For such a time as this
“For such a time as this.” Haman is hanged on his own gallows; Mordecai becomes Prime Minister.
Lesson 11 · Course 54
Daniel and Esther
Captive prophet and hidden providence — kingdoms, seventy weeks, and Purim.
At a glance
Summary
Captive prophet and hidden providence — kingdoms, seventy weeks, and Purim. Daniel is taken captive about 605 BC at fifteen. He is the last of the Major Prophets in influence and sequence. In many ways his life is like Joseph’s: no recorded sin, a Gentile…
Auto-graded 9/10. Essays not graded yet — final may rise when marked. One attempt only; do not reattempt.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Daniel is taken captive about 605 BC at fifteen. He is the last of the Major Prophets in influence and sequence. In many ways his life is like Joseph’s: no recorded sin, a Gentile court, political leaders who listen, moral purity, and a rise from obscurity to national recognition.
- The book is bilingual — Hebrew in 1:1–2:4 and 8:1–12:13, Aramaic in 2:5–7:28 — written 605–535 BC in Babylon. A captive prophet speaking the language of the court and the language of the covenant.
- Critics put Daniel late, unknown, even first-century. The answer is earlier Aramaic, early Jewish acceptance (Baruch, Josephus, the LXX, Ezekiel), and Jesus recognizing Daniel as both prophet and author.
- Chapters 1–6 are history you can preach: new names (Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego); the king’s food refused; the image dream; the ninety-foot idol and the fourth Man in the fire; Nebuchadnezzar’s seven years of pride; Belshazzar’s MENE, TEKEL, PERES; Darius and the lions’ den.
- Daniel 2 and 7 run in parallel: Babylon (gold / winged lion), Medo-Persia (silver / bear / ram), Greece (brass / leopard with four heads — Alexander’s generals), Rome (iron / dreadful beast), then revived Rome (iron and clay / little horn). The Stone is Christ’s kingdom. The key to world history here is God’s program with the Jews — so Daniel is not mapping China or the Aztecs.
- Daniel 9: seventy weeks are 490 years of Jewish prophetic history. The decree to Nehemiah is about 454 BC; sixty-nine weeks (483 years) run to Messiah cut off (~AD 29). Then a gap. The seventieth week is the seven-year tribulation.
- Esther (~450 BC) is hidden providence in the diaspora. God’s name never appears in the open text; it is hidden in five acrostics (1:20; 5:4; 5:13; 7:5; 7:7). “For such a time as this.” Haman is hanged on his own gallows; Mordecai becomes Prime Minister. The victory is remembered in the Feast of Purim.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Mentioned five times
“Mentioned five times” is therefore false.
Daniel 7 refers to four wild beasts. Explain what this
Daniel 7 is a night vision (about 553 BC, Belshazzar’s first year): four wild beasts come up from the sea — the sea standing for the Gentile nations. They…
The significance of Daniel's 70 weeks
Seventy weeks are 490 years of Jewish prophetic history, not a riddle for its own sake. The decree that starts the clock is the word to Nehemiah, about 454 BC…
Briefly the major message of Esther
Esther’s major message is hidden providence over the Jews in the diaspora. God’s name never appears in the open text; it is hidden in five acrostics…
Lion
Babylon
Daniel
Daniel is taken captive about 605 BC at fifteen
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Daniel 7 refers to four wild beasts. Explain what this chapter means.
- Explain the significance of Daniel's 70 weeks.
- Explain briefly the major message of Esther.
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz score | 90% (1 attempt) |
|---|---|
| Date | 605 BC at fifteen |
| Key claim | Daniel is taken captive about 605 BC at fifteen. He is the last of the Major Prophets in influence and sequence. In many ways his life is… |
| Covenant | The book is bilingual — Hebrew in 1:1–2:4 and 8:1–12:13, Aramaic in 2:5–7:28 — written 605–535 BC in Babylon. A captive prophet speaking… |
| Key claim | Critics put Daniel late, unknown, even first-century. The answer is earlier Aramaic, early Jewish acceptance (Baruch, Josephus, the LXX… |
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Chapters 1–6 are history you can preach: new names (Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego); the king’s food refused; the image dream; the ninety-foot idol…
- Preach the empires, the horn, and the Stone.
- Mordecai’s word still preaches: you have come to the kingdom “for such a time as this.” Haman is hanged; a second decree answers an irrevocable law; Purim…
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 90% · 1 attempt
1. Jeroboam was humanly responsible for splitting the Kingdom.
TrueCarryover stem from earlier material. Jeroboam led the ten tribes’ revolt — that is the human split of the kingdom.
2. Daniel is the last of the Minor Prophets in influence and sequence.
FalseHe is the last of the Major Prophets in influence and sequence, not the Twelve.
3. In many ways, Daniel's life was like Joseph's.
TrueFive listed parallels: no recorded sin, a Gentile nation, influence on political leaders, moral purity, obscurity to national recognition.
4. Jesus recognized Daniel as both a prophet and an author.
TrueThat is the workbook’s answer to the critical view. Jesus treats Daniel as prophet and as the one who wrote.
5. Daniel predicted coming world powers including the Chinese and Aztecs.
FalseThe key to world history in Daniel is God’s program with the Jews — not a catalog of every empire on the map.
6. Daniel's wild beasts in chapter 7 were actually nations.
TrueLion = Babylon, bear = Medo-Persia, leopard = Greece, dreadful beast = Rome. The beasts are empires.
7. Daniel understood everything he wrote in his prophetic book.
FalseDaniel knows what is said, writes it down, but does not understand everything he wrote.
8. The name of God is mentioned only five times in the book of Esther.
FalseThe one lost mark (Jay-R chose True). God’s name is never openly mentioned in Esther; it is only hidden in five acrostics. “Mentioned five times” is therefore false.
9. Esther's victory is commemorated in the Feast of Purim.
TruePurim is the feast that remembers Esther’s victory and the Jews’ deliverance.
10. Eventually, Haman became the Prime Minister in Esther's story.
FalseMordecai became Prime Minister. Haman was hanged on his own gallows.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
Daniel 7 refers to four wild beasts. Explain what this chapter means.
Daniel 7 is a night vision (about 553 BC, Belshazzar’s first year): four wild beasts come up from the sea — the sea standing for the Gentile nations. They parallel the metals of chapter 2. The winged lion is Babylon; the bear is Medo-Persia; the leopard with four heads is Greece (Alexander’s four generals); the dreadful beast is Rome. A little horn rises among ten kings — the antichrist of a revived Rome. Then the Stone: Christ’s kingdom that crushes the image and fills the earth. Preach the empires, the horn, and the Stone. Do not turn the beasts into a private puzzle.
Explain the significance of Daniel's 70 weeks.
Seventy weeks are 490 years of Jewish prophetic history, not a riddle for its own sake. The decree that starts the clock is the word to Nehemiah, about 454 BC. Sixty-nine weeks (483 years) run to Messiah cut off — about AD 29. Then a gap (an intercalation). The seventieth week is the seven-year tribulation still ahead. Hold the calendar: 490, 454, 69 weeks to the cross, a gap, then the last seven years. That is the significance Daniel 9 puts in your hand.
Explain briefly the major message of Esther.
Esther’s major message is hidden providence over the Jews in the diaspora. God’s name never appears in the open text; it is hidden in five acrostics. Mordecai’s word still preaches: you have come to the kingdom “for such a time as this.” Haman is hanged; a second decree answers an irrevocable law; Purim remembers the victory. Even outside the Promised Land, when His name is not spoken, His hand is with His people.