God had warned Israel that obedience to His law would bring blessings. Deut. 28:1-14.
But disobedience would bring retribution (retributive judgment). Deut. 28:15-48.
God sent Nebuchadnezzer as judgments upon Judah because they (the Jews of Judah) were in much iniquity and had profaned the temple. (2 kin. 23:34-37; 2 Kin. 24:1-5); 2 Chr. 36:1-7.
The nation was captured and put to tribute. There were three captivities of the Jews. Daniel and the three Hebrews were in the first captivity (606 B.C.B.).
i. 1st. Captivity– Dan. 1:1,2.
ii. 2nd. Captivity– 2 Chr. 36:8-10; 2 Kin. 24:6-17.
iii. 3rd. Captivity– 2 Chr. 36:11-20; 2 Kin. 24:17-20; 2 Kin. 25:1-11.
Ezekiel and others were in the second captivity. Eze. 1:1,2.
Under the third attack the nation was destroyed and its sanctuary (586 B.C.B.). See the third siege No. 4.
God placed Daniel as His minister of the gospel in the courts of Babylon (while Ezekiel was by the captives of the Jews in the land where they were placed, and while Jeremiah was yet in Judah before it was totally destroyed.).
God showed to Daniel what would be the future. Would Gentile kingdoms rule the world forever or would His eternal kingdom be set up? His judgment would cause kingdoms to rise and fall until the final judgment which will establish the eternal kingdom.
The theme of the book of Daniel is “Judgment” it shows general (retributive) judgment upon nations until the final pre-advent judgment (the Investigative Judgment) is to determine the setting up of the final eternal messianic kingdom. Dan. 2:29-45. This is the key text.
There are nine judgments. One is Retributive Judgment. Ps. 103:6.
Another is the Investigative Judgment. Rev. 11:18,19; 1 Jn. 4:17; Jam. 2:8-13; Jam. 5:20; Gal. 5:5.
The book of Daniel is primarily about the final pre-advent judgment. The Investigative Judgment. This is the high point of all its prophetic events parts. Dan. 2:44,45; Dan. 7:9,10,13,14,22; Dan. 8:14,26; Dan. 12:1,12.
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