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
Daniel 9:23; 10:11, 19 – Daniel was “highly esteemed.”Time period coveredDaniel 1:1 – 605 BCDaniel 1:21 – 536 BCThe book covers about 70 years.The word “year” occurs nine times in twelve chapters. An accident?Historical accuracy of DanielInsight into the consistent character of DanielWhy 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 silenceDaniel 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 Daniel
Daniel 1:1 – third year of Jehoiakim (605 BC) – 18 years old
Daniel 1:1, 21Had convictions and refused to compromise them – Daniel 1:3-13Courteous and respectful – Daniel 1:8, 12Good reputation with all – Daniel 1:20Daniel 2:1 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar (602 BC) – 21 years old
Daniel 2:1Interprets dreams: five kingdomsBabylonMedes-PersiansGreeksRomansGod’sSought wisdom from God – Daniel 2:19-23Gave God glory, was humble – Daniel 2:19-23Caused king to glorify God – Daniel 2:47-48605 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’s first prophecy of Media-Persia: 605 BCMedia-Persia ascended to prominence: 539 BC605-539 = 66 years prior to fulfillmentDaniel’s first prophecy of Greece: 605 BCGreece ascended to prominence: 330 BC605-330 = 275 years prior to fulfillmentDaniel’s prophecy of Alexander the Great: 547 BCAlexander the Great rose to power: 330 BC547-330 = 217 years prior to fulfillmentDaniel’s first prophecy of Rome: 605 BCRome ascended to prominence: 27 BC605-27 = 578 years prior to fulfillmentDaniel 3-4 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar (602 BC) – 21 years old
Friends refuse to bow down to image – Daniel 3Order to interpret king’s (Nebuchadnezzar’s) dream – Daniel 4:1-18Spoke boldly to king: warning, advice – Daniel 4:19-27Nebuchadnezzar turned to animal – Daniel 4:28-33Caused king to glorify God – Daniel 4:34-3650 years of silence
Daniel 7:1 – first year of Belshazzar (549 BC) – 74 years old
Daniel 8:1 – third year of Belshazzar (547 BC) – 76 years old
Daniel 7:1; 8:1Vision of four kingdoms“I desired to know” – Daniel 7:19Continued curiosity“I kept looking” – Daniel 7:9Visions of oncoming kingdoms“I sought to understand” – Daniel 8:15Daniel 5 – first year of Darius (539 BC) – 84 years old
Daniel 9:1-2Observing in “the books”Speaks plainly to Belshazzar – Daniel 5:22-23Foretells end of Babylonian kingdom; sees its fall – Daniel 5:13-31Daniel 9 and 6 – first year of Darius (539 BC) – 84 years old
Continues his study of scriptures – Daniel 9:1Prays for sins of his people – Daniel 9:2-19Held in high esteem by God – Daniel 9:23Refused to pray to king, prayed without ceasing to God – Daniel 6:1-15Lived life above reproach – Daniel 6:4Put God’s will above man’s – Daniel 6:13Thrown into lion’s den – Daniel 6:16-28Trusted God – Daniel 6:23Caused Darius to glorify God – Daniel 6:24-28Daniel 10-12 – third year of Cyrus (536 BC) – 87 years old
Daniel 10:1; 11:1Held in high esteem by God – Daniel 10:11, 19Set his heart to understand, humbled himself – Daniel 10:12Daniel 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
All of these age groups are represented in the Benchley congregation. Compare our character to Daniel’s at the comparable stage of life.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