Feeding the Flock

"A Prophet's Reading"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
The Four Beasts of Empires  (7:1-28)
The Horns of a Ram and a Goat  (8:1-27)
The Timetable of Seventy Weeks  (9:1-27)
The Man of Glory  10:1-9)
The Battle of Angels  (10:10-11:1)
The Wars and Intrigues of Kings  (11:2-28)
The Abomination of Desolation  (11:29-45)
The Time of Trouble  (12:1-13)
***
C.  The Timetable of Seventy Weeks  (9:1-27)
The Setting(9:1)
The Reading from Jeremiah(9:2)
The Reaction from Daniel(9:3)
The Prophet’s Prayer(9:4-19)
The Angel’s Arrival(9:20-23)
The Decree(9:24-27)
***
Appendix: The Seventy Years of Discipline
National Discipline of Dispersion Predicted in the Law for Idolatry, Immorality and the Sabbath Years;             Exodus 23:10–11; “You shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, 11 but on the seventh yearyou shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.”;                   Deuteronomy 28:63–64; “It shall come about that as the Lord delighted over you to prosper you, and multiply you, so the Lord will delight over you to make you perish and destroy you; and you will be torn from the land where you are entering to possess it. 64 “Moreover, the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; and there you shall serve other gods, wood and stone, which you or your fathers have not known.”
    If Unrepentant, Multiplied “7 times more”;  Leviticus 26:14-35; (v18) “If also after these things you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.”; (v21) “If then, you act with hostility against Me and are unwilling to obey Me, I will increase the plague on you seven times according to your sins.”; (vs27-28) “Yet if in spite of this you do not obey Me, but act with hostility against Me, then I will act with wrathful hostility against you, and I, even I, will punish you seven times for your sins.” 
     Leviticus 26:34-35; “Then the land will enjoy its sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 ‘All the days of its desolation it will observe the rest which it did not observe on your sabbaths, while you were living on it.”;   
Note: So it was that for almost 500 years Israel had evidently failed to keep these Sabbath Years
            2Chronicles 36:19–21; “Then they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its fortified buildings with fire and destroyed all its valuable articles. 20 Those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete.”
Seventy-Year Span Foretold by Jeremiah:
            Jeremiah 25:11–12; “This whole land will be a desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 ‘Then it will be when seventy years are completed I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,’ declares the Lord, ‘for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it an everlasting desolation.”;             Jeremiah 29:10–11; “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 11 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’”
–  Daniel’s Observation in Jeremiah
            This stirred him to his prayer; Daniel 9:2; “In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.”
Notice: Daniel sees this "Seventy years" timeframe is about to be completed (Daniel 9:2). Now what?! If this is coming to an end, and there is no national repentance, there is the potential of another 70x7, or 490 years, yet to be played out for his people and his nation.
Consider: Jesus did not just pick a random number in His illustration about forgiveness; Matthew 18:21–22; “Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”; This carried with it a certain Biblical and  historical familiarity to the disciples of Jesus' earthly ministry.

"The Rather Small Horn"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
The Four Beasts of Empires  (7:1-28)
The Horns of a Ram and a Goat  (8:1-27)
The Timetable of Seventy Weeks  (9:1-27)
The Man of Glory  10:1-9)
The Battle of Angels  (10:10-11:1)
The Wars and Intrigues of Kings  (11:2-28)
The Abomination of Desolation  (11:29-45)
The Time of Trouble  (12:1-13)
***
B.  The Horns of a Ram and a Goat  (8:1-27)
The Setting(8:1-2)
The Goat Conquers the Ram(8:3-8)
The Small Horn Causes Horror (8:9-14)
The Ram is Medo-Persia(8:15-20)
The Goat is Greece(8:21-22)
The Insolent King(8:23-26)
The Aftermath(8:27)

"A Ram and a Goat"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
The Four Beasts of Empires  (7:1-28)
The Horns of a Ram and a Goat  (8:1-27)
The Timetable of Seventy Weeks  (9:1-27)
The Man of Glory  10:1-9)
The Battle of Angels  (10:10-11:1)
The Wars and Intrigues of Kings  (11:2-28)
The Abomination of Desolation  (11:29-45)
The Time of Trouble  (12:1-13)
***
B.  The Horns of a Ram and a Goat  (8:1-27)
The Setting(8:1-2)
The Goat Conquers the Ram(8:3-8)
The Small Horn Causes Horror (8:9-14)
The Ram is Medo-Persia(8:15-20)
The Goat is Greece(8:21-22)
The Insolent King(8:23-26)
The Aftermath(8:27)
 
