THE BOOK OF DANIEL
INTRODUCTION 

A BASIC OUTLINE
THE AUTHOR AND THE BOOK 
INTRODUCTION 

The Book of Daniel is divided into two equal parts:

I. THE “PERSONAL HISTORY” OF DANIEL                                    

Chapters 1-6  

A. Chapter 1 - Maintaining his Godly Walk 
B.  Chapter 2 - Interpreting the “Image Dream” 
C.  Chapter 3- The Golden Image (Daniel is not present here)
D.  Chapter 4 - Interpreting the “Tree Dream” 
E.  Chapter 5- Handwriting on the Wall 
F.  Chapter 6 - The Lion’s Den 

II. THE “PROPHETICAL MINISTRY” OF DANIEL  

Chapters 7-12

A. Chapter 7 - His vision of the Four Beasts 
B. Chapter 8 - His vision of the Ram and He-goat 
C. Chapter 9 - His Prayer of Confession (The 70 weeks)
D. Chapter 10-12 - His Final Vision of the Future  

III. THE “SIX KINGDOMS” IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL

1.  Babylon (606-539 BC)
Head of gold - chapter 2:36-38
Lion with eagle wings - chapter 7:4

2.  Media-Persia (539-330 BC)
Arms and chest of silver - chapter 2:39
Bear with three ribs - chapter 7:5

3.  Greece (330-150 BC)
Thigh of brass - chapter 2:39
Leopard with four heads - chapter 7:6

4.  Rome (150 BC - 500 AD)
Legs of iron - chapter 2:40
Dreadful beast - chapter 7:7

5.  Antichrist (yet to come)
Ten toes iron and clay - chapter 2:41-43
Little horn - chapter 7:8

6.  Christ (yet to come)
Stone that smites - chapter 2:44-45
Ancient of days - chapter 7:9-14

Revelation 19 describes the second coming of Christ to set up the kingdom that was spoken of in the Book of Daniel 

“Look up for your redemption draweth night”

Keep in mind that the Roman Empire has never been replaced by another world empire, so that it actually continues until the rise of the Antichrist in the latter days, thus, it will be revived

This last world dictator will establish a United States of Europe (the ten toes) after the pattern of the Old Roman Empire

Note that in chapter 2 we have man’s view of the nations (valuable metals)  

While in chapter 7 we have God’s view (dangerous beasts)

THE AUTHOR AND THE BOOK 

IV. SOME “CHARACTERISTICS” OF THE AUTHOR

Daniel is the Writer, while the Holy Spirit is the Divine Author 

1. He was a man of Self-Control - 1:8
2. He was a man of Courage - 5:17-23
3. He was a man of Integrity - 6:1-4
4. He was a man of Prayer - 6:10-11
5. He was a man of Humility - 10:1-9

Daniel is a man that we could easily pattern our own lives after, as he truly sets forth the spirit of Christ in his life 

V. THE “PURPOSE” OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL:

1. It was the time of the breaking up of David’s kingdom  

God had promised that the throne of that kingdom should be established forever, and godly Jews were concerned about the future of that kingdom 

God had made a covenant that they would possess the land forever 

But now they are being carried away captive 

(Too often we are like the Jews; more concerned about the physical or material wealth than we are about our spiritual relationship with God)

2. The Jews were entering a great time of trouble  

God wanted the nation of Israel to understand 

So He gave prophecy of their trouble, and the time of the end of it 

The Book of Jeremiah would have reveal to them their problem if they would only listen to it 

Many times we are permitted to have a time of problems because we fail to listen and obey the Word of God

3. The captivity occurred just at the peak of Nebuchadnezzar’s power, He was a world power 

God would show Daniel that Babylon was an empire, and there must be four more empires to follow

The true believer should be thrilled when reading the Book of Daniel as it shows very clearly that God is a Sovereign God and all things are in His control

MORE ABOUT THE MAN:

