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Daniel Taken to Captivity (in Babylon)

Daniel lived in Judah during the reign of King Jehoiakim. After ruling for only three years, King Jehoiakim’s kingdom fell into the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Daniel 1:1-2).

Daniel was thus brought to Babylon after Jerusalem fell to King Nebuchadnezzar. This happened after King Nebuchadnezzar directed the master of his eunuchs, called Ashpenaz, to select young Israelites who descended from the king and bring them to Babylon to serve him. The selected men were to be good-looking, without blemish, wise, knowledgeable, and quick to understand (Daniel 1:3-4).

The selected individuals were then required to undergo a three-year training in matters of wisdom and understanding. As part of the training, the young men were served with a special diet from the king’s provision together with the best wine (1:5).

Among the young men enlisted in the training were Daniel (Belteshazzar) and his three companions, that is, Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abed-nego). They were renamed by Ashpenaz, who was the chief of the eunuchs in Babylon (1:6-7).

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego reject the king’s delicacies.

However, Daniel and his three friends decided not to partake of the king’s provisions. Instead, they requested the chief of the eunuchs to only serve them with vegetables and water. At first, the chief of the eunuchs refused to accept their proposal. Nevertheless, Daniel and his friends asked the man to serve them with the proposed diet and then examine them after 10 days. Sure enough, they looked much better than the rest of the young men who were receiving the diet comprising the king’s provisions. So, the man changed their diet for the remainder of the time they were in training (Daniel 1:8-16).

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego surpass all the magicians and astrologers in wisdom and understanding.

Because of their commitment not to defile themselves with the Babylonian delicacies, God gave Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom. In fact, Daniel had understanding of all visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17).

After the training period was over, Daniel, his three companions, and the rest of the trainees were all presented before the king. After interviewing all the trainees, King Nebuchadnezzar found Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to be ten times better than all the astrologers and magicians of Babylon (Daniel 1:19).

Daniel reveals and interprets King Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream.

A time came when King Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream but apparently forgot its details. Therefore, he called his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to tell him of the dream and its interpretation. However, they could not tell the interpretation since they did not know the details of the dream in the first place! This infuriated the king so much that he commanded that they should all be rounded up and put to death. This command was also to be effected against Daniel and his friends (Daniel 2:1-13).

On hearing the matter, Daniel requested the captain of the king’s guard, called Arioch, to give them time so that he and his friends could seek God’s intervention. God was faithful and revealed the secret to Daniel (Daniel 2:14-23).

Then Daniel went to Arioch, who took him to the king. So Daniel informed King Nebuchadnezzar that no human being could do whatever he had demanded of his wise men but only the God of heaven (Daniel 2:24-).

So Daniel began by telling the king what his dream was. He told the king that he had dreamt of a great image that had the following details:

· Its head comprised of fine gold,

· Its chest and arms were made of silver.

· Its belly and thighs comprised of bronze,

· Its legs were made of iron, and

· Its feet were a mixture of iron and clay (Daniel 2:31-33).

The image was then struck on its feet by a stone that had been cut out without hands. The strike led to the breakage of the feet into pieces. This led to the collapse of the entire image, which later became like the chaff from the summer threshing floors. The chaff was then carried away and completely disappeared without a trace (Daniel 2:34-35).

According to the interpretation,

· King Nebuchadnezzar represented the head of gold (Daniel 2:37-38);

· The chest and arms made of silver represented a second inferior kingdom that would arise after the collapse of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom (Daniel 2:39);

· The belly and thighs made of bronze represented a third kingdom that would arise and rule over all the earth (Daniel 2:39);

· The legs of iron represented a fourth kingdom that would arise instead of the third kingdom. This kingdom would be as strong as iron and will break in pieces and crush all the others (Daniel 2:40);

· The feet of iron mixed with clay represented a fifth kingdom that would arise and replace the kingdom represented by iron. The mixture of iron and clay represented a divided kingdom but which retained the strength of iron. This means that the kingdom would be partly strong and partly fragile (Daniel 2:41-43).

