Daniel the Destroyer
Daniel was taken to Babylon before the destruction of Jerusalem. As the ruler over the king’s advisors, it is highly likely he was involved in the razing of Jerusalem.
The Lord sent Joseph into Egypt as a forerunner, established his house and integrated the old house of Jacob into it. Pharaoh was converted under the ministry of Joseph, humbled himself before Jacob and requested a blessing.
The Lord did the same thing with Daniel. A new house was being established in Babylon before the final demolition of the old Temple. Daniel ascended as “firstfruits”. He stood on the mountain of God as Abraham, as Moses. At the right hand of the power he would bring the curses of the Law raining down upon the Covenant breakers. As Abraham bargained with God, perhaps the mercy shown to Judah’s poor was the work of Daniel.
Sabbath - The Lord speaks to Israel through the prophets.
Passover - Nebuchadnezzar takes captive the ruling classes and the tradesmen [1], and gives them new houses to live in.
Firstfruits - In captivity, Daniel ascends to the right hand of Nebuchadnezzar as an advisor to the king. In captivity, the Lord anoints Ezekiel as a new High Priest for the captives. These men are two witnesses against Jerusalem. The Lord gives the command to destroy His “Tabernacle.” The bronze pillars are broken in pieces, king and priest dismantled.
Pentecost - Nebuchadnezzar (presumably, with Daniel’s advice) destroys Jerusalem, just as the Levites slew those who worshipped the golden calf, and the Jews repent of their idolatry forever.
Trumpets - Through Cyrus the Great, the Lord gives the command to rebuild. Under Ezra, captives are returned to Jerusalem and the Altar is rebuilt. Under Nehemiah, the wall is rebuilt. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah (as two witnesses) bring about the completion of the new Temple. Joshua and Zerubbabel represent a new priesthood and new Davidic heir, king and priest united in the crown of Joshua.
Atonement - This is where the events of the book of Esther take place. Once Haman is executed, Mordecai takes command as advisor to the Persian king, and kingdom-wide battle conquers a greater Land for God than Joshua could have imagined.
Tabernacles - The plunder from this conquest adorns the new Temple. But this Temple is just a token: the true plunder is the Gentiles who submit to the rule of Mordecai, which explains the fulfilment of Ezekiel’s Temple vision
Overlaying the Creation week on this structure, the prophets bring Light, Nebuchadnezzar tears the Firmament of Israel apart, Daniel becomes bread and wine in a new Land, and Babylon is the governing lights that bring Judah’s sun moon and stars crashing down.
Also notice that the Lord speaks to the Sabbath/Jubilee breakers at Sabbath, Nebuchadnezzar brings an ironic Sabbath to the Land in the centre (70 years’ captivity was what was owing to the Land), and true Sabbath is restored at Tabernacles.
Of course, all of this prefigures first century history as well.
What is really interesting is that the life of bad king Manasseh in 2 Kings 21 prefigures this entire pattern exactly. His captivity in Babylon and his repentance from idolatry (even down to his wall building) were a “living epistle” from God. The king was Israel.
These charts are from Bible Matrix, hopefully available soon.
[1] See Unashamed Artisans.
