"Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him." ~ Daniel 2: 20-21. The Book of Daniel is the first apocalypse of the Bible. In 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon had conquered Judah and deported many of its inhabitants to Babylon – Daniel included. Daniel served in the royal court of Nebuchadnezzar and several rulers who followed Nebuchadnezzar. The Book of Daniel records the actions, prophecies, and visions of the Prophet Daniel. Nothing is known of Daniel except what appears in his book. The first half of the book tells the story of the Hebrew prophet living in Babylon during the exile; the second half is his prophetic vision. The book's message is that just as the God of Israel saved Daniel and his friends from their enemies, so he would save all Israel in their present oppression. Its influence has resonated through later ages, from the Dead Sea Scrolls community and the authors of the gospels and Revelation, the various movements from the 2nd century to the Protestant Reformation, and modern millennialist movements such as Seventh Day Adventism, on whom it continues to have a profound influence. The King James Version Douay-Rheims Version The American Standard Version Bible in Basic English Version Webster Bible Version The Matthew Henry Commentary