In the Bible, there are four great leaders in exile, Joseph, Moses, Daniel and Mordecai. Each of these leaders is from a different tribe, each has a different temperament and each takes a different approach to dealing with staying faithful to God while living in a worldly empire. Each of these men played a key role in preserving God's chosen people in the face of intense pressure to assimilate.

Daniel, from the tribe of Judah, chooses to cooperate with Babylon and Nebuchadnezzer while still holding fast to his Judaism. In this study we look at his strategy and its results.

As a result of his faithfulness, Daniel was given a series of visions showing both the future course of human history and God's perspective on human empire.

This study will cover the entire book, it is however being published as the study progresses. We intend to publish a new audio file each week until the study is finished.

• Daniel 1-2

  Media File
  Introduction and historical background for the Book of Daniel. Discussion of how Daniel and his companions came to be in Babylon, what their status was and how that played into court politics. Discussion of Nebuchadnezzer's relationship with the seers and magicians within his empire.

• Daniel 2-3

  Media File
  Discussion of the terrible statue in Nebuchadnezzer's dream. Discussion of the golden idol and the reaction of the three Hebrew young men to the king's command that they worship.

• Daniel 3-4

  Media File
  This session focuses on Nebuchadnezzar beginning with his reaction to the deliverance of Shadrach, Mechach and Abednego from the fiery furnace. From there we discuss his second dream and God taking him down a notch.

• Daniel 5-6

  Media File
  The handwriting on the wall, discussion of the fall of Babylon and the rise of Medeo-Persia. Daniel in the lion's den.

• Daniel 7

  Media File
  Daniel's first vision of the four beasts coming out of the great sea. Discussion of the symbolism of the beasts, the sea and the four winds. Discussion of the heavenly court and its judgment.

• Daniel 7-8

  Media File
  Daniel sees the heavenly court sitting in judgment on the last earthly empire. The angel interprets Daniel's vision of the four beasts coming out of the Great Sea.

• Daniel 9

  Media File
  Daniel, reading Jeremiah, realizes that the 70 years of Babylon are nearly finished. He goes into prayer that the decrees of God might come to pass on schedule. As a result, he is given a vision of the fulfillment of the judgment given by the Heavenly Court in chapter 7.

• Daniel 10

  Media File
  Daniel's three weeks of prayer and fasting. Discussion of the dynamics of prayer.

• Daniel 11-12

  Media File
  The account of the Selucid and Ptolemaic empires, their rivalry and what it meant to Israel. This rivalry has prophetic implications.