Daniel’s Main Message

The Book of Daniel is well known for its prophetic and apocalyptic content. Because apocalyptic literature uses images and symbols to describe future events (also found in the Book of Revelation), it can be difficult to interpret and understand. However, the Book of Daniel has wonderful order and organization. This helps us see its main message – the power and sovereignty of God, even over evil!

When Daniel wrote the book (Matthew 24:15) during the Babylonian captivity (605-539 B.C.), he carefully recorded each vision, dream, prophecy, and story of fidelity to God. He organized similar concepts in a parallel fashion. You will see this in the Flowchart and Parallel Themes Chart we have developed (download below).

Also, please check out What Are the Seventy Weeks of Daniel? and The Chronology of Daniel.

Flowchart & Parallel Themes Chart

The multiple stories found in Daniel correlate with one another. The following chapters correspond.

 

 

Chapters 1 & 12 – Chapter 1 shows the captivity of God’s people in history (Babylon) while chapter 12 shows the great liberation of God’s people into His kingdom at the end of the age.

Chapters 2, 7, 8, 11 – reveal four great beasts (the earthly kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome) that will be set against God’s people. A final beast will be destroyed and God’s kingdom will be ushered in.

Chapters 3 & 6 – explain the false worship that Daniel was confronted with and his faith to withstand. He keeps his allegiance to the only true and living God, revealed in Scripture, who was to be worshiped. (Revelation 13 gives a future glimpse of a coming false worship that will be similar and will try the patience and faithfulness of God’s people.)

Chapters 4 & 5 – tell the story of two rulers, Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, whom a sovereign God brought under His judgment. This is a clear foreshadowing of the reality that all will be judged by God’s sovereign hand. There is no hiding from Him who sees all.

Chapters 9 & 10 – comfort Daniel when he is reassured of God’s provision and protection of His people. He first is visited by the angel Gabriel who reveals the “70 weeks of Daniel.” Then there is the appearance of a man who reveals to Daniel that God and His angels are in the battle for His people and against the powers of this evil world.

God’s Sovereignty

Now that we know the major themes of each chapter, we see the main message of Daniel – God is sovereign over everything! He does and will continue to work all things toward establishing His kingdom (overall and specifically for His people).

This sovereignty of God can be seen from the very onset of the book. Daniel 1:1 says “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.” Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, but God was sovereignly at work because it immediately states: “And the Lord handed Jehoiakim king of Judah over to him…” Daniel 1:2 (See 2 Chronicles 36:5-8). This should give us confidence and reassurance that God is sovereign over each of us even when it seems like He’s not working to our benefit! Like Psalm 103:19 says, “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.”

We also see God’s sovereignty clearly in chapters 2, 7, 8, and 11 when Daniel relates his dreams and visions, and they so carefully predict how the kingdoms of this world will unfold. Many prophecies,  written during the sixth-century B.C., find incredibly accurate fulfillment in past history. Some are yet to be fulfilled and God will perfectly carry them out according to Scripture!

Next, we see God’s sovereignty in His judgments of Kings Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar in chapters 4 & 5. (To consider the identity of Belshazzar: Belshazzar on Bible Hub) We see His sovereign protection over His own people in chapters 3 & 6 during two different kingdoms: Babylonian (Nebuchadnezzar) and Medo-Persian (Darius). (To consider the identity of Darius the Mede: Darius in the Bible – Got Questions. To further research the historical complexities of Belshazzar and Darius the Mede: Historical Evidence of Belshazzar & Darius the Mede – BibleHistory.net)

So even amid trouble, God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose! (Romans 8:28) Does the book of Daniel reassure you of this? It should.

Further, in chapters 9 & 10, Daniel steps out in faith to inquire of God and His provisions for the future of His people. He was not only told of God’s provisions but also God’s protections. God had/has a sovereign plan for Israel as seen in the 70 weeks of Daniel, and God is present and sends help for His own, even via angels, in the midst of every battle that is waged. Can the people of God bring glory to Him in trusting that the provisions and the battle are really His? Can you?