During the days of the kingdom of iron and clay, an attempt to mingle alien seed with the seed of men will be made. However, this attempt will fail, just as clay cannot homogeneously mix with clay (Daniel 2:43).

In the days of this kingdom, the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will crush all the others and dominate them forever and ever (Daniel 2:44).

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego promoted.

After Daniel had given the interpretation of the dream, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face before Daniel and commanded that an offering and incense be presented to Daniel. He then promoted Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. To Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar gave many gifts and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon. Daniel then petitioned the king to set his three friends over the affairs of the province of Babylon (Daniel 2:46-49).

Nebuchadnezzar’s image of gold

Afterwards, King Nebuchadnezzar made an image purely made of gold and set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. He then commanded that everybody in his kingdom be gathered together for the dedication of the image so that it could be worshipped (Daniel 3:1-2).

So a command was issued to the effect that at the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, everybody should bow down and worship the image. Anyone who would fail to bow and worship the image would be thrown into a furnace of fire and be burned to death. Therefore, it happened that at the sounding of all the said instruments, everyone bowed down and worshipped the king’s image (Daniel 3:3-7).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refuse to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image.

However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to bow and worship the image the king had set up. So they were reported to the king, who demanded that they be brought before him. He then asked the three young men to choose between bowing to the image he had set up and being thrown into the fiery furnace. They flatly refused to bow and worship the image and clearly stated that they would rather be thrown into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:1-18).

In anger and rage, the king commanded that the fiery furnace be heated seven times more than usual. He then commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego be tied up and be thrown into the fiery furnace. Given the intense heat of the furnace, the fire killed the mighty men who had been charged with casting Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego into the furnace (Daniel 3:19-23).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego thrown into the fiery furnace

After casting the three young men into the furnace, the king observed that they did not burn up as he had expected. Instead, the king observed that the three had apparently been joined by a fourth person in the furnace, whom he termed the Son of God (Daniel 3:23-25).

On seeing that the fire had no power over their bodies, King Nebuchadnezzar came to the entrance of the furnace and called on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to come out. So they came out, and everyone was astonished to see that the fire had not hurt them in any way and that they did not even have the smell of fire upon them (Daniel 3:26-27).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego promoted by King Nebuchadnezzar.

Due to the strange turn of events, King Nebuchadnezzar gave the command that in his entire kingdom, only the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego was to be worshipped. He further decreed that anyone who would speak evil against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego would be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into heaps of rubbish (Daniel 3:29).

After this, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were promoted by the king to oversee the affairs of the province of Babylon (Daniel 3:30).

Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream.

In his second dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a tree that grew in the midst of the earth. The tree was very tall, so much so that its height reached to the heavens. Because of its great height, it could be seen to the ends of the earth. It had lovely leaves and produced fruits abundantly. It thus provided food for many organisms. It also provided shade for many beasts. Many birds also made their home in its branches (Daniel 4:1-12).

Then a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven and gave a command that the tree be cut down so that all the organisms that depended on it would scatter. However, the watcher commanded that the stump and roots of the tree be left intact (Daniel 4:13-15).

The watcher then declared what was like a sentence against a man: that he be given the heart of an animal and remain so for a period of seven years (Daniel 4:15-17).

Having explained the dream to Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar requested him to give the interpretation (Daniel 4:18). Therefore, Daniel gave the following interpretation:

The tall mighty tree represented King Nebuchadnezzar and the greatness of his kingdom.

The holy one whom the king saw giving the command for the tree to be cut down represented the angel of God. His command came from God, and it stated that the king would be driven from men and dwell in the wilderness. He would then feed on grass just like herbivores for a period of seven years (Daniel 4:22-25).

The fact that the stump and roots of the tree were left intact implied that the king would be restored to his kingdom after the seven years had elapsed (Daniel 4:26).

It is worth noting that Daniel informed the king that the decree would happen because of his pride. Thus, he advised the king to humble himself by recognizing that only God rules over the kingdoms of men. He also advised the king to humble himself by showing mercy to the poor (Daniel 4:27).

