Ezekiel & Daniel slides for Foundations Bible School (copyright Don Palmer).

1. Session #8.
Encountering the
Prophetic Books (Part 2)
Covering the books of
Daniel & Ezekiel

2. The Torah (5 books of the Law)
The Prophets
Former: Joshua, Judges, Samuel & Kings
Latter: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel & The Twelve
The Writings
Major: Job, Psalms, Proverbs
The Five Scrolls: Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations,
Ecclesiastes & Esther

3. 1 2 3
Fall of Samaria & 1st Return from
Assyrian captivity captivity: 538BC
ISRAEL 722BC
Jonah? Amos Hosea
Temple rebuilt
Fall of Jerusalem & 516 BC
Babylonian captivity
586BC Zechariah Malachi
JUDAH Haggai
Joel? Isaiah Nahum
Micah Zephaniah Ezra 458 BC
Habakkuk Daniel Nehemiah 444 BC
Obadiah Jeremiah Ezekiel
Before the exile During exile After the exile

4. Context: Josiah’s reforms. Ezekiel born/ Daniel later.
 Jehoiakim warned by Jeremiah yet rebelled against
Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24; Jer. 36-39)
605 BCE 1st invasion (Nebuchadnezzar overcomes
Jehoiakim, carries off hostages, inc. Daniel)
 Surrender of Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24; 2 Chron. 36)
597 BCE 2nd invasion (Ezekiel & 10,000 taken captive)
 Rebellion of Zedekiah (2 Kings 24; 2 Chron.36; Jer. 39)
586 BCE 3rd & final invasion. Destroys city & temple.
 Jeremiah = older prophet, ministering from Jerusalem
 Daniel/ Ezekiel = younger prophets who ministered at the
king’s court & among the exiles in Babylon

6. Historical section (1-6) Prophetic section (7-12)
Captivity of Daniel 1st yr of Belshazzar (7)
& the young nobles (1)
3rd yr of Belshazzar (8)
Conversion of
Nebuchadnezzar (2-4) 1st yr of Darius/ Cyrus (9)
Judgment of Belshazzar (5) 3rd yr of Cyrus (10-12)
Witness to Darius (6)

7. Ch. 1 3rd year of Jehoiakim (605)
Ch. 2 2nd year of Nebuchadnezzar
Chs. 3-4 ? years of Nebuchadnezzar
Ch. 7 1st year of Belshazzar/ Nabonidus
Ch. 8 3rd year of Belshazzar
Ch. 5 Final year of Belshazzar/
1st year of Cyrus
Ch. 9 1st year of Darius/ Cyrus (539)
Ch. 6 1st year of Darius/ Cyrus (Lions den)
Chs. 10-12 3rd year of Cyrus

8. Nebuchadnezzar (chaps. 2 - 4)
receives dreams during 2nd yr. & later is converted
Belshazzar (chap. 5)
receives vision during last night of his reign/ first yr.
of Darius/ Daniel receives visions during 1st & 3rd yrs
Darius (chap. 6)
Daniel receives vision of 70 “weeks” during first yr.
of his reign (& is soon after thrown into Lion’s den)

9.  Chapter 1.
1. The strange surroundings
2. Courage & faithfulness
3. The remarkable result
“To these four young men God gave know-ledge and
understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.
And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of
all kinds.” (1:17)

10. His dream of the statue (ch. 2)
Daniel replied, “…there is a God in heaven who reveals
mysteries (v.28)…The God of heaven has given you
dominion and power and might and glory.” (v.37)
“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set
up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it
be left to another people. It will crush all those
kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself
endure forever.” (v.44)
The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of
gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of
mysteries.”

11. His construction of the image of gold (ch.3)
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold – “you must
fall down and worship the image of gold that King
Nebuchadnezzar has set up.” (vv. 1,5)
“Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
(v.15)
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we
serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us
from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want
you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or
worship the image of gold you have set up.” (vv. 17-18)

12. He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire,
unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son
of the gods.” (v. 25)
Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his
angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him
and defied the king's command and were willing to give
up their lives rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God. Therefore I decree that the
people of any nation or language who say anything
against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles
of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” (vv.
28-29)

13. His dream of the tree (ch. 4)
“It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs
and wonders that the Most High God has performed
for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his
wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his
dominion endures from generation to generation.”
(vv. 2-3)
“…the spirit of the holy gods is in him.” (vv. 8, 9, 18)
“I saw …a messenger, a holy one, coming down from
heaven.” (v. 13)

