Outline of Daniel: An everlasting kingdom amid passing empires
God rules over the kingdoms of men, preserves His people through trial and gives everlasting dominion to the Son of Man.
Part 1 · Faithfulness in foreign courts 1–6
God gives wisdom, preserves His servants and brings proud rulers to account.
- 1Daniel 1: Faithful in a foreign court
God preserves His servants in exile and equips them to serve without abandoning Him.
Carried away and renamed 1:1–7 · Faithfulness with a respectful request 1:8–16 · Wisdom given by God 1:17–21
- 2Daniel 2: A kingdom that cannot be destroyed
God reveals the king’s dream and promises His enduring kingdom beyond the passing kingdoms of men.
The king demands the impossible 2:1–13 · Mercy sought and wisdom received 2:14–23 · God receives the credit 2:24–30 · The statue and the lasting kingdom 2:31–45 · The king acknowledges the Revealer 2:46–49
- 3Daniel 3: Faithfulness in the fire
God’s servants refuse idolatry even at the cost of death, and He rescues them from the furnace.
The command to worship 3:1–7 · A refusal that does not bargain 3:8–18 · Thrown into the furnace 3:19–23 · Rescued and vindicated 3:24–30
- 4Daniel 4: The Most High humbles the proud
God brings down Nebuchadnezzar’s pride so that he acknowledges heaven’s sovereign rule.
A warning in the king’s dream 4:1–18 · Daniel interprets and urges repentance 4:19–27 · Pride meets the announced judgment 4:28–33 · Restored reason and confessed sovereignty 4:34–37
- 5Daniel 5: Weighed and found wanting
Belshazzar knowingly dishonors God, and his kingdom falls under the judgment announced to him.
Holy vessels profaned and writing appears 5:1–9 · Daniel is summoned 5:10–16 · Knowledge makes rebellion inexcusable 5:17–23 · The sentence is fulfilled 5:24–31
- 6Daniel 6: Prayer under a royal ban
Daniel remains faithful in prayer, and God preserves him when a manipulated decree sends him to the lions.
A decree designed to trap a faithful servant 6:1–9 · Daniel continues to pray 6:10–18 · God shuts the lions’ mouths 6:19–24 · The living God is proclaimed 6:25–28
Part 2 · Kingdom, conflict and atonement 7–9
Revelation joins the defeat of oppressive powers with the Son of Man’s kingdom and the answer to exile.
- 7Daniel 7: The Son of Man receives the kingdom
God judges beastly kingdoms and gives everlasting dominion to the Son of Man and His saints.
Beastly powers rise 7:1–8 · The court sits in judgment 7:9–12 · The Son of Man receives dominion 7:13–14 · The saints suffer and are vindicated 7:15–22 · The last kingdom loses its power 7:23–28
- 8Daniel 8: An arrogant horn has an appointed end
God reveals coming persecution under earthly empires and fixes the limit of the oppressor’s power.
Ram and goat contend 8:1–7 · The sanctuary suffers under a growing horn 8:8–14 · Gabriel names the kingdoms 8:15–22 · The fierce ruler will be broken 8:23–27
- 9Daniel 9: Mercy beyond the end of exile
Daniel pleads for undeserved mercy, and God promises atonement and lasting righteousness beyond the return.
A written promise prompts prayer 9:1–3 · Sin confessed and justice acknowledged 9:4–14 · Mercy sought for God’s name 9:15–19 · Gabriel brings an answer 9:20–23 · Seventy sevens and an anointed one 9:24–27
Part 3 · The final conflict and enduring inheritance 10–12
God strengthens His servant to hear of suffering, appointed judgment and resurrection.
- 10Daniel 10: Strength to hear the coming conflict
God hears Daniel’s prayer and strengthens him to receive revelation amid unseen opposition.
An overwhelming vision beside the Tigris 10:1–9 · Prayer heard amid heavenly conflict 10:10–14 · Strength to receive the message 10:15–21
- 11Daniel 11: Kingdoms contend, but the end is appointed
Rival kings wage war and profane worship, yet God bounds their power and preserves a faithful people.
Persian rule and a divided Greek kingdom 11:1–4 · North and south struggle for dominion 11:5–20 · A contemptible ruler advances 11:21–30 · Desecration and costly faithfulness 11:31–35 · Arrogant power reaches its end 11:36–45
- 12Daniel 12: Rest, resurrection and the promised inheritance
God promises final deliverance and resurrection, calling His people to endure without mastering the timetable.
Deliverance reaches beyond death 12:1–3 · The revelation is preserved and suffering limited 12:4–7 · Faithfulness without complete understanding 12:8–10 · Blessing for those who wait 12:11–13
Plus What TheoMaps holds for the outline of Daniel
- The 50 section notes, one for every section of Daniel
- How each of its 3 parts leads into the next, in its own words
- The shape of Daniel: 2 repeated words and phrases and 1 literary pattern
TheoMaps Plus opens the Outline of every book the way Genesis is open, on the map.