Daniel is best known for the story of the fiery furnace and the lion's den, but he is known amongst scholars for different reasons. Putting aside differences in receiving the text, here are three themes that scholars agree are accurate. Read on to see an excerpt from The Lutheran Bible Companion on themes in the book of Daniel.
Well, much of the book of Daniel (after the chapters about Nebuchadnezzar) is about Jerusalem and the Holy Land and who will rule it after him. The six beasts seen in Daniel are also seen in the Revelation as six heads of Satan -- pagan Rome being the sixth head.
In Chapter 9, Daniel tells us that after 69 weeks of years, the Messiah will come. And right on time, Jesus was born. Then there is a gap, and the 70th week occurs. It is poorly translated into English in most English Bibles (in my opinion). It is more fully explained in the Revelation to John. From the appearance of the abomination of desolation in the Holy Spot (the Dome on the Rock) until the end of the Great Tribulation (WW II) is 42 months of years (precisely 1260 years). 3 1/2 years later Israel is a nation again, and in operation Magic Carpet the remaining half-dead Jews in Hitler's death camps are brought thru the air (in airplanes) to the Holy Land.
In chapter 11, Daniel lists (prophesies) all of the rulers of Israel up until the birth of the Messiah (Jesus). They are easy to figure out. For example, there are two Queens of the South. One of the queens of the South (in verse 6) is Queen Cleopatra who jointly ruled Jerusalem with Mark Anthony the king of the North. The other Queen of the South is her descendent (her granddaughter as I recall).
In short the entire book of Daniel (except perhaps the last verse) has already been fulfilled. I hope that helps.
