Prophecy
The Old Testament's longest continual prophecy runs from Daniel 10 to 12. These three chapters discuss events in the end time with a focus on the kings of the north and south.
Daniel 11 contains over 100 prophetic predictions, the most of any single Old Testament chapter!
[Prophecies Fulfilled by Alexander the Great!]
Daniel, several times, symbolically refers to Alexander the Great and the massive prophetic empire he would create (Dan. 2:31 - 32, 39, 7:6, 8:5 - 8, 21 - 22 and 11:3 - 4).
Daniel 12:1 is quoted or referred to 11 times in the New Testament (Matthew 24:21, Mark 13:19, Philippians 4:3, Jude 9, Revelation 3:5, 7, 12:7, 13, 16:18, 17:8, 20:12). It is the third most referenced Old Testament passage in the New Testament!
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time . . . (Daniel 12:1).
How Was Babylon Conquered?
How was the city of Babylon, which finalized the fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, achieved by the Persians (Daniel 5:30 - 31)? This fall of Babylon was also prophesied in Jeremiah 51:24 - 32.
[Map of Neo-Babylonian Empire]
The Babylonian army, according to Bullinger's "Figures of Speech in the Bible," was first forced to retreat to the city by Persia's Cyrus the Great. After their retreat the following happened.
"The forces of Cyrus, having turned the waters of the Euphrates, entered the city by the bed of the river at each end; and the messengers who entered at the end where the waters quitted the city ran to meet those who had come in where the waters entered the city; so that they met one another.
"Herodotus expressly describes this in his history (book i. ยง191). Those who were at the extremities were at once slain, while those in the center were feasting in utter ignorance of what was going on (Daniel 5:3 - 4, 23, 30)." (Figures of Speech in the Bible by Bullinger, comment on Jeremiah 51:31).
Prophetic Promotion
Daniel is one of only nine Old Testament books named after their author. Old Testament writings named after people who were NOT their authors include Joshua and Ruth (written by Samuel) along with 1 and 2 Samuel (penned by Isaiah).
[Flow of Old Testament History Map]
Daniel mentions himself, by name, 75 times in his King James book. For comparison, the Old Testament prophetic book written by Ezekiel, a much larger work (12 versus 48 chapters), records Ezekiel's name only twice (Ezekiel 1:3, 24:24). Isaiah's 66 chapters references its author only 16 times (Isaiah 1:1, 2:1, 7:3, etc.) while Jeremiah's 52 chapters mentions its writer 131 times.
Other than the book written by him, the prophet Daniel is mentioned by name only in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 14:14, 20, 28:3), Matthew (Matthew 24:15) and Mark (Mark 13:14).
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) . . . (Matthew 24:15).
Prophetic Visions and Dreams
The word "vision" or its plural is recorded the most in the book of Daniel. Visions are vivid apparitions that are distinct from dreams. They usually, but not always, appear when a person is awake. The word is written 32 times in the King James version of Daniel, far more than other Bible books such as Ezekiel or the book of Acts!
The word "dream" or its plural, in the KJV, is recorded 27 times in Daniel. This is the highest frequency for the word in the Bible, second only to Genesis which uses it 33 times.
Daniel is also one of only two Biblical people who were able to correctly interpret dreams (Dan. 2:16 - 23, 28 - 30, 4:8 - 9). The other person was Joseph (see Genesis 40:12, 13, 18, 19, 41:25 - 32).
Music
Daniel 3 verses 5, 7, 10 and 15 mention six unique musical instruments which are not recorded anywhere else in the Bible!
Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet (Hebrew kehren), flute, harp (Aramaic kathros), sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer (Hebrew sumponia), and all kinds of musick (music), ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up (Dan. 3:4 - 5, KJV).
All those refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image when the music played were to be killed by being tossed into a literal fiery furnace (Daniel 3:6, 11, 15).
[Musical Instruments in Scripture]
Biblical commentaries have at least some idea what type of instruments are referenced by the words cornet, flute, harp, sackbut and psaltery. They have, however, little if any idea what kind of instrument the dulcimer (sumponia) is referencing. At least three Biblical commentaries believe it might have been a type of bagpipe while others disagree!
Ancient of Days
The book of Daniel contains one of the incredibly few Biblical references to both God the Father and Jesus Christ.
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man (Jesus Christ) came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13 - 14).
The phrase "Ancient of days," used for God the Father, is found only in Daniel (Dan. 7:9, 13, and 22).
Chapter 7 also reveals the most details regarding what God the Father looks like!
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened (Dan. 7:9 - 10).
Archangel Names
Daniel and Revelation are the only two Biblical books where the names of two angelic spirits are recorded.
The archangel Gabriel is referenced in Daniel 8 and 9.
Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation (Daniel 9:21, see also 8:16).
The archangel Michael is recorded in Daniel 10 and 12.
Then said he (Gabriel), Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince (Daniel 10:20 - 21, see also 12:1).
Multiple Miracles!
The book of Daniel mentions miracles in almost all of its twelve chapters!
In chapter 2 God gives Daniel the understanding to not only describe Nebuchadnezzar's dream of an image of a man, but also to correctly interpret its meaning.
In chapter 3 Daniel's three friends are thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to worship the king's golden image. God miraculously saves them, while they are still in the furnace, such that when they come out even their clothes do not smell of smoke (verse 27)!
In chapter 4 Daniel is given the wisdom to correctly interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great tree hewn down. The prophetic dream symbolized the king losing his power and becoming like an animal for seven years.
The prophecy, roughly twelve months later, came to pass when the king literally lost his mind and began acting like a wild animal! The mind of a human was not given back to him until the prophecy's seven years were completed.
Belshazzar, in chapter 5, hosts a great feast where the holy vessels from Jerusalem's temple are used. God then has a hand miraculously appear and write the following on a banquet wall, "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin" (Dan. 5:25). Daniel is then given special understanding regarding the meaning of the words.
[Meaning of Handwriting on the Wall!]
God, in chapter 6, protects Daniel from being eaten alive after he is thrown into a den of lions. The Lord then miraculously gives back the lions their hunger which is used to devour those leaders, including their families, who opposed Daniel (Dan. 6:24)!
Daniel, in chapter 7, reveals his vision (dream?) where he sees four great beasts (lion, bear, leopard and one strong beast with iron teeth and ten horns). He is also blessed with seeing a rare vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ (verses 9 - 10). An angel, seen in his vision, then reveals the meaning of the beasts.
In chapter 8 Daniel receives more visions, this time of a ram with two horns and a goat with one large horn. God then sends the archangel Gabriel to miraculously appear to the prophet and explain his visions.
In chapter 9 God again sends Gabriel to Daniel, this time to reveal the meaning of what is called the 70 weeks prophecy (Dan. 9).
In chapter 10 Daniel experiences his last great miraculous vision. The archangel Gabriel is again sent to him to reveal more information about end time prophecy and the events leading to Jesus' return (Daniel 10 - 12).
[Timeline of Man's Last Days!]
[Principles in Understanding Prophecy!]
General Trivia
Daniel is unique in the Bible because its original text was written in two different languages. Daniel 1:1 to 2:4, and 8:1 to 12:13, was originally written in Hebrew. These rest of the book was written in Aramaic.
Daniel 4 is actually written by King Nebuchadnezzar, a Gentile (non-Israelite)!
This book is the seventh most reference Old Testament book in the King James New Testament. It is referred to 133 times in 17 books.
A single verse in Daniel contains all the letters of the English alphabet except the letter "q."
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase (Daniel 4:37).