Daniel Overview and Outline

AUTHOR: Daniel

DATE: 537 B.C.

AUTHOR: Daniel, from the Tribe of Judah DATE: 537 B.C.

The Prophet Daniel, whose name means “God is my judge,” was from the Tribe of Judah.  He was taken captive, when a youth, in the first siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 605 B.C.   He was made a statesman in the court of the heathen Babylonian monarchy and spent the rest of his long life there as a governmental official and a prophet of the true God. He claims authorship of this book in Daniel 12:4, and Jesus Christ identified him as a prophet in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14. Although Daniel spoke God’s words as prophets did, he did not hold the prophetic office.  Therefore, the book of Daniel is found in the third division of the Hebrew Bible, the “Writings,” rather than in the second, “The Prophets.” Throughout Daniel’s life, he was uncompromising and faithful to his God.

In 605 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar took Daniel and other nobles as captives to Babylon, Daniel was given a place of prominence and responsibility in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom (Daniel 2). After the King Nebuchadnezzar’s death, Daniel fell from favor but was not completely forgotten and was called to interpret the writing that appeared at Belshazzar’s feast (Daniel 5:13). Under Darius, he was made one of three prime ministers (Daniel 6:1). Daniel lived until the third year of Cyrus (536). His ministry was to testify to the power of God, with his words and by his life.

God was present with His people throughout their 70 years of exile in Babylon, and Daniel was a blessing to the people with his prophetic words of God’s plan for their future and His far future plans for the nation of Israel. In addition, Daniel also traced the course of Gentile world powers from his day to the second coming of Christ.

• Important prophecies in the book of Daniel include:
• the course of Gentile kingdoms (the future of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, Daniel 2 and 7)
• details concerning Medo-Persia and Greece (Daniel 8)
• more details concerning Greece (Daniel 11)
• the prophecy of the 70 weeks of years (Daniel 9:24-27) Read What is the Seventieth Week of Daniel?
• and the activities of Antichrist (Daniel 11:36-45).

Among the doctrines found in the book are:

• personal separation (Daniel 1:8; 3:12; 6:10; 9:2-3; 10:2-3)
• angels (Daniel 8:16; 9:21; 10:13, 20-21; 11:1)
• resurrection (Daniel 12:2)
• Antichrist (Daniel 7:24-25; 9:27; 11:36).

Favorite stories include those of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (Daniel 3), and Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6).

VIII. Daniel’s Vision of the Ram, Goat, and Small Horn, 8:1-27

A. The Vision, 8:1-14
B. The Interpretation, 8:15-27

1. The ram, 8:15-20
2. The goat, 8:21-22
3. The small horn, 8:23-25
4. The effect on Daniel, 8:26-27

IX. Daniel’s Prophecy of Seventy Weeks of Years, 10:1-12:13

A. Historical Data, 9:1-2
B. Daniel’s Prayer, 9:3-19
C. The Prophecy, 9:20-27

X. Daniel’s Prophetic Panorama, 10:1-12:13

A. Daniel’s Vision, 10:1-9
B. Daniel’s Strengthening, 10:10-11:1
C. Prophecies Concerning the Nations, 11:2-45

1. Persia, 11:2
2. Greece, 11:3-4
3. Egypt and Aram, 11:5-20
4. Antiochus Epiphanes, 11:21-35
5. Antichrist, 11:36-45

D. Prophecies Concerning Israel, 12:1-13

Articles about the Book of Daniel

What About the Beasts of Daniel 7? — A Different Perspective
What is the Metal Man Statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream in Daniel 2?
Daniel and His Friends in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11)
What is the Seventieth Week of Daniel?
Daniel Overview and Outline
But If Not …the Faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3)
Might the United States be in Prophecy?  Great Britain and Russia? (Daniel 7)

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