However, King Nebuchadnezzar did not completely heed the advice given by Daniel. So twelve months after the decree had gone forth, while at his palace, he spoke proudly by stating that it was actually by his power that great Babylon came into existence. Immediately a voice spoke to him from heaven and effected the decree that had been earlier made against him. He was thus driven from men and dwelt with the beasts of the field (Daniel 4:30-31).

He was then made to eat grass like oxen. His body became covered with dew. The hairs on his body grew tremendously and became like eagle’s feathers. His nails also grew so much that they became like the claws of a bird (Daniel 4:32-33).

Therefore, King Nebuchadnezzar remained in this condition for over seven years. Then, he lifted his eyes to heaven, and his understanding was restored. He then blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever. So his kingdom was restored back to him, and all his counsellors and nobles resorted back to him. In addition, more excellency and majesty were added to him (Daniel 4:34-37).

Belshazzar takes over from his father, King Nebuchadnezzar.

After the death of King Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, his son, reigned in his stead. One day, King Belshazzar made a feast for his lords and drank wine in their presence. After testing the wine, he commanded his servants to bring the gold and silver vessels that were taken from the house of God in Jerusalem. Therefore, the king, his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank wine from the vessels (Daniel 5:1-4).

Daniel explains and interprets the writing on the wall: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN

While they were feasting and enjoying themselves, the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote on one of the walls in the king’s palace. This occurrence threw King Belshazzar into great panic, and he sent out word that whoever would read and interpret the writing would be greatly rewarded. However, none of the king’s wise men, including the astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers, could read nor interpret the writing. Therefore, the king was so troubled by this turn of events (Daniel 5:5-9).

On hearing the commotion in the palace, the queen came over to find out what was going on. After being briefed, she told the king not to panic but to call Daniel, who would help solve the mystery of the writing on the wall (Daniel 5:10-12).

Therefore, the king sent for Daniel, who was brought before him. So the king informed Daniel of what had transpired and showed him the writing on the wall (Daniel 5:13-16).

Therefore, Daniel began by informing King Belshazzar how God had given Nebuchadnezzar, his father, the kingdom. He explained to the king how God had made Nebuchadnezzar ruler over all peoples, nations, and languages. However, when his father became proud, God punished him by driving him to the wilderness to lie with the beasts of the field. Daniel went further to inform Belshazzar that after realizing his error and repenting, God restored the kingdom back to him (Daniel 5:17-21).

Daniel then informed the king of his error and the reason why the hand was sent. He told King Belshazzar that instead of learning from the mistakes of his father and walking in humility, he had chosen the path of pride. So God had sent the hand to write the judgment that had been determined against him (Daniel 5:22-24).

So according to Daniel, the writing was MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN! Here is the interpretation:

· MENE—meaning that God had numbered King Belshazzar’s kingdom and finished it;

· TEKEL—meaning that the king had been weighed in the balances and found wanting;

· PERES—meaning that King Belshazzar’s kingdom would be split and be given to the Medes and Persians.

After giving the interpretation, King Belshazzar commanded that Daniel be clothed with purple and a chain of gold be put around his neck. Daniel was then proclaimed to be the third ruler in the kingdom (Daniel 5:25-29).

On that same night, King Belshazzar was killed, and in his stead, Darius the Mede was made king. So Daniel’s prophecy was fulfilled (Daniel 5:30-31).

Daniel thrown into the den of lions

During the reign of King Darius, Daniel distinguished himself above fellow governors and satraps because of the excellent spirit of God that rested upon him. So King Darius the Mede thought of appointing him to be in charge of the other two governors and the one hundred and twenty satraps in his realm (Daniel 6:1-3).

This made the other governors and satraps become envious of Daniel. Therefore, they met together and hatched a plot on how to bring him down. However, they realized that they could not find any fault with Daniel unless it was in relation to his God. Therefore, they came up with a scheme in which no one was to pray to any god apart from the king for a period of thirty days. Therefore, they drafted the statute and took it to the king for signing. Therefore, King Medes signed the statute, and it became a law in the land (Daniel 6:1-9).

