WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN BSF EXILE & RETURN: A TIME TO BUILD LESSON 6
- God always prevails
- God will never abandon His people
- God is sovereign
- God is the judge of humanity
- God limits evil
Category: BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026
Welcome to AtoZMom’s BSF Blog! BSF International, or Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)’s study of Exile & Return: A Time to Build is a study of the Old Testament where we will see how God’s people are called to build His kingdom in a foreign land. We will study several books in the Bible, including Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, Nehemiah, and Malachi, and study some of the best characters in the Bible, such as Daniel, Ester, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Follow this free Bible study online today!
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 5: Daniel 8:15-27
Summary of Daniel 8:15-27
Gabriel, an angel and a frequent messenger in the Bible, was instructed by Jesus to explain the vision. He explains the vision is about the End Times.
The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.
Another king will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
Daniel was worn out and exhausted from what he saw. Then he went about the king’s business.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 5: Daniel 8:15-27
12a) Media and Persia and Greece
b) Earthly kingdoms will fade away.
c) God will destroy the kingdoms forever. This gives me hope that despite all the evil surrounding us that God will prevail.
13) God is trustworthy. God is sovereign. God is in control. God uses today’s evil systems to work His plan and His good.
14) I pray that God has got them. That they have peace in God and in their troubles. That they have the strength to persevere in their faith for him. That they use Daniel’s example of how to cope with persecution. That they survive.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 5: Daniel 8:15-27
I love how God leads us and doesn’t totally leave us in the dark. This helps us to better follow Him when we have some understanding of what He is saying.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 5: Daniel 8:15-27
Ulai is a river in Persia. Here is a map of Susa and the Ulai Canal.
Though this prophecy was fulfilled with the Medo-Persian and Greek empires, this also refers to the End Times and the Antichrist.
Sealing of the vision refers to the fact that this is prophecy and would take place far in the future.
Daniel was most likely overwhelmed because he just couldn’t understand how God could allow such a travesty and evil to happen. Yet, he still had a job to do, and he did it.
Note the term “son of man” here refers to Daniel, a literal son of a man. You see this in Ezekiel, too (Ezekiel 2:1, 3; 3:1, 10; 4:16; 6:2; 7:2; 11:2)
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 8:15-27 is the angel Gabriel’s direct interpretation of the preceding vision, revealing a specific and terrifying period of future persecution against God’s people.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
- The Empires Identified: Gabriel explicitly confirms the identities of the beasts. The two-horned ram is the Medo-Persian Empire, and the goat is the Greek Empire. The goat’s first great horn is its first king, Alexander the Great, whose empire is then divided into four kingdoms.
- A Profile of the Antagonist: The interpretation focuses on the “little horn,” identifying him as a cunning, cruel, and blasphemous king (historically Antiochus IV Epiphanes) who will rise from one of the Greek kingdoms. He will persecute the “holy people” and halt the daily sacrifices in the Temple.
- A Supernatural Conflict: The interpretation frames this as a spiritual battle. The king becomes powerful “not by his own power” and is ultimately destroyed “but not by human power.” This reveals that the conflict is a direct confrontation between a supernaturally empowered tyrant and the “Prince of princes” (God).
- A Sobering Prophecy: The vision is so disturbing in its detail of future suffering that Daniel is left physically ill. It is a sobering look at a coming tribulation for the faithful, but it carries the ultimate hope that the persecutor’s reign is limited and his destruction is guaranteed by God Himself.
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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 4: Daniel 8:1-14
Summary of Daniel 8:1-14
Daniel describes another vision he has. He saw a ram with two long horns. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. The ram charged toward the west, north, and south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great.
Then a goat with a horn between its eyes appeared. It charged the ram, attacked it, and shattered its horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it, and none could rescue the ram from its power. The goat became very great, but at the height of its power, the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.
Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power. It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the Lord; it took away the daily sacrifice from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down. Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
A holy one asked how long till the vision is fulfilled. It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 4: Daniel 8:1-14
9) Here, Daniel describes another vision he has. He saw a ram with two long horns. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. The ram charged toward the west, north, and south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great. Then a goat with a horn between its eyes appeared. It charged the ram, attacked it, and shattered its horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it, and none could rescue the ram from its power. The goat became very great, but at the height of its power, the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.
Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power. It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the Lord; it took away the daily sacrifice from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down. Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
In Daniel 7, he saw:
Daniel had a dream/vision of beasts that came up from the sea.
- The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. Its wings were torn off, and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
- The second beast looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
- The third beast looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
- The fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
Another horn appeared and uprooted other horns. The horn had eyes and a mouth that spoke.
