The Prophet Daniel

Depiction of Daniel

Daniel was an ancient prophet [descended from the Jewish nation] who was born in 623 B.C. While it is not recorded who the parents of Daniel were, rabbinical tradition states that he came from royal descent. 

The historian, Josephus, implied that the prophet was related to Zedekiah (the last king of Judah defeated by Nebuchadnezzar).  Daniel is accredited with writing the Book of Daniel in the Tanakh/Old Testament and is best known for the following occurrences in the holy books:

1. Interpreting the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar
2. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo in the fiery furnace
3. The mysterious handwriting on the wall
4. Daniel in the lion's den
5. The prophetic warnings of future occurrences

His story begins not long after King Jehoiakim (of Judah) was defeated by Nebuchadnezer (king of the Babylonian Empire) in the year 586 B.C. The Israelite nation was exiled to Babylon where they would spend the next 70 years in captivity.

Interpreting the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar...

"In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep." Daniel 2:1 (NIV)

Depiction of Daniel interpreting
the dream of Nebuchadnezzar

Not long after Daniel was carried away to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar appointed him [along with three other Israelites] to the king's royal service to learn the literature and language of the Chaldeans. Daniel, along with the other Israelites (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah), was later added to the king's royal line of magicians, astrologers and wise men. When Nebuchanezzar had a very troubling dream and threatened to kill all the magicians, astrologers and wise men if they could not interpret his dream, Daniel bravely stepped forward [therefore intervening and preventing a massacre]. 

"The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?" Daniel 26:1 (NIV)

Having great faith in his Israelite God, Daniel was given a vision of the king's dream and the interpretation thereof. Nebuchadnezzar, extremely pleased with Daniel's wise interpretation, gave these Israelite men (royal slaves) much power and prestige during his reign; their wisdom and understanding was unlike any other in the kingdom.

For more information, please visit: Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo in fiery furnace...

Depiction of "fiery furnace"

Not long after entering King Nebuchadnezzar's royal service,  the king changed the names of the Israelite slaves to Belteshazzar (Daniel), Shadrach (Hananiah), Meshach (Mishael), and Abednigo (Azariah). When Nebuchadnezzar had an image of gold built and set up in his kingdom, he demanded that all worship the golden idol or die. When the king learns that certain Israelite wise men refused his order, he has them brought before him. Furious to discover his own royal advisers were being disobedient, he asked, "Will your god save you from the fiery furnace?"

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV)

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were thrown into the fiery furnace and endured the evil wrath of Nebuchadnezzar while the angel of their God kept the flames from those renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo. Nebuchadnezzar marveled at such a miracle.

For more information, please visit: In the Fiery Furnace

The mysterious handwriting on the wall...

"Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace." Daniel 5:5 (NIV)

Depiction of
"writing on the wall"

After Nebuchadnezzar died, his son (Belshazzar) became king. Early in his reign, Belshazzar, while entertaining during a great feast, ordered the gold and silver goblets of his father to be brought in. Soon, in the merriment of the moment, the Babylonian king begins praising the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. When out of nowhere, a hand materializes and begins writing on the wall near them. King Belshazzar becomes sorely afraid and calls for all his enchanters, magicians and wise men. When none of the wisest in his court service could read what was written, the Queen [who was believed to be Nitocris of Babylon] told him about the wise man named Belteshazzar (Daniel) whom had served his father, Nebuchadnezzar. After Daniel informs the new king of what was written on the wall, the ancient prophet is promoted to the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

For more information, please visit: Writing on the Wall

Daniel in the lion's den...

Depiction of
Daniel in lion's den

During the reign of King Darius (the Mede), who slayed King Belshazzar and conquered the Babylonian kingdom, Daniel was made one of the administrators of the Satraps in the Persian kingdom. The other administrators and satraps found out that the king intended to make Daniel ruler over them [all the administrators and satraps] and they concocted a plan to dispose of him.  

"The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den." Daniel 6:7 (NIV)

Knowing that Daniel would rebel against such an edict, those jealous of the ancient prophet's power was quite pleased with themselves when Darius gave the order to throw Daniel into the den of lions. The king of Persian was anguished, but knew he had to follow the laws of his kingdom. The next day Darius found Daniel unharmed and in his righteous anger threw those men into the lion's den who had stirred up the trouble to begin with. Soon after this occurred, King Darius issued a decree throughout his kingdom that all people must fear and show reverence to the God of Daniel.

For more information, please visit: Daniel in the Lion's Den

The Prophetic warnings of future occurrences...

While controversial in some secular religious traditions, Daniel is well known for his prophetic warnings concerning the "End Times", yet he was also given insight into other revelations that were fulfilled during his own lifetime, just as they were revealed unto him. 

The Book of Daniel and his prophetic visions for an apocalyptic future can be found in chapters 7 thru 12. 

Depiction of
Daniel's future visions

Chapter 7: Rise of the Anti-Christ                    

Chapter 8: The Sealed Prophecy

Chapter 10-11: Rising of the Roman Empire   

Chapter 12: The End Times

Many interpretations have been presented over the centuries in reference to Daniel's words, but the majority agree that the prophet was instrumental in helping the people of Israel gain their freedom in the 6th century B.C., as well as predicting an end of the world scenario.