Prophecy - 34

Daniel Chapter 10 -

Dan 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
Dan 10:2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.



A thing was revealed.
The thing was true.
He understood the thing.
The time appointed was long.
He understood the vision.


Remember in chapter 8 and 9 the angel Gabriel was explaining things to Daniel but it was hard for Daniel to comprehend it all- understandably so. Daniel understood that this vision would not be completed for a long, long time - do you think perhaps this caused some of the mourning? We have lived approximate 2500 years after Daniel lived. If Daniel had some comprehension of just how long it would be until the prophecy would be fulfill how daunting that would have to be. Even now if I had to imagine 2300 years into the future, if I had to imagine 1260 years into the future it's just…wow. Maybe it's 'wow' to me because I'm living in the hope and expectation of my Savior's soon return, not life ongoing another 2000 years. Daniel was living with the expectation of things to take place as well. Think about it… he'd been thrust from his home at Jerusalem and taken captive to Babylon. While there He interprets a dream given the king of Babylon and that first dream, that first vision was an overall grand picture. Then Daniel lived during the time of the Medes and Persians take over of Babylon - as predicted. And He was told about Grecia coming up to take over from Medes and Persians. To His comprehension, for at least a short while there, it could easily be considered the entire vision would be completed in relatively short order and our Savior would usher in a whole new world. The end of all evil. How fantastic to imagine it all. Daniel was human and he had ideas and he struggled with comprehension even after he was told things. That Daniel was mourning isn't surprising at all really.


Dan 10:3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.


For 3 weeks Daniel didn't allow himself any luxuries at all whatsoever. He was so upset by it all, very understandable.


Dan 10:4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
Dan 10:5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
Dan 10:6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.


Just imagine this Daniel is standing by the great river and when he looks up he sees a man, and what a man! This wasn't any ordinary person by a long shot.


Dan 10:7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.


Such an extraordinary sight this man was that those people who were with Daniel couldn't see him but a fear overcame them such a great fear they ran away to hide.


Dan 10:8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.


Left alone, Daniel faced this vision and he had no strength left, it's no wonder is it? Something that could be unseen by others yet cause extreme fear, at the least had a strength sapping affect on Daniel.


Dan 10:9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.


Fainted at the sound of the man's voice?


Dan 10:10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.


The man touched Daniel, the man pulled him up onto his hands and knees- waking him obviously to the point that he could understand what was said next.


Dan 10:11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.


Stand upright he was told and Daniel stood but not without shaking in fear.


Dan 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.


The man in the vision does not want Daniel to be scared, he tells him not to fear. He tells Daniel from the FIRST day when Daniel's heart was determined to understand and he abased himself before God- his word were heard! His words…were…heard. The man CAME because of what Daniel petitioned God for- understanding.


Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.


The man in the vision would have come sooner BUT he was warring with a prince of the kingdom of Persia for 21 days.


Who was this man?
Who was the prince the man was fighting with, who prevented the man from going to Daniel- IN A VISION?


We can't for a moment allow ourselves to believe that this vision man unseen by any but Daniel, was contending with a flesh and blood prince of Persia and that flesh and blood prince was able to prevent this vision man from going to Daniel. This had to be a spiritual battle and we KNOW that beyond a doubt the spiritual world is REAL and mostly unseen. We fight in this spiritual battle all the time remember this verse--


Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.


This spiritual Prince of Persia hindered the spiritual vision man before Daniel - read this…


1Th 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.


Satan hindered 'us'. This was Satan hindering flesh and blood. If Satan hindered flesh and blood it's only understandable that Satan could contend with this man of God - a spiritual force with spiritual force. What force controls the kingdoms of this world? We've studied this before. The kingdoms of this world belong to Satan. Satan offered them to Jesus when he was tempting Him in the wilderness. The Prince of the ruling kingdom of Persia would be Satan, and what freed the spiritual man of God from this battle with Satan?


Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.


Michael a chief prince came to help him. Another spiritual force. This spiritual battle is more real than Satan would have any of us really, truly believe.


Dan 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
Dan 10:15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
Dan 10:16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
Dan 10:17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
Dan 10:18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
Dan 10:19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
Dan 10:20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
Dan 10:21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.


This wasn't easy! As a prophet Daniel suffered. He knew that the visions were growing more and more complex and the things he was seeing, the understanding he was being given wasn't pleasant. The visions foretold of a future where Satan would rule the earth and God's people would be in the minority. There would always be a people that would belong to God, but they would not rule, they would suffer and great so. The future which was to take place over a LONG time, didn't predict wondrous things but rather great horrors that Daniel was allowed to foresee. Is it any wonder that Daniel was frightened, so incredibly frightened it's guaranteed that He would have died of his fear if he hadn't been strengthened by these amazing spiritual beings sent by God.


Daniel would be shown a vision even more complex than any he'd seen prior to this and now that he was strengthened he'd be able to understand, he'd be able to endure what was being required of Him. Remember- Daniel prayed for this! Daniel was the one who initiated this vision that had taken all his strength from him. This wasn't an unwanted vision. This wasn't a forced vision. This was what Daniel was praying for and had continued to pray for- depriving himself of all luxurious things, of all comfort thing- for three weeks! He wanted this and yet, feared it and doesn't that sound like so much we deal with in our own lives? I'm not putting us on par with Daniel by any means, but in a small way we can understand a bit about wanting and fearing at the same time, right?


More tomorrow when we begin chapter 11 and by the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ may we have understanding just as Daniel prayed for understanding- we too need to pray earnestly for understanding. All by the grace of our God, all by the righteousness of our Lord, guide us! Let the Holy Spirit reveal all truth to us as far as we need to understand to know God's will now and forever.


Amen!