Studying the book of Daniel is necessary in its own right since there are many prophetic elements exclusive to Daniel. But when it comes to studying a full-orbed New Testament eschatology, it is essential to study the book of Daniel for at least three reasons.
1. Jesus’ Olivet Discourse is one of the most important eschatological passages in the Bible. Jesus explicitly claims dependency on Daniel for his teaching: “So when you see the abomination of desolation–spoken about by Daniel the prophet—standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)” (Matt 24:15).
Jesus also refers to the most explicit resurrection passage in all of the Old Testament, which is found in Daniel.
(1) At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation’s beginning up to that time. But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape. (2) Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake– some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence. (Dan 12:1–2; cf. Matt 24:21–22, 31).
2. In the apostle Paul’s second epistle to the Thessalonians, he highlights the eschatological antagonist, aka Antichrist, who will proclaim himself God, demand worship from the world, and persecute God’s people. His source is drawn from Daniel 10–12 (cf. Dan 11:36). In addition, his source for his “Restrainer” passage in 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7 is drawn from Daniel 12:1.
3. The book of Revelation is immersed in the book of Daniel alluding innumerably from it. One cannot understand the book of Revelation without understanding the book of Daniel—it is that important.
I am often asked for recommendations on Danielic commentaries. If you are looking for a commentary that does not require competency in Hebrew and Aramaic (Daniel 2.4b to 7.28 was originally written in Aramaic), I would recommend Stephen Miller’s commentary on Daniel. It is a medium-length commentary from a conservative, premillennial perspective; in other words, you will not be drowned in higher critical, anti-supernatural, liberal minutiae.
