The NT is straightforward; God expects every Christian to
be holy; to be a Daniel in this crooked and perverse world.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that
you may become blameless and pure, children of God without
fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you
shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word
of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ
that I did not run or labor for nothing (Philippians
2:14-16).
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare
the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his
wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they
accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds
and glorify God on the day he visits us (1 Peter 2:12).
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to
this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless
and at peace with him (2 Peter 3:14).
Daniel was an overcomer until the end of his life. He
had overcome the depraved, debased ways of the world, and
God rewarded His faithful servant with authority and power
in two empires. In these ways, Daniel foreshadows all
overcomers.
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I
will give authority over the nations—“He will rule them
with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like
pottery”—just as I have received authority from my Father
(Revelation 2:26-27).
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who
believes that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:5).
In the time of Esther, King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) of
Persia (486-465 B.C.) repeated Darius’ mistake. Captivated
by Haman’s flattery, Xerxes unwittingly decreed in writing
to destroy all Jews. In the case of Xerxes’ decree for the
slaughter of the Jews (Esther 3:13), he could not reverse
it, but at the request of his queen, the king issued
another edict which neutralized the first one (Esther
8:5-11). Daniel’s deliverance from the lions may have
foreshadowed the deliverance of the Jews from the jaws of
death in 474 B.C.
The conspirators were against Daniel because he was
Jewish. It can be heard in their voices, “Daniel, who is
one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O
King.” Such anti-Jewish sentiments will prevail in the end
times. The Antichrist and his army will attempt to kill
the Jews, and consequently, they will suffer similar
results. The conspirators and their families, who were
cast into the lions’ den by Darius, foreshadow God’s
treatment of Israel’s enemies in the end times. Yahweh
will keep His promise to Abraham.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses
you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed
through you (Genesis 12:3).
Like Daniel, the remnant of the nation of Israel will
be miraculously delivered by Christ. At Armageddon, the
nations will conspire and gather to do battle (Revelation
16:16). However, their destruction will be as swift as
that of the conspirators who were thrown alive into the
lions’ den. The two conspirators of the end times, the
False Prophet and the Antichrist, will be thrown alive
into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:17-21). At the second
resurrection, the unsaved will be cast alive into hell
(Revelation 20:14-15). Observe what the prophet wrote in
Daniel 6:24:
At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused
Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den,
along with their wives and children. And before they
reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them
and crushed all their bones.
There is no mention of the conspirators and families
being consumed by the lions. When God paints a type, He is
accurate down to the finest details. Those who are cast
into the Lake of Fire will be overpowered and crushed but
never consumed (cf. Isaiah 66:24; Mark 9:47-48).
Paradoxically, the imagery of a lion represents Christ
as well as the Devil in the Scriptures.
See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,
has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven
seals (Revelation 5:5).
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
We should not be surprised that God uses dual imagery
and types. The first identified type in Scripture is Adam,
who was a pattern (type) of Christ, as well as the human
race (Romans 5:14). As this chapter ends, Darius is a man
of faith, but earlier in this chapter, he prefigured the
Antichrist. The same is true of Nebuchadnezzar before
his conversion, when he ordered that the golden image be
worshiped. Darius went a step further. His decree stated
that he was to be prayed to exclusively for thirty days.
Thus, Darius foreshadows the Antichrist as well as a man
of faith.
Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day
will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He
will oppose and will
exalt himself over everything
that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets
himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Nebuchadnezzar, Darius and the Antichrist are types of
every person who rejects the rule of God in their life.
They worship themselves by doing what is right in their
own eyes, setting themselves up as God. Those who exchange
truth for a lie see truth as relative, applying it as they
please to their own situation or circumstances.
Imagine the laughter and scoffing of the conspirators
that night. They had deceived Darius; they believed that
the prophet of God had been delivered over to death, just
as they had plotted. Hear the laughter—it is in heaven!
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in
vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the
rulers gather together against the LORD and against his
Anointed One. “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and
throw off their fetters.” The One enthroned in heaven
laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in
his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have
installed my King on Zion, my holy hill” (Psalm 2:1-6).
