Summary: The city of Jerusalem has fallen and the Babylonians have taken the Southern Kingdom of Judah captive. What's next for the people of God? Through prophetic revelation, He reveals His plan for human history, including the restoration of His people. Both Daniel and Ezekiel point to the reign of the Messianic King (Jesus Christ) as the focal point of human history. Through turmoil and suffering, the people of God are restored from captivity and promised a restoration in the land. Daniel Author Daniel, also known as Belteshazzar, as renamed by the Babylonians. Date Between 605 to possibly 520 B.C., from the year of the first siege on Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in his first year as King of Babylon into the reign of Darius. Theme God’s Anti-Christ Foretold The anti-Christ will come in the last of four great kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, and lead into Tribulation. Additional Info The root of the name Daniel means “to judge.” He was a Jewish nobleman of royal Jewish lineage, advisor to 9 kings in 2 different empires (Babylon and Medo-Persia) and God’s prophet to the exiled Jewish people and the nations over a span of at least 85 years. He experienced the beginning of the exile in 605 B.C. and saw the first 50,000 exiles return to rebuild the temple. Ezekiel mentions him three times as a man of highly recognized faith and wisdom. Half of the book is history and half is prophetic. Half is written in Aramaic (chapters 2-7) and half is in Hebrew (chapters 1, 8-12). © Dr. Rick Taylor Ezekiel Author Ezekiel, the priest, son of Buzi. Date Between July 31, 593 (Ezekiel 1:1-3) and March 26, 571 B.C. (Ezekiel 29:17). Theme God’s Future Kingdom The future kingdom will include a restored land, a new Jerusalem, a new temple, a new redistricting of the land and an eternal promise. Additional Info Ezekiel’s name means “God strengthens.” He was meticulous about dating each prophecy and arranging them in chronological order. He was among the exiles from Judah, most likely taken with King Jehoiachin in March 597 B.C. by King Nebuchadnezzar, and he prophesied for 22 years. He was a contemporary of both Jeremiah (in Judah) and Daniel (in Babylon). Throughout his writings, there is an emphasis on the “glory of God.” © Dr. Rick Taylor Lamentations Author Likely Jeremiah, as credited by early Christian writers the, the Talmud and the superscription in the Septuagint. Date Soon after August 15, 586 B.C., when Jerusalem and the temple were burned. Jeremiah likely wrote the poems before he was taken captive to Egypt, not long after the city’s destruction (Jeremiah 43:1-7). Theme God’s Faithfulness God is faithful in the midst of judgment; his faitfulness is sure and new every morning. Additional Info Lamentations is the sequel to Jeremiah. It is Jeremiah’s lament (a sorrowful song) after the fall of Jerusalem by the Babylonian hordes. It is written as an acrostic, each chapter starting with the letter “A” and progressing letter by letter through the Hebrew alphabet. © Dr. Rick Taylor and Bill Parkinson Resources for Daniel, Ezekiel and Lamentations Daniel / Ezekiel / Lamentations Life Group Guide Daniel Hermeneia Series (Hermeneia: A Critical & Historical Commentary on the Bible) by John Joseph Collins The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1–24 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament) by Daniel I. Block The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25–48 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament) by Daniel I. Block Lamentations (New Century Bible Commentary) by Iain Provan [Video File] [Audio File]
