Daniel 3 and Revelation 13

Brief Idea: The story of Daniel’s three friends and the fiery furnace seems to be the origin of the metaphors in Revelation 13 as the story of the Babylonian captivity is the origin of the metaphors in much of the rest of the Apocalypse. The story sheds light on our near future.

Daniel 3 records the efforts of the king of Babylon to defy Jehovah’s revealed will for the future. Nebuchadnezzar envisioned a never-ending kingdom. He required all nations to worship to the image of his nation as evidence of their loyalty to him.

Though imposing, the image was not the authority. Honor showed to it was thinly-veiled honor shown to the king. The herald “commanded” in his name. A human command regarding worship was placed in violation of God’s command in the 2^nd Commandment.

The queue for bowing to the image was all kinds of music. Fire, visible to all, compelled obedience via a death-decree.

What do we find in Revelation 13? The efforts of a blasphemous mystical Babylon to defy Jehovah’s revealed will. The beast deceives all nations and demands their worship. He receives it. An image is set up, in honor of the beast, and is made fearful by “fire” from heaven. To this all nations bow excepting those braving a death-decree. Worship of the image is accepted as worship of the beast.

Those that resist are figured in chapter fourteen as those that keep the commandments of God. The implication is that those that bowed did so in violation of a Divine command and in respect to a human one.

Other parallels that may or may not be intended include the dimensions of the image and the number of the beast, 6, 60, and 666 respectively. Also, the beast had a period of lethal woundedness, though not death, just as Nebuchadnezzar had a period of loss of power that ended with his restoration to his former glory and more.

What Daniel 3 provides is a model of how to handle the coming pressure. The false worship, in the land of the image at least, will be connected intimately with various genres of music. God’s men will have to stand out sorely at the risk of their life just to remain faithful to God’s law.

It will not be a time for diplomacy. “We are not careful to answer thee in this matter.” Such courage will save us from subtle arguments. We should refuse second chances. And we should speak of our confidence both in God’s purpose to spare us and, if not, our willingness to die for His law.

Our testimony will be used by Jesus, who will join us in the time of trouble by His Spirit, to cause the most arrogant knee, that of Satan, to bow to Him. The men intent on destroying us will themselves meet a fiery death. And our captivity will end in the fire.

For the Word Document, Click Here: Dan_3_-_and_Revelation_13

 

When God speaks of punishing or blessings a nation, that prophecy is made for the benefit of that nation. The nation may avert disaster or forfeit blessings by changing the conditions that led to the prophecy.

But not all prophecies are of this nature. The famine on Egypt, for example, was on “all nations.” The submission of the Egyptians to the prophet’s counsel did not avert the famine, though it did spare them from destruction.

God indicated the non-conditional nature of this prophecy by giving it twice under different symbols. In this respect, the prophecy strongly resembles those of Daniel and Revelation. Those prophecies are repeated as they are expanded. More than that, they are given in symbols.

They differ from the prophecy of Jonah, for example, in both respects. Prophesies intended to call men to repentance are couched in language those men can understand.

The prophecies of Daniel 2 that point out the destruction of the earth’s kingdoms are like those of Pharaoh under Joseph. In fact, both were given originally to a secular world ruler who was intimately connected to one of God’s faithful men. This remarkable parallel is bolstered by the parallel conclusions of God’s interpreters. Daniel wrote “The dream is certain.” There was no changing it. Daniel’s later prophecies parallel those of Joseph in terms of the time element.

And “changing it” was just the thing Nebuchadnezzar tried to do in the next chapter.

What principles do we have to help us tell determinate prophecies from those that are conditional? The latter are given as warnings or as encouragements. The former are given to show God’s wisdom. The latter are intended to be understood by the subjects of the prophecy. The former may be couched in symbolic language.

And the latter may be repeated under different symbols as evidence that they will certainly be fulfilled. In the case of Daniel, parts are even sealed until the future. The repetition also indicates imminence.

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Mt 18:7 

 

The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. Mr 14:21 

 

There are some events, both of a blessed nature and others of a negative nature, that are essential elements in the plan of redemption. The death of Jesus was one of these. The prophecy of his death, through the sanctuary service for example, was a determinate prophecy. There was no getting around it.

But that prophecy did not involve Judas by name. It could have been fulfilled through another. Judas’ part was neither coerced nor excused by heaven.

Other prophecies of God’s blessings on his faithful people, on the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are “without repentance.” In other words, they can not be annulled. Yet the individuals singled out for blessing are by no means determinate.