Daniel then saw God (the Ancient of Days) on his throne. A river flowed before him he was attended by thousands.
The beast was then slain. The other beasts were stripped of authority.
Then Daniel saw Jesus (the Son of Man). 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 will never be destroyed.
The difference:
The vision in Daniel 7 is a broad overview of four monstrous gentile empires (including Babylon and Rome) rising from the chaotic sea, spanning all of history until the Son of Man’s final judgment.
Daniel 8 is more focused. It uses specific sacrificial animals (a ram and a goat) to detail only the Medo-Persian and Greek empires. Its climax is not the end of the world, but the specific persecution of Israel and the desecration of the Jerusalem Temple.
10) These verses depict a shift from earthly chaos to the ultimate authority of the heavenly court. The “Ancient of Days” (God the Father) takes His seat as the eternal and righteous Judge. The symbols of fire, the white throne, and the opened books signify that a time of final, divine judgment has come. The most arrogant and blasphemous earthly power (the fourth beast) is judged and utterly destroyed, demonstrating God’s absolute sovereignty over all human history.
11) Suffering is temporary and temporal while we are here on Earth. God is in control, and one day, we won’t suffer at all.
This truth raises profound and difficult questions. Hearts might cry out, “If God is good and in control, why must His people suffer at all?” Minds might grapple with the purpose, asking, “Why allow this pain if the end is already determined?” This leads to the most pressing question for those in the midst of trial: “How can I endure until the promised limit is reached?” It forces a struggle between trusting God’s sovereignty and the painful reality of suffering.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 4: Daniel 8:1-14
Amazing how Daniel had visions and shared them with all Christians to come, to give us hope that suffering is not forever, and God does win in the end.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 4: Daniel 8:1-14
Map of Susa:
The ram represents the Meso-Persian Empire, which is the empire that conquered Babylon. A ram was a symbol of Persia.
The different sizes of the horns represent the different empires. Persia was larger than the Medes and emerged after the Medes.
The male goat is Greece (Daniel 8:21-22).
The Greeks rose from the west suddenly under Alexander the Great. Their enemy was the Persians, whom they often fought and eventually defeated. Alexander died, and his kingdom was divided 4 ways.
Because of Alexander the Great, who spread Greek culture and language everywhere he went, the New Testament was written in Greek.
The little horn was Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who ruled over Syria and Israel’s land under the Seleucid dynasty.
Horns symbolize military power.
We see “the Glorious Land” used for Israel in the Bible Ezekiel 20:6 , Ezekiel 25:9, Daniel 11:16 and 11:41, and in Psalm 48:2.
Antiochus Epiphanes fulfills exactly what these Scriptures say about him.
The host and stars are symbols used in the Old Testament for angels, kings, and leaders, or God’s people (Genesis 15:5, 22:17, 26:4), (Exodus 12:41)
The holy one speaking could be Jesus.
The 2,300 is most likely days. This is prophecy fulfilled as it conclusively happened.
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 8:1-14 presents a symbolic vision detailing the transition of power from the Medo-Persian Empire to the Greek Empire, and the subsequent rise of a tyrannical king who persecutes God’s people.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
- The Ram and the Goat: The powerful two-horned ram represents the Medo-Persian Empire. It is violently conquered by a swift, one-horned goat from the west, which symbolizes the Greek Empire under the meteoric conquests of its first king, Alexander the Great (the “prominent horn”).
- The Broken Horn and the Four Horns: The prominent horn breaking off at the height of its power represents Alexander the Great’s sudden death. The four horns that rise in its place symbolize the four successor kingdoms that his generals carved out of his vast empire.
- The “Little Horn”: A small but arrogant horn emerges from one of the four kingdoms. This figure represents the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. His defining actions are blasphemous arrogance against heaven and a direct assault on the Jewish religion, specifically by stopping the daily sacrifices in the Jerusalem Temple and desecrating the sanctuary.
- The Promise of Restoration: The vision concludes by revealing that this period of desecration is limited. A heavenly voice declares that after 2,300 “evenings and mornings” (a set period of time), the sanctuary will be reconsecrated, offering a firm promise of hope and eventual restoration beyond the intense suffering.
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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 3: Daniel 7:15-28
Summary of Daniel 7:15-28
Daniel was troubled by his previous dreams (Daniel 7:1-14) and asked for an interpretation.
The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever.
The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them, another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time.
But his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 3: Daniel 7:15-28
6) Daniel was troubled before because the beasts were terrifying, and he was scared. Daniel knew that dreams had meanings since he could interpret dreams with God’s help. So, he did not know what horror his dream meant. Afterward, he was scared as wars and destruction were described. Lack of understanding causes fear.
