It is in Babylon that Daniel and his three friendsout of a tradition of kingsare likely made eunuchs for life. The Jewish historian Josephus alludes to this fact in his book on the history of the Jews (Antiquities of the JewsBook 10Chapter 10).
He received special training in the royal court of Babylon. At an early agehe and his three friends received positions as "wise men" serving the king. He soon became known for his understand of "visions and dreams." The prophecies interpreted by (or given to) him include the following.
Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a large image of a man. The image represents world empires from the time of Babylon to the End Time just before Jesus' return (chapter 2). Daniel also interpretred the king's dream of a large tree cut down (chapter 4). This tree represented the king's life of vanity and self-promotion and his punishment of receiving the mind of an animal for seven years.
Daniel was also given the interpretation of his own dream of four great beasts which are symbolic of world-ruling empires (chapter 7). He additionally interpreted the "handwriting on the wall," written by the finger of Godthat prophesied the end of the Babylonian empire (chapter 5) and the start of the Persian Empire.
Daniel was also given an interpretation of a dream he had where he saw a ram and goat. They represented the then-future empires of Persia (Medo-Persia)Macedonia (under Alexander the Great) and the four smaller kingdoms created after Alexander's death (chapter 8).
The ram which you saw having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
And the shaggy goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king. Now that being brokenthen four stood up in its place; four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nationbut not with its power. (Daniel 8:20 - 22HBFV).
He received the seventy weeks prophecy that foretells the birth of Jesus and his death in 30 A.D. on a Wednesday (chapter 9).
Seventy weeks are decreed upon your people and upon your holy city to finish the transgression and to make an end of sinand to make reconciliation for iniquityand to bring in everlasting righteousnessand to seal up the vision and prophecyand to anoint the Most Holy . . .
And after sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off but not for Himself . . .
And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease . . . (Daniel 9:2426 - 27HBFV).
Lastly He also received a prophecy concerning the end time King of the North and South - the Bible's longest prophecy (chapter 10 - 12).
A Ruler of the Kingdom
Daniel eventually became a chief advisor to the Kingthen the third ruler of the entire kingdom. Although he and his three friends held prominent positions in the governmentthey were not immune from persecution. ShadrachMeshachand Abed-Nego got thrown into a fiery furnace for not worshipping a golden image of the king. A conspiracy against him led him to be thrown into a den of lions.
Important events and people in the life of Daniel include Babylon conquering Judah and Jerusalem. The total destruction of Jerusalem's temple and the pillaging of all her treasures occur. He interprets the prophetic dreams given to King Nebuchadnezzar and his three friends miraculously survive being thrown into a fiery furnace for not worshipping an idol.
Daniel himself miraculously survives be thrown into a lion's den. Babylon's King Belshazzar sees a levitating hand write on a wall (known as the "handwriting on the wall"). Belshazzar's death occurs the same night and the empire falls to the Persians.
Daniel has the distinction of being considered by God as a pattern of righteousness along with Noah and Job (Ezekiel 14:1420) and a model of wisdom (Ezekiel 28:3). In our next lessonwe will enter into the New Testament with an overview of the life of Paul.