COURSE NAME:  Survey of Daniel  This entry-level course combines Bible study with practical theology.  It is ideal for those expecting to gain a fundamental understanding of Old Testament Biblical prophecy and the practical spiritual lessons taught in this amazing God-inspired historical document.

WELCOME TO A TUITION-FREE INDEPENDENT LEARNING COURSE.  It is not necessary to enroll at a student or pay tuition. You may begin this study immediately.  However, after you have completed the course, we encourage you to consider enrollment in one of our excellent online programs.
https://the.mdivs.edu/all-programs

Before you begin, please note:

• FIRST: This is a comprehensive tuition-free study. You may complete the entire course without cost. After completing the course of study, you will be given the option of receiving recognition.

• SECOND: This study is totally self-contained. You will only need your personal Bible.

• THIRD: This is an independent learning experience, and is therefore self-directed and self-paced.  Move through it the way you find most helpful.

• FOURTH: Even though it is free a free course, this is a serious study of the Bible.

Ten Instructions to Help Guide You

1. Begin each study with prayer. You need to understand what the Bible teaches. God has promised to help you. God keeps his promises. Pray with faith. Put John 16:13 to the test.

2. Utilize any method of study (time of day, place of study, etc.) that will produce good results.

3. First, read all the Underlined Statements but not the Scripture. This is the Subject you are studying.

4. Read carefully! Be sure you know the meaning of each word. Reading aloud may help.

5. Now, read all the Bible verses after the Underlined Statements. As you read, write down any thoughts that you want to add. Write a summary of what the Holy Spirit enables you to learn. Since there are no tests to complete, the more carefully you read, and the more completely you write your summary, the more you will learn.

6. Mark your Bible. Make notations in the margin if that is possible, or in the notes section of an electronic Bible.

7. Meditate! Continue to think about what the Bible teaches. Memorize some verses.

8. Live what the Bible teaches. Obey the Word of God. As you obey what you learn, God will teach you more.

9. Share what you learn. As you teach and tell others what you have learned, God will help you to understand more clearly. You will help others and strengthen yourself.

10. Never give up. With God's help you can be a more faithful and effective Christian witness and worker.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

SURVEY OF DANIEL

Course Objectives:

1. To trace the important sequence of events, visions, personalities, and teachings in the book of Daniel.
2. To identify the major spiritual prophecies in the Daniel record.
3. To gain knowledge about each of the major characters in the Daniel record.
4. To gain a spiritual lesson from each of the major divisions in the Daniel record.
5. To make comparisons with other Bible references.

LESSON PROCEDURES:

I. Get the "Big Picture" of the book of Daniel
Read the entire book.   As you read, make notes in the margin of your Bible or notebook.  Review your notes.

Three vital keys to Daniel's productive life and work.
A. Daniel began young, 1: 3:21,
B. Daniel kept faithful, (Can you list or add other examples of faithfulness?)
  1. Unafraid to tell the truth to the king: 4:19-37. (Find another example of Daniel's courageous speech to a king).
  2. Unafraid to pray when prohibited: 6:4-28.
  3. Can you note another?
C. Daniel believed God's promises: 9: 2 - 28.

Compare Daniel's courage with the fears of others:
   1.Abraham, Genesis 20: 1-18
   2. Jacob, Genesis 32: 1- 33:17
   3. Simon Peter, John 18:15-27

II. Daniel received and interpreted prophetic visions from God.
A. Nebuchadnezzar's dream was a vision of world government from Babylon to Christ's kingdom. 2:19 - 49. (This is a remarkable vision of future history which is still in process of fulfillment).
B. Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat, 8:1-27. This vision received such exact fulfillment in later centuries in the conquest by Alexander that is a strong proof of the validity of Bible prophecy.
C. Daniel's vision of the future of the Jewish nation, including the coming and crucifixion of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Great Tribulation, 9:20-27.
D. Give other examples of Daniel's visions.
E. Tell in your own words how the book of Daniel vindicates Bible prophecy.
F. What do the visions of world events teach about the sovereignty of God?

III. The book of Daniel gives examples of faithfulness when the godly are threatened with death.

A. The worship of the golden image refused by the Hebrews, 3:1-30.
B. The prohibited prayer, 6:2-28.

IV. Daniel is an example of a man who believed the word of the Lord and lived by it. 9:1-3.

A.  Considering chapter 9:1-3, how do you think you might have reacted?  Have you faced any circumstance where you felt driven to prayer, fasting and a study of the Word of God in order to cope or prepare for what you knew would be a major crisis in your life?

V. Other important truths that find expression in the book of Daniel
A. An example of courteous persuasion, 1:16; 2:14-16,
B. Several examples of prayer,
  1. Prayer for wisdom, 2:17-23,
  2. Prayer for forgiveness, 9:3,
  3. Others?
C. An example of a good reputation, 6:3-5,
D. An example of a repentant spirit, 9:2-20,
E. Several examples of humility,
  1. About his wisdom, 2:30
F. An example of God's attitude toward a righteous man, 10:11, 
G. An example of judgment upon impiety, 5:1-6,17-31,
H. An example of Satanic organization, 10:12,13,
I. Examples of God's messengers, 
  1. To convey information, 9:21-27; 10:14
  2. To protect from fire, 3:24,25
  3. To protect from lions, 6:22

VI. References to Daniel in other parts of the Bible, Ezekiel 14:14,20 . This shows the great respect for Daniel as a prophet and a righteous man. 

A. What is the time lapse of the book of Daniel From the beginning of the Babylonian captivity (586 B.C.) to the 70th year ending , 1; 9:2?

VII. Discuss the spiritual qualities in the different characters in the book of Daniel:

1. Proud king (made to eat grass), 
2. Angry king (fiery furnace experience),
3. Faithful Hebrew children (as above),
4. Jealous leaders (prayer plot),
5. Others as you wish.
6. What value is this in your spiritual development? 

VII. Test your ability to communicate the results of your studies

A. Using all your notes, speak a 5 minutes summary message of Daniel.
B. Write as briefly as possible what you think is the purpose God has for the study of the book of Daniel.
C. Review your notes and mark 5 passages that would make good sermons.
D. Review your notes and mark 5 verses you will memorize.
E. Discuss what you have learned with two people and make notes of their reaction.

The MOST PROFITABLE METHOD OF STUDY
1. Obtain at least one other person who will take the course at the same time that you are making the study. There are two advantages:
a. It will benefit both of you to interpret the Scripture,
b. It will challenge you to continue your study on a regular schedule.
 

...end of course

CONGRATULATIONS!

If you have completed the course as instructed, you have achieved an extremely important milestone in your walk with the Lord.  We rejoice with you, and trust that God will use you in an even greater way to minister to a world that is in desperate need of the life-changing Gospel of our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  May the Holy Spirit go before you and make every crooked place straight!  (Isaiah 45:2)