This was the confusion of the Jews. They confused the determinate prophecy (that God would bless the children of the faithful, as per the Second Commandment) with the conditional element that included them, as individuals, among the children of the faithful.

 

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. . . And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Romans 11:1-5; 26-29.

 

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. De 5:10

 

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; De 7:9 

 

Paul reasons, in Romans 11, that God’s promises to the Jews have never been abrogated. Rather, those promises were only made to the faithful. Accordingly, most Jews have been cut off from the blessings. And many Gentiles have been included as members of True Israel because of their faithfulness. As such, “All Israel” will be saved.

The “chosen” ones among the nation inherit the promises. The rest are, on the whole, enemies of the gospel. Yet, they are to be beloved as family, being the literal descendants of faithful Abraham.  For more on spiritual descent as character likeness, see John 8 and Romans 8:14.

This issue, the conditional/determinate nature of the promises to “Israel” is the primary issue dividing Adventism from the rest of Evangelical Christianity in terms of prophetic interpretation.

For the Word Document, Click Here: Dan_2_-_Determinate_Prophecy_and_Conditional_Prophecy

Fulfilled Prophecy

Daniel, Fall 2006

Basic Idea: Our Father in Heaven challenges false religions to a decisive test. In the days of Elijah, it was fire from heaven. But in our days, miraculous signs will be done by false religionists. What challenge, then, stands Jehovah apart from false gods today? Fulfilled Prophecy.

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. Is 44:6-7

 

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Is 46:9-10

Mathematically, though without anything like precision, we can address the probability of a very cunning man predicting the kind of future events predicted in scripture. These then-future events can be divided into several categories.

 

1. Events that not all classes of secular persons acknowledge as having happened.
2. Events not all classes of persons admit happened after the prophecy (ie, some argue that the prophecy was written after the event.
3. Events admitted by all and occurring after the completion of the Biblical record.

Besides these classes we might say that there are some more obscure prophecies that require diligent study even to understand. But we are concerned with concrete prophecies written in no uncertain way.

In the first category are the prophecies of Daniel that predicted the rise of Persia and Greece. Critics that existed before the time of Jesus argued that these must have been written at a date later than the events predicted.

But the very writing of the earliest of these critics proves that the book of Daniel was in existence long before the death of Jesus. And Jesus’ death was predicted with precision. Yet that event falls into the second category, though most secular historians believe it did happen.

The third category removes all cause for misapprehension and makes the work of infidels seem irrational. The fulfillments of these prophecies defy Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Mormonism, and other world religions to give such evidence of their foreknowledge.

For example:

God predicted (through Daniel) that after Babylon there would only be three succeeding empires. And sure enough, no empire has ever succeeded into uniting the splintered remains of the Roman Empire.

God predicted (through Daniel) that these splintered remains would continue united until the end of the world. They splintered in the 5^th century. Today, fifteen centuries later and several Hitler/Napoleon types later, they still exist splintered as they were then.

God predicted (through Daniel) that three of the original ten divisions of the Roman empire would become extinct. These three were to be pulled up in the presence of an eleventh religio-political power of great power and small size. The Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths no longer exist. They were uprooted under the influence of the newly rising political power-broker, the pope of Rome.

God predicted (through Isaiah) that the man that would conquer the Babylonian empire would be named Cyrus. The prophecy even described the manner of the conquest more than a century prior to the birth of the Persian Ruler.

God predicted (through Jesus) that no stone would be left upon another in the temple of Jerusalem. When it was destroyed, forty years later, fires melted golden trimming that seeped between the gigantic granite blocks. This motivated Roman soldiers to dislodge every rock until not one was left upon another.

God predicted (through Ezekiel) that many nations would come against Tyre as a succession of plunderers. Tyre would be made as flat as a rock and the dust would be wiped off the rock and it would become a place for spreading fish nets and it would never be built again. More than two centuries later the last in the wave of conquerors, Alexander the Great, failed to reduce the men of Tyre to surrender. They retreated to an island fortress. He ordered the city to be plowed to the foundation and the rubble to be dumped in the sea to make a path to the fortress. As a final phase, the dust of the city was ordered swept up and dumped in the sea. Today, 2400 years later, Tyre is still a place for spreading nets and has never been rebuilt.

God predicted (through Isaiah) that Babylon would not only be destroyed, but would never be rebuilt. Today, 2500 years later, many have thought to rebuild that glorious city. When the wealthy and prosperous Saddam Hussein began actual work on the city, his work was halted by the Gulf War. The city still has not been rebuilt.