Daniel stands out as one of the greatest men of Old Testament history 

That he was a real man in his day is proved by 

Ezekiel 14:14 – “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD”

Ezekiel 28:3 – “Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:” 

As well as in the teachings of Christ 

Matthew 24:15 – “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)” 

The writer of Hebrews also mentions him in the chapter of faith 

Hebrews 11:33 – “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,”

Daniel was a teenager in 605 BC when Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and began his conquest of Judah 

There were several deportations of Jews to Babylon 

Daniel was in the first group because he was of the princely line, (1:3, 4) 

It was the practice of Babylon to deport the cream of the crop and train them for service in their own palaces 

We find that Daniel was still active in 539 BC when the kingdom was taken by Cyrus 

Daniel lived and ministered in Babylon for over 60 years 

In fact, he lived through the reigns of four rulers:

Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus 

Daniel also served in three kingdoms that he prophesied about:

Babylon, Media and Persia 

Daniel’s name means “God is my judge” 

He held several important positions and was promoted greatly because of his character and wisdom  

(And also because the blessing of God was upon him) 

Nebuchadnezzar named him chief of the wise men and a ruler of the land (2:48), a position liken unto a modern day Prime Minister 

Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, Belshazzer, called Daniel out of retirement 

And because he explained the handwriting on the wall, made Daniel third ruler in the land (5:29)

Darius named him leader over the whole realm (6:1-3)

It is believed that Daniel was God’s faithful witness in a wicked and idolatrous kingdom between 60 and 75 years

The words of Daniel 1:21 gives a testimony to Daniel’s integrity - 

“And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus”

Read carefully Daniel 1:17-21

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK:

Daniel is to the Old Testament what the Book of Revelation is to the New Testament 

In fact, you cannot really understand one without the other 

Prophetically Daniel deals with the “times of the Gentiles” 

Luke 21:24 – “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”

This period of time began in 606 BC with the captivity and will end when Christ returns to earth to judge the Gentile nations and establish His kingdom

In the various visions and dreams in Daniel we see the program of Gentile history 

From the arrival of Babylon, through the conquests of the Medes, Persians, Greeks, and Romans … 

To the rule of Antichrist just before the return of Jesus Christ

This Book proves that there is a God in heaven (2:28) 

And “that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (4:25) 

Daniel makes it clear that God Almighty is sovereign in the affairs of this world 

God prophesies and history is that prophecy fulfilled 

God can take rulers off their thrones, as well as He places rulers on their thrones 

He can destroy the strongest and exalt the weakest 

He causes the enemies to triumph or to run 

He is fully in charge

Remember that America didn’t become wealthy and strong because of her own abilities 

She is what she is by the grace of a Sovereign God 

She will remain so, until God concludes His work and brings judgment upon all our wickedness 

(The more we read and study the Book of Daniel, the more we understand this truth)

The Book was written in the Hebrew language in chapters 1- 2:3 

And from 2:4 - 7:28 it was written in the Chaldean language 

Chapters 8-12 were written in Hebrew again 

THE HISTORY OF THE BOOK:

Warren Wiersbe gives the following outline of the Book of Daniel placing it in chronological order:

Chapter 1 -Captivity (605-605 BC)
2 - Dream of the image (602 BC)
3 - Nebuchadnezzar’s image
4 - Nebuchadnezzar’s tree dream
5 - Belshazzar’s feast — Babylon falls (538 BC)
6 - The Lions Dens
7 - The Vision of the four beasts (556 BC)
8 - Ram and He-goat vision (554 BC)
9 - Vision of 70 weeks (539 BC)
10 - 12 - closing visions 

It is believed that Daniel was in his 80’s when he was thrown into the lion’s den

Again note the faithfulness of Daniel:

“And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus”	(1:21)

Paul wrote in I Corinthians 4:2:

“Moreover it is required as stewards, that a man be found faithful” 

What greater thing do we have to offer our Lord?