7a) The fourth beast was not a beast of known animals like the other beasts. Daniel says the fourth beast had iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It had ten horns on its head, and the horn that looked more imposing than the others had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
b) Knowing that God was in control. His faith in God. And, knowing that God would prevail and His kingdom would be everlasting.
8 ) I can get through anything with God’s strength. I live knowing this is not my home and everything is just temporary. I am not afraid because I know God has got it. And, I feel I live more and worship more, too.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 3: Daniel 7:15-28
I love how God always wins in the end. It’s good to know that despite the hardships, a happy ending is near!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 3: Daniel 7:15-28
Daniel’s vision was most likely more than what he told us. So, you can imagine his fear just from what we know!
Succinctly, the passage means that four kings are conquered by God, and their kingdoms are given to God’s people. You’ll note that this is very similar to Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in Daniel 2. There, we saw four empires rise and fall to God.
God shows us here how he sees the empires — as animals.
Note Jesus is more often a lamb, not a wild beast with no conscience.
Many people wonder how this will end since the Roman Empire (the 4th kingdom) is long gone. Bible scholars believe there will be a “New Rome” at the End Times.
Most believe that the 10 kings mentioned are not literal since they don’t exist yet.
The notable horn is the Antichrist.
The little horn will have limited power and shall only rule for 3.5 years (time and times and half a time). This phrase is used in Revelation (11:2-3, 12:6 and 13:5) to refer to half of the last seven-year period of man’s rule on this earth.
Jesus establishes his kingdom immediately after the end of the fourth kingdom. This causes problems for Bible scholars. Therefore, this is either symbolic or hasn’t happened yet.
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 7:15-28 provides the divine interpretation of the vision, focusing on the suffering God’s people will endure under the final beastly kingdom and guaranteeing their ultimate, triumphant vindication.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
- The “Little Horn” as the Final Enemy: The interpretation centers on the terrifying fourth beast and its “little horn.” This figure is revealed to be a future, arrogant ruler who will blaspheme God (“speak against the Most High”) and actively persecute His “holy people.”
- A Limited Period of Suffering: The angel explains that the faithful will be handed over to this power for a specific, symbolic period (“a time, times and half a time”). This is a crucial assurance that while the persecution will be severe, it is finite and measured by God, not an uncontrolled or endless tragedy.
- The Certainty of Judgment: The vision makes it clear that the heavenly court will ultimately sit in judgment. The “little horn’s” power will be definitively taken away and permanently destroyed. This reveals that all earthly persecutors are subject to God’s final and just verdict.
- The Ultimate Victory of the Saints: The climax of the interpretation is the promise that after the judgment, all sovereignty, power, and greatness will be given to the “holy people of the Most High.” Their suffering is temporary, but their inheritance is an everlasting kingdom.
In essence, this passage is a sober warning of coming persecution, but it is ultimately a message of profound hope, assuring the faithful that their suffering is limited and their ultimate vindication and eternal reign are certain.
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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 2: Daniel 7:1-14
Summary of Daniel 7:1-14
Daniel had a dream/vision of beasts that came up from the sea.
- The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. Its wings were torn off, and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
- The second beast looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’
- The third beast looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
- The fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
Another horn appeared and uprooted other horns. The horn had eyes and a mouth that spoke.
Daniel then saw God (the Ancient of Days) on his throne. A river flowed before him he was attended by thousands.
The beast was then slain. The other beasts were stripped of authority.
Then Daniel saw Jesus (the Son of Man). 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 will never be destroyed.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 2: Daniel 7:1-14
3a)
Four winds of heaven: 4 angels hold back the 4 winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land, sea, or tree.
Great sea: The great sea is depicted as roaring.
Lion, eagle: An eagle represents power. A lion represents strength.
Bear: A symbol of consequences for sin.
Leopard: A leopard is stealthy.
Iron teeth, 10 horns: Horns enact justice. A horn symbolizes strength, and here the Lord gives strength.
Natural Elements
- Four Winds of Heaven
- Qualities: The winds are described as powerful forces “churning up” the great sea. They represent a chaotic, foundational disturbance that brings about great change.
- Significance: In Scripture, winds often symbolize the powerful, invisible acts of God, sometimes in judgment or to bring about His sovereign will upon the earth (Jeremiah 49:36). Here, they signify that the turmoil of human history, from which empires rise, is ultimately stirred by a divine, heavenly power.
- Great Sea
- Qualities: The sea is vast, dark, chaotic, and tempestuous. It is the source from which the monstrous beasts emerge.