When he knew that the law had been signed, Daniel went home and, as was his custom, went to his upper room in order to pray. He then opened the windows of his upper room, and while facing Jerusalem, he prayed and gave thanks to God. Meanwhile, those men who had come up with the evil scheme against Daniel came and found Daniel praying. So they quickly rushed to the king in order to report Daniel (Daniel 7:10-11).

On hearing the matter, King Darius was greatly displeased with himself. He thus sought a way of saving Daniel but could not find any. Therefore, the men pressed upon him to execute Daniel because the law could not be reversed after its signing. Therefore, the king gave the command that Daniel be thrown into the den of lions as the law had stipulated. However, the king assured Daniel that his God would deliver him from the lions (Daniel 7:12-17).

Daniel delivered from the lions

Early the next day, the king rushed to the den of lions to find out how Daniel had fared over the night. On arrival, he called out to Daniel, who answered back. Daniel informed the king that God had sent his angel to shut the mouths of the lions to prevent them from hurting him. Therefore, the king gave the command that they should bring Daniel out of the den of lions. So Daniel was brought out of the den of lions (Daniel 6:18-23).

Then the king gave an order that all the men who had schemed against Daniel be arrested together with their children and their wives. They were then all cast into the den of lions alive. The lions overpowered them and broke all their bones into pieces even before they got to the bottom of the den (Daniel 6:24).

Then King Darius praised the God of heaven for having saved his servant Daniel from the lions. So he gave the command that in his entire kingdom, men should tremble and fear before the God of heaven (Daniel 6:25-27).

Daniel’s vision of the Four Beasts that came out of the great sea

Daniel had a vision in which he saw four great beasts that came out of the sea. The following is a description of each beast.

· The first beast looked like a lion. It had wings like those of an eagle. This beast was then lifted up from the earth and made to stand on its feet like a man. A man’s heart was given to it (Daniel 7:4).

· The second beast looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth (Daniel 7:5).

· The third beast looked like a leopard and had four heads. It also had four wings like those of a bird on its back. Then dominion was given to this beast (Daniel 7:6).

· The fourth beast was dreadful and terrible, exceedingly very strong. It had ten horns. It also had huge iron teeth and nails made of bronze (Daniel 7:19). Using its feet, it devoured and broke into pieces its residue. Then another little horn came up among the ten and plucked out three horns by the roots. The small horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth speaking pompous words (Daniel 7:7-8).

Daniel’s vision of the Ancient of Days

Daniel then saw thrones being set in heaven, and the Ancient of Days was seated. His garment was snow white, and his hair was like pure wool. His throne was like a fiery flame with wheels that looked like a burning fire. A fiery stream issued from the throne (Daniel 7:9-10).

Before the throne, a thousand thousands ministered to him, while ten thousand times thousands stood before the throne. Daniel saw that the court was seated and then books were opened (Daniel 7:10).

Then the beast that had the horn, which spoke the pompous words, was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the burning flame (Daniel 7:11).

As for the other beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were spared for a while (Daniel 7:12).

Then, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven and was brought before the Ancient of Days. To him was given an everlasting dominion in which all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. This is the kingdom that shall never be destroyed but will remain forever and ever (Daniel 7:13-14).

Daniel’s visions interpreted

The following is the interpretation of Daniel’s visions:

The four beasts represented four kings that will arise out of the earth (Daniel 7:17).

The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth. This kingdom shall be different from all the others. It shall dominate the whole earth. The ten horns on its head represent ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. Then, another king shall arise from them. He shall be different from the others and shall subdue three kings. This king will speak pompous words against the Most. He shall persecute the saints of God and shall try to change the times and law. He shall prevail against the saints for a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:20-21, 23-25).

However, the heavenly court shall convene and take away his dominion, consume it, and destroy it forever. A judgement will be made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time for them to possess the kingdom finally came to pass. This will be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14, 22, 26-28).

