A Great Prophet and Statesman

The magnitude of the work of Daniel cannot be measured by the few recorded narratives of his long life, remarkable as these are. Much that is unrecorded is implied in the testimony borne by the queen mother, who said of him to Belshazzar:AGP 147.2

“There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; … forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel.” Daniel 5:11, 12.

Daniel received his call to the prophetic office soon after his exile to Babylon, following the first siege and capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. During the entire seventy years of captivity, he bore witness for his God, influencing the affairs of the Babylonian Empire, and he “continued even unto the first year of King Cyrus.” Chapter 1:21. Of his later life, further mention will be made in the next chapter, dealing with the times of the restoration.AGP 147.3

We can only mention the well-known prophecies of this remarkable prophet, to whom the angel Gabriel brought the message from the courts of glory, “Thou art greatly beloved.” Chapter 9:23. Their interpretation or exposition is outside the province of this book. But they throw light upon the times inAGP 147.4

which we are living, “the time of the end” and they look forward to the happy day when “the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” Chapter 7:27.AGP 148.1