chronological timeline of book of daniel

However, as The Expositor's Bible Commentary points out, this 'was the custom among ancient authors of historical memoirs. They dispute Daniel's authorship because he refers to himself in the early chapters in the third person, as if writing about someone else. But let's first consider the nature of the critics' approach. This, the critics allege, is the real reason for the book's startling prophetic accuracy!ĭaniel's testimony challenges the critics. They claim that it was not written by Daniel in the sixth century B.C.-timing which is evident by events written of in the book-but that it was penned by an unknown author in the 160s B.C., long after many of the events prophesied in the book came to pass. Rather than admit that his words are indeed inspired, they have simply labeled his book a fraud. In fact, some skeptics have not challenged the content of Daniel's prophetic accuracy.

Many of his prophecies are so detailed and specific that they have long confounded Bible critics. The prophecies of Daniel provide proof of the accuracy of the Bible. This indicates that certain major prophecies that previously wouldn't have made sense will be understandable as the end approaches. Yet at the end of the book God instructed Daniel to 'shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase' (Daniel 12:4). He served as a high official in both the Babylonian government and that of its successor, the Medo-Persian Empire. Daniel lived in the remarkable times of the downfall of the kingdoms of both Judah and Babylon. Among the Jewish captives taken from Judah and exiled to Babylon was a young man whose Hebrew name was Daniel, renamed Belteshazzar by the Babylonians (Daniel 1:1-7).

Chronological timeline of book of daniel