Daniel’s vision of The Ram and The Goat

The vision of the Ram and the Goat came to Daniel during the reign of King Belshazzar. It came to him while in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam.

In the vision, Daniel was standing by the River Ulai. He then saw a ram that had two horns standing beside the river. Its horns were too high, but one was a bit higher than the other one. The one that was higher came up last (Daniel 8:1-3).

Daniel then saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, and no beast could withstand the ram. He therefore did whatever he willed and became great in the process (Daniel 8:4).

While Daniel was mulling over the exploits of the ram, he saw a male goat coming from the west, across the surface of the whole earth. The goat did not touch the ground while moving. This goat had a remarkable horn between his eyes (Daniel 8:5).

The goat then ran towards the ram at full speed with furious power. He confronted the ram, attacked him, and broke his two horns. The ram had no power in him to withstand the goat. Therefore, the goat cast the ram on the ground and trampled him. No one was found who could deliver the ram from the wrath of the goat (Daniel 8:6-7).

Thus, the goat grew and became very great. However, when he became strong, his large horn was broken, and four notable horns grew in its place. The four horns grew toward the four winds of heaven (Daniel 8:8).

Out of the four horns, a little horn came forth, and it grew exceedingly great towards the south, towards the east, and towards the Glorious Land. This horn (the man of sin) exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host, and by the help of an army, he opposed and took away the daily sacrifices. Even the place of his sanctuary was cast down. He even cast truth to the ground. According to a holy one, the taking away of the daily sacrifice and the trampling of the holy temple would continue for a period of two thousand three hundred days. After this, the temple shall be cleansed (Daniel 8:9-14).

Daniel’s vision of The Ram and The Goat interpreted

While Daniel was contemplating the meaning of the vision, the angel Gabriel was sent to reveal to him the interpretation. When the angel approached Daniel, he fell on his face due to fear, but the angel touched him and stood him up. Then he informed Daniel that he had been sent to reveal to him what things would take place in latter times (Daniel 8:15-19).

The ram that Daniel saw in the vision as having two horns represented the kings of Media and Persia (Daniel 8:20).

The male goat represented the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that lay between its two eyes represented the first king of Greece. This horn would be broken, implying the end of the reign of this king. The four horns that came up in its place represented four kingdoms that would arise out of Greece. However, these kingdoms would be lesser in power as compared to the kingdom of Greece (Daniel 8:21-22).

In the latter times of the reign of the four kingdoms, a fierce king will arise. This king will have sinister motives. He will be so powerful but with the help of a superior power. He will destroy the mighty and holy people without fear. By his cunningness, he will cause deception to prosper. He shall destroy many people in their prosperity. He will even contend against the Prince of princes but shall be defeated through divine intervention (Daniel 8:23-25).

After receiving this revelation from the angel Gabriel, Daniel was told to seal up the vision because it referred to events that would take place much later. Afterwards, Daniel fainted and was taken ill for days. After recovery, he arose and went about the king’s business in much astonishment because no one understood the vision (Daniel 8:26-27).

Daniel prays for his people. Israel

During the first year of the reign of King Darius, Daniel understood by the books that Israel would spend seventy years in captivity. Afterward, they would be freed. Therefore, Daniel prayed to God that He would remember his people and release them from captivity. He thus embarked on confessing the sins of the people and those of their forefathers. He therefore asked God to forgive them for refusing to listen to the prophets (Daniel 9:1-19).

Daniel’s seventy-week prophecy

While Daniel was praying and making supplications to God on behalf of his people, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to give him understanding concerning how long they were meant to be in captivity. The angel told Daniel that seventy weeks were determined for his people and for the holy city to accomplish the following:

· To finish the transgression,

· To make an end of sins,

· To make reconciliation for iniquity,

· To bring in everlasting righteousness,

· To seal up vision and prophecy, and

· To anoint the Most Holy.