14. “Seven times (years) will pass by for you until you
acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the
kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes
…Acknowledge that Heaven rules… Renounce your
sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by
being kind to the oppressed.”
Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof
of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the
great Babylon I have built…by my mighty power and for
the glory of my majesty?” (vv. 29-30)
“Your royal authority has been taken from you…until you
acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the
kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he
wishes.” (v. 32)

15. “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my
eyes toward heaven…Then I praised the Most High; I
honored and glorified him who lives forever. His
dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures
from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He
does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the
peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: ‘What have you done?’
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the
King of heaven, because everything he does is right and
all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is
able to humble.” (vv. 34-37)

16. The impious feast (ch.5: 1-4)
The hand of God (vv. 5-16)
The prophetic interpretation (vv. 17-28)
Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin
numbered, numbered, weighed, divided

17. Daniel’s influence (ch. 6: 2-3)
Daniel’s integrity (vv. 4-5)
Daniel’s intercession (v. 10)
Daniel’s intrepidity/ courage (vv. 13-23)

18. 2 7 8
“Head of gold” Lion/ eagle BABYLON(2:38)
Chest/ Bear Ram MEDO-
arms of silver” (with 2 horns) PERSIA (8:20)
“Belly/
thighs of bronze” Leopard Goat GREECE (8:21)
(with 4 horns)
“Legs of iron/ Indescribable (ROME)
Feet & toes of beast
iron & clay” (with 10 horns)

19. Daniel’s discovery: Jer. 29:10-15
Daniel’s prayer: Who God is
What they had done
What had resulted
What they needed God to do
Yahweh’s response: The messenger
The message

20. “we have sinned & done
wrong” (chattah & awon)
“We have not
“ we have acted wickedly/
are guilty” (rasha)
listened to
your servants
“we have rebelled/ revolted”
(marad)
the prophets”
“we have turned away/
departed from your
commands & laws” (sur)

21. Seventy 'sevens' (490 years) are decreed for your people
and your holy city:
1. …to finish transgression (pesha),
2. …to put an end to sin (chattah),
3. …to atone for wickedness (awon),
4. …to bring in everlasting righteousness,
5. …to seal up vision and prophecy,
6. and to anoint the most holy (place).

22. “From the issuing of the decree”
(458 BC. 2nd decree. Ezra the Scribe)
“to restore & rebuild Jerusalem”
“after 7 & 62 sevens, the Anointed One will come”
(458 – 483 years = 26CE beginning of Jesus’ ministry)
“7 sevens” = 49 years – 50th = Jubilee (Lev. 25, 27)
“62 sevens” = 434 years
(69 sevens = 483 years)
“1 seven” = 7 years (or 2 x 31/2 years)

23.  Daniel 10: “The great war”
Who did he really see?
1. His appearance
2. His words
3. His actions
What was really going on?
1. Michael (angel/ “chief prince” – v.13; cf. 12:1)
2. Prince of Persia (v. 13)
3. Prince of Greece (v. 20)

25. A very confusing book
An oft disputed book
A much needed book
For what it reveals about God
For what it reveals about us
For what it promises (hope & a new age)
For sheer entertainment value!
“Like a precious pearl, it must be prized from the
encasing shell.” (Peter Craigie)

26. “He was a cataleptic (muscular seizures),
a neurotic, a victim of hysteria,
a psychopath, a paranoid schizophrenic,
who was endowed with powers of
clairvoyance and levitation.”
(DMG Stalker)

27. He was born into a priestly family (623 BCE)
He was taken captive into Babylon (597) 2 Kings 24:14
He was called to be a prophet after 5 years (592),
& he served (in exile) for about 22 years (571).
He saw & spoke of the holiness of God
the sinfulness of all people
the reason for judgement
the mercy/forgiveness of God

28.  Ezekiel = “God strengthens”
 He was a perfect combination of:
1. The hammer of judgment (1-32)
“God will destroy”
2. The soothing oil of forgiveness (33-48)
“God will rebuild”
 Tomb of Ezekiel (al-Kifl, Iraq).