 

"The Little Horn"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
The Four Beasts of Empires  (7:1-28)
The Horns of a Ram and a Goat  (8:1-27)
The Timetable of Seventy Weeks  (9:1-27)
The Man of Glory  10:1-9)
The Battle of Angels  (10:10-11:1)
The Wars and Intrigues of Kings  (11:2-28)
The Abomination of Desolation  (11:29-45)
The Time of Trouble  (12:1-13)
***
A.  The Four Beasts of Empires  (7:1-28)
The Dream of Monsters(7:1-8)
The Ancient of Days(7:9-12)
The Son of Man(7:13-14)
The Empires of Earth(7:15-18)
The Little Horn of the Last Beast (7:19-22)
The Dominion of the Most High(7:23-27)
The End of this Revelation (7:28)

"The Four Monsters"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
The Transfer: University of Babylon (1:1-21)
The Dream: A Statue and a Stone  (2:1-49)
The Stand: Four in a Furnace  (3:1-30)
The Tract: Testimony of a King  (4:1-37)
The Wall: Handwriting to Decipher  (5:1-30)
The Den: Appetite of Lions  (6:1-28)
 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
The Four Beasts of Empires  (7:1-28)
The Horns of a Ram and a Goat  (8:1-27)
The Timetable of Seventy Weeks  (9:1-27)
The Man of Glory  10:1-9)
The Battle of Angels  (10:10-11:1)
The Wars and Intrigues of Kings  (11:2-28)
The Abomination of Desolation  (11:29-45)
The Time of Trouble  (12:1-13)
***
A.  The Four Beasts of Empires  (7:1-28)
The Dream of Monsters(7:1-8)
The Ancient of Days(7:9-12)
The Son of Man(7:13-14)
The Empires of Earth(7:15-18)
The Little Horn of the Last Beast (7:19-22)
The Dominion of the Most High(7:23-27)
The End of this Revelation (7:28)

"Senior Prophet in a Hostile Culture"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
The Transfer: University of Babylon (1:1-21)
The Dream: A Statue and a Stone  (2:1-49)
The Stand: Four in a Furnace  (3:1-30)
The Tract: Testimony of a King  (4:1-37)
The Wall: Handwriting to Decipher  (5:1-30)
The Den: Appetite of Lions  (6:1-28)
 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
***
F.  The Den: Appetite of Lions  (6:1-28)
The Prologue(6:1-5)
The Conspiracy(6:6-9)
The Entrapment(6:10-13)
The Intervention(6:14-18)
The Rescue(6:19-24)
The Declaration (6:25-27)
The Epilogue(6:28)

"The Graffiti and the Prediction"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
The Transfer: University of Babylon (1:1-21)
The Dream: A Statue and a Stone  (2:1-49)
The Stand: Four in a Furnace  (3:1-30)
The Tract: Testimony of a King  (4:1-37)
The Wall: Handwriting to Decipher  (5:1-30)
The Den: Appetite of Lions  (6:1-28)
 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
***
E.  The Wall: Handwriting to Decipher  (5:1-30)
The Prologue(5:1-4)
The Confusion in the Room(5:5-9)
The Introduction by the Queen(5:10-12)
The Negotiation by the King(5:13-16)
The Confrontation by the Prophet (5:17-24)
The Interpretation of the Words(5:25-29)
The Epilogue(5: 30-31)

"The Repentance and the Restoration"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
The Transfer: University of Babylon (1:1-21)
The Dream: A Statue and a Stone  (2:1-49)
The Stand: Four in a Furnace  (3:1-30)
The Tract: Testimony of a King  (4:1-37)
The Wall: Handwriting to Decipher  (5:1-30)
The Den: Appetite of Lions  (6:1-28)
 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
***
D.  The Tract: Testimony of a King  (4:1-37)
The Prologue(4:1-3)
The Consultation & Belteshazzar(4:4-9)
The Tree & the Lumberjack(4:10-18)
The Interpretation & Invitation(4:19-27)
The Humbling of Nebuchadnezzar (4:28-33)
The Epilogue(4: 34-37)

