Introduction
Thank God for the book of Daniel! Let the liberals and skeptics be ashamed and hang their heads in disgrace for their attacks upon it. - Homer Hailey
Why is Daniel so highly esteemed by God?* The 80+ year life of Daniel tells us.
The chronological order of the book of Daniel* Daniel 1-4 – Captivity and first interpretations of dreams and visions (605-602 BC) * 50 years of silence * Daniel 7 – Vision of the four beasts (553 BC) * Daniel 8 – Vision of the ram and male goat (551 BC) * Daniel 5 – Belshazzar’s feast – conquest of Babylon (539 BC) * Daniel 9 – Vision of the seventy weeks (539/538 BC) * Daniel 6 – Daniel in the lion’s den (539/538 BC) * Daniel 10-12 – Daniel’s prayer and visions (536 BC)
The life of DanielDaniel 1:1 – third year of Jehoiakim (605 BC) – 18 years old* Daniel 1:1, 21 * Had convictions and refused to compromise them – Daniel 1:3-13 * Courteous and respectful – Daniel 1:8, 12 * Good reputation with all – Daniel 1:20
Daniel 2:1 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar (602 BC) – 21 years old* Daniel 2:1 * Interprets dreams: five kingdoms + Babylon + Medes-Persians + Greeks + Romans + God’s * Sought wisdom from God – Daniel 2:19-23 * Gave God glory, we humble – Daniel 2:19-23 * Caused king to glorify God – Daniel 2:47-48
| 605 BC | 549 BC | 547 BC | 536 BC | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Daniel 2:36-37 | Daniel 7:4 | Babylon (626-539 BC) | | Daniel 2:39 | Daniel 7:5 | Daniel 8:3, 4, 20 | Daniel 11:1-2 | Media-Persia (539-330 BC) | | Daniel 2:39 | Daniel 7:6 | Greece (330-63 BC) | | Alexander the Great | | Daniel 11:5 | Egypt (323 BC) | | Daniel 11:6 | Syria (204 BC) | | Daniel 8:23-25 | Daniel 11:21-35 | Antiochus Epiphanes (175 BC) | | Daniel 11:32-35 | Maccabees (168 BC) | | Daniel 2:40 | Daniel 7:7-8, 23-27 | Daniel 11:36-45 | Rome (27 BC) |
Daniel 3-4 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar (602 BC) – 21 years old* Friends refuse to bow down to image – Daniel 3 * Order to interpret kings (Nebuchadnezzar’s) dream – Daniel 4:1-18 * Spoke boldly to king: warning, advice – Daniel 4:19-27 * Nebuchadnezzar turned to animal – Daniel 4:28-33 * Caused king to glorify God – Daniel 4:34-36
50 years of silenceDaniel 7:1 – first year of Belshazzar (549 BC) – 74 years oldDaniel 8:1 – third year of Belshazzar (547 BC) – 76 years old* Daniel 7:1; 8:1 * Vision of four kingdoms + “I desired to know” – Daniel 7:19 * Continued curiosity + “I kept looking” – Daniel 7:9 * Visions of oncoming kingdoms + “I sought to understand” – Daniel 8:15
Daniel 5 – first year of Darius (539 BC) – 84 years old* Daniel 9:1-2 * Observing in “the books” * Speaks plainly to Belshazzar – Daniel 5:22-23 * Foretells end of Babylonian kingdom; sees its fall – Daniel 5:13-31
Daniel 9 and 6 – first year of Darius (539 BC) – 84 years old* Continues his study of scriptures – Daniel 9:1 * Prays for sins of his people – Daniel 9:2-19 * Held in high esteem by God – Daniel 9:23 * Refused to pray to king, prayed without ceasing to God – Daniel 6:1-15 * Lived life above reproach – Daniel 6:4 * Put God’s will above man’s – Daniel 6:13 * Thrown into lion’s den – Daniel 6:16-28 * Trusted God – Daniel 6:23 * Caused Darius to glorify God – Daniel 6:24-28
Daniel 10-12 – third year of Cyrus (536 BC) – 87 years old* Daniel 10:1; 11:1 * Held in high esteem by God – Daniel 10:11, 19 * Set his heart to understand, humbled himself – Daniel 10:12
| Daniel 1:1 – third year of Jehoiakim | 605 BC | 18 years old | | --- | --- | --- | | Daniel 2-4 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar | 602 BC | 21 years old | | 50 years of silence | | Daniel 7:1 – first year of Belshazzar | 552 BC | 71 years old | | Daniel 8:1 – third year of Belshazzar | 550 BC | 73 years old | | Daniel 5:31; 9:1-2; 6 – first year of Darius | 539 BC | 84 years old | | Daniel 10-12 – third year of Darius | 536 BC | 87 years old |
Thank God for the book of Daniel! Let the liberals and skeptics be ashamed and hang their heads in disgrace for their attacks upon it. - Homer Hailey