29. Called into ministry at 30 (1:1)
Training for priesthood began in 20 th (1 Chr. 23:24)
and 25th (Numb. 8:24) years
Entered priesthood age 30 (Numb. 4:3; 1 Chr. 23:3)
30 = the age of maturity & responsibility
Jesus’ baptism, descent of the Spirit &
commencement of his ministry @ 30
“The Glory of God” (1:1, 28; 3:12, 23; 8:4; 9:3; 10:4,
18-19; 11:22-23; 43:1-5; 44:4)

30. Ezekiel’s call & commission Chs. 1-3
Prophetic theme: Judgment on Israel Chs 4-24
…ends with Jerusalem besieged & his wife’s death
(24:2,18)
Prophetic theme: Judgment on foreign nations Chs.
…Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Egypt 25-32
Prophetic theme: Restoration of Israel Chs. 33-48

31. 1. 1:1-2 1. Call of prophet 593
2. 8:1 2. Vision of Jerusalem 592
3. 20:1 3. Deputation of elders 591
4. 24:1 4. Beginning of siege 588
5. 26:1 5. Message against Tyre 586
6. 29:1 6. Message against Egypt 587
7. 29:17 7. Destruction of Egypt 571
8. 30:20 8. Pharaoh's “broken arm” 587
9. 31:1 9. Message against Pharaoh 587
10. 32:1, 17 10. Lament over Pharaoh 585
11. 33:21 11. “The city has fallen” 586
12. 40:1 12. “New Jerusalem” 573

32. Ponderous & repetitive
Symbolic & apocalyptic (ie. Revelation)
He preached sermons, he saw visions, he
expounded allegories & he enacted parables.
Priestly (holiness, defilement & worship)
Prophetic (judgement & salvation)
Pastoral (mercy & forgiveness for people)
“Then you will know that I am the LORD” (x50)

33.  Both take a lone stand for truth
 Both lament the destruction of Jerusalem & temple
 Both look forward to a length exile
 Both insist the future lies with the exiles
 Both are critical of bad shepherds
 Both encounter a rejection of their message
 Both encounter suffering, pain & extreme circumstances
 Both emphasize individual responsibility, retribution &
repentance (18:4, 20)
 Both pronounce judgment on surrounding nations
 Both reject fatalism (there is hope)
 Both point to a “new covenant” (& a “new heart”)
 Both look forward to messianic figure, like David

34. The word of the LORD came to me: 13 "Son of man, if a country sins
against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut
off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their
animals, 14 even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it,
they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the
Sovereign LORD.
15 "Or if I send wild beasts through that country and they leave it childless
and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it because of
the beasts, 16 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if
these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or
daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.
17 "Or if I bring a sword against that country and say, 'Let the sword pass
throughout the land,' and I kill its men and their animals, 18 as surely as I
live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if these three men were in it,
they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be
saved.
19 "Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath upon it
through bloodshed, killing its men and their animals, 20 as surely as I
live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were
in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only
themselves by their righteousness. (14:12-20)

35. "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so
hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.“ (3:17)
The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, speak to your
countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and
the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their
watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows
the trumpet to warn the people, 4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but
does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood
will be on his own head. 5 Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but
did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken
warning, he would have saved himself. 6 But if the watchman sees the
sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the
sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken
away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his
blood.‘
7 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so
hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to
the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out
to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I
will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked
man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin,
but you will have saved yourself. (33:1-7)

36. Dramatic acts/ visions
Lie on side 390 days; bound with ropes; eat defiled food,
over dung, shaves off hair & weighs it; wife dies/ can’t
mourn; cooking pot; Pelatiah (11:1-14)
“Inner meaning of the agony going on in their fatherland”
 Holy Spirit
x7 transported “by the Spirit” (3:12,14; 8:3; 11:1,24;
37:1; 43:5)
x8 references the work of the Spirit (1:12,20-21;
10:17; 36:26-27; 37:14; 39:29)

37. The adulterous wife (16:1-63)
The rebellious fathers (20:1-31)
The two prostitute sisters (23:1-49)
Key = breaking the covenant
(16:8, 59-62; 17:18-19)

38. " 'For I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back
into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and
you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and
from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new
spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give
you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move
you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28
You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my
people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your
uncleanness.
33 " 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse
you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins
will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of
lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They
will say, "This land that was laid waste has become like the
garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and
destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited." 36 Then the nations
around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt
what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I
the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.' (36:24-36)

39. VISIONS…
The valley of dry bones (ch. 37-39)
The new “temple” (chs. 40-46)
The river of life/ new Jerusalem (ch. 47)
“The LORD is there ”