- Significance: The sea is a common biblical metaphor for the abyss, chaos, and the tumultuous Gentile (non-Jewish) nations of the world in their restless and ungodly state (Isaiah 17:12, Revelation 17:15). That the beasts arise from the sea signifies that these earthly empires are of human, chaotic, and profane origin, not from heaven.
The Four Beasts
- Lion with Eagle’s Wings (First Beast)
- Qualities: A combination of the king of beasts and the king of birds, representing supreme strength, speed, and majesty. The vision includes its wings being plucked off and it being given a human heart.
- Significance: This beast is historically interpreted as the Babylonian Empire. The lion was a prominent symbol of Babylon. The combination with an eagle represents its initial power and swift conquests. The removal of its wings and the giving of a human heart is widely seen as a reference to King Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling in Daniel 4, where his beast-like pride was replaced with humility.
- Bear (Second Beast)
- Qualities: A lumbering, powerful, and ferocious beast, raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth. It is commanded to “devour much flesh.”
- Significance: This represents the Medo-Persian Empire. The bear’s brute strength reflects the empire’s massive armies. Being “raised up on one side” symbolizes the unequal partnership between the Medes and the Persians, with the Persians being the more dominant power. The three ribs signify three major conquests made by the empire (such as Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt).
- Leopard (Third Beast)
- Qualities: A leopard with four wings on its back and four heads. It is characterized by extreme speed and agility.
- Significance: This symbolizes the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great. A leopard is already swift, but the four wings represent the unprecedented speed of Alexander’s conquests. The four heads signify the division of his empire among his four leading generals after his sudden death.
- Iron Teeth and 10 Horns (Fourth Beast)
- Qualities: An unnamed, terrifying beast, different from all the others. It is described by its actions: crushing, devouring, and trampling with its large iron teeth. It has ten horns, representing power and rulers.
- Significance: The iron directly connects this beast to the legs of iron in Daniel 2, representing the Roman Empire. Its actions depict a new level of ruthless, all-consuming military and political power that would dominate its predecessors. The ten horns are generally understood to represent the rulers or divisions of power that would come from this empire.
b) These images offer hope, awe, and assurance of where believers will go at the end of time. We don’t have to fear human inventions or rulers; God is in charge now and forever and justice is assured!
4a) God is the Ancient of Days. It represents heaven and, more specifically, the Last Days. Fire is power, and all are attending him. The Book of Life is open.
What the Symbols Represent
The symbols surrounding the Ancient of Days are imagery of a divine, heavenly courtroom convened for ultimate judgment:
- White Clothing and Hair: The clothing “white as snow” and hair “like pure wool” represent God’s absolute purity, holiness, and righteousness. White is the color of perfection, signifying that the Judge of all history is without any stain of sin or injustice. The white hair also symbolizes infinite wisdom.
- The Flaming Throne and Blazing Wheels: The throne of fire symbolizes God’s awesome power and his unapproachable holiness. Fire in the Bible often represents both purification and judgment. The blazing wheels, reminiscent of the vision in Ezekiel 1, signify God’s omnipresence—His judgment is not static but can reach anywhere.
- The River of Fire: Flowing from the throne, this river represents the unstoppable and all-consuming power of God’s justice. It is the active force of His judgment, purging and destroying all that is unholy before Him.
- The Heavenly Host: The “thousands upon thousands” who attend Him are the angelic court. Their immense number signifies the majesty, glory, and power of the divine King and Judge.
- The Seated Court and Opened Books: This is the imagery of a formal legal proceeding. The “court was seated” indicates that the time for judgment has officially begun. The “books were opened” signifies a divine accounting of all deeds. It reveals that the actions of all earthly rulers and kingdoms have been recorded and will be judged according to God’s perfect, righteous standard.
b) Jesus is “one like a son of man.”
c) It’s God and Jesus, so Father and Son. Both are rulers of everything. Jesus will be the final judge of all of humanity.
The Ancient of Days (God the Father) is the eternal Sovereign who sits in judgment. The “one like a son of man” (Jesus Christ) is the divine heir. Their relationship is one of the ultimate authority, bestowing all power upon the rightful ruler, who receives his everlasting kingdom from the Father.
For believers, the vision provides hope and assurance that earthly oppression is temporary and their righteous King will be vindicated. For all others, it is a sober warning that all human kingdoms are fleeting and will ultimately be judged and subjected to the Son of Man’s eternal, universal rule.
5) I find comfort and security in Jesus, as well as hope. Others see Jesus as a threat, responding with defiance, indifference, or fear of final accountability.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 2: Daniel 7:1-14
This lesson was most definitely full! The symbolism and the vision are great!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 6, Day 2: Daniel 7:1-14
This is the beginning of Daniel’s visions that are recorded (they are in Daniel 7-12). The life of Daniel is in Daniel 1-6.
