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At the conclusion of the Old Testament

Jews back from Babylonian captivityUnder domination of the Medio-Persian empireTemple rebuilt, priests descended from Aaron serving in templeNo kingNo divisions into various social, economic, religious parties

At the beginning of the New Testament

A totally different worldRome is dominant power in the world, Jews under their controlThey have a king: the family of HerodPriests no longer from Aaron, priesthood now a political officeTemple still center of worship but synagogues are found in Jewish citiesDivided into three parties: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes NT books and letters filled with allusions to events, people, institutions not found in the OT

There are 400 years of silence between the events recorded in Malachi and the world described in the Gospels.

One cannot be a well-rounded Bible student and be ignorant of what occurred during these four centuries.

From Malachi to Christ:Between the Testaments

The book of Daniel

Over a period of some 69 years Daniel had a series of 4 visions regarding 4 world kingdoms plus the kingdom of God.

These visions, objectively studied, provide some of the finest evidence we have for the

verbal inspiration of the Bible.

Thank God for the book of Daniel! Let

the liberals and skeptics be ashamed

and hang their heads in disgrace for

their attacks upon it.Homer Hailey

Daniel’s foreknowledge and explicit details concerning the 4 kingdoms and their rulers are such that no one could have projected

such things without Divine assistance.

These prophecies also cover the 400 years between the testaments and accurately

foretell various people and events within that period.

Many of the events taking place during this period have a direct impact upon NT history. One cannot appreciate the latter without an

understanding of the former.

Deut 18:20-2220 But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. 21 You may say in your heart, “How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?” 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

2 Peter 1:20-2120 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

The apologetic value of Daniel’s prophecies

Daniel’s 1st prophecy of Media-Persia 605 BCMedia-Persia ascended to prominence 539 BC605-539 = 66 years prior to fulfillment

Daniel’s 1st prophecy of Greece 605 BCGreece ascended to prominence 330 BC605-330 = 275 years prior to fulfillment

Daniel’s prophecy of Alexander the Great 547 BCAlexander the Great rose to power 330 BC547-330 = 217 years prior to fulfillment

Daniel’s 1st prophecy of Rome 605 BCRome ascended to prominence 63 BC605-63 = 542 years prior to fulfillment

605

2:36

2:39

2:39

2:40

549

7:4

7:5

7:6

7:7-8, 24-25

547

8:3,4,20

8:5,21-22

536

11:1-2

11:3-4

11:36-45

Babylon 626-539 BC

Media-Persia 539-330 BC

Greece 330-63 BC

Rome 63 BC

605

2:36

2:39

2:39

2:40

549

7:4

7:5

7:6

7:7-8, 24-25

547

8:3,4,20

8:5,21-2223-25

536

11:1-2

11:3-4

11:511:611:21-3511:32b-35

11:36-45

Babylon 626-539 BC

Media-Persia 539-330 BC

Greece 330-63 BC Alexander the Great

Egypt 323 BCSyria 204 BC

Antiochus Epiphanes 175 BCMaccabees 168 BC

Rome 63 BC

Babylon 626-539 BC

Media-Persia 539-330 BC

Greece 330-63 BC Alexander the Great

Egypt 323 BCSyria 204 BC

Antiochus Epiphanes 175 BCMaccabees 168 BC

Rome 63 BC

The SynagogueThe SanhedrinThe dispersion

HellenismKoine Greek

The SeptuagintThe Apocrypha

The Dead Sea scrollsThe Pharisees and Sadducees

The Herods