And of course, Daniel 12 ends with the perseverance of God’s people at the end of this present evil age and the reality that – God will win in the end! Are you ready?

For Further Study on Daniel

Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament Ezekiel & Daniel, Volume 9, p. 597-606 & 617-622 – Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, Massachusetts, March 2006.

The Chronology of Daniel – By David Sheldon
What Are the Seventy Weeks of Daniel? – By David Sheldon
Daniel’s End Time Prophecies – By David Sheldon

70 Weeks of Daniel Timeline

Daniel 9:24-27 prophesies about a period called “seventy weeks” which concerns Israel, the time of the Messiah, the Antichrist, and the end times. To accurately interpret this timeframe, we must answer some key questions.

Is 70 weeks a literal period, such as 70 x 7 = 490 years? Or is it merely symbolic? Is this timeframe only regarding the nation of Israel? Or is it for all believers? Are the 70y weeks consecutive or is there some separation?

As we navigate these questions, please look at the Seventy Weeks of Daniel timeline chart (available for download below). Also, check out The Chronology of Daniel and The Main Message of Daniel.

What Should We Make of the Word “weeks”?

Hebrew scholars tell us the word weeks is “shabuim” and it means “sevens.” So, we have “seventy-sevens” (Daniel 9:24a). Sevens of what?

It could be seven days, seven weeks, or seven years. We don’t know, and the context doesn’t tell us. If we translate “sevens” as days or weeks, the timing is probably not long enough for all the events that need to occur. If we translate it as years, or “seventy-sevens” of years, that would be 70×7 = 490 years, which is a reasonable amount of time for the events to occur.

Side note: When we say 490 years, it is not according to a 365¼ day solar year. In Scripture, one year is 360 days. We know this because the timeframe “time, times, and half a time” found in Daniel 7:24-25, Daniel 12:7, and Revelation 12:14 all indicate 3½ years; and this same timeframe is said to be 1,260 days in Revelation 11:1-3 and Revelation 12:6. So, 1,260 days divided by 3½ years equals 360 days. Therefore, the actual number of days of the 70 weeks is 70 x (7×360) = 176,400 days.

What Events Occur in the 70 Weeks? (vs 24)

According to verse 24, six things occur during the 70 weeks.

1. 1. Finish (or restrain) the transgression.
   2. Make an end (or seal up) of sins.
   3. Cover (atone) for iniquity.
   4. Bring in everlasting righteousness.
   5. Seal up vision (revelation) and prophecy.
   6. Anoint a holy of holies.

The first three are things to be “rid of,” and were accomplished by Jesus Christ. Point 3 – cover (atone) for iniquity – has been once-for-all accomplished in the work of Jesus Christ. He gave Himself at Calvary as a ransom for sin. His resurrection is the proof of the complete sufficiency and finality of His work on the cross! Because of this one great work, the first four points have been fulfilled in principle with His first coming. Points 5-6 will be fulfilled at His second coming. (For further study: See A Commentary on Daniel by Leon Wood) 

The timeframe of these events is divided into three sections (vs. 25, 27): 7 weeks + 62 weeks + 1 week. Scholars believe that the city and walls of Jerusalem were completed after the 7 weeks (49 years) which may explain why Daniel divides the time. But to more fully understand these divisions, we look at prophecies. There was a prophecy that started the first 7 weeks and one that ended the 62 weeks. But the text separates the 7 weeks and 62 weeks from the last week. So we should look at the first two sections – 69 weeks – together.

When Did the 69 Weeks Begin and End? (vs 25)

The 69 weeks started with the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25). This decree came to pass and is recorded for us in Nehemiah 2:1-8. According to the Jewish calendar, this decree was issued Nissan 1, 444 B.C. corresponding to our date March 5, 444 B.C. If you add 69 weeks (69x(7×360)=173,880 days), you come to Nisan 10, 33 A.D. corresponding to our date March 30, 33 A.D.

So, the 69 weeks started March 5, 444 B.C., and ended March 30, 33 A.D.

