--- Internal Evidence. For decades, the critics said the proof that Daniel was written near Christ’s time is found in the Greek names of musical instruments recorded in the book and the fact that a portion of Daniel was written in Aramaic. After excavations in Babylonia and Assyria, it has become clear that the musical instruments (lyre, sackbut, and trigon) mentioned in Daniel 3 do not have Greek names (which would argue for a later date for Daniel) but Babylonian names from the seventh century (600 B.C.). These instruments originated in Old Persia and were then assimilated by the Greeks. To the embarrassment of the critics, excavations have also proven that the Aramaic of Daniel was an Imperial Aramaic of the seventh century (600 B.C.) and not the Aramaic found later. The Babylonians did read and write in Aramaic (Dan. 2:4). With the Dead Sea scrolls and recent archaeological findings, the critics of Daniel are having to reconsider their objections. Future discoveries are proving the criticisms to be in error and not objective.   Conclusion:The Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint are solid proof that Daniel's predictions about the time of Jesus' life on earth occurred before He came. The books had to already be in existence by at least one hundred and sixty years. There is not a good reason to doubt Josephus or the Jewish tradition unless we are looking for reasons to reject Daniel. Joseph is a trustworthy historian. The witness of Ezekiel and the claim of Daniel also argue that the books of Daniel and Ezekiel were written during the sixth century before Jesus Christ. This means that Daniel's prophecies about Greece, Rome and Jesus' presence on this earth occurred before they were fulfilled. The book of Ezekiel was written in advance of their fulfillment and the prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah can also be shown to be true predictions and not after-the-fact writings.     The objective reasons for believing the Bible are true are fulfilled prophecies, predictions that point to the time of Jesus' life and death, historical eye witnesses who admit that Jesus performed supernatural miracles and returned to life, and men and women who have changed lives. Now that is a reason to believe!     I would encourage each person reading this answer to ask God to help you see the truth. Ask Him to show you in some extraordinary way that He is real and that Daniel was a true prophet.         < Back
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