(607 B.C.?) [First of 3 major sieges and subsequent groups taken into captivity to Babylon.] Jerusalem under siege by Babylon, now a world power. Jehoiakim, 17th king of Judah, taken captive. Many Temple vessels transferred to the treasury of Nebuchadnezzar's god. Selected royal descendants, wise, skilled, and educated young citizens taken. Promising young men chosen for education in king's court, lasting three years. Daniel and his three friends among the young captive chosen and given Chaldean names: Daniel = Belteshazzar, Hananiah = Shadrach, Mishael = Meshach, and Azaraiah = Abednego. With God's guidance, Daniel gained favor with Babylonian princes and eunuchs. Respectfully requests exclusion from the king's diet provisions (likely meat offered to idols). Prince, fearful of the king's anger if they become plaintively emaciated, is hesitant at first, but finally agrees to a ten day trial. God sustains them, resulting in a healthier look than before and of all others. Their diet changed as desired. God instructs the four in knowledge and wisdom -- Daniel through dreams and visions. Three years pass and all are presented to the king. The four, ten times greater than all the king's men, obtain his favor. Daniel continues to serve in the king's palace through several successors, until the first year of Cyrus of Persia who conquers Babylon (536 B.C.).

(603 B.C.?) Sleepless, Nebuchadnezzar dreams. Summons his sorcerers, astrologers, and magicians to reveal both his dream and its interpretation, or die, but rewarded if successful. Chaldeans stall. King demands a ready answer! Impossible, except with the gods! -- they respond. King angrily orders all Babylon's wise men executed. After hearing from the guard's captain, Daniel appeals for an opportunity. He enjoins his three friends in prayer in their homes. God answers, revealing the dream. Daniel's prayer of thanksgiving. Requests through Arioch an audience with the king. Daniel is hastily presented. His ability questioned, his humility is revealed: God alone reveals secrets.
[Reveals the Dream] A bright image: Head of gold. Breast and arms of silver. Belly and thighs of brass. Legs of iron. Feet of iron and clay. The feet and image are shattered by a stone and scattered to the wind. The stone becomes a mountain, filling the Earth.
[Dream Interpreted] Head of gold (king of kings) = Nebuchadnezzar. Breast and arms of silver, and belly and thighs of brass = 3 succeeding kingdoms of silver, brass, and iron. The feet of iron and clay = many kingdoms failing to mingle. The stone kingdom established by God, to destroy all these kingdoms and stand forever. [Prophecy continues at 7:1.] Nebuchadnezzar prostrates himself before Daniel, declaring God above all gods. Daniel given many gifts. Promoted to ruler of the whole province of Babylon, chief of governors, over all the wise men. He requests the assistance of his three friends. Now sits in the king's gate.

(580 B.C.?) [Jerusalem has fallen.] Golden image (6 x 60 cubits) erected by Nebuchadnezzar in the plain of Dura. Summons rulers. Issues a decree for all to bow and worship at the signal of various instruments. Failure to comply will result in being thrown into a fiery furnace. Jews accused of disobedience by the Chaldeans. Enraged, king summons Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, giving them opportunity for compliance. (Daniel likely away on business.) They refuse, relying upon God to deliver them ( Ps.50:15). Cast by the king's mighty men into the furnace heated seven times hotter. The guards are consumed. The three unharmed, their bonds loosed. Nebuchadnezzar, knowing only three were thrown in, now sees four. Likens the fourth to the Son of God. Orders them to be extracted. The three, with their garments untouched, are witnessed by all the rulers. Acknowledging their divine deliverance, the king issues a new decree: any speaking amiss of the God of these three will be cut into pieces and their houses made a dunghill. Acknowledges God's superior power. Promotes the three.

(570 B.C.?) [Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgment to all the nations of God's eternal greatness and kingdom.] Relates his dream of a great tree, his wise men's inability to interpret it, and subsequent call for Daniel's assistance. Daniel interprets the dream: Nebuchadnezzar = the great tree, to be cut off and live among the wild beasts for seven years, "to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men..." Daniel appeals for the king's repentance and execution of judgment in the land. He continues his own way one year, boastfully priding himself in his own power and accomplishments. A voice from heaven speaks to him concerning the imminent fulfillment of his dream, made dumb, insane, and to live among the beasts for seven years. He repents and is converted after the seven years. Praises God, and God alone, after learning his hard lesson. He is restored to greater majesty, now with humility and honor. Extols the King of heaven for all His righteous ways, himself being a witness of His power to humble the haughty.

(538 B.C.?) [Daniel now old. Captive since 606 B.C. The night of Babylon's fall to Persia.] Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar's son, now reigns. Commits abominable sin with God's Temple vessels during a palatial feast, drinking wine from them and toasting the many false gods! The Handwriting on the Wall appears. He is visibly terrified. His wise men are unable to interpret the words. Comforted by his queen, informing him of Daniel and his past experiences with his father. Daniel summoned. Promised many gifts and elevated to third in rank over the kingdom. Daniel graciously rejects the gifts, but interprets the writing, reminding the king of his father's past experience produced by his pride. Accuses him of lifting himself against the Lord of heaven in committing this abominable act. The writing: MENE. MENE. TEKEL. UPHARSIN; The interpretation: Kingdom numbered and finished, king weighed and found wanting, kingdom to be divided among the Medes and Persians. King orders all the aforementioned promises carried out, and Daniel is arrayed in royal apparel. The same night Belshazzar is slain as Darius (age 62), the Median king, overthrows Babylon.