Yahweh has warned, “Do not touch my anointed ones; do
my prophets no harm” (1 Chronicles 16:22). Daniel was a
servant of the Most High God. Thus, the fate of the
conspirators foreshadows the fate of those who touch and
harm God’s servants, whether Gentiles or Jews (Matthew
21:33-46).
This chapter, along with other parts of Daniel,
illustrates great prophetic truths concerning God’s plan
for the world and the Anointed One who will rule it. In
this prophecy, the reader stands on the vista and looks
with prophetic vision across the ages to see God’s
Anointed One,
Christ Jesus our Lord.
To “allegorize” the Scriptures is to take historical
events, people, or things and apply to them a meaning not
originally intended. For instance, in Galatians 4:21-31,
Paul allegorizes the account of Sarah and Hagar to
illustrate the difference between the Old Covenant and New
Covenant. A “type” in Scripture is an intended
foreshadowing of a future event, person,
or thing.
The events of this chapter parallel many events in the
Passion Week of Christ as recorded in the four Gospels by
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The four Gospel writers
recorded the events surrounding Christ’ after the fact.
Daniel had the privilege of writing, beforehand, the
Gospel in the typical events of his life that foreshadow
Christ.
The following chart is a comparison of the events in
chapter six of Daniel with the events surrounding the
death and resurrection of Christ in the Gospels.
The Gospel According to Daniel
Daniel blocked corruption
Christ overturned the
tables of corruption
Daniel was to be set over the
whole kingdom
Christ is to be set over the Kingdom
of God
Daniel was hated as the chosen one of the
king
Christ is hated as the Chosen One of God
Daniel was rejected by the officials
Christ
was rejected by the elders of Israel
Leaders
conspired and plotted to kill Daniel
Leaders
conspired and plotted to kill Christ
Daniel
declared innocent of any wrongdoing
Christ
declared innocent of any wrongdoing
Daniel obeyed
the Law of God
Christ fulfilled the Law of God
Daniel was found to be without fault or error
Christ was found to be without fault or error
Daniel was tested and tempted
Christ was tested
and tempted
Daniel accused after praying
Christ accused after praying
Daniel was despised
because he was of Judah
Christ was despised
because He was of Nazareth
Darius trapped by his
decree and law
Pilate trapped by his past actions
and fear
Darius distressed but ordered the
execution
Pilate distressed but ordered the
crucifixion
Darius made every effort to release
Daniel
Pilate made every effort to release Christ
Darius was powerless to save Daniel
God
was powerless to save Christ
Darius could not
break his word and law
God could not break His
Word and Law
Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den
Christ was thrown to the roaring lions
Daniel was delivered by God’s angel
Christ refused
to call angels to deliver Him
Decree and law of
Darius were satisfied
Decree and Law of God were
satisfied
Stone was placed over the entrance of
the den
Stone was placed over the entrance of the
tomb
Seal was placed on the stone of the lion’s
den
Seal was placed on the stone of the tomb
Darius at first light went to the lions’ den
Women at first light arrived at Christ’s tomb
Darius came anguished to the lions’ den
Women came
anguished to Christ’s tomb
Daniel was delivered
from death and was alive
Christ was delivered out
of death and is alive
Daniel’s body was untouched
by the lions
Christ’s glorified body is untouched
by death
Daniel’s innocence proven by his being
alive
Christ’s innocence proven by His being alive
Daniel was trustworthy
Christ is
trustworthy
Darius was overjoyed that Daniel was
alive
The women were overjoyed that Christ was
alive
Darius’ faith in the living God was
bolstered
Disciples’ faith in the living God was
bolstered
Conspirators and families were thrown to
the lions
Conspirators and families were killed in
A.D. 70
Darius proclaimed the living God of Daniel
Disciples proclaimed Christ the living God
Daniel was delivered from death to rule
Christ
was delivered out of death to rule
Darius
installed Daniel as ruler as planned
God will
install Christ as King as planned
Daniel prospered
in the silver kingdom
Christ will prosper in His
Kingdom
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