7 . Summary
 
City /nation
Desolation/ doom predicted
Other predictions
Prediction
correct?
   
Four consecutive superpowers, each
overthrowing the previous one
The fourth, the Roman superpower was not
to be superseded by another
It would fragment and become the many
weak and strong nations of Europe
Thebes
 
Yes
 
 
Destruction by a large force
Memphis
 
Yes
 
 
All objects of worship to be destroyed
Egypt
 
No
 
 
Superpower status to decline – would
continue to exist being dominated by other
powers
The Jews
For limited time
 
The Jews were to be attacked by a powerful
nation:
   • much further away than previous attackers
   • whose language was totally different from Hebrew
   • who was swift as an eagle
   • who would be merciless
Cities would be besieged and stormed
The Jews would eat their own children in the sieges
The cities in the land would be destroyed
All places of worship would be destroyed
Jews to be scattered round the world
They would be hated and persecuted
They would become a proverb
Despite a long time out of their homeland they
would survive as an identifiable nation
They would outlive their persecutors
They would survive a long time with no central authority
Their land would be desolate while they were out of it
They would eventually return to their homeland
The land would then flourish again
 
Jerusalem
For specific time
Would be out of Jewish hands for set time, then it would return to Jewish rule
Edomites
 
Yes
 
 
Desolation caused by disappearance of passing traders
Ammonites
Yes
  
Philistines
Yes
  
Ashkelon
Yes
  
Gaza
Yes
  
Sidon
Yes
  
 

Historians agree that the Old Testament was in existence by 200 BC. As nearly all of these predictions were fulfilled after that time, they could not have been made after the events.

It is clear that each prophecy was fulfilled a long time after the death of the particular prophet, so he could have had no influence in making the prediction come true. It is equally clear that those involved in fulfilling the predictions had no idea that they were doing so.

Questions to consider

1. How did Daniel know that there would be three superpowers following on from the Babylonian one – why not two or four? How did he know the fourth superpower would become divided?

2. What made the Bible prophets predict accurately such a unique history for the Jews?

3. What made the same prophets predict a totally different history for the surrounding nations? They were all subject to similar problems, so we would expect similar outcomes

4. How did the same prophets choose which cities and nations would be destroyed and which
would remain?