A new section of the book of Daniel begins in chapter 7. The first part of the book of Daniel is written in a narrative style, and we find these histories in chronological order. At the beginning of this new prophetic section, we go back in time to the first year of King Belshazzar, a somewhat mysterious figure in history. His father Nabonidus is actually the king but does not really want to be; he withdraws as some kind of hermit. Nabonidus is therefore the official king, but Belshazzar is in charge and exercises power. At this time, it begins to become clear that the strength of the Babylonian Empire is waning and the first cracks in the empire become noticeable. It is now that the Lord shows Daniel in a dream how the world of nations will keep shifting throughout history.
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter.