Daniel & Revelation

Daniel 2 questions:

1.Name the four kingdoms of the image that are symbolized by the gold, silver, brass, and iron.

Answer: Gold = Babylon, Silver = Medo-Persia, Bronze = Greece, Iron = Rome

2.How many kingdoms total are there in the image?  What is the difference between the feet and the rest of the image?

Answer: There are four kingdoms. The feet and toes are the divided fourth kingdom. The divided fourth kingdom is iron, that has continued down from the legs of iron, symbolizing pagan Roman, combined with clay, which symbolizes Christianity.

3.What is the common thread that runs through the whole image?

Answer: Paganism.

4.What two things does the iron and clay each symbolize? [two things for iron; two things for clay]

Answer: Iron = Kingdom or State, Characteristics of Iron = System of Paganism, Clay = Church, Characteristics of Clay = System of Christianity.

5.Who does the feet of iron and clay represent?  What parallels are there in Revelation?

Answer: The feet of iron and clay in Dan. 2 are equal with the woman who rides the beast in Revelation 17. A woman in the Bible represents a church and a beast represents a kingdom, this woman/beast combination symbolizes this entity’s structural system, a religious/political system. This new entity is called the papacy.  Note how the papacy developed. There is a compromise between paganism and Christianity that results in an apostasy in the church. An apostate church, losing the power of love, unites with the state, controlling the power of the state and employing it to enforce and execute her decrees, especially for the punishment of heresy. The inevitable result of this union of church and state is intolerance and persecution.

6.Who do the toes of iron and clay represent?  What parallels are there in Revelation?

Answer: The characteristics of iron and clay that apply to the feet also apply to the toes. The toes become an image of the beast. Put in the context of Daniel 2, the toes become an image or mirror of the feet, exhibiting the three problems of mixing iron and clay. The toes equate with the ten horns on the sixth head of the scarlet colored leopard-like beast of Revelation 17,  and they also equate with the lamb-like beast of Rev. 13.

7.Why are the two entities in question 5 and question 6 both pictured as iron and clay?

Answer: The iron and clay in the toes is a compromise between Christianity and paganism. These characteristics exist in both time periods symbolized in the statue.

8.Name the two systems of the papacy.

Answer: Ideology system & Structural System

9.Who are “these kings” talked about in Daniel 2:44? Where else in the Bible is there a parallel to “these kings” pictured in this verse?

Answer: The answer is found in the previous two verses. “These kings” are the ten toes, partly of iron, and partly of clay. Revelation 17:12 talks about ten horns that also symbolize kings.

10.Who is the “they” of Dan. 2:43? Who is “the seed?”  HOW does “they” mingle themselves with “the seed?”

Answer: “They” is referring back to the toes of the divided fourth kingdom, composed of a mixture of iron and clay. “They” is referring to apostate Protestants. The apostate Protestants, as symbolized by the toes of iron and clay mixed, mingle, by being in the same church with true Christians, who are part of the Seed.

11.What two things does the stone represent?

Answer: This stone represents the law of God. God Himself has cut out the stone and written on that stone His law with His own finger. The stone, while a symbol of the law, is also a symbol of Jesus, who is pictured as the living stone [1 Peter 2:3, 4], since He is the Mediator, who has the power to bring the hearts of men into harmony with the principles of the law. 

Daniel 7 questions:

1.Name the four kingdoms that the four beasts of Daniel 7 symbolize?

Answer: Lion = Babylon, Bear = Medo-Persia, Leopard = Greece, Dreadful & Terrible Beast = Pagan Rome.

2.What is the difference between Daniel 7:8 and Daniel 8:9?

Answer: The little horn in Daniel 7:8 is described as having “eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” whereas the little horn in Daniel 8:9 “waxed exceedingly great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant LAND.” They also rise in different places.

3.What are some characteristics that Daniel 7 talks about that you could point out that demonstrates that the little horn represents the papacy?