Although old, Darius sets Daniel as chief ruler of three co-regents over the kingdom's 120 ruling princes because of his excellent spirit. He is endeared to the king. Jealousy arises and a conspiracy forms against Daniel among the others. Darius was duped into signing a decree. Under punishment of the lion's den, no one could make petition to any god or man, except to the king, for 30 days. This done secretly knowing that Daniel would violate it because he was known to pray toward Jerusalem three times daily. He is accused before the king and the king becomes concerned for his friend. Upset, he attempts to discover a way to excuse Daniel. The conspirators remind Darius that a king's decree cannot be rescinded. Darius, trusting in Daniel's God to deliver him, reluctantly is compelled to execute sentence. Unable to sleep, and fasting through the night, Darius goes early the next morning for an emotional reunion with his victorious friend. A moving exchange in greetings! Darius enforces the intended fate of Daniel upon all his conspirators and their families. He decrees there to be no other god, save Daniel's. He is to be worshiped throughout the kingdom, for He truly is the only living God capable of such power and wonder!! The king prospers. [The stage now set for the return of the Jews to Jerusalem.]

(555 B.C.?) [Prophecy continued from 2:45. Another recorded vision revealed as before.]
A dream of 4 winds stirring 4 beasts from the great sea:

(1) A lion with eagle's wings, the heart of and standing as a man;
(2) A bear with 3 ribs in its teeth;
(3) A leopard with 4 heads and fowl's wings; and
(4) An indescribable, dreadful beast with iron teeth and 10 horns.

A little horn with eyes and a speaking mouth arises among the 10, displacing 3 horns. Daniel's vision of God's Shekaniah Glory, judgment seat, and books of life. Messianic prophecies and the kingdom foretold. He is troubled. An angel interprets the dream and visions for Daniel. The beasts represent 4 kings who arise consecutively in the Earth; then to be supplanted by the Messianic Kingdom. Daniel takes all to heart.

(553 B.C.?) [Two years later Daniel receives another vision while in the palace of Shushan, in Elam, by the River Ulai.] A ram with 2 horns, pushing west, north and south, defeated by a goat from the west with 1 horn between its eyes. The horn breaks, becoming 4, and another grows from 1 and becomes very great and pleasant, magnifying itself, taking away the daily sacrifice and casting down truth. Two saints' conversation of the duration of the sacrilege (2,300 days). Daniel is comforted and instructed by the angel Gabriel concerning end-time events. (Ram = Mede and Persia; Goat = Greece) Vision now sealed and Daniel faints, remaining sick for several days.

(538 B.C.?) [Earlier, in Darius' first year.] Daniel now understands the 70 year prophecy of Jeremiah and sees the consummate sin of all Israel. Broken in his heart, he, as Moses before him, pours out his heart to God for forgiveness of Israel's great sin of wickedness, rebellion, apostasy, and refusal to hear His call to repentance through His prophets. Daniel recognizes that the curse promised through Moses to His chosen, if they disobeyed and went astray, is now in full effect. He pleads for God's mercy. God, true to His word, was justified in their judgment. He appeals to God, for His sake, to take away their sin and bring an end to His judgment. Swiftly interrupted by God's answer through Gabriel foretelling end time events. (Fullness of time, reconciliation, the Anointed One, restoration, Jerusalem and the Temple rebuilt, destroyed again, covenants, and the Abomination of Desolation.)

[The first group of Jews now home in Jerusalem. Daniel remains. Now in Darius' third year.] Daniel is in mourning for three weeks on a limited diet (a fast) by the River Tigris (Hiddekel). Receives a vision of the (glorified Christ?). Others present, though not seeing it, fled at its appearance. Daniel, himself weak, is strengthened and stands trembling. The (Angel) informs him that his prayer was heard, but the prince of Persia (Satan?) prevented him from coming sooner. Finally, with the aid of Michael, they overcame and now comes to instruct him in the future. Again Daniel is weakened, strengthened, and spoken to with loving kindness by the angel. He will be instructed concerning future kingdoms.

(534 B.C.?) [A earlier account given to Daniel of the Angel strengthening Darius in his first year. Now reveals to Daniel further revelations of his earlier visions of the earth's succeeding kingdoms.] The Heavenly Scroll unfolds. The history of nations are foretold to Daniel. (Imagine the scene!) An alliance of nations in the final years. The fall of the wicked. A leader promoted through flattery, goes against the south. Eventual Abomination of Desolation against the Covenant. Many will be destroyed. Many good will fall, to be tested and purified. King exalts himself, blasphemes God, being totally Godless and self-conceited. After rising high and destroying many, will meet his own end.

[Michael stands for deliverance of Israel at a troublesome time unlike any other in history.] The resurrection of the dead unto judgment of everlasting life and some everlasting condemnation; rewards given. Daniel instructed to seal the prophecy to the end time. Other angels appear by the river, with (Christ?) standing over the water. Asks about the time of the end. Time and times and one half is the reply. Daniel, not understanding, seeks further clarification. Hidden and sealed for now. Time of testing to come for purification, but the wicked will become worse. The wise will understand in the end. A clue is given: 1,290 days (3½ years?) from the end of daily sacrifice to the Abomination of Desolation. A blessing to the faithful to 1,335 days (3½ years?). Daniel to go his way for now and prepare for his own appointed time.