And what happens on the final day of the 69 weeks? It says “until Messiah the Prince.” March 30, 33 A.D. would have been the day Jesus was presented to His people as the Messiah as He rode into Jerusalem!!! (See Zechariah 9:9 & Matthew 21:1-10)

For further information on these start/end dates and the calculations please visit An Examination of the Chronological Difficulties of Dr. Harold Hoehner’s & Dr. Thomas Ice’s work By Bob Pickle.

What Happens in Between the 69th Week and the 70th Week? (vs 26)

We are left with an interlude between the 69th week and the beginning of the 70th week in verse 26. It began with the Messiah being “cut off” and having nothing (literally “no one”). As the Lamb of God, Jesus’ death was a once for all sacrificial death for sin. That was followed by the “people of the prince who is to come” (Antichrist) ransacking Jerusalem & destroying the temple (70 A.D. General Titus and the Roman armies). Now that interlude has been almost 2,000 years, and we are still waiting for the 70th week to begin.

What Will Happen During the 70th week (vs 27)?

The 70th week is the final seven-year period (7 x 360 days=2,520 days) known as the tribulation. It will be composed of a few specific items according to Daniel 9:27:

1. 1. At its inception, the Antichrist makes a covenant with the many.
   2. In the middle, the Antichrist puts an end to sacrifice and grain offering and the abomination of desolation occurs (see also Matthew 24:15)
   3. At the end, the Antichrist comes to his end at the Second Coming of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (see also Revelation 19:11-19)

   As we have seen in this article, the 70 weeks of Daniel is a specified period that God has ordained for His people, to bring to pass His promises surrounding the Messiah’s first and second comings. The first coming of the Messiah, and His death/atonement for sin, was fulfilled according to God’s promise. And because God is faithful to His Word, we can count upon all the other promises in Daniel 9 coming to pass at the end of the 70th week when Christ returns. We can also count on the 70th week occurring as God says it will for the nation of Israel (Daniel 9:24). The events will affect the whole church in that they will see that God keeps His promises. Thus, all of God’s saints should look forward with anticipation to Christ’s Second Coming. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

For More on the Book of Daniel

The Chronology of Daniel – By David Sheldon
The Main Message of Daniel – By David Sheldon
Prophecies Concerning the Final World Kingdom – By David Sheldon

For More on the Book of Revelation & End Times

Five Reasons Why Revelation is Hard to Understand
When was the Book of Revelation Written?
End Time Events: A Brief Overview

Timeline, Flowchart, & Parallel Themes in Daniel

The Old Testament book of Daniel can be rather difficult to study and understand. However, it is most likely difficult if you are not familiar with its chronological order or themes. Once you grasp those, the book has beautiful flow and depth.

Daniel is closely related to the book of Revelation. Both Daniel and Revelation have many prophecies, symbols, and events that overlap one another. (See Is Revelation in Chronological Order?)

Below is a timeline of the book of Daniel, along with a flowchart and a parallel themes chart. These charts provide the book’s key points, motifs, and how they flow and relate to one another. All are available for download.

Also, be sure to check out The Main Message of Daniel and What are the Seventy Weeks of Daniel?.

Timeline of Daniel

The chronological order of Daniel is chapters 1-4, 7-8, 5-6, and 9-12. Notice that chapters 5-6 and chapters 7-8 are flip-flopped with each other.

605 B.C. — Daniel 1:1 “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.” (ESV)

• Daniel and his three friends taken captive to Babylon.

603 B.C. — Daniel 2:1 “In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him.” (ESV)

• King Nebuchadnezzar’s forgotten dream – a great statue – revealed and interpreted by Daniel.

603 B.C. — Daniel 3:1 “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.” (ESV)

• Daniel’s three friends refuse to worship the Great Image the King had built, are thrown into the fiery furnace and delivered by God.

570 B.C.** — Daniel 4:1 “King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you!” (ESV)

• King Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of a Great Tree, Daniel gives the interpretation, the King given to judgment and then delivered.

**Daniel 4:30 indicates that King Nebuchadnezzar has probably spent many years building his glorious kingdom before the events of Daniel 4.

553 B.C. — Daniel 7:1 “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. (KJV)

• Daniel is given a dream about Four Great Beasts and God’s Greater and Final Kingdom.

