He Changes Times And Seasons › Daniel 10
CHAPTER 10
The Unseen War
A glorious Man, a delayed answer, and the battle behind the curtain
Chapters 10 through 12 form a single final vision, given in the third year of Cyrus (about 536 B.C.), when the first exiles had already returned to Jerusalem and Daniel, in his nineties, remained in Persia. Chapter 10 is the prologue: it describes the preparation of the prophet, the appearance of a glorious Person, and a glimpse into the spiritual conflict that stands behind the political history of chapter 11.
The chapter teaches that prayer is heard from the first day, that God’s answers sometimes meet resistance in the unseen realm, and that the believer’s weapon is persevering prayer.
Three Weeks of Mourning
DANIEL 10:1–3
1In 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.
2In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks.
3I 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.
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the word was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the word, and had understanding of the vision. In those days Daniel was mourning three whole weeks. He ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into his mouth, neither did he anoint himself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
The occasion for his grief is probably the discouraging news from Jerusalem, where the returned exiles were struggling to rebuild amid opposition (Ezra 4). Daniel does not complain; he intercedes with fasting.
The Man Clothed in Linen
DANIEL 10:4–9
4And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel,
5I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz:
6his 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.
7And 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.
8So 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.
9Yet 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.
On the four and twentieth day of the first month, as Daniel was by the side of the great river, the Tigris, he lifted up his eyes and saw a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz. His body was like beryl, his face as the appearance of lightning, his eyes as flaming torches, his arms and feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Daniel alone saw the vision. The men with him did not see it, but a great quaking fell upon them and they fled to hide themselves. Daniel was left alone, saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in him; his comeliness was turned in him into corruption, and he retained no strength. Many students identify this Person as the Lord Jesus Christ before His incarnation, since John’s description of the glorified Christ in Revelation 1:13-16 is closely similar; others see a high-ranking angel. In either case the vision is a revelation of holy majesty that no man can bear without help.
Heard from the First Day, Delayed for Twenty-One
DANIEL 10:10–14
10And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11And 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.
12Then 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.
13But 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.
14Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days.
A hand touches Daniel and sets him trembling upon his knees and the palms of his hands. The messenger tells him to stand upright, for he is sent to him. 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.
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. Behind the human kingdom of Persia stands a powerful spiritual being in opposition to God’s purposes. The delay did not mean that God was inactive or unwilling; it meant that a real conflict was underway. The angel has come to make Daniel understand what shall befall his people in the latter days: for the vision is yet for many days.
Strengthened Again and Again
DANIEL 10:15–19
15And when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb.
16And, 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.
17For 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.
18Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me.
19And 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.
Daniel sets his face toward the ground and becomes dumb. One in the likeness of the sons of men touches his lips, and he opens his mouth to speak. He says, My lord, by reason of the vision my pangs are upon me, and I retain no strength. 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.
Then he touches me again and strengthens me. He says, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. When he spoke unto me, I was strengthened. Three times Daniel is touched and strengthened, and each time the sequence is the same: weakness, touch, strength. God does not demand that His servants stand in their own power.
The Conflict Continues
DANIEL 10:20–21
20Then 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.
21But 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 messenger asks, 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. 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 curtain is drawn back for a moment: wars on earth are linked with wars in the heavenly realm. Paul teaches the same truth in Ephesians 6:12. Michael is described as “your prince,” Israel’s guardian angel, and Daniel 12:1 will say that he stands up for the children of Daniel’s people.
Discussion Questions
- What does the delay of twenty-one days teach about answered prayer?
- How does the vision of the glorious Man compare with Revelation 1?
- What does this chapter reveal about spiritual warfare?
- How does God strengthen you when you feel too weak to continue?