Fun Fact: Halfway through Daniel, he goes from a third-person account of his court stories to a first-person account of his prophecies.
Fun Fact: Daniel wrote his book in both Hebrew and Aramaic (2:4-7:28). Bible scholars believe that when Daniel wrote in Hebrew, he was addressing a Jewish audience.
This vision is before the Babylonians were conquered by the Medo-Persian Empire and after Nebuchadnezzar’s reign.
The Great Sea is most likely the Mediterranean Sea here.
Seas are dangerous since most ancient people could not swim. Seas are also seen as Gentile nations in the Bible (Psalm 74:13, Psalm 89:9, Isaiah 57:20).
The winds could be either God’s power ( Psalm 35:5, Psalm 48:7, Psalm 107:25 Isaiah 27:8 and Isaiah 41:16) or Satan’s forces (Revelation 7:1).
Lions and eagles are at the top of their respective food chains.
Lions are strong, majestic, and fast.
Bears are slower but stronger.
A leopard makes sudden, surprise attacks.
The fourth beast is indescribable but the most powerful.
Horns represent power.
Daniel tells us that they represent four kingdoms (Daniel 7:17).
- Lion and eagle — Babylon. Also, they can represent Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 49:19-22)
- Bear — Medo-Persian Empire. The three ribs could represent Babylon, Egypt, and Lydia (the lands they conquered)
- Leopard — Greek Empire. When Alexander the Great died, his empire was divided into 4 parts (hence, the 4 heads) and 4 rulers (Casander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy)
- Indescribable Beast — Roman Empire
God knows the future.
The Ancient of Days is God the Father, as symbolized by His white hair and garments. Angels and humans surrounded him. It represents eternity.
Fun Fact: The term “Ancient of Days” is only used in the book of Daniel.
Fire often represents judgment. God is also seen in fire (Exodus 3:2; 19:18, Ezekiel 1:4-5). Therefore, it can represent holiness, too.
Appearing on clouds symbolizes divine authority.
Sea often represents chaos, threats, and strife.
There are several books in the Bible, but most likely this is the Book of Life since it’s also foreshadowing the End Times.
The Son of Man (Jesus) comes to establish dominion on earth.
The boastful words of the horn are from the Antichrist (Revelation 13:5-6). Jesus will crush the Antichrist.
Fun Fact: The Son of Man was used by Jesus to describe himself over 80 times in the Gospels.
The Little Horn includes the things the Lord hates (haughty eyes and a lying tongue). Proverbs 6:16-19
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 7:1-14 is an apocalyptic vision that reveals God’s sovereign control over history, contrasting the brutal nature of human empires with the glory of His eternal kingdom.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
- The Four Beasts: The four monstrous beasts rising from the chaotic sea (lion, bear, leopard, and a terrifying fourth beast) represent a succession of violent and predatory earthly kingdoms (traditionally identified as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome). The final “little horn” symbolizes the peak of arrogant, blasphemous human power that persecutes the faithful.
- The Ancient of Days: The vision then shifts to the heavenly court, where the “Ancient of Days” (God the Father) sits as the ultimate and eternal Judge. This scene reveals that while empires create chaos on earth, God remains enthroned in absolute authority, and a time of final judgment is set when all earthly powers will be held accountable.
- The “One Like a Son of Man”: The climax of the vision is the appearance of a divine figure who comes “with the clouds of heaven.” Unlike the beasts from the chaotic sea, he has a human appearance and a heavenly origin. This messianic figure does not seize power but is presented before the Ancient of Days.
- The Everlasting Kingdom: The Son of Man is given everlasting dominion, glory, and a kingdom that will never be destroyed. This reveals God’s ultimate plan: to judge the violent human kingdoms and replace them with the eternal, universal, and righteous reign of His chosen messianic King.
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Friday’s Digest BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN BSF EXILE & RETURN: A TIME TO BUILD LESSON 5
- The wicked will suffer for their evil acts
- God’s kingdom endures forever
- God’s presence and purpose are in every circumstance
- We must trust God’s will, ways, and sovereignty
- God is everywhere
- God knows everything
- Spending time with God is never wasted
TAKE AWAY: God is with you, knows you, and has a plan for you.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 5: Daniel 6:19-28
Summary of Daniel 6:19-28
God saved Daniel from the lions. King Darius then punished the men who had tricked him and falsely accused Daniel by throwing them and their families into the lions’ den. King Darius then issued a decree that the people must fear and revere God.
