It is difficult to overestimate the significance of the book of Daniel. Few Old Testament books have received the scrutiny from biblical critics as has these twelve chapters and understandably so. For if Daniel wrote these words, and did so in the period of 605-534 B.C., it contains some of the best internal evidence we have that there is a God and that He is the author of the Bible. Daniel assures us of this in at least three ways.

The prophecies. In chapter 2 Daniel saw the rise and fall of four earthly kingdoms (Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, (2:32) and Rome (2:33) and then said “in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed” (2:44). The New Testament era was in the days of the Roman Empire—half a millennium after Daniel lived—and numerous passages affirm the coming and existence of this never-to-be-destroyed kingdom, which Daniel foretold, at that time (Mk.1:14-15; 9:1; Heb.12:29).

God’s rule and providence. “The Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind” could well be the theme of the book (2:21; 4:17,25,32,34-35; 5:21); and it was a lesson that both Nebuchadnezzar (4:34-37) and Belshazzar (5:30) learned the hard way. And not only is His rule over nations affirmed, His providential protection of His people is also demonstrated. Let the faithful take heart: “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us” (3:17; 6:16,22) just as He did Daniel and his friends.

Historical accuracy. Daniel foretold the rise and fall of four earthly kingdoms from the sixth century B.C. to the first century A.D.: Babylon (2:32; 7:4), Media-Persia (2:32; 7:5; 8:3-4,20; 11:1-2), Greece (2:32; 7:6; 8:5,21-22; 11:3-4) and Rome (2:34; 7:7-8,24-25; 11:36-45). He also spoke of their peculiar characteristics as well as the character of their leaders, even making an unmistakable reference to Alexander the Great (8:21) as the “large horn”, or “first king”, of the kingdom of Greece.

As indicated previously, the significance of all this depends upon the answer to two questions: is Daniel the author of this book and did he make these prophecies? At the risk of oversimplification, I suggest that Jesus answers both as He said: “When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet...” (Matt.24:15). Jesus indicates that Daniel authored the book containing this quotation (Dan.9:27; 11:31; 12:11) and, by the use of “spoken” (found 15 times in Matthew), gives to him the same status as Jeremiah (2:17), Isaiah (1:22), Hosea (2:15), David (13:35) and Moses (22:31-32). Daniel made prophecies, not educated guesses; he wrote prior to, not after the fact. All of this Jesus clearly believed.

Daniel could not have written this preview of history so accurately without the aid of One who was both omniscient and omnipotent. Surely, then, if Daniel wrote these prophecies six centuries before Christ, he must have been one who "spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit", (2 Pet. 1:21.). How thankful we should be that Daniel’s book gives us these assurances.