Answer: Daniel 7:20, 24 – three of the horns fell in the presence of the little horn. When the papacy came to power, they took out three of ten surrounding kingdoms who didn’t agree with their religious philosophy. Daniel 7:25 – speak great words against the Most High, wear out he saints, think to change times and laws, and they shall be given to him a time and times and the dividing of times.

4.Fill in the blank:  “The prophecies present a succession of events leading down to the ___________________________________________. This is especially true of the book of Daniel.”   How is this demonstrated in Daniel 7?

Answer: “…opening of the judgment….” This is demonstrated in Daniel 7 by its descriptive account of the papacy and it’s actions prior to the judgment.

5.What is the connection between the beast and the horn in Daniel 7:11?

Answer: The horn and the best both represent a part of Babylon. The beast symbolizes the papacy and the little horn is part of the False Prophet (Protestantism) See Revelation 19:20.

6.What is the kingdom talked about in Daniel 7:13, 14?  What is the “status” of this kingdom in this verse?

Answer: This kingdom is the kingdom of glory given to Christ after the close of probation at the second coming. “When the Son of man shall com in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.”-Matthew 25:31

7.How could you demonstrate from this chapter that the four beasts are four kingdoms and not four kings?

Answer: Daniel 7:17 says “These great beasts, which…ARE FOUR KINGS…” and then verse 23 says “…The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth…” – showing that Beast=King=Kingdom.

8.Which kingdom is given to the saints in verses 18, 22 and 27?

Answer: This is God’s Kingdom Glory

9.How long does the little horn “bother” the saints?

Answer: “…the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; UNTIL the ANCIENT OF DAYS CAME, and JUDGMENT was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”- Daniel 7:21-22

10.Who are the ten horns of Daniel 7:24?

Answer: “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive the power as kings one hour with the beast.” –Revelation 17:12 ……”When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.”- The Great Controversy 445.1

11.What is the “time, times and dividing of time?”  Identify some other passages of scripture that are referring to the same “time, times, and dividing of time?”

Answer: This phrase is also found in Daniel 12:7, and Revelation 12: 14. By looking at the context, you can see this is referring to the time up until the second coming of Christ.

Daniel 8 questions:

1.Identify the ram and the he goat of Daniel 8.  How can you demonstrate that the ram is referring to the same power as the bear of Daniel 7? How can you demonstrate that the he goat is the same as the leopard of Daniel 7?

Answer: The ram is found in verses 3-4. We can see that the Ram holds the same representation as the bear because the bear is “…raised up itself on one side…” (Dan.7:5) and the lamb has two horns “…but one was higher than the other…” (Dan.8:3).Plus, Daniel 8:20 plainly says “The Ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.” The He Goat is the same as the Leopard in Daniel 7 because “…the rough goat is the king of Grecia…” (Dan. 8:21)

2.Who is the notable horn of the he goat?  The four notable horns?

Answer: “…the great horn…is the first king [of Greece]” (Dan 8:20). The four kingdoms “…shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.”

3.Who is the host and stars being referred to in Daniel 8:10?  Who is the prince of the host in verse 11?

Answer: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” – Daniel 12:3, NIV. The host is referring to both the angels in heaven and those who follow God here on earth. The Prince of the host is Jesus. (See Rev.22:16)

4.What is the “daily” being talked about in verse 11?  How does the little horn take away the “daily?”

Answer: The “daily” being referred to is the system of worship, the daily – or continual – sacrifices in the sanctuary. (See Exodus 29:38-39, 42, and 30:7-8). The little horn – or the papacy – destroyed this system of worship; of the acknowledgement of sins and of Christ as the only intercessor.

5.Explain verse 12.

Answer:  “A prayerful study of the Bible would show Protestants the real character of the papacy and would cause them to abhor and to shun it; but many are so wise in their own conceit that they feel no need of humbly seeking God that they may be led into the truth. Although priding themselves on their enlightenment, they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. They must have some means of quieting their consciences, and they seek that which is least spiritual and humiliating. What they desire is a method of forgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering Him. The papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these. It is prepared for two classes of mankind, embracing nearly the whole world–those who would be saved by their merits, and those who would be saved in their sins. Here is the secret of its power.” {GC 572.2} Basically, the papacy was given power because of the people’s own neglect of their relationship with God.