Daniel prospered during Darius’ and Cyrus’ reigns.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 5: Daniel 6:19-28
14a) God protected both Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because they were faithful to Him. In both, jealous officials trap faithful Hebrews with a law demanding state-enforced idolatry. The heroes demonstrate uncompromising faith, choosing obedience to God despite a death sentence. God then performs a miraculous deliverance, proving His supreme power over earthly threats. This forces the pagan king to publicly praise God and issue an empire-wide decree, leading to the vindication and promotion of the faithful servants.
b) This encourages me to always trust God in all of my circumstances. God is present in all of my trials, and I need to lean on Him. God can vindicate. Faithfulness is rewarded. God’s in control of all of humanity.
c) In my bankruptcy years ago, my job, His will for my life, what He wants to do next for me.
15a) Jesus was without blame, faithful, and sent to death because of jealous humans. Both were not able to be rescued because of rulers who felt trapped by their power. Jesus was plotted against. But, Jesus came out victorious thanks to God and God’s plans. Jesus died and was raised from the dead. Daniel could have died, but, was saved from death.
b) Darius was overjoyed that Daniel had survived. He then issued a decree that the people must fear and revere God.
16a) God and his faith in God. Daniel had extraordinary daily faith that ultimately rewarded him.
b) Many ways. I know no matter how hard things get, God has got me! I can live with integrity and honor, and my faithfulness to God will get me through each day and even change the world!
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 5: Daniel 6:19-28
I love this story. Such a classic story of how faith prevails above all else and how God is in charge of everything (as always). We can always trust God in our lives, even if we cannot fully understand His ways.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 5: Daniel 6:19-28
Daniel did not break the king’s laws.
Daniel’s example of faith is mentioned in Hebrews 11:33 as one of the premier examples of a faithful life.
The tradition of the Persians was to eradicate the whole family as punishment.
No one wants to be tricked, so the punishment of the satraps was more than just, especially for those times.
Darius most likely would have punished the men if Daniel had died, too.
The fact that the men were eaten but Daniel was not proves that there was divine intervention. And, Daniel’s survival was taken by the Persians to mean he was innocent of the charges against him.
Darius then declares God’s greatness. This is a similar pattern we see in the Book of Daniel:
- God’s people stand firm with God
- God honors and protects them
- The faithfulness of God’s people is a testimony of God’s work
- This shows the ungodly the greatness of God.
God always provides a witness to His presence and power.
Some believe that Darius was Cyrus since he is mentioned here.
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 6:19-28 describes the miraculous deliverance of Daniel from the lions’ den, the just punishment of his accusers, and the subsequent glorification of God throughout the Persian empire.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
- The Miraculous Deliverance: Daniel’s survival is an unambiguous demonstration of God’s absolute power over nature and death. An angel is sent to shut the mouths of the lions, and the text explicitly states Daniel was unharmed “because he had trusted in his God.” The miracle is a direct response to and a vindication of Daniel’s unwavering faith.
- The Reversal of Justice: The story shows a profound and just reversal. The conspirators who used the law to trap an innocent man are subjected to the very fate they intended for Daniel. The speed and ferocity of the lions with the accusers serve to highlight the supernatural nature of Daniel’s rescue, proving that divine justice prevails.
- The King’s Proclamation: The climax is not just Daniel’s safety, but King Darius’s resulting decree. The miracle compels the powerful pagan king to issue a global proclamation, commanding all his subjects to “fear and reverence the God of Daniel.” He testifies that Daniel’s God is the living, eternal, and sovereign God who rescues and saves.
In essence, this passage reveals that God powerfully vindicates the radical trust of His faithful servants, turns the evil plots of the wicked back upon themselves, and uses these events to reveal His supreme power and glory to the nations.
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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 4: Daniel 6:1-18
Summary of Daniel 6:1-18
Daniel was gaining position within King Darius’ empire, making the satraps jealous. They determined to find charges against him. They tricked the king into issuing a decree that anyone worshipping anyone else but him should be thrown into the lions’ den. So, Daniel was caught worshipping God, and the King had to throw him into the lions’ den.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 4: Daniel 6:1-18
11a) The fact that Daniel could interpret dreams. The fact he was loyal and not corrupt. And, he was good at his job. His character was above others’.
b) God blesses those who do His work above all else. Excellence trumps culture. Character is super important.
12a) They were jealous of him and wanted to be the king’s favorite. They wanted the power and influence with the king that Daniel had.
b) All mankind is fallen and sinful. They do evil unto others for their own personal gain. Only God can save us from ourselves. Their actions reveal a heart that is fundamentally self-serving, views excellence as a threat, uses deception as a tool, and is willing to corrupt systems of law and religion to achieve its own envious and power-hungry goals.
