We are continuing to share with you the opinions of 17 Bible prophecy experts concerning various questions related to the book of Daniel. You should find these interviews fascinating and very informative. The interviews were conducted at a national Bible prophecy conference that was held in the Dallas, Texas area.
The fourth question is based on the fact that one of the most fascinating books in the Hebrew Scriptures is the book of Daniel. It contains many interesting and informative prophecies about the end times, and in that regard, it is a key to understanding the book of Revelation. The book of Daniel also contains a lot of insights about how to live a righteous life in the midst of a pagan society. In short, the book is full of scriptural nuggets that are precious to Christians today.
So the question for our experts is this:
#4. What is your favorite prophetic passage in Daniel and why?
Ed Hindson, World Prophetic Ministry
I love all the chapters in Daniel, but I think especially is the passage at the very end when the Lord says to him, “Daniel, go your way, you are not going to figure this all out in your lifetime. But, in the end, you will stand in your allotted inheritance at the end of days.” In other words, this inheritance is the promise of the resurrection.
The predictions of future events are phenomenal in that book, especially concerning the succession of Gentile empires that would deal with the Jewish people. What would happen to the Jews in the future? What would go on during the intertestamental period?
Beyond all of those events, the real reminder was it’s not just about what’s going to happen in the future. It’s Who’s going to come in the future. The Messiah is going to come. Christ will come to reign and rule, and you’ll be there with him, Daniel. You’ll be literally raised back to life again. It’s not a spiritual resurrection only. You don’t just ooze out of the grave. No, you’ll literally get up, walk out, stand up, and you’ll stand in your allotted place in the Millennial Kingdom in that distant future. I think that’s one of the greatest prophecies in all of the book.
Don Perkins, According to Prophecy Ministries
I got a very unusual passage, and it’s found in Daniel 12:2, which deals with the Resurrection. I like that passage because the description actually talks about the Resurrection. Daniel says, “Those that sleep in the dust shall awake some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” The reason I like that passage is because it actually shows the resurrection of the Redeemed, but it also shows the resurrection of the Unredeemed. We find this theme all the way throughout the Scriptures. It’s a very unusual passage, but I do like that passage because it shows that for the Redeemed, even though we may die, there’s still a day coming when we will be resurrected. Also for the Unredeemed, they will resurrected as well, but sadly into judgment and contempt.
Nathan Jones, Lamb & Lion Ministries
I love Daniel 12:3. It reads this, “Those who are wise will shine
like the brightness of the heavens. And those who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
Who are the wise? The wise are the people who take the message of Daniel to heart. The wise are people who accept Jesus as their Savior. And, what do they do? They are those who lead many to righteousness. They tell people about Jesus. They bring them to Jesus and bring them to righteousness and salvation. And what does the verse say is the rewards for evangelism? It’s that we will shine like the stars forever and ever. Does that mean we will glow in the dark? No, I don’t think it means that. It means that our works will shine forever as a testament to what the Lord has done through us.
With such amazing promises, Daniel 12:3 is definitely my favorite verse.
Gary Fisher, Lion of Judah Ministries
My favorite passage is found in Daniel 7:13-14. I absolutely love this passage. It makes tingles go up and down me!
Daniel 7:13-14 reads, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
We are talking about Jesus who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Bring Him on! In teasing my theological brothers, I tell them I will dispense of the Rapture and the Tribulation, but just give me the King. Get Him in here! What does the world need today? It needs the King. Well, we’ve got one coming, and He’s on the way.
David Reagan, Lamb & Lion Ministries
I love enthusiasm for the Lord’s soon return and the establishment of His worldwide reign that will bring peace, righteousness and justice to this sin-sick planet. For that reason, I must select Daniel 7 as my favorite passage.
Daniel 7 describes a night vision that was given to Daniel in which he saw God the Father presenting His Son the Messiah with dominion over all the earth. My favorite passage follows that vision. It’s the passage that declares that you and I, the Saints, will share in the reign of Jesus. We find this promise in two verses, both 18 and 27, which reads as follows: “The saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come. Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.” That means that we, the Redeemed, are going to share in the reign of Jesus. We, in our glorified bodies, will be scattered around this planet to reign over those in natural bodies.
Jesus will reign from Jerusalem as King of kings and Lord of lords. David in his resurrected, glorified body will serve as the King of Israel. And, you and I in our glorified bodies, we will reign under the authority of Jesus. Some of us will be kings. Others will be serving as governors and mayors and judges and teachers.
This wonderful promise is confirmed in the New Testament in several places. For example, in 2 Timothy 2:12 we are told: “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.” Likewise, in Revelation 2:26-27 we are told: “He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron as I also have received authority from My Father.”
I want to conclude with Daniel 2:28, “There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known what will take place in the latter days.”
In the fourteenth part of this series on the book of Daniel, the members of our panel of Bible prophecy experts will next answer the question, “What is the fundamental non-prophetic message of the book of Daniel?”
To Nathan, I am in agreement brother. I love that passage (Dan. 12:3) So much so, God impressed me to title my book the same. "Those Who Are Wise Will Shine" Understanding the Work of God in Your Redemption. I am not posting a link because I am not trying to use this forum for promotion.
Please keep on writing the blog and may God continue to work in His amazing way in your ministry. I am always blessed because of it.
Michael Henderson