Holier Than Thou

Who wrote the books of the Bible and when?

Book of Daniel, about the life and prophecies of Daniel from Babylonian through Persian captivity, was written around the sixth century (605-535) B.C. by Daniel, whose Babylonian name was Belteshazzar. Daniel and his three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago) were trained to serve the king of Babylon, Nebuchnadnezzar, though they retained their faith and loyalty to the God of Israel. Although held in high regard by the king, they were persecuted for their trust in God, yet delivered from death every time by the Lord -- at one time Daniel was sealed in a den of lions and his friends were thrown into a furnace. The original language that the Book of Daniel was written in has been debated, since some parts of it have been discovered in Hebrew and others in Aramaic.

The Book of Daniel includes accounts of the following events:

Training of perfect Jewish boys for service to King Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel and his companions do not defile themselves in Babylon and are given knowledge and understanding by God
Daniel understands visions and dreams and interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dreams about coming world empires
Daniel and his three companions are given high rank in Babylon
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to worship the king's ninety foot image of gold and are thrown into a blazing furnace, but saved by an angel of the Lord and restored by the king to their high ranks
Dream and fulfillment of the fall of the great tree, which was King Nebuchadnezzar
King Belshazzar sees the writing on the wall and Daniel interprets it as the fall of Babylon to the Medes and the Persians
King Darius impressed with Daniel, although Daniel refuses to worship him and is thrown into a lion's den, but saved by an angel of the Lord
Daniel's dream of the four terrifying beasts and the Messiah, interpreted by the angel Gabriel as the coming world empires, the final one of which cannot stand against the Prince of princes
Daniel's prayer for Jerusalem and Gabriel's answer of the seventy weeks
The vision of one who looked like a man and the revelations of the Book of Truth
Prophecy of the end times

Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. And at the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"
At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (Daniel 4:33-37)