Speaker A
We are now in module five and I'm so glad that you are still hanging in there.
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Speaker A
And if you feel that there is so much that's being loaded on your shoulders, I know that this may come on the top of your regular work.
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I would like to begin with a word of encouragement that you do not give up, we are almost halfway through and sooner than you realize this class will be over.
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But before that happens, I hope that this is going to provide a lot of material and inspiration which will be beneficial for your ministry.
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I would like to offer a word of prayer.
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Father, we do need words of encouragement, and I pray now as we are talking about this week's exciting material.
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And the assignments that you would help us have peace of mind and determination to do well in this class.
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We know that with you all things can be done and that's why we commit our lives into your hands.
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Amen.
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I would like to begin by asking you a question.
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Have you ever been asked what is your favorite chapter in the book of Daniel?
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I have been and it may come as a surprise that chapter five actually is is high on the list of my favorite chapters.
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It might be even my favorite chapter, the favorite chapter that I have in the book of Daniel.
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And when people ask me, how is that, why would that be, because chapter eight is very important.
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Chapter four, for example, that we have talked about last week is very important.
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I like to say that in chapter five, we learn about the end of the oppressive powers of Babylon.
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And which which allowed God's people to be free and to return home.
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And I also like the way in which that message is presented in the story of Daniel chapter five.
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And of course, that chapter is very close to chapter six that we are studying this week.
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So, fall of Babylon in the year 539, that oppressive power came to an end.
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Just as the prophetic prediction has had it in the beginning of our study.
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And in fact, chapter five that talks about the end of Babylon, it does in a unique way.
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If you or I were asked to talk about the fall of Babylon, I don't know how we would proceed.
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But let me tell you that this is the only historical narrative description of the fall of Babylon.
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All others that are found in the Bible are prophetic.
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But in the Bible, this is the only historical description of how Babylon came to an end.
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And the way in which Daniel portrays that event is by putting two characters in contrast.
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Two people who may have had the same name, Babylonian names, prophet and wise men by the name of Belshazzar or Belshazzar.
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And King Belshazzar.
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So, the story contrasts these two, how Daniel, the Hebrew, also known as Belshazzar.
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Was faithful to his God in Babylon and was blessed because of that.
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And then we have Belshazzar who rebelled against God and went in his rebellion all the way to the end.
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Until he paid the highest price for doing that.
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This chapter also presents Daniel as the true prophet of God.
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Who in the time of danger, when somebody needed to step forward and confront an ungodly king.
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Daniel had courage to do that and he even rebuked Belshazzar for his behavior.
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Because this king went too far in challenging the God of heaven.
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Who, as Daniel said, in his hand was holding his life.
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Chapter six talks about God's protection and it has many parallels with chapter three.
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That is found in this book, Daniel's absence in chapter three.
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Is something that has puzzled the readers of the book of Daniel and interpreters for long time.
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But whatever answer we give to that question of Daniel's absence in the story in chapter three.
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Here we find now Daniel undergoing a similar test of faith.
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And God protects his faithful servant.
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That's basically what the story teaches.
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Time and again, when I teach the book of Daniel or I present seminars, students like to say, this is my favorite story in the Bible.
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So chapter six is well known.
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And that's why we are making it a part of this important module.
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Would like to say one more thing and that is about the role of prayer in Daniel's life.
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Several years ago, at the Andrews University Seminary, a whole PhD dissertation was written on this topic.
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Prayers in Daniel.
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And there is no doubt that prayer played an important role in Daniel's spiritual life.
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And this chapter underlines this very important.
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Especially around the time of the fall of Babylon, at the time when when an opportunity was opened for God's people to go back home.
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That's when Daniel in a special way again focused on God and he prayed to him three times a day as the text specifies here.
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So please, for this module this week, read chapters five and six of Daniel in one sitting.
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By taking careful notes of what's in there.
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And the reading of the textbook and the pages are specified in the module will supply some background information.
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And the lessons that we can draw from these two stories.
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I would like to remind you about the discussion postings, both original and threaded.
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And please prepare for the test.
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The test again will be the same.
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We will follow the same format.
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And lastly, I would like to encourage you to continue writing your paper because at the end of the week nine or at the end of the ninth volume.
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I'm sorry, module, I meant.
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At the end of the ninth module, you will be turning in your paper.
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So it is good to keep that somewhere in the back of your mind as you make progress on your paper writing.
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So, I'm here to support you and there are many other people.
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There are those who are praying for your success.
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The Lord is by your side, never forget that.
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And please this week, take time and focus on the lessons that are found in this module.
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And I'm sure that you will experience great blessings and remember that I'm here praying for your success.
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May God bless you.
