The Book of Daniel is one of the major prophetic books in the Old Testament of the Bible. Written between the 7th and 2nd centuries BC, the Book of Daniel contains accounts of Daniel’s life in Babylon during the Jewish exile. It also contains a series of visions that God gave Daniel concerning the future of Israel, the coming of the Messiah, and the end times.
The Book of Daniel can be divided into two main sections – the historical narratives in chapters 1-6, and the apocalyptic visions in chapters 7-12. The first section records how Daniel and his three friends – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – rose to prominence in the courts of Babylon and Persia through their faithfulness to God. It includes popular Bible stories like Daniel in the lions’ den and the three men in the fiery furnace. The second section contains Daniel’s visions about four world empires, the coming Messiah, the Antichrist, and the resurrection of the dead. These mysterious visions have been studied intently throughout history for clues about how human history will end.
Here is a summary of the key events and messages in the Book of Daniel:
Historical Narratives – Daniel 1-6
Daniel’s Training in Babylon (Daniel 1)
The Book of Daniel opens with the background of how Daniel and his friends came to be in Babylon during the Jewish exile. After Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem around 605 BC, he took back noble hostages to be trained to serve in his palace. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were four young Jewish men chosen because of their intellect and noble birth. They were given new Babylonian names – Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and requested a simple vegetarian diet. After 10 days of testing their appearance, the vegetable diet made them healthier than the other trainees. So the chief official allowed them to continue with it. God gave these four men knowledge, understanding and ability to interpret dreams.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Statue (Daniel 2)
In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream that none of his wise men could interpret. Furious, he ordered all the wise men in Babylon to be executed. When they came for Daniel and his friends, Daniel requested time from the king to interpret the dream. After praying all night, God revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel. He then went to the king and described his dream – a huge multi-metal statue was destroyed by a rock from heaven. Daniel explained that the statue’s parts represented four successive empires, while the rock symbolized God’s eternal kingdom destroying them and filling the whole earth. Amazed, the king promoted Daniel and his friends.
The Golden Image and the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3)
Daniel 3 records how Nebuchadnezzar built a huge golden image and forced all his officials to bow down to it. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship the idol. Furious, the king threatened to throw them into a blazing furnace. They boldly declared that God could deliver them, but even if He didn’t, they would not serve Babylon’s gods. True to his word, Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into the fiery furnace. But God miraculously delivered them, and not a hair on them was singed. The king was so astonished that he issued a decree protecting their religious freedom.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Tree (Daniel 4)
In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar had another symbolic dream that only Daniel could interpret. He saw an enormous tree providing shelter and food for the whole world, but then it was chopped down leaving only a stump. Daniel explained that the tree represented Nebuchadnezzar himself, who would lose his sanity and be driven from people until he acknowledged God’s sovereignty. A year later this came true. After 7 years living like an animal, Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity returned and he praised God for His supreme power.
The Writing on the Wall (Daniel 5)
Many years later in Daniel 5, Belshazzar held a great feast using the gold vessels his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Jerusalem temple. Suddenly, a hand wrote mysterious words on the wall that none could interpret. Daniel was summoned and rebuked Belshazzar for not humbling his heart before God. He explained that the words meant God had numbered Belshazzar’s days as king. That very night, just as Daniel said, Belshazzar was killed and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom.
Daniel in the Lions’ Den (Daniel 6)
Daniel 6 records how Daniel rose to become one of three chief administrators under king Darius. The other officials became jealous and got the king to sign a decree saying no one could pray to any god except Darius for 30 days. Knowing that Daniel prayed regularly to the true God, they caught him breaking this law. Reluctantly, the king had Daniel thrown into a den of hungry lions. But God sent His angel to shut the lions’ mouths, and Daniel emerged unharmed the next day. Amazed at Daniel’s deliverance, King Darius issued a decree protecting religious freedom throughout the kingdom.
Apocalyptic Visions – Daniel 7-12
Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts (Daniel 7)
In Daniel 7, Daniel himself had a dream about four huge beasts arising from the sea – a winged lion, a bear-like beast, a four-headed leopard, and a ten-horned beast with iron teeth. An interpretation explained that these represented four kingdoms that would arise, with the last kingdom making war against God’s people before being judged. Then Daniel saw the Ancient of Days take His throne and give everlasting dominion to “one like a son of man.” This prophesied the coming of the Messiah to establish His eternal kingdom.
Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and Goat (Daniel 8)
In Daniel 8, Daniel received a vision of a ram with two horns and a goat with a prominent horn. The goat defeated the ram. A messenger explained these animals represented the kings of Media-Persia and Greece. The goat’s horn was the first Greek king (Alexander the Great). The vision foretold that a later Greek king would desecrate the Jerusalem temple and oppose God’s people, which was fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes.
Daniel’s 70 Weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9)
Daniel 9 records Daniel’s prayer for Israel’s restoration, and the angel Gabriel bringing him the striking “70 weeks” prophecy. Gabriel said 70 “weeks” (meaning 70 sevens, or 490 years) were decreed for Israel to finish rebelling and make an end of sins. After the first 7 sevens (49 years) Jerusalem would be rebuilt. Then an “anointed one” (Messiah) would come 62 weeks (434 years) later, but would be “cut off.” This remarkably predicted Jesus’ baptism after 483 years, and his crucifixion a few years later to atone for sins.
Daniel’s Final Vision of Israel’s Future (Daniel 10-12)
The last 3 chapters record Daniel’s final vision about events affecting Israel. An angel revealed a heavenly battle going on behind the scenes impacting Persia and Greece. He foretold that a future evil Greek ruler would come who would defile the temple, but then the Archangel Michael would deliver Israel. There would also be a time of great distress for Israel, followed by the resurrection and eternal life or shame. A cryptic timetable was given counting “1290 days” and “1335 days” from the time sacrifices were stopped, pointing to the temple’s destruction by Rome.
Major Themes
Amid the book’s prophecies, the stories of Daniel’s life serve as inspiring examples of how to live faithfully for God in a pagan society, even facing death. God honors Daniel’s bold faith, single-minded devotion, and spirit of prayer. Here are some of the Book of Daniel’s major themes:
- God is sovereign over the nations and rulers of this world.
- God establishes and removes earthly kingdoms according to His will.
- Suffering is to refine God’s people, yet God will deliver them.
- Angels and heavenly beings are engaged in spiritual battles that impact earthly events.
- God has an appointed time for the coming of His eternal kingdom.
- The Messiah (Jesus) is the Son of Man who will rule God’s kingdom forever.
- There will be a resurrection of the dead to eternal life or shame.
The Book of Daniel has inspired Jewish people for centuries to withstand foreign rulers who tried to assimilate them. It gives encouragement that though times may be dark, God is working out His purposes in history. And it creates anticipation for the day when God’s kingdom will suddenly arrive and destroy all human kingdoms.
For Christians, Daniel is a profound prophecy of Jesus the Messiah coming to suffer and establish God’s eternal kingdom. Seeing how precisely Daniel predicted Jesus’ baptism and crucifixion centuries in advance strengthens faith that the rest of the prophecies about Christ’s return and final judgment will also come true in their appointed time.
This book provides much needed perspective for believers in all ages living in non-Christian cultures. It calls them to draw strength from the Living God to live uncompromisingly, knowing that He can deliver and their suffering has purpose. Daniel remains an influential book for Bible prophecy and apocalyptic literature, assuring readers that amid chaos and suffering, God reigns supreme over human history.