The Prophecies of Daniel

Introduction

     The book of Daniel is one of the most referred to books in the Holy Bible as one seeks to understand future end times events. God used the prophet Daniel to communicate with the nation Israel of what to expect to happen in their future after their return from captivity by the Babylonian armies. The southern kingdom, Judah, went into captivity during the early seventh and late sixth centuries B.C. The northern kingdom, Israel, went into captivity in 722 B.C. by the Assyrian armies. God gave Daniel specific outcomes for the future of the world and the eventual consummation of His promises that He made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and King David. Many of the prophecies that were given to Daniel came to fulfillment with such accuracy, that many sceptics have brought arguments against the authenticities of the prophecies. This introduction will discuss the history of the prophet Daniel and then will refute the skeptic's arguments against the authenticity of this prophetic book.

     As Israel went into captivity at the hands of the Babylonians, they were taken in three separate groups between 605 B.C. and 586 B.C. In the first of the three waves of captivities, King Nebuchadnezzar took the young, scholarly children of the wealthier and royal families of Judah (Daniel 1:3-4). Among that first wave of captives was the young prophet, Daniel, believed to be about 15 years of age. Daniel made an impact in Babylon with King Nebuchadnezzar as God used him to influence the King's eventual conversion into a believer in the Most High God (Daniel 4).

     In Daniel chapter one, one can see that Daniel was finding favor with the eunuch assigned to him and his three companions; Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Being newly captive, Daniel wrote about his first year in Babylon in his native language of Hebrew.

7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Daniel 1:7-8 KJV)

     As one reads chapter one, one can understand that Daniel was a very disciplined and loyal man of God as he chose not to defile himself with the Babylonian cuisine. King Nebuchadnezzar found Daniel and his companions ten times more informed and educated than his own astrologers and magicians. (Daniel 1:20)

     One must now understand that Daniel spent time among the Babylonian people and learned their Aramaic language fluently. Aramaic was used by the conquering Assyrians as a language of administration communication; following them, was the Babylonian and Persian empires which ruled from India to Ethiopia, and employed Aramaic as the official language. For this period, then (about 700–320 B.C.), Aramaic held a position similar to that occupied by English today. The most important documents of this period are numerous papyri from Egypt and land of Canaan.

     Daniel wrote Daniel chapter 1 through chapter 2 verse 3 in his original native Hebrew language and then chapter 2 starting in verse 4, Daniel started to write his text in Aramaic. He continued writing this book in Aramaic until chapter 8. He then switched back to writing this book in Hebrew, once again in chapter 8 verse 1, and finished the book in Hebrew.

     Many non-believers and scoffers protest to the truth of the Holy Scriptures and want to bring doubt into the authenticity of the book of Daniel because of its amazing accuracy of its already fulfilled prophecies. They will accuse this book of being written after the events that were fulfilled, stating, that the difference in languages was a clear sign that someone else penned the last five chapters. If one is a believer in Jesus Christ as God, they should then refer to Matthew 24:15 where Jesus is quoted "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:" God himself recognized that Daniel was a prophet and that he wrote Daniel 9:27.