Chapter 6 

From the Book of Daniel 

Daniel and the Lions (Dan 6:14 24 and 14:30 42) 

     Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into 

the den of lions. And the king said to Daniel, `Your God, whom you always 

serve, he himself will free you.'   (Dan 6:16, Quotations from the Book of 

Daniel are from the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Bible, CPDV). 

    Daniel represents the Church. Just as Daniel survives a night in the den of 

lions, so will the Church survive a dark time of trials and suffering. The 

Church will  pass through a time of persecution near the end of the Forty 

Years (during the 2030's). 

    Daniel was thrown into the den of lions twice, representing two times of 

suffering in the Church's future. The first time that Daniel was thrown to the 

lions, it was for one night. This one night in the den of lions represents a 

time of great suffering for Christians, but one which will be less intense than 

a later time of suffering. The later suffering for the Church is represented by 

Daniel's nearly seven days in the den of lions. 

      And they cast him into the den of lions, and he was there for six days.... 

And so, on the seventh day, the king came to morn Daniel. And he came to 

the den, and gazed in, and behold, Daniel was sitting in the midst of the 

lions.  (Dan 14:30,39). 

    The second time that Daniel was in the lions' den, he was there for six 

days, and was released on the seventh day. The six plus days that Daniel 

was in the lions' den represent the six plus years (i.e. the nearly seven years) 

of the Church's great suffering, Her Passion and Crucifixion.  Furthermore, 

in the den there were seven lions....  (Dan 14:31). These seven lions also 

represent the nearly seven years of the Church's great suffering. 

    Daniel is a prophetic symbol of the Church. As it was with Daniel, so will 

it be with the Church. Daniel was in great danger in the lions' den. The 

Church will be in great danger during those nearly seven years. Daniel was 

delivered from the lions' den on the seventh day by the king. So also, will 

the Church be delivered in the seventh year of great suffering by Her Lord 

and King, Jesus Christ. 

    Notice that Daniel, like the Church, survives during a time of great danger 

by trusting in God.  And Daniel was taken out of the den, and no wound 

was found in him, because he believed in his God.  (Dan 6:23).