The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-08-24
DANIEL

The author of this Book, like Eze-
kiel, was a captive in Babylon. He
was taken into the court of King Neb-
uchadnezzar while youth and trained
in the Chaldean language and
sciences. In many respects his career
resembled that of Joseph, and there
are many traits of character common
to both of these remarkable men.
Both maintained high standard of
spiritual life in the midst of environ
ments which were hostile to the moral
ideals of Israel, triumphing over
seemingly unsurmountable difficulties.
The central theme of this book is
the sovereignty of God over the af-
fairs of men in all ages. The Pagan
kings confessions of this truth con-
stitutes the key verses of Daniels
prophecy. The narrative is largely
biographical, and contains an account
of thrilling events and divine interpo-
sitions unsurpassed in the Old Tesla
ment. 1t refers to six moral conflicts
in which Daniel and his companions
participated.
The first conflict is between Pagan
self Indulgence and conscientious alb
stinence in promoting health-Chap-
ter 1875. 1t is case of vegetables
and water against wine and highly
seasoned meats. Abstinence wins.
The second conflict is recorded in
Chapter 2:1-47, and represents Pagan
magic arrayed against heavenly wis
dom in the Interpretation of dreams.
Divine wisdom wins.
Heather idolatry is next shown in
conflict with the worship of Jehovah,
Chapter 3:1-30. Loyalty to Jehovah
wins.
The fourth conflict, Chapter 4:4-37,
is that of Pagan Kings pride ar
rayed against Divine sovereignty. The
king is turned out to eat grass like an
OK. God wins.
Sacriege against reverence for sa-
cred objects constitutes the fifth con-
flict, when the impious Balshazzar
brings the holy vessels taken from
the temple at Jerusalem and despoils
them at his banquet Of wine. The hand
writes it's awful message on the wall
and reverence wins. Chapter 5:1-30.
The sixth and last conflict, between
malicious plotting of the wicked and
the providence of God over His saints,
ends by the victory of Providence in
stopping the mouths of lions. Chap
ter CLIPS.
AS already indicated, Daniel is a
mystery book, and is companion
book to Revelation. However, at
tempts to fit the prophecies of Daniel
and Revelation into the facts and
events of human history have pro-
duced an endless conflict of opinions.
One may conceive of general inter-
probation of visions, but true inter-
probation of their details is not always
clear.
Two paths are generally acknowl-
edged by candid scholars: First, that
the prophecies represent partly veil
ed revelation of future evnts in secu-
lar and sacred history, and second,
that the visions point to the ultimate
triumph of Gods kingdom over all
satanic and world powers. Many
commentators see in Chapter 7, where
the four beasts are discussed, SYM
bolism representing the four great
empires successfully ruling the an
cient world: Babylon, Medo-Persia,
Greece and Rome.
Some choice passages of this
prophecy are Daniels purpose. Chap
ter 1:8,the stone out of the mountain;
Chapter 2:44-45. The answer of the
three Hebrew captives, Chapter 3:
1918; the feast of Belshazzar, Chap
ter 5; Daniel in the lions den, Chap
ter 6:1-24; the vision of the judgment,