Daniel was taken captive and exiled to Babylon together with the rest of his people. There he lived for more than 70 years employed by the kings of different empires that ruled Babylon during that period.
Daniel was a prophet who saw visions and dreamt dreams.
Daniel was not a disciple of Jesus Christ and he did not have the privilege we have of reading the New Testament. He lived a life as if he was exposed to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Therefore his life and the way he handled situations and circumstances are relevant for us today as much as it was in the times of Daniel.
Daniel’s life of holiness and not compromising his faith in God is reflected and taught throughout the New Testament. Jesus Christ is our perfect example of living a holy life without compromise and Jesus Himself attested to the authenticity of the Book of Daniel by quoting and referring to Daniel.
7 Confirmations of Daniel in the teachings of Jesus
Prophet
Jesus confirmed that Daniel was a prophet when He referred to a vision that Daniel had seen. (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14)
Matthew 24:15 (ESV) - “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),”
Kingdom of God
Jesus preached the kingdom of God is at hand and He spoke much about the Kingdom of God, specifically explaining the kingdom with the parables that He taught. The Kingdom of God is mentioned throughout the New Testament with the most references in the book of Matthew. The Kingdom of God was the underlying message of Daniel. Dreams and visions portrayed the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms and the eternal reign of the kingdom of God. (Daniel 2, 7, 8)
Son of Man
The first time that Son of Man is referred to in the Word of God is in Daniel 7. Daniel saw the vision of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, receiving the Kingdom from the Father, the Ancient of Days. Daniel also saw the saints possessing this eternal kingdom along with the Son of Man. Jesus Christ referred to Himself as the Son of Man. The Son of Man speaks of the Messiah’s humanity and the Son of God of His divinity.
Antichrist
Jesus Christ spoke in Matthew 24:11, 23 of the coming Antichrist and the false prophet and that there will be many false prophets. Daniel had dreams and visions regarding the coming of the Antichrist. He also interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar that referred to the Antichrist.
End of the age
Jesus Christ taught the disciples about the end of the age and confirmed what Daniel had written about the time of the end in Daniel 11:33-35 (Matthew 24; Mark 13)
Daniel 11:33-35 (ESV) – “And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.”
Resurrection
Jesus Christ also taught about the resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous and the judgment and rewards that follow as seen in Daniel 12:1-3 (John 5:29)
Daniel 12:1–3 (ESV) - “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. “
John 5:29 (ESV) – “and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
Second coming
Jesus Christ prepared the disciple by telling them of His second coming and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on the earth. Jesus will return in the clouds of glory as the Son of Man came in the clouds of heaven as described in Daniel 7:13-14 (Mark 13:26)
Daniel 7:13–14 (ESV) - “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
Mark 13:26 (ESV) – “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”