6.What two elements does the vision include, according to verse 13?  What is the vision that is sealed up?

Answer: The Daily and the transgression of desolation. Daniel’s 3^rd vision found in chapter 8 – the series of events leading down to the opening of the judgment.

7.What is the “transgression of desolation” talked about in verse 13?  What passage in the Bible could you use to support your answer?

Answer: Transgression is a synonym of the word “sin”. This transgression is one that brings “desolation”. Romans 5:8 talks of Adam’s first sin as the sin that brought “condemnation upon everyone”.

8.What period of time does the vision apply to, according to Daniel 8?

Answer: 2300 days

9.How long was the vision going to be sealed?

Answer: Sealed until the time of the end (Dan. 8:14)

10.Explain verse 23. (BONUS)

Answer: This is foretelling a historical event. After the first king of Greece fell, the kingdom was divided into four parts, but not under the first king’s power.

11.Where in Daniel 2 can you find a similar phrasing that is found in Daniel 8:25:  he shall be “broken without hand?”

Answer: Daniel 2:45

Daniel 9 questions:

1.What does the word “determined” mean?

Answer: It means to cut off.

2.How are seventy weeks of Daniel 9 connected to the 2300 days of Daniel 8?

Answer: “Seventy weeks are determined…to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to makes reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to SEAL UP THE VISION and prophecy, and to ANOINT THE MOST HOLY”. (Dan. 9:24) The seventy weeks start at the beginning of the 2300 day prophecy, and indicate when the kingdom of grace was to be established.

3.What was the starting point for the seventy week period? Give a scripture verse for support for your answer.

Answer: “In the seventh chapter of Ezra the decree is found. Verses 12-26. In its completest form it was issued by Artaxerxes, king of Persia, 457 B.C. But in Ezra 6:14 the house of the Lord at Jerusalem is said to have been built “according to the commandment ["decree," margin] of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” These three kings, in originating, reaffirming, and completing the decree, brought it to the perfection required by the prophecy to mark the beginning of the 2300 years. Taking 457 B.C., the time when the decree was completed, as the date of the commandment, every specification of the prophecy concerning the seventy weeks was seen to have been fulfilled.” – GC 326.3

4.What does “Messiah” mean?

Answer: “The Anointed One”.

5.Why does Daniel 9:25 say “seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” instead of just saying threescore and nine weeks?

Answer: “From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks”–namely, sixty-nine weeks, or 483 years. The decree of Artaxerxes went into effect in the autumn of 457 B.C. From this date, 483 years extend to the autumn of A.D. 27. (See Appendix.) At that time this prophecy was fulfilled. The word “Messiah” signifies “the Anointed One.” In the autumn of A.D. 27 Christ was baptized by John and received the anointing of the Spirit. The apostle Peter testifies that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.” Acts 10:38. And the Saviour Himself declared: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.” Luke 4:18. After His baptism He went into Galilee, “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled.” Mark 1:14, 15. – GC 327.1

6.What does it mean when verse 27 says “in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease?

Answer: “…In A.D. 31, three and a half years after His [Christ’s] baptism, our Lord was crucified. With the great sacrifice offered upon Calvary, ended that system of offerings which for four thousand years had pointed forward to the Lamb of God. Type met antitype, and all the sacrifices and oblations of the ceremonial system were there to cease.” – G.C. pg. 326.6

7.What event is connected to the end of the seventy weeks?

Answer: The stoning of Stephen.

8.Explain what it means in verse 27:  “he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week?”

Answer: “And He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.” The “week” here brought to view is the last one of the seventy; it is the last seven years of the period allotted especially to the Jews. During this time, extending from A.D. 27 to A.D. 34, Christ, at first in person and afterward by His disciples, extended the gospel invitation especially to the Jews. {GC 326.5}