The angel Gabriel informed Daniel that seven weeks and sixty-two weeks would elapse from the time the command to rebuild Jerusalem is made to the time Messiah the Prince (that is, Christ Jesus) is put to death. According to the angel, both the streets of Jerusalem and its walls would be rebuilt during this time (Daniel 9:25).

Then the Anti-Christ will make a covenant with the people of God (Israel) to allow them to offer sacrifice for one week. Nevertheless, in the middle of the week, he shall revoke the agreement and bring an end to sacrifice and offering. He shall then come and stand in the Holy Place and demand worship (Daniel 9:27; 11:31). This is what Jesus calls the ‘abomination of desolation’ in Matthew 24:15.

Then, the people aligned to the prince to come (that is, the Anti-Christ or the Beast [Revelation 11:7; 13:1-2; 17:8, 11; 19:20]) will destroy the city of Jerusalem and the sanctuary therein (Daniel 11:29-39). Thereafter, the end of everything will come through a flood (Daniel 9:25-26; Revelation 16:21).

Angel Gabriel sent to Daniel

Angel Gabriel was again sent to Daniel during the third-year reign of King Cyrus of Persia. During that time, Daniel had committed himself to prayer and fasting to know and understand God’s will for His people. The fast lasted for three full weeks. On the twenty-fourth day, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel by the side of the great river called Tigris (Daniel 10:1-5).

The angel was clothed in linen. His waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl. His face was like lightning in appearance. His eyes looked like torches of fire. His arms and feet looked like bronze. His words sounded like the voice of a multitude (Daniel 10:5-6).

Only Daniel was able to see the vision because the men who were with him by the bank of the river Tigris had run into hiding. The vision was so overwhelming that Daniel became so weak and ended up falling to the ground (Daniel 10:7-9).

Then the angel touched him and asked him to stand upright so that he could relay the message of God to him. All this while, Daniel stood up trembling. He informed Daniel that on the very day he began praying and fasting, God sent him with the answer. However, the prince of Persia (a spiritual entity that ruled over Persia) had blocked his way for twenty-one days, preventing him from reaching Daniel. Therefore, God sends Angel Michael to help him get through to Daniel. On hearing this, Daniel bowed his face toward the ground and remained speechless. He then informed Daniel that he had a message from God concerning what would happen to Israel in the last days (Daniel 10:10-19).

At this point, Daniel was so overwhelmed with sorrow that he could no longer remain standing. Again, the angel touched him and strengthened him. He informed Daniel that his mission was to relay the message and then go back to heaven. This would entail engaging the prince of Persia again in battle. He then told Daniel that once he had defeated the prince of Persia with the help of Angel Michael, the prince of Greece (a spiritual entity that would rule over Greece) would then come (Daniel 10:20-21).

Therefore, Daniel spoke to King Darius the Mede and informed him about the things that would happen in latter times. Daniel told him that three more kings would arise in Persia. The fourth king would be richer and stronger than the rest. He shall incite all people against the realm of Greece. Then another powerful king would arise and rule with great dominion. This king would do whatever he desired. Nevertheless, his kingdom would later disintegrate and be divided towards the four winds of heaven. So his kingdom will be uprooted, and he shall have no heir (Daniel 11:1-4).

The warring kings of the North and the South in the book of Daniel

According to Daniel, the king of the South shall become strong. Then, one of his princes shall become strong and overthrow him. Thus, the dominion of this prince shall become strong (Daniel 11:5-6).

After some years, the daughter of the king of the South shall approach the king of the North in order to make an agreement with him. However, neither her power nor that of her partners shall stand. Therefore, she shall be given up, with those who brought her, together with her father and her partners (Daniel 11:6).

Afterwards, her seed shall arise, amass an army, attack the king of the North, and prevail against him. He shall then take their gods, their princes, and their articles of silver and gold to captivity in Egypt. The king of the North shall then gather an army and attack the king of the South, but he shall not succeed. So he shall return back to his northern kingdom (Daniel 11:7-9).

Then the sons of the king of the North shall stir up strife and put together a great army in order to attack the king of the South. On hearing the matter, the king of the South will move with rage, attack the northern kingdom, and subdue it once again. Because of this victory, the heart of the king of the South will be lifted up in pride (Daniel 11:10-12).