The length of the temporal power of the papacy (1260 years), its revival after a period of non-existence, and the church’s world-wide influence—these were all accurately predicted.  Numerous incidents of a more local nature and on a smaller scale have been matters of prophecy for years before become facts of history. The predictions described here and a host of others work together to set Jehovah apart from competitors for our devotion and trust. He who knows the future can alone be trusted to guide us safely.

For the Word Document, see here: Dan_1-12_-_Fulfilled_Prophecy

Health in the End Times

 

1. The Book of Daniel is for the End Times
   1. It features health and temperance as defining characteristics of faithfulness
   2. It illustrates spiritual and mental reaping from physical sowing
2. Health has always been an Spiritual Issue
   1. We are temples for the Spirit
   2. Cleanliness invites God’s Presence
   3. Disease and Health among Curses and Blessings to Israel
   4. Health not to predominate over other Spiritual issues
      1.                                                               i.      It is a means to an end
         1. A means to witness to God’s wisdom
         2. Regular practice in the Flesh-Lust battle
         3. A means to wise stewardship of our gifts
         4. A means to clearer perceptions of duty and morality
         5.                                                             ii.      It may receive too much attention
            1. If the ends are not given proper emphasis
            2. If wavering or extremism require constant rethought
         6.                                                           iii.      It may receive too little emphasis
            1. If we serve our lusts contrary to God’s counsel
            2. If we lose site of the means and/or of the ends
            3. If we waver until weary
            4. If we are extreme until weary
3. Health is a Special Issue during the Judgment
   1. First Angel’s Message and I Cor 10:31 – Glorifying God
   2. We are about to give account of our stewardship
   3. The Gospel must go to the whole world
   4. This is a special time for character development preparatory to Christ’s return
4. Health Requires Education and Rational Reform
5. Health Requires Healing
   1. Healing by Miracle a Reality
      1.                                                               i.      By Miracle of Physical Renewal
      2.                                                             ii.      By Miracle of Freedom from Destructive Addiction
   2. Healing by Natural Doctors the normal plan
      1.                                                               i.      N utrition
      2.                                                             ii.      E xercise
      3.                                                           iii.      W ater

 

1.                                                           iv.      S unshine
2.                                                             v.      T emperance
3.                                                           vi.      A ir
4.                                                         vii.      R est
5.                                                       viii.      T rust in Divine Power

 

Health in the End Times

The apocalyptic book of Daniel begins with a story of Christian temperance. The fall of Babylon, in the very middle of the book, is a story of contrast between Daniel’s temperance and Babylonian drunkenness. And in the last story of the book Daniel’s three weeks of soul-searching and abstemiousness is wonderfully rewarded.

More than this, in the book of Daniel, social privilege, spiritual revelations, are mental acuity are all reaped after a sowing of temperance-related faithfulness.

     But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: . . . .Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel . . . “Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.” . . . . And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

     Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of the [time of preparation] . . .the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. Da 1:8-12

 

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Ga 6:8 

 

Health is a Spiritual Issue

Health has always been a spiritual issue. We are temples of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Temples are to be kept holy and clean as a matter of respect to the Deity. A well-kept temple honors God. A neglected temple dishonors Him.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1Co 6:19-20

 

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1Co 3:16-17

Ancient Israel could only expect God to stay in the camp when the strictest rules of order and sanitation were carefully observed. Jacob required bathing and clean clothes of his household when petitioning the Great God. We can learn from these illustrations how God values purity and cleanliness. His counsel lifts men from their dirty habits and refines them.

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: Ge 35:2 

On condition of careful adherence to the laws of sanitation and nutrition, of morality and ceremonies that fill Moses’ teaching, God promised good health to His people.

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. Ex 15:26

Both the blessings and the curses on Israel included reference to physical disease. De 7:12-15; 28:27, 60.

Nevertheless, issues of health and sanitation, of cleanliness and nutrition, are not to predominate over other spiritual issues and truths. Healthy living is a means to an end, not the end itself. Attention to little things should never obscure the most important matters.

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Ro 14:17-18.

 

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Mt 23:23 

Health is a Means to an End, not an End in Itself

What results can be expected from an appropriate level of attention to God’s counsels on health? In the story of Daniel, temperance was a means of witnessing. This has not changed. Temperance is one of the fruits on the Christian tree that identifies true believers. Gal 5:22-23; Matt 7:16, 20.

