What Happened
Israel is exiled from their promised land to Babylon (modern day Iraq), the major civilization of that time. Israel lost their land because they constantly disobeyed God. Daniel was different and totally honored God in everything he did.
The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, asked all of Israel to renounce God and worship him, Daniel refused. The king wanted to kill Daniel for his disobedience, but God intervened and Daniel survived being thrown in the loins’ den.
Daniel then tells the king that God told him the Babylonian empire is about to fall. Daniel is right in everything he predicts, because his prophesy comes from God.
Why it matters
The story of Daniel shows us that in all things and in all situations, God is in control. The theme of Daniel’s prophesy centers on the sovereignty of God. Daniel interprets dreams for the king and in every case, those dreams signal the absolute authority of God.
Daniel’s “interpretations” are what he was shown by God, so it is God using those dreams to predict future events. Nebuchadnezzar was deeply moved by God through Daniel’s explanations and made a remarkable turnaround. When his son turned away from God, the empire was doomed.
Bible Verse
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[a] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13-14
Description
Israel was taken captive by the Babylonians and Daniel was living in Babylon in service to its king Nebuchadnezzar. When Daniel and his friends refused to bow down and worship the king, there was a death penalty. His three friends were thrown into a furnace to perish in the flames, but even though they were tied up and helpless, the flames never touched them.
The king watched in astonishment as the three men, plus another man, walked about unharmed. Even guards outside the furnace were killed by the intense heat. Who was that fourth man? Later, in an effort to have Daniel killed, the king’s men trumped up charges against him and Daniel was thrown to the lions’ den. However, the lions left Daniel alone and he survived.
Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream and sent for Daniel to interpret them. Daniel told of the kingdoms of the world, represented by a giant statue in the king’s dream. He told of how each would fall. When the king’s son saw” the handwriting on the wall” that said both he and his kingdom were finished, Daniel was predicting the downfall of Babylon.
Why it matters to you
Throughout history, God has laid down a track record for man to follow, to determine whether or not the truth is being told and what a reasonable expectation of events might be ascertained. Can you trust God to be in control regardless of your circumstances? Does God abandon people when the going gets rough?
What you may not know
The Book of Daniel is studied side-by-side with the Book of Revelation in seminary classes, as the events and descriptions line up with amazing consistency. The book contains writings in both Hebrew and Aramaic and was likely finished about 530 BC.