13) Daniel still prayed to God despite the edict. His life would not change, nor would his devotion to God. He knew God would save him if it was God’s will.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 4: Daniel 6:1-18
Such a powerful example of mankind’s nature at its worst and how to respond in a Godly way.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 4: Daniel 6:1-18
History records do not record Darius’ name. However, experts believe this was another name for a different ruler.
Daniel was not sinless, but he operated with integrity to the point that the satraps could find nothing he had ever done wrong.
The satraps used Darius’ pride to trick him. The edict could not be changed because the people believed the king spoke to the gods, and the gods were never wrong.
Darius knew it was his fault he was tricked, and he felt guilty over it since he couldn’t sleep. He probably liked Daniel and honestly did not want him harmed.
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 6:1-18 sets the stage for a dramatic test of faith by showcasing how political jealousy can weaponize the law to target religious integrity.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
- The Conspiracy of Jealousy: Daniel’s exceptional competence and trustworthiness as an administrator provoke the envy of his rivals. Unable to find any fault in his professional life, they conspire to use his unwavering religious devotion as a weapon against him.
- The Idolatrous Law: The decree forbidding prayer to any god or man except King Darius for 30 days is a trap. It forces a direct conflict between civic obedience and divine worship, demanding an allegiance to the state that is due only to God.
- Daniel’s Uncompromising Faithfulness: Knowing the decree is law, Daniel does not change his lifelong habit. He continues to pray openly toward Jerusalem, demonstrating that his devotion to God is a consistent, non-negotiable part of his life, not a reaction to the crisis. His act is one of faithful consistency, not political defiance.
- The Powerless King: The story highlights the irony of King Darius, the most powerful man in the empire, being trapped by his own irrevocable law. He is greatly distressed and tries to save Daniel but is rendered helpless by his own prideful decree.
In essence, this passage establishes a clear conflict between the integrity of a faithful man and the jealousy of a corrupt system. It pits the unchangeable law of the Medes and Persians against Daniel’s unwavering commitment to the higher law of his God, setting the stage for a divine intervention.
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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 3: Daniel 5:13-31
Summary of Daniel 5:13-31
So, King Belshazzar called Daniel before him to interpret the writing on the wall. Daniel turned down all rewards and interpreted the message. He told him that his father was given greatness but was prideful, so he was humbled. He did not learn from his father’s experience, so God is sending him a punishment.
The inscription was: mene, mene, tekel, parsin, which meant that God has numbered his days of reign. His kingdom will be given to the Medes and the Persians. That very night, King Belshazzar was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at age 62.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 3: Daniel 5:13-31
7) God. God is in control of everything, everyone, and every destiny.
8 ) Daniel did not need anything; he had everything he needed in God. Plus, he may not have wanted to take from a pagan king. It also showed that he spoke the truth, not influenced by rewards. Daniel interpreted because he may have seen it as his duty to do so, and it would glorify God when the truth came to pass.
9) The rule was the same. They were both arrogant and prideful and forced to acknowledge God in heaven. But the main difference was that King Nebuchadnezzar respected God. His sin was pride, whereas Belshazzar committed blasphemy against God. God corrected Nebuchadnezzar; he punished Belshazzar.
10) Empires don’t stand; God does. Nothing is for certain. Anything can happen. Circumstances can change literally overnight. In today’s world, the same. Anything can change, so our job is to pray and let God handle it all.
What’s striking is the suddenness of Babylon’s fall. The empire collapsed in a single night, not from weakness, but at the very height of its arrogant and blasphemous feast. Its end was a swift, direct fulfillment of God’s prophetic judgment, proving human power is an illusion before divine justice.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 3: Daniel 5:13-31
Great lesson on how God determines outcomes. He also holds those who should know better (aka Belshazzar) to a higher standard.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 3: Daniel 5:13-31
Daniel knew that Belshazzar should have known not to mess with God, based on his father, King Nebuchadnezzar’s, experience. He was without excuse.
Each of the words on the wall stood for a short sentence.
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 5:13-31 describes the solemn delivery of a divine, final judgment against a blasphemous king and its immediate, violent fulfillment.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
- Daniel’s Rebuke of Willful Pride: Before interpreting the words, Daniel boldly rebukes King Belshazzar. He highlights that the king’s sin was far worse than Nebuchadnezzar’s, because he knew the story of his predecessor’s humbling yet chose to act with even greater, defiant arrogance. This establishes the theme of accountability for known truth.
- The Divine Verdict: The words on the wall—MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN—are interpreted as a final legal verdict from the court of heaven:
- MENE: God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.
