The Book of Daniel
Courageous faith and apocalyptic vision under Babylonian rule.
Daniel combines gripping narratives of faith under pagan pressure with sweeping apocalyptic visions of world empires and God's coming kingdom. Written during the Babylonian and early Persian periods, its 12 chapters include the fiery furnace, the lions' den, and visions Jesus himself later referenced. Read from Daniel chapter 1.
About Daniel
Daniel is the twenty-seventh book of the Bible, written by Daniel himself during the Babylonian and early Persian periods (roughly 605-535 BC) and spanning 12 chapters. It combines riveting biographical narratives in the first half with apocalyptic visions of world history and the end times in the second half, making it uniquely important for both historical understanding and eschatological prophecy. Daniel and his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego model courageous faith under pagan pressure, refusing to compromise their worship even when faced with the fiery furnace and the lions den. Major themes include the sovereignty of God over all human kingdoms, courageous faithfulness in a hostile culture, prayer as a non-negotiable discipline, and the certainty of God's ultimate triumph and the coming of His eternal kingdom. Key chapters include Daniel 3 (the fiery furnace), Daniel 6 (Daniel in the lions den), and Daniel 7-12 (the apocalyptic visions, including the Son of Man passage Jesus references in the Gospels). Famous verses include Daniel 3:17-18 -- If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us -- and Daniel 12:3 -- Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens. Daniel KJV Bible reading equips believers for faithful witness in a secular world. Read the Book of Daniel online here in full.