The Book of Daniel
in a Nutshell
The Book of Daniel
in a Nutshell
Embedded Files
in a Nutshell
The Book of Daniel combines history and prophecy to reveal Jehovah’s sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and His unfolding plan for a future eternal kingdom. Set during the Babylonian exile, the book follows Daniel, a young Jewish exile, who remains faithful to Jehovah while serving in foreign royal courts. The first half presents inspiring stories of loyalty and divine deliverance, while the second half contains prophetic visions unveiling future empires and the ultimate triumph of Jehovah’s kingdom.
In the narrative section (chapters 1-6), Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refuse to compromise their devotion to Jehovah. They face fiery furnaces, lion’s dens, and royal decrees, yet Jehovah protects and exalts them in the eyes of foreign kings. These stories emphasize that even in exile, Jehovah honors those who honor Him. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a multi-metal statue, and later his humbling experience, show that all human rulers are subject to Jehovah’s rule.
The second half (chapters 7-12) contains a series of apocalyptic visions that symbolically portray the rise and fall of empires—from Babylon to Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. In one vision, Daniel sees four terrifying beasts representing these kingdoms, followed by the coming of “one like a son of man” who receives an everlasting kingdom from the Ancient of Days, Jehovah Himself. This figure points forward to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who will rule over all nations in righteousness.
Daniel is also given specific timelines, such as the seventy weeks prophecy, which foretells the coming of the Anointed One, his being “cut off,” and the eventual desolation of Jerusalem. These visions are filled with symbols, angels, and spiritual warfare, revealing not only earthly conflict but also the unseen spiritual battle behind it.
Daniel offers courage and hope to believers in all generations. It reminds us that no matter how powerful earthly rulers may seem, Jehovah is in control. His kingdom will one day replace all human governments, and His faithful ones will shine like the stars in His eternal plan.
JJ Bowks, ©CDMI
The Bible in a Nutshell Series
The Bible in a Nutshell Series
Hebrew Scriptures
Hebrew Scriptures
(Old Testament Books)
Outline of the Book of Daniel
Outline of the Book of Daniel
I. Historical Narratives in the Babylonian and Persian Courts (1:1–6:28)A. Daniel and his friends in Babylon – 1:1–21
Deportation to Babylon – 1:1–7
Faithful dietary test and God’s blessing – 1:8–21
B. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue – 2:1–49
The king’s troubled dream – 2:1–13
Daniel seeks and receives the dream’s meaning – 2:14–30
The dream of the four-part statue and its interpretation – 2:31–45
Daniel’s promotion – 2:46–49
C. The golden image and the fiery furnace – 3:1–30
The command to worship the golden image – 3:1–7
Refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – 3:8–18
The fiery furnace and their miraculous deliverance – 3:19–30
D. Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling and restoration – 4:1–37
The king’s dream of a great tree – 4:1–18
Daniel interprets the dream – 4:19–27
The dream fulfilled and the king’s humbling – 4:28–37
E. Belshazzar’s feast and the writing on the wall – 5:1–31
The king’s profane feast – 5:1–9
Daniel interprets the mysterious writing – 5:10–29
The fall of Babylon and death of Belshazzar – 5:30–31
F. Daniel in the lions’ den – 6:1–28
Daniel’s promotion and rivals’ plot – 6:1–15
Daniel cast into the lions’ den – 6:16–18
Daniel delivered and his enemies destroyed – 6:19–28
II. Prophetic Visions of Future Kingdoms and the End Times (7:1–12:13)
A. Vision of the four beasts and the Son of Man – 7:1–28
Four beasts representing kingdoms – 7:1–8
The Ancient of Days and judgment – 7:9–14
Interpretation of the vision – 7:15–28
B. Vision of the ram and the goat – 8:1–27
The two-horned ram and the male goat – 8:1–14
Gabriel interprets the vision – 8:15–27
C. Daniel’s prayer and the seventy weeks prophecy – 9:1–27
Daniel’s prayer of confession – 9:1–19
Gabriel’s message: seventy weeks – 9:20–27
D. Vision of the final conflict – 10:1–12:13
Daniel’s vision of a glorious man – 10:1–21
Prophetic history: Persia, Greece, and conflicts – 11:1–35
The rise and fall of a blasphemous king – 11:36–45
The resurrection and end-time deliverance – 12:1–3
Final instructions and sealing of the book – 12:4–13
Page updated
Report abuse