The Book of Daniel – Prophecy, Faith, and End-Time Revelation

Historical & Biblical Context

• Author: Daniel (circa 605–536 BC)

• Historical Setting: Babylonian exile, Medo-Persian rule

• Key Figures: Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, Cyrus

• Parallel Books: Jeremiah (exile warnings), Revelation (end-times prophecy)

Daniel was written during the Jewish exile in Babylon (6th century BC). It is divided into two main sections:

• Chapters 1-6: Historical accounts of Daniel and his companions in the court of Babylon.

• Chapters 7-12: Apocalyptic visions revealing God’s plan for Israel and the world.

The book highlights faithfulness under persecution, God’s control over empires, and the coming of the Messiah and His eternal kingdom.

Chapter Breakdown

Authorship & Structure

The Book of Daniel is traditionally attributed to Daniel, a Jewish prophet who lived during the Babylonian exile (6th century BC). He served in the courts of Babylonian and Persian kings and received visions of the future that span from his time to the end of days.

📖 Structure of Daniel

The book is divided into two main sections:

1️⃣ Historical Accounts (Chapters 1-6) – Daniel’s life in Babylon, miraculous events, and God’s sovereignty over earthly kingdoms.
2️⃣ Prophetic Visions (Chapters 7-12) – Revelations of world empires, the Antichrist, the Messiah, and the end times.

🗣️ Languages Used:

• Hebrew: Chapters 1-2:4a, 8-12
• Aramaic: Chapters 2:4b-7

This unique bilingual structure reflects Daniel’s dual audience—the Jews in exile and the Gentile empires ruling the world.

Major Themes & Theological Significance

1️⃣ God’s Sovereignty Over Kingdoms

“He removeth kings, and setteth up kings.” – Daniel 2:21

Daniel reveals God’s absolute rule over the affairs of men and nations.

Earthly rulers rise and fall according to His divine plan.

2️⃣ Faithfulness in Exile

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…” – Daniel 1:8

Daniel and his companions remained obedient to God despite living in a pagan empire.

Their unwavering faith led to divine protection and influence over Babylon.

3️⃣ Prophecies of World Empires

“Thou art this head of gold… and after thee shall arise another kingdom…” – Daniel 2:38-39

The visions in Daniel 2, 7, 8, and 11 outline the rise and fall of future empires.

These prophecies precisely predict Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

4️⃣ The Coming of the Messiah

“Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself.” – Daniel 9:26

Daniel foretells the exact timing of Christ’s coming and His sacrificial death.

The 70 Weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27) remains one of the greatest proofs of Biblical prophecy.

5️⃣ End-Times Revelation

“And at that time shall Michael stand up… and there shall be a time of trouble…” – Daniel 12:1

Daniel’s visions (especially chapters 7-12) unveil the Antichrist’s rise, tribulation, and resurrection of the righteous and the wicked.

Prophetic Patterns in Daniel

📜 Dreams & Visions Foretelling Future Events

• Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream (Chapter 2) – The four kingdoms and the coming of Christ’s eternal reign.

• Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts (Chapter 7) – A parallel prophecy to Daniel 2, revealing world empires.

• The Ram and the Goat (Chapter 8) – The conquest of Persia by Greece.

• The 70 Weeks Prophecy (Chapter 9) – Timeline for the coming of the Messiah and the final judgment.

⏳ Dual Fulfillment of Prophecy

• Many of Daniel’s prophecies had both near-term and end-time implications.

• Example: The Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11) refers to both Antiochus Epiphanes (167 BC) and the future Antichrist.

Christ in Daniel

🔥 The Fourth Man in the Fire – Daniel 3:25

• In the fiery furnace, Nebuchadnezzar sees one like the Son of God.

• A Christophany revealing Jesus as the divine deliverer.

⏳ The Son of Man Coming in the Clouds – Daniel 7:13-14

• Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 26:64, directly identifying Himself as the divine ruler prophesied in Daniel.

• He is given dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom.

Key Takeaways from Daniel

• God controls history, setting up and removing kings (Daniel 2:21).

• Faithfulness to God is always rewarded, even in trials (Daniel 3, 6).

• The Messiah’s coming was foretold with precision (Daniel 9:24-27).

• Daniel’s prophecies align with Revelation, reinforcing end-time warnings.

• The righteous will be resurrected, and the wicked will face judgment (Daniel 12:2).

Fulfilled & Future Prophecies

• ✅ Babylon’s fall (Daniel 5) – Fulfilled (539 BC)

• ✅ Medo-Persian and Greek Empires (Daniel 8) – Fulfilled (331 BC)

• ✅ Messiah’s Crucifixion (Daniel 9:26) – Fulfilled (~33 AD)

• ⏳ Antichrist’s rise (Daniel 7, 11) – In Progress (538 AD~1798~1929~ )

• 🔜 The resurrection of the dead (Daniel 12:2) – Future