Episode 2871: Books of the Bible - Daniel with Sharon

Sharon: Welcome to today's episode of "The Book of Daniel: Faithfulness Amid Trials" where we explore the timeless truths of Scripture through a traditional Catholic lens. Today, we’ll journey through the fascinating and prophetic Book of Daniel a story of unwavering faith, divine providence, and God's ultimate victory over the forces of evil.
From Daniel’s steadfast faith in Babylon to his apocalyptic visions pointing to Christ and the Church, this book speaks to us about living as faithful Catholics in a hostile world. Let’s begin!"
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1. Historical Context
• The Book of Daniel is set during the Babylonian exile (6th century BC).
• Daniel, a young Jew of noble birth, is taken captive to Babylon after King Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Jerusalem.
• It consists of two parts:
o Historical narratives (Chapters 1-6) showcasing Daniel and his companions' faithfulness.
o Prophetic visions (Chapters 7-12) unveiling God's plan for history and the coming of His eternal kingdom.
The book reminds us of the Church Militant, enduring persecution yet remaining faithful to God’s law in the face of secular powers.
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Walt: 2. Key Lessons from the Historical Narratives
Daniel and the Three Companions (Chapter 1)
• Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (renamed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) refuse to defile themselves with the king's food.
• Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with the king's table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled
• God blesses their fidelity with wisdom and favor.
• Daniel 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, and wise men, that were in all his kingdom.
This is a lesson for Catholics to avoid moral compromise in a culture that pressures us to conform. As St. Paul reminds us, ‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind’ (Romans 12:2).
The Fiery Furnace (Chapter 3)
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue and are thrown into a fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:14 And Nabuchodonosor the king spoke to them, and said: Is it true, O Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, that you do not worship my gods, nor adore the golden statue that I have set up?
• They are miraculously preserved by an angel.
• Daniel 3:49-50 But the angel of the Lord went down with Azarias and his companions into the furnace: and he drove the flame of the fire out of the furnace, 50 And made the midst of the furnace like the blowing of a wind bringing dew, and the fire touched them not at all, nor troubled them, nor did them any harm.
• This prefigures the Church’s endurance under persecution and Christ’s presence with His faithful. In the Old Testament the angel for the Lord refers to Christ. When they were thrown into the furnace, they praised and worshiped God and repented for their sins and the sins of the nation.
I have a questions Walt. Where is Daniel when this is going on?
Daniel 3:100 His signs, because they are great: and his wonders, because they are mighty: and his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his power to all generations.
Daniel chapter 4. He interprets another dream of the Kings. From this place some commentators infer that this king became a true convert, and dying not long after, was probably saved.
The courage of these men challenges us to stand firm in our faith, trusting in God’s providence even in dire trials.
The Writing on the Wall (Chapter 5)
• King Beltasar who is believed to be King Nebachanezzar’s grandson blasphemy during a feast leads to divine judgment as a mysterious hand writes, “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.”
Daniel interprets this as God’s judgment on Belshazzar’s kingdom, fulfilled that very night. Daniel tells the king that he has given praise to all the material things he has from Nebachanessar and he is proud like Nebachanessar who ended up mad and was eating grass in the pasture with the animals because of his pride.
Daniel 5:29-31: 29 Then by the king's command Daniel was clothed with purple, and a chain of gold was put about his neck: and it was proclaimed of him that he had power as the third man in the kingdom. [30] The same night Baltasar the Chaldean king was slain. [31] And Darius the Mede succeeded to the kingdom, being threescore and two years old.

This reminds us of the importance of humility before God. Pride and irreverence toward Him always lead to destruction.
The Lion's Den (Chapter 6)
Background information: Daniel 6:3-4 And Daniel excelled all the princes, and governors: because a greater spirit of God was in him. 4 And the king thought to set him over all the kingdom: whereupon the princes, and the governors sought to find occasion against Daniel with regard to the king: and they could find no cause, nor suspicion, because he was faithful, and no fault, nor suspicion was found in him.
• Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den for praying to God, defying a decree to worship King Darius behind the Kings back. But God miraculously shuts the mouths of the lions.
Daniel 6:20-25 And coming near to the den, cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel, and said to him: Daniel, servant of the living God, hath thy God, whom thou servest always, been able, thinkest thou, to deliver thee from the lions?
21 And Daniel answering the king, said: O king, live for ever: 22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut up the mouths of the lions, and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him justice hath been found in me: yea and before thee, O king, I have done no offence. 23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and he commanded that Daniel should be taken out of the den: and Daniel was taken out of the den, and no hurt was found in him, because he believed in his God. 24 And by the king's commandment, those men were brought that had accused Daniel: and they were cast into the lions' den, they and their children, and their wives: and they did not reach the bottom of the den, before the lions caught them, and broke all their bones in pieces. 25 Then king Darius wrote to all people, tribes, and languages, dwelling in the whole earth: PEACE be multiplied unto you.

