Daniel

Daniel is one of the major prophets of the Old Testament — a Jewish exile in Babylon who remained faithful to God under severe trial, interpreted royal dreams, and received apocalyptic visions including the vision of the "Son of Man" coming on the clouds of heaven — a title Jesus applied to himself (CCC 664).

Daniel's Faithfulness

Daniel and his three companions — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — were taken to Babylon as young men and educated at the royal court. They refused to defile themselves with the king's food and remained faithful to Jewish dietary laws. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue, they were thrown into a fiery furnace — and emerged unharmed, with a fourth mysterious figure (a type of Christ) walking with them in the flames (Daniel 3).

The Son of Man

Daniel's most significant vision for the New Testament is the "Son of Man" coming on the clouds of heaven to receive dominion, glory, and a kingdom from the "Ancient of Days" (Daniel 7:13–14). Jesus explicitly adopted this title and applied it to himself — especially in his trial before the Sanhedrin: "You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:64; CCC 664).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Daniel's prophecy of the "seventy weeks" a prediction of Christ? Catholic interpreters have traditionally read Daniel 9:24–27 as a messianic prophecy pointing to the coming of the Messiah and the destruction of Jerusalem. The details of the interpretation vary, but the messianic reference is part of the Church's traditional reading of the passage (CCC 712).