to be educated in the wisdom of the
Chaldeanpriestsandlearnedmen,whichwastaughtin
theschoolsofBabylon.”SoDanielandhiscompanions
werebeingspeciallytrainedforgovernmentservice.
10What a drastic change of circumstance this was for
Danielandhisassociates!InJudahtheyhadlivedamong
7. WhowasDaniel,andhowdidJehovahviewhim?
8. HowdidDanielcometobeinBabylon?
9. WhattrainingwasgiventoDanielandhisHebrewcompanions?
10, 11. What challengesdid Danielandhis companionsface, and
whathelpdidJehovahgivethem?
8 PayAttentiontoDaniel’sProphecy!
worshipersof Jehovah.Nowtheyweresurroundedbya
peoplewhoworshiped mythological gods and goddess-
es.Nevertheless,youngDaniel,Hananiah,Mishael,and
Azariah were not intimidated. They were determined
—despitethisfaith-challengingsituation—toholdfastto
trueworship.
11Thiswouldnotbeeasy.KingNebuchadnezzarwasa
zealous devotee of Marduk, the chief deity of Babylon.
Theking’sdemandswereattimestotallyunacceptableto
aworshiperofJehovah.(Forexample, seeDaniel3:1-7.)
Yet, Daniel and his companions had Jehovah’s unfail-
ingguidance.During their three years of training, they
wereblessedbyGodwith“knowledgeandinsightinall
writingandwisdom.”Inaddition,Danielwasgiventhe
abilitytounderstandthemeaningofvisionsanddreams.
Laterwhenthekingmadeanexaminationofthesefour
youngmen,hefoundthemtobe“tentimesbetterthan
all the magic-practicing priests and the conjurers that
wereinallhisroyalrealm.”—Daniel1:17,20.
PROCLAIMING GOD’S MESSAGES
12Throughout the many years he spent in Bab-
ylon, Daniel served as God’s messenger to such men
as Kings Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. Daniel’s
assignmentwasacrucialone.JehovahhadallowedNeb-
uchadnezzar to destroy Jerusalem, using him as His
instrument. In time, Babylon too would be destroyed.
Truly,thebookofDanielmagnifiesJehovahGodasthe
Most Highand as Ruler in “the kingdom of mankind.”
—Daniel4:17.
13Daniel continued in court service some seven de-
cades, until the fall of Babylon. He lived to see many
12. WhatspecialassignmentdidDanielhave?
13, 14. WhathappenedtoDanielafterBabylon’sfall?
TheBookofDanielandYou 9
Jewsreturningtotheirhomelandin537B.C.E., though
the Bible does not statethat he accompanied them.He
wasveryactiveuntilatleastthethirdyearofthereignof
King Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire. By that
time,Danielmusthavebeencloseto100yearsofage!
14AfterthefallofBabylon,Danielputthemostsignif-
icanteventsofhislifedowninwriting.Hisdocumentis
nowaremarkablepartoftheHolyBibleandisknownas
thebookofDaniel.Butwhyshouldwepayattentionto
thisancientbook?
TWO THREADS, ONE MESSAGE
15The unique book of Daniel contains two very dif-
ferent threads—one is narrative, the other is prophetic.
BothaspectsofDaniel’sbookcanbuildourfaith.How?
Thenarrativeportions—amongthemostvividintheBi-
ble—show us that Jehovah God will bless and care for
those who keep their integrity to him. Daniel and his
threecompanionsremainedsteadfastinthefaceof life-
threateningtrials.Today,allwhowanttoremainloyalto
Jehovahwillbestrengthenedbyacloseconsiderationof
theirexample.
16The prophetic portions of Daniel build faith by
showing that Jehovah knows the course of history
centuries—evenmillenniums—inadvance.Forexample,
Daniel provides details concerning the rise and fall of
world powers from the time of ancient Babylon right
downto“thetimeof theend.”(Daniel12:4)Danieldi-
rectsourattentiontotheKingdomofGodinthehands
ofHisappointedKingandassociate“holyones,”point-
ingtoitasthegovernmentthatwillendureforever.This
15. (a) WhattwothreadsarecontainedintheBiblebookofDaniel?
(b)HowcanthenarrativeportionofDanielbenefitus?
16. WhatlessondowelearnfromthepropheticportionsofDaniel?