- TEKEL: You have been weighed on the scales of justice and found morally and spiritually deficient.
- PARSIN: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
- The Swift and Irreversible Judgment: Unlike the warning dream given to Nebuchadnezzar, this message contains no offer of repentance. It is a final sentence. The prophecy’s fulfillment “that very night” with Belshazzar’s death reveals the terrifying swiftness and finality of God’s judgment when a line of defiant blasphemy is crossed.
In essence, the passage demonstrates that God is a righteous judge who holds leaders accountable. While He can be patient, His judgment against those who know the truth and willfully mock Him can be sudden, absolute, and historically precise.
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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 2: Daniel 5:1-12
Summary of Daniel 5:1-12
King Belshazzar of Babylon gave a royal banquet. Here, he drank from the gold goblets that Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. Suddenly, writing appeared on the wall. The King was scared and wanted to know what it would mean, promising the interpreter to be promoted to the 3rd highest ruler in the kingdom.
The queen or queen mother told him to call for Daniel, who was the chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners in his father’s time. He could interpret it.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 2: Daniel 5:1-12
3) King Belshazzar of Babylon was King Nebuchadnezzar’s son. He was a pagan, but revered his gods and wanted to celebrate them. He is an arrogant, indulgent king whose spiritual life is defined by active blasphemy. He deliberately defiles God’s sacred vessels to worship lifeless idols, showing contempt for true divinity. His instant terror at the supernatural writing reveals his proud bravado was a fragile facade, spiritually bankrupt before true power.
4) Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace.
5a) She showed him respect and then told him not to be afraid, for Daniel could interpret dreams as he did under King Nebuchadnezzar. She told her husband to call him to explain the riddle.
b) She began with respect. She offered a solution based on past successes. She was calm and cool-headed.
6) King Nebuchadnezzar learned that God in Heaven was above all other gods and should be respected. He should have learned that God humbles the proud. Therefore, King Belshazzar should not have defiled the gold goblets from the temple. He should expect judgment.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 2: Daniel 5:1-12
It’s funny to me how all these pagan kings still worshipped the pagan gods after our Lord in Heaven proved to them their falsehood.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 5, Day 2: Daniel 5:1-12
Nebuchadnezzar ruled for 43 years. His son, Belshazzar, became king after several other failed kingships. The secular record does not have a ruler named Belshazzar. Therefore, Bible scholars believe that Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus, the last recorded ruler of Babylon from 556-539 BC. Nabonidus ruled from afar, so some believe Belshazzar to be the ruler in Babylon at this time. The term “father” was common for “ancestor” or “predecessor.”
King Belshazzar committed sacrilege against God. He was trying to bolster his people since they were under attack.
When the writing on the wall appeared, King Belshazzar was terrified. He probably knew he had committed sacrilege and would now pay the price.
In addition, King Belshazzar saw the very hand of God. That, in itself, is terrifying. God’s actions in Scripture are often symbolized by His hand (Psalm 37:24; 95:4; Isaiah 5:25)
King Belshazzar was technically 2nd in command since he was a stand-in for the real king at the time.
The woman could have been the King’s mother. She knew Daniel had “the spirit of the holy gods,” which was often used by Nebuchadnezzar to describe Daniel (Daniel 4:8-9, 18).
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 5:1-12 sets a scene of peak arrogance and blasphemy, which is met by a terrifying divine intervention, once again proving the bankruptcy of worldly wisdom.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
- The Blasphemous Feast: King Belshazzar’s drunken decision to use the sacred vessels from God’s Temple in Jerusalem to praise his own lifeless idols is a deliberate act of contempt. It represents a new level of hubris, actively mocking the God of Israel, unlike Nebuchadnezzar, whose sin was primarily self-glorifying pride.
- The Writing on the Wall: The sudden appearance of a disembodied hand writing a cryptic message is God’s immediate and terrifying response. This supernatural judgment intrudes directly into the pagan feast, shattering the king’s arrogance and filling him with mortal fear.
- The Failure of Worldly Wisdom: For the third time in the book, the most brilliant minds of Babylon are rendered completely powerless before a divine revelation. They cannot read or interpret the message, reinforcing the theme that human wisdom and religion have no access to the secrets of God.
- The Remembrance of God’s Prophet: The queen mother’s recollection of Daniel serves as the turning point. It highlights that God’s true servant is only sought out as a last resort, when all human systems have failed, setting the stage for Daniel to once again speak with divine authority.
In essence, this passage illustrates that there is a line of blasphemy that, when crossed, invites immediate and terrifying judgment. It is a prelude that silences all other voices to make way for the one true word from God.
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