THE MAJOR PROPHET DANIEL

The Book of Daniel is one of the most important prophetic books in the Bible. It was written by Daniel in the mid-6th century B.C. (probably around 530 B.C.). Daniel’s name in Hebrew means “God is Judge” or “God is my Judge”. He was taken captive to Babylon during King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon’s early incursion into Judah and Jerusalem in 605 B.C., along with three compatriots – Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. It appears that the four were around 16-17 years old and members of the royal household of Judah and were selected due to their high position and intelligence by the Babylonians for special training in the affairs of the royal court at Babylon. The book records God using Daniel as an instrument in the preparations for the deported people of Judah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and walls that were to be destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. God revealed to Nebuchadnezzar through Daniel, His  prophetic program, charting the rise and fall of four great Gentile empires that would hold dominion over the holy city of Jerusalem and the people of Judah (to become known post-Babylonian-captivity as the Jews”).