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). Daniel lived in the remarkable
times of the downfall of the kingdoms of both Judah and Babylon.
He served as a high official in both the Babylonian government
and that of its successor, the Medo-Persian Empire.
Daniel's book prophesied events fulfilled many centuries
ago as well as major events yet to come. It reveals a history of
the region, written in advance, from Daniel's time right
up to the return of Jesus Christ.
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). This indicates that certain major prophecies that previously
wouldn't have made sense will be understandable as the end
approaches.
The prophecies of Daniel provide proof of the accuracy of the
Bible. Many of his prophecies are so detailed and specific that
they have long confounded Bible critics.
In fact, some skeptics have not challenged the content of Daniel's
prophetic accuracy. Rather than admit that his words are indeed
inspired, they have simply labeled his book a fraud. 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. This, the
critics allege, is the real reason for the book's startling
prophetic accuracy!
Daniel's book prophesied events fulfilled many centuries
ago as well as major events yet to come. It reveals a history of
the region, written in advance, from Daniel's time right
up to the return of Jesus Christ.