Bible prophecies clearly show us that we currently live in the last days of earth history. Actually, this chapter could be added to the previous chapter “Today”. You will find in the following pages a few Bible prophecy verses. I encourage you to study the topic of prophecy and to pray that God will guide you to know the truth and to be ready when Jesus returns.

Daniel’s Story

How does Daniel’s story in the Bible apply to us today when it comes to our eating habits? The Bible gives us a brief acctemptount of Daniel’s life which encourages Christians who might suffer trials and temptation. Daniel had a test of faithfulness with food, just like Adam and Eve.

In Daniel Chapter 1, we learn that “children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans” were carried into captivity by the King of Babylon. Among them was Daniel, a holy young man of God, and his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to prepare them for the important positions in his kingdom. They had to learn the Chaldeans’ language, and follow physical and intellectual discipline courses over for three years.

These young men faced a risky mental and physical test. The King thought he was doing them a favor by providing the meat and wine that came from his table.

Daniel’s Diet Test

 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
– Daniel 1:8

The prince of the eunuchs brought Daniel into favor by God. And even if he risked his life, he accepted Daniel’s request to give him and his friends ten days to only have “pulse to eat, and water to drink”, and that at the end of ten days their appearance be compared with the appearance of the other children who would eat the king’s meat and drink the king’s wine.

Then the Bible describes what the result after ten days.

“And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.” – Daniel 1:15 

Dream Interpreter

God gave Daniel and his friends:

“knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” – Daniel 1:17

And when the king communicated with them he saw that they were unique children.

“In all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”
– Daniel 1:20

During the next several days, the king had a very bad dream. He was worried about this dream but he could not remember what it was. And so he asked magicians and astrologers what it was and its meaning, but they didn’t know. Daniel asked God for help and later informed the king what his dream meant. Prophetic dreams concern all of us today, and it shows that we live at the very end of earth history.

To a great degree, Daniel and his friends’ diet and their prayer life gave them clearness of mind and a strong intellect. They were also favored and honored by God.

“Them that honour me I will honour”- 1 Samuel 2:30

Into the Fire

We learn in Daniel Chapter 3 that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tempted, but kept honoring God. In turn, God protected them. When they refused to bow down to the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar, which would have broken God’s third commandment (Exodus 20), they were cast into the midst of a burning furnace. While they were in the fire, the king Nebbuchanezzar was extremely surprised as he saw one more man among them in the fire. He was an angel of light.

“I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” – Daniel 3:25.

When the three friends came out of the fiery furnace they didn’t have any blemish, they didn’t have the smell of fire and their coats were not burned.

Daniel in the Lion’s Den

A few years later, when Babylon was defeated by Medo-Persia, Daniel was once again well-favored by the king of this time, king Darius. But two other men who were presidents with Daniel were jealous of him and they knew that he was praying to God several times a day. Therefore, they influenced the king to sign a decree that any men who would pray to someone else than the king would be thrown in the lion’s den. Daniel knew about the decree and even though he was tempted to stop praying, he kept praying with the windows of his chamber opened. Daniel was then thrown into the lions den. In the morning when the king went to see how Daniel was, he said:

“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” – Daniel 6:22

Daniel’s Teachings Prepare us for the Revelation

We can learn a lot from Daniel’s (and his friends’) character and personality to prepare ourselves for the end times. We can see from the Bible that history repeats itself. Prophecies are revealed in the book of Daniel. These foretellings concern all Christians today.

We live in the end times and many in the world already face strong temptations. End times prophecy is fast being fulfilled. The Revelation of Jesus Christ (which is the last book in the Bible) tells us about the hour of temptation:

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
– Revelation 3:10

In this same verse, Jesus also assures us that those who keep the words of his patience will be kept. We must use Daniel’s example in these times of increasing troubles, when it comes to diet and prayer. This will strengthen our ability to resist temptation and to be favored by God.