Let your moderation [i.e., temperance] be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Php 4:5 

Denying our appetites and passions in honor of the Spirit’s indwelling is part of the regular struggle of Christianity. Satan first approached Eve in the garden and, later, Jesus in the wilderness, on the issue of appetite. It is here that many have fallen and have made gods of their belly. (Php 3:19; Rom 16:17).

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Gal 5:16-17

Healthy living is a means to wise stewardship of the gifts of life and strength. When God made man and gave him a diet, both the man and the diet were ideal. Life spans measured in centuries. And still, today, living in accordance with God’s physical laws adds an average of more than ten productive years to life. It saves tens of thousands of dollars in medical costs that can be devoted to better purposes.

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1Co 4:2 

Healthy living is a means to clearer perceptions of duty and morality. The sluggishness of the blood and the cloudiness of the brain have much to do with one’s ability to weigh right and wrong. This is why alcoholic beverages were forbidden to kings and priests. This is why Jesus refused an intoxicating pain killer when on the cross.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Pr 31:4-5. [See Lev 10:9-10.]

 

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. Mt 27:34 

So, in summary, health is not the focal point of Christianity. Health is a means to better witnessing. Honoring God’s counsel despite the clamors of appetite promotes Christian growth. Proper stewardship of our strength and life demands healthy living. To discriminate between right and wrong requires unclouded perceptions.

Health May Receive Too Much Attention, or Too Little

We may give undue attention to healthy living if we neglect to keep these ends in mind. When healthy living becomes an end in itself it demands too much attention. A man’s usefulness begins to wane.

Health will also get too much attention in our lives when we waver in our decisions. When Daniel “purposed” in his heart not to defile himself, he settled an issue that saved him much trouble later on. It was not necessary for him to evaluate the king’s meat every meal, to calculate how much to taste and when to compromise, or whether an exception was in order.

Wavering keeps the issues always front and center by keeping the soul from a steadfast resolution.

Extremism, denying self of harmless practices and going beyond God’s counsel, also demands too much attention for the topic of health. God’s counsels set a simple barrier that we can conform to. Extremism goes beyond that barrier and leave the boundary undefined. Research can never find it and far too much attention is given to the topic of healthy living. This was the case of the Pharisees in reference to ritual cleanness.

Health may receive too little emphasis. When we serve our appetites and passions contrary to God’s counsel, we tend to shun the light that would expose our indulgence.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. Joh 3:20 

 

If we forgot about the value of ends to be derived from healthy living, we may neglect the means. If we waver we will grow weary until we chose to forget about health at all. If we are extreme we may eventually grow weary and throw out even rational health habits.

Health a Special Emphasis During the Judgment

The First Angel’s message calls men to “give glory” to God in light of the fact that the “house of his judgment is come.” Re 14:6-7. Since the beginning of the judgment we have been in a special time for giving God glory. This involves reform in our health habits.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1Co 10:31 

 

It is in the judgment that we “give account” of our “stewardship” to God. Ro 14:12; Lu 16:2.

It is in the judgment that the gospel will go to the whole world and this is another reason that health is to be emphasized as it was by Daniel. It brings attention to God’s wisdom. De 4:6. Mt 24:14.

 

Intelligent Health Reform requires Education and Healing

 

The many counsels of God on the topic of health and healing require study and progressive reform. These can not be wholly covered at one time. We must study to know what common habits destroy our body temple, study to understand the conditions of receiving healing from God, study to understand the simple remedies that God has provided in nature to aid even the poor in having optimum health and in escaping destructive addictions.

Earlier we noticed that in Eden God chose appetite as the first test over man’s loyalty. And there Satan chose appetite as the ground of the first temptation. Four thousand years later little had changed. Jesus was led “of the Spirit” into the wilderness to be “tempted.” What test was first given? A test over appetite. Satan challenged Jesus to gratify his intense hunger.

Questions and Answers

Isn’t this business of eating a very personal issue? Isn’t it one that the Spirit will convict us on individually? Aren’t the laws of health in the Bible part of the “old law?”

Yes, Yes, and No.

Yes, food and drink are as personal and as sensitive an area as can be brought to the attention of a man or woman. This observation is in every way valid. While food is a very personal topic, the Bible is authoritative for all men in all ages. It is the test of all doctrine and practice.

There we may find God’s wisdom revealed, His love expressed in hearty counsels. And there we will find that He is a jealous God, not willing to compete with any rivals for full devotion. In the contest for our service He will share a seat on the throne of our hearts with our appetite.

