The Bible Study Reading PlanSample

DANIEL

AUTHOR:

The book of Daniel was written by the prophet Daniel, an exile during the Babylonian reign.

DATE:
Daniel was taken into exile as a child during the first deportation of the Jews in 605 BC and recorded events up until 540 BC. Therefore, the book of Daniel must have been written shortly after that time, around 540-530 BC while he was in Persia.

CONTEMPORARY PROPHETS:

Jeremiah around 626-585 BC

Habakkuk around 609-605 BC

Ezekiel around 593-571 BC

AUDIENCE:
Daniel wrote to the other Hebrew exiles in Babylon and later in Persia.

REASON:

He wrote in order to show them God's hand in all that was happening.

THEME:

No matter what happens on earth, the kingdom of God will reign supreme for eternity.

KEY VERSE:
"His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?'" (4:34b-35 ESV)

SPLIT:

Stories of Daniel's Influence (1-6), Prophecies of Future Victory (7-12)

KEY WORDS:

Dream, Kingdom, Authority, Time