Daniel was given a preview of the future. He troubles skeptics because his prophecy concerning the rise and fall of the major empires of history is absolutely accurate. But what kind of man received such inside information from God? And how can we best understand his prophecies of the end time?

Dr. H. A. Ironside gives this important recommendation: “This little company, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, four devoted young men, set themselves against all the evil of the kingdom of Babylon. They said, ‘We will not defile ourselves’ and these were the men to whom God would communicate His mind. I believe it is important to dwell on this, because in our own day, alas, in many cases prophetic study has been taken up by very unspiritual persons. If we are going to get the mind of God in studying this book we must remember that it consists of revelations, deliverances, and visions given to a spiritually-minded man who was separated from the iniquity of his day; and if we are to understand it, we also need to be spiritually-minded, and to walk apart from all that is unholy, all that would hinder progress in divine things. We need ever to have before us the words, Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward (2 John 8).

So, if we are to understand Daniel’s book, we must follow his example.

How is it with your heart? Have you purposed to be clean?