This next vision that Daniel sees takes up the final 3 chapters. Here God reveals to him the fate of Persia and what will be the final Kingdom Come. Let’s dig in…
Daniel 10 – A Messenger
In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship.
2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.
4 On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.
7 Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. 8 So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.
10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.
12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”
15 While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. 16 Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. 17 How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”
18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”
As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”
20 He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. 21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince. 1 I have been standing beside Michael to support and strengthen him since the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.)
To be continued…
Daniel 10-11:1 NLT
Was it Jesus?
I think so. The description is similar to Ezekiel’s vision and John’s vision in Revelation 1. Also, the way Daniel says He “looked like a man” which is how John describes Jesus in his Gospel. He also had the power to revive and strengthen Daniel.
Other Key Points
- Daniel had fasted from “rich foods” for 21 days. That takes us back to the first chapter. The heart of the fast is humility.
- During those 21 days, Jesus says that the “prince of Persia” blocked His way until the archangel Michael — who always is depicted with a sword as the warrior angel — came to help Him. Gabriel is the messenger angel.
- Seems like the “prince of Persia” is a evil being in the “unseen world” and the “dark world”, that Paul reminds us of in Ephesians 6, when he tells us to put on the Whole Armor of God.
- With God’s touch, Daniel is renewed. We have that strength through the Holy Spirit — the gift that Jesus gives us when we become born again. Pastor Sandy Adams comments on the 3 touches…
The first touch is after Daniel sees God’s glory and faints. The messenger’s touch puts Daniel on his feet. The second touch opens communication lines. While the third touch gives God’s servant strength. And God’s touch still produces the same three things in us: adoration, and communication, and fortification. Above all else we need God’s touch in our lives!
Sandy Adams
As Paul reminded Timothy…
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
This is one of those verses that we believers need to memorize and remember whenever we face a problem. God is bigger than whatever problem you may have. If you are born again, you should fear NOTHING — not even death! When we don’t know what to say, the Holy Spirit provides the words. The Spirit, too, gives us the “will power” that we can never have by ourselves — self-discipline and self-control!
Now, the question is…
Do YOU have the Holy Spirit? You could, you know!
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