551 B.C. — Daniel 8:1 “In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.” ESV

• Daniel has a vision of a Ram, a Goat and a Little Horn with the interpretation.

539 B.C. — Daniel 5:1 “Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.” (NASB)

• King Belshazzar’s Great Feast, vision of Man’s handwriting on the wall, Daniel’s interpretation & Belshazzar is conquered that night by Cyrus the Great w/ Darius the Mede becoming governor/king.

539 B.C. (?) — Daniel 6:1 “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom;” (ESV)

• King Darius appoints Daniel as one of three commissioners over his kingdom. Daniel is “entrapped” and refuses order for worship of the King. Daniel is thrown into the Lion’s Den but is delivered by God.

538 B.C. (?) — Daniel 9:1 “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans.” (ESV)

• Daniel reads Jeremiah’s prophecy regarding Israel’s captivity and confesses in prayer and supplication before God. Gabriel reveals to him Seventy Weeks for God’s people.

536 B.C. — Daniel 10:1 “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.” (ESV)

• Daniel hears a word and has a” trembling” vision of a Great Man. A Man/Angel comes to him and comforts him, reassuring him of things regarding God’s people for still future days.

536 B.C. — Daniel 11:1 “And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.” (ESV) (This is the timing of an angel recalling an event in 539/538 B.C. and not the actual date of the material in chapter 11.)

• The Angel conveys to Daniel the coming reigns and conflicts in regards to the Medo-Persian Empire and the Greek Empire. Then verse 36 shifts to a final self-exalting king.

Future — Daniel 12:1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.” (ESV)

• Daniel is given a message/vision concerning the end of the world and a coming eternal kingdom for God’s people.

Flowchart & Parallel Themes in Daniel

Why would Daniel not put the chapters chronologically?

The order of Daniel can be seen visually in the flowchart below. What an organized arrangement! Notice the chapters with coordinating colors also have parallel themes.

As mentioned, Daniel and Revelation are closely related. In Revelation, the first five chapters are in chronological order, chapters 6-18 overlap, and then the final four chapters, 19-22, are again in chronological order. See the timelines and charts for Revelation.

The timeline and charts are available for download for free. However, we would appreciate any donations to help cover the costs of making these materials available. Thank you!
To send through PayPal, click the donate button below. To send a check, please mail to:
David Sheldon
P.O. Box 675
Bellville, Ohio 44813

For More on Daniel & End Time Events

→   To consider the identity of Belshazzar: Belshazzar on Bible Hub
→   To consider the identity of Darius the Mede: Darius in the Bible – Got Questions
→   To further research the historical complexities of Belshazzar and Darius the Mede:
Historical Evidence of Belshazzar & Darius the Mede – BibleHistory.net

→   Or reference: Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Ezekiel & Daniel, Volume 9, p. 597-606 & 617-622 – Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, Massachusetts, March 2006.

→   The Main Message of Daniel – By David Sheldon
→   Daniel’s End Time Prophecies – By David Sheldon
→   End Time Events: A Brief Overview – By David Sheldon
→   The Church’s New Agenda – By David Sheldon
→   The Beast From the Sea – By David Sheldon
→   Babylon in Revelation – By David Sheldon

Prophecies in Daniel Yet to Be Fulfilled

Are there prophecies in Daniel that are yet to be fulfilled? The answer is yes and we will see this as we go through this study on Daniel.

Daniel 2, 7, 8, 11, 12

If you have never sat down and read these chapters in Daniel in this sequence – 2, 7, 8, 11, 12 – it may be helpful to do so now. They give an overall view of Four World Kingdoms which were to unfold from Daniel’s time forward.

These Four World Kingdoms are given in dreams/visions of both a Great Statue and Beasts. We now know from history that these four kingdoms were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

A good study Bible or commentary might help you see these kingdoms and the texts associated with each. This could be helpful because the contents of these prophecies overlap at a number of points. So, although it is helpful to keep them separate and distinct, it is also helpful to see how they relate to each other.

