Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation: A Commentary

Walvoord's work on Daniel avoids all the common pitfalls. He is not credulous, doesn't exaggerate, deals with data fairly, and accurately critiques liberal unbelief convincingly. Of the tons of books I've read dealing with Daniel, none can compare with Walvoord's scholarship and insight. If you want to understand Daniel, you must read this book carefully. Dennis McCallum, author Organic Disciplemaking: How to promote Christian leadership development through personal relationships, biblical discipleship, mentoring, and Christian community

I read this book around the same time that I read J.D. Pentecost's book called Things to Come. I felt that Walvoord did a great job of unlocking some of the mystery in the book of Daniel. It is, in my opinion, an excellent commentary on the book of Daniel. Of course, there is nothing better than prayerfully reading, rereading and then reading again the book of Daniel itself and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach you--no commentary can take the place of the scriptures themselves. I didn't read this commentary until I had read Daniel multiple times as well as the whole Bible. If you just read books without actually soaking yourself in the Scriptures first you will not "get it" and you may actually get confused.

This commentary on the Old Testament book of Daniel is noteworthy for its detail and its coupling of the author's dispensational interpretation with presentation and analyses of alternate interpretations and their inadequacies. But for the endtimes ("eschatology") novice, I'd suggest first reading Renald Showers' Daniel commentary, 'The Most High God,' since it's purpose does not include critiquing other views, but stays focused on a concise, readable, less overwhelming exposition of Daniel. (In case you're unfamiliar with Daniel altogether, Walvoord and Christians of dispensationalist theology consider Daniel to be the "Key to Prophetic Revelation" as title says, because Daniel chapters 2 and 7 give the broad panorama of Gentile kingdoms (including the final one to come), and most importantly, because Daniel chapter 9:24-27 tells of God's post-Babylonian captivity plan for Israel, including the upcoming 7-year period commonly referred to as "the tribulation," when the Antichrist reigns, and which is foundational for an understanding of the book of Revelation which details this period.)

In the feild of O.T. Eschatology, it is almost impossible not to reference Dr. Walvoord. This book is indepth. I love the fact that he does justice to the various views that he dealt with concerning the book of Daniel. He is a scholar and a gentleman. The material in this book would be considered seminary level. Anyone interested in learning more about the book of Daniel should get this book. I would just about equal this book to Leon Wood's commentary on Daniel.

For the serious student of God's word, Dr Walvoord adeptly writes a scriptural, dispensational look at Daniel.Haven't read anything on Daniel as thorough or scholarly as this gem.