Daniel 10

This month we are looking at The Book of Daniel verse-by-verse. In the previous three posts, we covered the GREATEST PROPHECY recorded in the Bible: Daniel 9. Here is the summary...

Clearly, Daniel's "70 weeks" was the GREATEST PROPHECY recorded in the Bible...it even explained when prophecy will cease (be sealed up)!

It had CRITICAL applications to people who lived in the fifth Dispensation before Christ's crucifixion.

It had CRITICAL applications to people who live in the current Dispensation as well as people who will live during The Tribulation (completion of fifth Dispensation).

NONE of this would have happened without Daniel praying in God's OWN place and his prayer resulted in the GREATEST PROPHECY recorded in the Bible.

What could possibly happen next? What OUGHT to happen next? Were there more "spiritual warfare" applications?

Today, we will see how the enemy responded to Daniel getting the GREATEST PROPHECY recorded in the Bible...and we will spend the entire week looking at the final "installment" of the CONNECTED vision Daniel got about God's people and God's city.


DANIEL 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, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision."

This vision was connected to the previous visions. In fact, it was the final explanation of the connected vision Daniel continually got throughout his time in Babylon.

This vision came after all the other visions Daniel had described. This vision came during a time when Daniel had tremendous favor with the kings (Darius and Cyrus). The explanation of the events connected with Daniel receiving this vision took up the last three chapters of The Book of Daniel.

Today we will cover the first of these three chapters which was completely focused on introducing the second of the three chapters (where the angel spoke about the vision). Again, Daniel was a scientist. There was a process to his receiving of these spiritual manifestations. There was ALWAYS a cause with Daniel...

"2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks.
3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."

The cause was that Daniel was mourning and went on a "pleasant bread" fast. He did not have any "comfort foods".

"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,
5 I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz:
6 his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude."

After twenty-one days, Daniel was by the Tigris River and saw an angel.

"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, and they fled to hide themselves."

Here is some spiritual manifestation Doctrine: It is possible to be the only person in a group to see a spiritual manifestation!

The others with Daniel did not see the angel, but they felt a great quaking and hid themselves. So, Daniel was alone...

"8 So 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."

The vision was so overpowering AND convicting that Daniel lost his strength and saw himself as corrupted.

"9 Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground."

When Daniel heard the angel's WORDS, it put him in a deep sleep with his face to the ground...

"10 And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands."

The angel touched him and got Daniel up "on all fours".

"11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, thou 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."

The angel told Daniel to stand upright and that he (the angel) was specifically sent to Daniel. Daniel stated that he obeyed by standing, but he was still trembling. Clearly, this was an overpowering and important vision!

"12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words' sake."

There was A LOT in this sentence!

Daniel set in his heart to understand...this was a cause. Remember, what this meant was that Daniel TRULY desired to understand and the effect of this was it was put in his heart.

Daniel humbled himself before God...this was a cause. Remember, grace resists the proud, but is given to the humble. Daniel denied his flesh "pleasant bread" and focused on God for twenty-one days. Fasting isn't ONLY denying the flesh. It also involves focusing on God. In fact, true fasting intentionally talks and/or prays to God EVERY TIME the flesh complains about being denied! This is humbling the flesh...this is focusing on God...this is humbling yourself before God!

Daniel's WORDS were heard...this was a cause. Daniel was speaking WORDS to God. Whether he was praying or talking to God, Daniel was EXPRESSING his WORDS! Daniel was stating his will. In fact, the angel stated he came for Daniel's WORDS' sake! WORDS are important...they can create...they can destroy.

The angel came to Daniel from the FIRST DAY that Daniel did all of this. Daniel did this twenty-one days earlier. In the previous chapter, Gabriel showed up DURING Daniel's WORDS! Gabriel showed up within less than 16 verses. This angel took TWENTY-ONE DAYS! What took him so long?

"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."

WOW!!!

The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood this POWERFUL angel for twenty-one days! In fact, it took a chief prince named Michael to help this angel overcome the prince of the kingdom of Persia! (Notice that Gabriel's and Michael's names both end in "-el"...from "Elohim".)

Clearly, the prince of the kingdom of Persia was a spiritual being, otherwise there was a physical being that was more powerful than this angel who ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMED Daniel...who we all know had been tested throughout his (Daniel's) life and was an example to us.

Where was the prince of the kingdom of Persia in the previous chapter?

It looks to me like the enemy didn't think there was a reason to heavily guard this region UNTIL Daniel received the GREATEST PROPHECY recorded in the Bible. THEN, the enemy put spiritual guards over the area that Daniel inhabited. This is just a thought that may be wrong, but is it possible Daniel was mourning BECAUSE he hadn't received any understanding concerning his vision since the first year of Darius?

Next month we will look at spiritual warfare. For now, know that the Bible stated there are levels of authority in the spirit realm over the earth. This passage showed that an angel could not get to Daniel for twenty-one days because another spirit opposed him and the angel ended up requiring help from an angel named Michael.

I believe the increase in spiritual oppression was in response to Daniel being prosperous/favored AND having previously received the GREATEST PROPHECY recorded in the Bible.

"14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days:
15 and when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb."

The angel concluded his introduction by stating that he had come to make Daniel understand what will happen to the Israelites in the latter days. This was the conclusion to Daniel's continual vision!

Daniel stated that when he heard this entire introduction, he was so overwhelmed by the WORDS that he put his face to the ground and was speechless! Clearly, this was what Daniel was mourning over...not having gotten any more understanding concerning his continual vision!

"16 And, behold, one in the likeness 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 reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength.
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 was there breath left in me."

Daniel stated that he could only speak once the angel touched his lips. Then Daniel confirmed that the vision was the cause of his mourning...and lack of strength...and lack of speech.

"18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me."

Again, it took the touch from an angel for Daniel to be able to continue this dialogue. I believe this detailed explanation was meant to establish the supreme importance of what Daniel was about to hear.

"19 And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me."

The angel spoke WORDS to Daniel TWICE to "be strong"...and Daniel was not only strong, but stated the cause of his strength was the angel. Daniel was a scientist all the way to the end of his life...

"20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come.
21 But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael your prince."

The angel confirmed that Daniel understood all the background before he gave Daniel understanding of the vision.

First, the angel asked if Daniel truly knew WHY the angel had come to him. The angel also threw in that he would have to fight his way OUT of this region!

I like this comment because it not only showed the angel wanted Daniel to know ALL the background before giving understanding on the vision, but it almost looked as if the angel wanted Daniel to appreciate his role in bringing this understanding to Daniel...it showed some of the personality of the angel. In fact, the second point continued in this direction...

The angel told Daniel that ONLY he and Michael were fighting this battle. So, the angel also lets Daniel know he OUGHT to appreciate Michael. In fact, he called Michael "your prince"!


SUMMARY
Daniel described in detail the events that led to him receiving the final installment of his continual vision concerning God's people and God's city.

Everything about this description implied the message was POWERFUL and the resistance to this message was POWERFUL.

Tomorrow, we will look at what the angel had to say about the vision...

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