We are finished with Daniel 8 & 9 already. We will be studying Daniel 10 today. Daniel 10-12 is really all one. Chapter 10 is the introduction to chapters 11 and 12 which really is one prophecy.
However, in this introduction, there is drawn back the curtain on things that are taking place in the unseen world. An unseen war!
Daniel 10:1
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.
We are in the kingdom of Persia.
- Cyrus is king. It is approximately 535BC.
- Daniel is probably in his late 80’s. He is an old man by this time.
- And Daniel has another vision.
Daniel 10:2-3
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Why was Daniel mourning? Why was he in grief?
- Daniel 10:1
… The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. - What vision was this that was relating to time? It was the vision of the 2300 day prophecy.
- But the part that related especially to Daniel was the 490 years. And in particular – it was about the children of Israel being allowed to go back to rebuild Jerusalem.
- That had already been started.
- It began with Cyrus. He was the first.
- Ezra 6:14
So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. - So Cyrus started. And Daniel is living in that time.
- But remember, Cyrus is not the only one that would give the decree. Which means that the Jews would be stopped at some time to not be able to rebuild.
- Local Palestinians, hostile to Jewish resettlement, were sending false reports to Cyrus, and doing everything possible to obstruct the work of restoring the temple.
- Ezra 4:1
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel. - Ezra 4:4-5
4 Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, 5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. - Ezra 4:24
Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. - Ezra 4 outlines in the opposition that they had to face.
- And this is why Daniel is in grief and fasting and praying for God’s work to move forward.
- It is at this point that he is walking by the river and he has a vision of a heavenly being.
Daniel 10:4-6
4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, 5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Look at the description of this “man” that suddenly appears to him.
- Who is this and where have do we read of such a person in scripture?
- We actually have to fast forward to Revelation where John goes into vision. Look at what he sees.
Revelation 1:13-16
13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
What a similar description. It is no doubt that his being that appears to John is the same person that appears to Daniel while he is walking by the river.
- Who is this?
Revelation 1:17-18
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
This is no doubt the Son of God. It is Jesus!
- He is the only One that died and was resurrected.
- He is the only One that has the keys of hell and of death.
What effect does this have on Daniel and his companions?
- Daniel 10:7-9
7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. - They were in great terror. To see Jesus in His heavenly form is certainly a sight to behold.
- Daniel had no strength left.
- He collapses to the ground.
To have the Son of God come in person to give Daniel a message must mean that something important is taking place.
- We have seen Jesus appear throughout the book of Daniel.
- Daniel 3 – He was in the fiery flame with the three Hebrew boys.
- Daniel 3:25
“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
- Daniel 3:25
- Daniel 7 – He was standing before the Ancient of Days in judgment.
- Daniel 9 – Messiah the Prince and the Prince of Princes in Daniel 9 would make an appearance in the flesh and the year of His appearing would be announced.
When you study prophecy, you see at the very center of that is Jesus Christ!
- We see it here in Daniel.
- We also see it in Revelation!
- Revelation 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,
So with Jesus coming and standing on Israel’s side, no force on earth could obstruct God’s places for restoring Jerusalem.
But when Daniel sees Jesus, he loses his strength. His face is towards the ground because he has collapsed. What happens next?
- Daniel 10:10-12
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. - Daniel is comforted.
- An angel tells him that he is a man greatly beloved! And this angel has been sent directly from God. He came specifically because of Daniels words.
- What words were those? It was Daniel’s prayers for the past three weeks! He had been fasting and praying because of the situation that was taking place back in Jerusalem. The work of rebuilding was being stopped.
But why did it take this angel so long to get to Daniel? Why the delay?
- How come He didn’t come sooner?
- Was God testing the faith of Daniel?
- Seems like our prayers too right? How come it seems that our prayers take so long to answer?
- What is happening?
- It is in this chapter that the curtain is drawn back as to what is taking place in the unseen world.
Daniel 10:13
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.
What does this angel say?
- He says that the kingdom of Persia withstood him for the past three weeks.
- How can a human resist an angel? That is impossible! No human can fight against an angel.
- 1 angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in 1 night.
- It is impossible for one person to withstand any angel.
- Who was really resisting the angel?
- It was Satan himself trying to stop the king from allowing the Jews to return and continue rebuilding Jerusalem.
- You see, the devil can influence the decisions that we make.
- One example that we see in the Bible:
- Mark 8:31-33
31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” - Only another angel can match the power of another angel.
- Satan is a fallen angel. And he was fighting against God’s angel that had been sent.
But that angel tells Daniel what?
- Daniel 10:13
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. - Michael came to help him.
Who is Michael?
- Revelation 12:7
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,- Michael is the commander who casts Satan out of heaven.
- Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”- Michael is the archangel.