After some years, the king of the North shall gather a great army and much equipment and attack the king of the South. Therefore, the king of the South shall fall together with his kingdom (Daniel 11:13-15).

Therefore, the king of the North shall do according to his own will, and no one will be able to oppose him. He will stand in the Glorious Land with the power to destroy. He will then enter by force and succeed. Therefore, the king of the South shall give him a woman with the aim of destroying the northern kingdom. Nevertheless, this plot will not succeed. So the king of the North shall attack the coastlands and defeat many people (Daniel 11:16-18).

However, a ruler shall arise who will help the people by taking away their reproach. Having done that, he will then turn back on him. Then he shall attack the fortress of his own land. Nevertheless, he shall stumble and fall, never to be found (Daniel 11:18-19).

Then in his place shall arise another ruler who will impose taxes on the glorious kingdom. However, this ruler shall be destroyed within a few days. This will happen without anger or battle (Daniel 11:20).

Then another vile king shall arise and seize the kingdom by intrigue. He shall do so with a small number of people. He shall enter in peace in all the richest places in the province. He shall share the spoils of war among those of his company. He shall then put together an army, attack the king of the South, and defeat him (Daniel 11:21-28).

He shall then be filled with pride, muster an army, and defile the holy sanctuary. They shall then take away the daily sacrifice and replace it with the ‘abomination of desolation.’ During this time many people shall die by sword and flame, captivity and plundering. At this time, the king shall magnify himself above all gods and speak blasphemies against the God of heaven. He shall have no desire for women. However, he shall honor a god of fortresses, which his fathers never knew. With the power of this god, he shall act against the strongest fortresses (Daniel 11:29-39).

During the end times, the king of the South shall attack him but will not prevail. Thus, the king of the North will overwhelm the king of the South, pass through his country, and enter the Glorious Land. He will also overthrow Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia. However, he will not be able to subdue Edom, Moab, and Ammon. He will then receive news of an impending attack from the east and the north. This will prompt him to move towards them to face them in battle. He set camp between the seas and the glorious holy mountain. Sadly, he will meet his end, and there will be none to help him (Daniel 11:40-45).

Daniel’s end time prophecies

During this time, Angel Michael shall stand up to protect the people of Israel. These will be days of trouble such as the world has never seen. However, the nation of Israel shall be delivered (Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:15-31; Revelation 7:4-8; 14:1-5).

The dead will then resurrect and be judged accordingly (Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15).

The saints shall receive their reward for turning many to God (Daniel 12:3; Revelation 20:4-6).

Then the angel told Daniel to seal up the book of prophecy until the end of days. During these last days, many people shall move from one part of the globe to another in search of truth. During this time, knowledge shall increase (Daniel 12:4).

Then Daniel lifted up his eyes towards the riverbank and saw two angels standing on either side. Then one asked another angel situated above the waters how long it would take the prophecies to be fulfilled. The angel answered by stating that it shall be for a time, two times, and half a time. At this time, the power of the holy people shall have been completely shattered (Daniel 12:5-7; Revelation 10:1-7).

Daniel could not understand the meaning of what the angel had said and asked him for more explanation. Nevertheless, the angel told him the words had been sealed up until the end of time (Daniel 12:8—9; Revelation 10:1-7).

During the end time, many people will be purified, made white, and refined (Daniel 12:10; Revelation 19:6-8; 14; 21:1-7; 22:1-5; 11). However, the wicked shall continue doing wickedness (Revelation 20:5, 15; 22:15).

The angel then told Daniel that from the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days (Daniel 12:11; Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5).

The angel informed Daniel that blessed is everyone who will wait and make it to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days (Daniel 12:12; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21; 19:6-8; 20:6).

Finally, the angel bids Daniel farewell, telling him that he shall rest with his fathers, but at the end of time, he shall rise to his inheritance (Daniel 12:13).

I hope this is helpful. Shalom.

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