Daniel’s example teaches us that fidelity to prayer sustains us in trials. As Our Lord said, ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5:10).
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Sharon: 3. Prophetic Visions: The Coming of the Kingdom
The Four Kingdoms (Chapter 2)
• Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay represents successive empires.
• A stone "not cut by human hands" destroys the statue and becomes a great mountain.
• This prefigures Christ’s kingdom, the Catholic Church, which will endure forever.
The Church, founded by Christ on the Rock of Peter, stands as the fulfillment of this prophecy. No earthly power can prevail against it (Matthew 16:18-19). [18] And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven
The Vision of the Ancient of Days (Chapter 7)
• Daniel sees four beasts (symbolizing earthly kingdoms) and the "Ancient of Days" seated on His throne. This is very lengthy and hard to describe so you must read it for yourself. However, I will say that it is a vision of earthly kingdoms, one greater than the other and the destruction of each until Christ comes to reign.
• The Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days and is given an everlasting kingdom.
• Daniel 7:13-14 I beheld therefore in the vision of the night, and lo, one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and he came even to the Ancient of days: and they presented him before him. [14] And he gave him power, and glory, and a kingdom: and all peoples, tribes and tongues shall serve him: his power is an everlasting power that shall not be taken away: and his kingdom that shall not be destroyed.
• This points directly to Christ’s divine kingship.
Daniel 7:27 And that the kingdom, and power, and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven, may be given to the people of the saints of the most High: whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all kings shall serve him, and shall obey him.
As Catholics, we await the fulfillment of this vision in the Second Coming of Christ, who will judge the living and the dead.
The Seventy Weeks (Chapter 9)
• Daniel receives a prophecy of seventy weeks, foretelling the coming of the Messiah, His death, and the destruction of Jerusalem. Daniel 9:1-3 In the first year of Darius the son of Assuerus of the seed of the Medes, who reigned over the kingdom of the Chaldeans: [2] The first year of his reign, I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, concerning which the word of the Lord came to Jeremias the prophet, that seventy years should be accomplished of the desolation of Jerusalem. [3] And I set my face to the Lord my God, to pray and make supplication with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.
• This prophecy confirms Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Covenant and the establishment of the New Covenant.
• Daniel 9:21-22 As I was yet speaking in prayer, behold the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, flying swiftly touched me at the time of the evening sacrifice. [22] And he instructed me, and spoke to me, and said: O Daniel, I am now come forth to teach thee, and that thou mightest understand.
The precision of this prophecy is a powerful testament to the truth of our faith and the divine inspiration of Scripture.
The Time of Great Tribulation (Chapters 10-12)
• Daniel sees a vision of a great battle between the forces of good and evil, culminating in the triumph of God’s kingdom.
• Daniel 10:12-13 And he said to me: Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, to afflict thyself in the sight of thy God, thy words have been heard: and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of the Persians resisted me one and twenty days: and behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there by the king of the Persians.
• Daniel 10:21 But I will tell thee what is set down in the scripture of truth: and none is my helper in all these things, but Michael your prince.
• Michael the Archangel is depicted as the protector of God’s people.
• Daniel 12:1-2 But at that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince, who standeth for the children of thy people: and a time shall come such as never was from the time that nations began even until that time. And at that time shall thy people be saved, every one that shall be found written in the book. [2] And many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth, shall awake: some unto life everlasting, and others unto reproach, to see it always.

In this, we find hope for the Church’s ultimate victory over evil, even amid persecution. As Our Lady promised at Fatima: ‘In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.’"
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Walt: 4. Traditional Applications
1. Living as Exiles:
o Like Daniel, Catholics today often feel like exiles in a secular world.
o The Book of Daniel reminds us to stay faithful, trusting in God’s providence.
2. The Power of Prayer and Sacrifice:
o Daniel’s prayer and fasting (and penance) bring about divine intervention.
o This underscores the importance of the Rosary, fasting, and the sacraments in spiritual warfare.
3. Christ as the Fulfillment:
o The Book of Daniel finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ and His Church.
o This is a call to deepen our devotion to the Eucharist, where Christ reigns as King.
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Conclusion (Sharon):
The Book of Daniel is a profound testament to God’s faithfulness and the triumph of His kingdom. In our times, when the Church faces challenges both within and without, let us draw inspiration from Daniel and his companions, standing firm in our faith and awaiting the glorious return of Christ, the King of Kings.
Thank you for joining us today. Be sure to share this episode with friends and family, and let’s continue to stand as faithful witnesses in a world in need of truth and light. Until next time, may God bless you and keep you.
Closing Prayer:
"Heavenly Father, we thank You for the example of Daniel and his companions. Grant us the grace to remain faithful in all trials, trusting in Your divine providence. Strengthen us with the virtues of courage and humility and guide us toward the eternal kingdom of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we ask this. Amen."