- The word archangel means prince of angels or ruler of angels.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.- The voice of an archangel will wake the dead at the second coming.
- Who is it that wakes the dead?
- John 5:26-29
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
- John 5:26-29
- Therefore, the archangel’s voice that wakes the dead is Jesus, showing us that Michael the archangel is Jesus Christ.
- He is not just another angel assigned by God. He is Jesus Christ, God Himself!
- Jesus was the One who came down to assist the angel that He sent to give a message in answer to Daniel’s prayer.
- The angel was apprehended and his mission delayed until Jesus came to help.
This chapter gives us a glimpse on what takes place behind the scenes of the visible world.
- There are conflicts that are taking place in heavenly places.
- Between God’s angels and satan’s angels.
- The things that we see visibly taking place on earth are influenced by these unseen battles.
- The wars that we see out there in the world today. I’m telling you, we need to pray for it.
- The things that are even taking place in your life. You will be surprised how much it is influenced by spiritual battles behind the scenes. From the smallest of decisions that we make to the greatest.
Ephesians 6:10-12
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
- There is a battle out there raging right now even as we speak.
- Even as you sit here and listen, there is a spiritual battle, unseen, taking place for our souls, for our minds, for the decisions that we will make. Whether we want to choose Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
- Whether we want to apply the things that we have been learning from Daniel about the church, about God’s commandments, about being faithful in little things.
But finally, who would come to help in this battle to win the mind of Cyrus?
Daniel 10:13
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.
- It was Jesus that would come.
Now the angel comes to tell the prophet Daniel the reason for his visit:
- Daniel 10:14
Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” - He has come to reveal more about the future of God’s people. The latter (last) days.
- Daniel is in the kingdom of Medo-Persia and it is still about events beyond that time.
- It is along the same timeline that we have seen already in Daniel 2, Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 & 9.
- It’s not just about the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
- It isn’t just about the Israelites being set free from captivity and allowed to go back to their home land.
- It is about the last days.
- Days that refer to our time.
Daniel 10:15-19
15 When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.” 18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
Daniel is revived and strengthened by the angel. His fears are going to be relieved.
- The vision up to that point has troubled him. He could only think of evil that would come upon God’s people. But the angel has given him hope.
Daniel 10:20
Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.
- The conflict with the prince of Persia was not over yet. The angel was going to go back and continue to fight.
- God’s angels are ever at work on our behalf. Fighting for the good of our lives.
- This angel would continue to strive with the Persian kings until Greece would come in, which would be about 200 years into the future.
- He would then fight to influence the Greeks in favour of God’s people as he had the Persians.
- The decree by Cyrus, then Darius and finally be Artaxerxes would be by direct intervention from God.
- The reason why they would be allowed to go back and to rebuild in 457BC under the direction and command of Artaxerxes would be because of God’s angels fighting for them on their behalf.
Does this mean that we need to pray any less today?
- Absolutely not.
- It is our prayers that cause God to act on our behalf.
- God is often limited by the actions of His people. What we choose to do. And also what we choose NOT to do.
- It is Daniel’s prayers that moved God to come and act on Daniel’s behalf for the decision of the Persian king.
- Daniel didn’t understand what was taking place. But he simply prayed.
- And today, though we don’t understand, we need to persist in prayer.
- Fasting and praying is the weapon that we can use as tools to fight against the devil and to reach out to God to work on our behalf.
Jesus told the disciples to watch and pray when they were in the garden of Gethsemane.
- But what happened to them? They all fell asleep.
- And as a result, they all ran away. And Peter, the most outspoken of them all, denied Jesus by cursing and swearing.
- Did God want that to happen? Of course not. If only they had been praying – then God would have strengthened them for that final crisis.
Daniel 10:21
But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.
The angel then finally reveals that he is about to reveal what is noted in the scripture of truth.
- This is what we are going to study in the last 2 chapters of the book of Daniel.
- The prophecies that will build on what we have already seen in the first 9 chapters of Daniel.
The angel did not come to just to comfort Daniel, but also to reveal more about the scripture, the future.
- We need that heavenly enlightenment in our lives today as well.
- You see, even as we see the rise and the fall of nations, we can play a part in all of it if we are praying.
- We should not be content to just stand back and allow the earth to take a certain course without our prayers reaching out to God to shape events in His favour and also in our favour too.
- As we pray, God will work.
- And even though you may think that you’ve been praying and you haven’t seen answers to prayers, I want to encourage you to continue praying.
- And if you want a faster answer to prayer, then do what Daniel did – fast for 3 weeks and let your focus be on that prayer. Surely God will answer.
- But now we see why there are delays. God’s messengers are often caught in conflict with the powers of darkness.
- Even now God is fighting for us. Let’s commit our ways again to Him to ask Him to lead us.