Daniel is an Old Testament book that comes from the period of the sixth century BC. It has 12 chapters divided into two sections. The first six chapters deal with historical events associated with the prophet Daniel's life. One "international" prophetic message or disclosure is included amongst these events (chapter 2) and one personal prophecy (chapter 4). The last six chapters of the book outline three further "international" prophetic messages (chapter 7, chapters 8 and 9 and chapters 10 to 12). The historical backdrop to the book of Daniel is the Jewish nation's exile to Babylon. The Babylonians defeated Israel in 605 BC at which time Daniel and many others were taken captive to Babylon. After a seventy-year captivity there was a return of Jewish people to their homeland.

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The four "international" prophetic disclosures each begin with the time of Daniel and take in the sweep of history down to the time of Christ's second coming. These messages are parallel to each other and each new one adds more details. Thus the second, third and forth visions build on the previous ones. The messages consist of a prophetic dream or vision followed by an explanation as follows:

Chapter 2: Dream and explanation.

Chapter 7: Vision and explanation.

Chapter 8: Vision and partial explanation.

Chapter 9: Explanation completed.

Chapter 10-12: Vision followed by a more literal prophetic discussion.

Regarding the prophetic section of Daniel, I would advise not getting bogged down in the details (especially with regard to chapter 11) but to seek to get the general picture initially. Three important things to keep in mind are: (1) The role of Jesus Christ in the prophecy. (2) The portrayal of a conflict between good and evil and the final victory of God's cause. (3) The use of symbolic language in the visions and dreams.

As an initial guide I would suggest looking for the Person of Jesus Christ in the symbolic stone of chapter 2, the fourth Person in the furnace of chapter 3, the Son of Man in chapter 7, the Prince in chapter 8, the Anointed One (Messiah) in chapter 9, and the Man clothed in linen of chapter 10 and 12.

Finally, why not ask God Himself to help you understand what He has inspired? A sincere request to Him for guidance and wisdom will make all the difference.

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