Introductions, Outlines & Studies

The book of Daniel is an apocalyptic of the Old Testament. It is divided into two main parts: history and prophecy. The first six chapters are the history section, telling of a Jew named Daniel of royal descent, who was taken captive along with the rest of the people from the city of Jerusalem. King Nebuchadnezzer placed Daniel (among others) in his service, and had them trained. This section tells of the persecutions that Daniel and his friends undergo, and also of the high positions that Daniel attains. It relates the fact that God is in control, and how He protects His faithful servants.

The second section can either be construed as prophecy, or history containing some prophecy, depending on the date one assumes that the book was written. In either case, most scholars agree that chapters seven through twelve tell the story of the battles of the Near East, from the sixth century to the second and/or the first centuries B.C. The battles are between the four successive kingdoms of the Babylonians, the Medo-Persians or the Medians then the Persians, the Greeks, and possibly the Romans.