Yes, on the topic of diet and health the Spirit will convict us individually. The Spirit’s convictions, however, are neither the same as our desires nor the same as our impulses. It is precisely because we are a temple for the Holy Spirit that the issue of health is treated with such gravity in scripture.

How does the Spirit convict us? Our “hearts burn within us” while the scriptures are speaking to our intellect, to reason. Indulgence numbs such fine sensibilities. The servant of appetite may only vaguely sense a moral obligation to restrain the appetites and the passions and the desires.

Nevertheless, it is true that many changes in our diet should not be made suddenly. One step at a time is the best way to improve the health of our physical organism.  Truth is personally progressive. In other words, Jesus teaches us, by His Spirit, at a pace that challenges us, but not at a pace that overwhelms us. It was in this vane that He told his disciples:

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Joh 16:12 

 

Just here is where the very personal issue comes into the health field. The Spirit will not teach you and I differently regarding what is true. But the Spirit will weigh our readiness individually and will prompt us when we are able by revealing to us new truth.

This is not to say, however, that we are unready for truth that we have learned. It is never safe to reject truth. “Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” Pr. 6:23.

And still it is true that I can not judge you, nor you me, regarding health practices and understanding. We will give account of our stewardship, not to our fellow men, but to our Master.

And no, the health laws of the Bible are not part of the law of “ordinances” that was nailed to the cross in Col. 2:14. Ceremonies were abolished that pointed to Christ. These are no more. Also, the civil laws of the nation of Israel are not the civil laws of any nation today and so have no force.

But the moral laws and health regulations of the Jews are specifically enforced on New Testament Christians. Acts 15:28-29. And they were in force even centuries prior to Abraham. God sent unclean animals into the ark in pairs and clean animals into the ark in sevens. Very apparently only the latter were to be eaten if the former were to survive as a species.

In short, the health regulations are not “laws” as are the 10 Commandments. The law is “Thou Shalt Not Kill.” The health regulations are Divine light regarding practices that harm, and slowly kill, our own bodies. They are enforced by the law against murder on “them which believe and know the truth.” 1Ti 4:3.

For the Word Document, click here: Dan_1_-_Health_in_the_End_Times

Daniel

The Model Man

Daniel was not Jesus. We are not to look to him as the paragon of devoted living.

Nevertheless, Daniel holds a rare place in inspiration. He is one of three men that is used to illustrate the faithfulness of the last generation in Ezekiel 14. He is the one man that is used as a benchmark for measuring Lucifer’s wisdom in Ezekiel 28. He is the one prophet Jesus recommended to our study in Matthew 24. He is one righteous man of the Old Testament of whom we have no record of a wrong.

In fact, the testimony of the enemies of his public office was that they could find no fault in him except that he scrupulously kept the law of God. They knew him well enough that they didn’t expect any dirt to show up in the future either.

Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Da 6:5

Daniel cultivated purity as a slave to Babylon. He risked his life voluntarily to avoid the appearance of evil. And when threatened with death, he let his light shine before men that they might see his good works and glorify his Father in heaven.

Daniel, when gifted with understanding in visions and dreams, still took personal study of the Bible seriously. He fasted and prayed in connection with his efforts to comprehend the God’s messages. He studied the writings of his contemporary prophet, Jeremiah. Da 9:2.

Daniel worked to spare the lives of the wicked wise men of his realm. Daniel modeled meekness. He chose only the best of friends and boarded with them. Da 2:17.

Daniel risked sharing needed truth of the most unpleasant stripe. Yet he exhibited the utmost love and concern for the one rebuked by his words. Da 4. Then again, he knew when to refuse honors and to speak without mercy. In this he modeled the last generation during the time of trouble. Compare Da 5:22-23; EW p. 279-281; Re 3:9.

Daniel expressed profound tact in his dealings with those that were over him. Soon he was over them. Daniel remembered his spiritual friends when providence placed him in the highest place in the kingdom. Da 2:49.

Daniel’s life showed that he studied scripture. His prayers were model prayers, in harmony with God’s instruction through Solomon and by Moses. Daniel is one of only three persons known to have communed with Gabriel. He was, according to that angel, “greatly beloved.”

And there is more that could be said. He alone was told that he would stand in his lot in the end of the days. He is standing there now, showing us a better way to live while Babylon prospers around us.

See here for the Word Doc: Dan_1_-_Daniel_the_model_man