Some of the prophecies concerning the fourth kingdom, Rome, are yet to be fulfilled. As we will see in this article, there is a rise of an end-time world kingdom out of this fourth kingdom.

 

→ Read Daniel 2:31-35, 40-45

The King’s Dream (vs. 31-35)

“You, O king, were watching and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary radiance, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You continued watching until a stone was broken off without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed to pieces all at the same time, and they were like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the entire earth.”…. (vs. 31-35)

The Interpretation (vs. 40-45)

“Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; just as iron smashes and crushes everything, so, like iron that crushes, it will smash and crush all these things. And in that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have within it some of the toughness of iron, since you saw the iron mixed with common clay. And just as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong, and part of it will be fragile. In that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in their descendants; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not combine with pottery. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. Just as you saw that a stone was broken off from the mountain without hands, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is certain and its interpretation is trustworthy.” (vs. 40-45)

In these texts, Daniel relays to King Nebuchadnezzar both his dream and its interpretation. It reveals how this fourth kingdom of Rome is knit together and then divides. The kingdom that emerges from this fourth kingdom will be mixed and not adhering to one another “in their descendants.” In other words, there will be individual nation-states that will emerge from Rome. This interpretation sets the stage for the revival of this Roman kingdom by use of the ten toes imagery (vs 34 & 42) and the stone (God’s kingdom) striking the statue on its feet of iron and clay, crushing them.

→ Read Daniel 7:7-8, 11

“After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was thinking about the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the previous horns were plucked out before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and a mouth uttering great boasts.” (vs. 7-8)

“Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.” (vs. 11)

This describes the fourth beast of Daniel’s dream. The ten horns of this beast would most likely correspond to the ten toes of the statue in Daniel 2. There is another horn that arises. This “other” horn is the final “boastful” world ruler – the Antichrist.

→ Read Daniel 7:19-26

 “Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of the horns fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and which was larger in appearance than its associates. I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.

“This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth and trample it down and crush it. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will humble three kings. And he will speak against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time. But the court will convene for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.” Daniel 7:19-26

This text describes the unfolding of the final world kingdom and the “exploits” of a particular “horn” which we refer to as the Antichrist. It would seem, looking back, that the events described here do not relate to any historical figure. Therefore, it is still a future event. God will allow this final world ruler, the Antichrist, to persecute Israel for 3 ½ years (time, times & half time of verse 25) just before he is destroyed by God.

→ Read Daniel 11:36-45

“Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt himself and boast against every god and will speak dreadful things against the God of gods; and he will be successful until the indignation is finished, because that which is determined will be done. And he will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will boast against them all. But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, precious stones, and treasures. And he will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will make them rulers over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.” 

“And at the end time the king of the South will wage war with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them, and pass through. He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. Then he will reach out with his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. But rumors from the East and from the North will terrify him, and he will go out with great wrath to eliminate and annihilate many. And he will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.” Daniel 11:36-45

This is an even greater unfolding of the description of Antichrist and his exploits, even to the details of his final battle and destruction by God.

→ Read Daniel 12:1-2, 5-7, 11-13

“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”…(vs. 1-2)

“Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.”…(vs.5-7)

“And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.” (vs.11-13)

This final chapter of Daniel mentions the Archangel Michael rising up for Israel during great distress. There is also reference to both the resurrection of the righteous and the condemned. There are some specific days mentioned as to the timing of putting an end to sacrifices and the abomination of desolation.

Conclusion

As various scholars have looked at these texts of Scripture, they have come up with some varying viewpoints. Some see these prophecies as already having been fulfilled or possibly some having a “recurring” fulfillment. It is indeed difficult to attempt to draw specifics from things that are “visionary” or “symbolic”.

But, if we would interpret symbols in their set biblical contexts and be careful not to surmise, and, if we look at some of the specific and clear teaching about events that occur in didactic rather than symbolic language, I believe we can only come to one conclusion – the events are still in the future.

You may be able to tell from going through this study that the events of Daniel’s life are not placed in chronological order in the book. The Chronology of Daniel will help you see the timeline, and The Main Message of Daniel gives more insight about the book’s themes as well.