"The Tree and the Lumberjack Angel"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
The Transfer: University of Babylon (1:1-21)
The Dream: A Statue and a Stone  (2:1-49)
The Stand: Four in a Furnace  (3:1-30)
The Tract: Testimony of a King  (4:1-37)
The Wall: Handwriting to Decipher  (5:1-30)
The Den: Appetite of Lions  (6:1-28)
 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
***
D.  The Tract: Testimony of a King  (4:1-37)
The Prologue(4:1-3)
The Consultation & Belteshazzar(4:4-9)
The Tree & the Lumberjack(4:10-18)
The Interpretation & Invitation(4:19-27)
The Humbling of Nebuchadnezzar (4:28-33)
The Epilogue(4: 34-37)

"The Four in the Fire"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
The Transfer: University of Babylon (1:1-21)
The Dream: A Statue and a Stone  (2:1-49)
The Stand: Four in a Furnace  (3:1-30)
The Tract: Testimony of a King  (4:1-37)
The Wall: Handwriting to Decipher  (5:1-30)
The Den: Appetite of Lions  (6:1-28)
 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
***
C.  The Stand: Four in a Furnace  (3:1-30)
The Golden Image  (3:1-7)
The Charges  (3:8-12)
The Investigation  (3:13-18)
The Fire  (3:19-23)
The Exit  (3:24-27)
The God Who Rescues (3:28-30)
***
4.  The Fire  (3:19-23)
The Heat  (3:19)
The Warriors  (3:20-21)
The Fatalities  (3:22)
The Prisoners  (3:23)
5.  The Exit  (3:24-27)
The Count: A Fourth Man  (3:24-25)
The Order: Come Out  (3:26)
The Examination: Unscathed  (3:27)
6.  The God Who Rescues (3:28-30)
The Worship: A Reversal  (3:28)
The Decree: A Renewal  (3:29)
The Prosperity: A Redo  (3:30)

"Twenty-Somethings in a Hostile Culture"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
The Transfer: University of Babylon (1:1-21)
The Dream: A Statue and a Stone  (2:1-49)
The Stand: Four in a Furnace  (3:1-30)
The Tract: Testimony of a King  (4:1-37)
The Wall: Handwriting to Decipher  (5:1-30)
The Den: Appetite of Lions  (6:1-28)
 II. THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
***
C.  The Stand: Four in a Furnace  (3:1-30)
The Golden Image  (3:1-7)
The Charges  (3:8-12)
The Investigation  (3:13-18)
The Fire  (3:19-23)
The Exit  (3:24-27)
The God Who Rescues (3:28-30)
***
1.  The Golden Image  (3:1-7)
The Large Idol on the Plain  (3:1)
The Assembly of Dignitaries  (3:2-3)
The Orchestra as the Cue  (3:4-7)
2.  The Charges  (3:8-12)
The Decree Reviewed  (3:8-11)
The Jews Named  (3:12)
3.  The Investigation  (3:13-18)
The Interrogation  (3:13-15)
The Commitment  (3:16-18)

"The Stone and the Mountain"
 
The Outline: 
  I.  THE STORIES  (1:1-6:28)
The Transfer: University of Babylon (1:1-21)
The Dream: A Statue and a Stone  (2:1-49)
The Stand: Four in a Furnace  (3:1-30)
The Tract: Testimony of a King  (4:1-37)
The Wall: Handwriting to Decipher  (5:1-30)
The Den: Appetite of Lions  (6:1-28)
 II.  THE VISIONS  (7:1-12:13)
***
B.  The Dream: A Statue and a Stone  (2:1-49)
The King had a Dream  (2:1-18)
The Secret is Revealed  (2:19-30)
The Report is Delivered  (2:31-35)
The Interpretation is Provided  (2:36-45)
The Promotion is Bestowed  (2:46-49)
***
4.  The Interpretation is Provided  (2:36-45)
Daniel Delivers: The Times of the Gentiles (2:36)
The Head of Gold = Babylon - the First Kingdom (2:37-38)
The Breast and Arms of Silver = Medo-Persia (2:39a)
The Abs and Thighs of Bronze = Greece (2:39b)
The Legs of Iron = Rome I (2:40)
The Feet and Toes of Iron/Clay = Rome II & III  (2:41-43)
The Stone Cut Without Hands and The Great Mountain = The Messiah - The Last Kingdom (2:44-45)
***
5.  The Promotion is Bestowed  (2:46-49)
The Fragrance of Honor  (2:46)
The Revealer of Mysteries  (2:47)
The Chief Prefect of Wise Men  (2:48)
The Administration of the Province  (2:49)