Daniel 10
Behind the Scenes!
Read
Eph. 6:12 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.
Pray
Intro
√ Behind the scenes!
Chapter 10 of the Book of Daniel is unique in that it does not record a new…
Dream
Vision
Interpretation
…instead it’s kind of a transitional chapter that bridges from the vision of chapter 9 to the interpretation of Daniel’s last vision in chapters 10-12.
But it is a very important section of Scripture.
That is, in spite of the fact that it doesn’t record any new prophetic truth, it is an important chapter because it allows us a glimpse into the world of the Spirit!
We get a peak at what we call “spiritual warfare”, that is, the battles that are being fought just beyond the perception of our physical eyes…
…but that have significant impact on our physical, emotional and spiritual condition!
That’s vital (and fascinating!) information because with it we can better understand how things work in the Spirit world.
Ap. Apply with wisdom!
Be careful not to go beyond the revelation of Scripture.
That is, there are those in the Body of Christ who have developed whole doctrines and practices of prayer based on the limited revelation of this chapter.
We have to make sure that we take into account the whole counsel of Scripture, especially looking at the teaching and practice of the New Testament.
So, if you read some new book on “how to conduct spiritual warfare”…
…but don’t find Jesus or the Apostles teaching it, or practicing it, it’s not going to be effective!
Another vision (vs. 1-3)
Dan. 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of
Dan. 10:2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.
Dan. 10:3 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.
√ Another vision
Daniel tells us that he had another vision, but notice that he doesn’t describe it to us!
Rather, he only tells us that he understood it’s meaning (at least in a general sense)…
…and that the revelation made him very sad (note that he mourned and fasted for 3 weeks!).
The reason for his sadness was that he understood that his people, his city, and his nation were destined for many more wars before they would live in peace.
√ Timing
Vs. 1 tells us that he received the vision…
“In the third year of Cyrus king of
That means…
It would be 536 B.C.
Daniel would be at least 85 years old
The Jews had begun returning to
We can only assume that Daniel would have loved to return to
Perhaps he was either too old or too valuable to the king to travel.
So, Daniel remained in
Angel appearance (vs. 4-9)
Dan. 10:4 Now on
the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great
river, that is, the
Dan. 10:5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!
Dan. 10:6 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.
Dan. 10:7 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.
Dan. 10:8 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.
Dan. 10:9 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.
√ Angel appearance
At the end of Daniel’s time of fasting he tells us that he saw a vision of an Angel!
Cool because we get a picture of what Angel’s look like!
He tells us that the Angel’s appearance is a little bit like a Man and God…
Had the form a human (vs. 5 & 18)
Wore linen clothes and a belt of gold (vs. 5 ~ suggesting a priestly ministry?)
His body was like a gemstone (vs. 6 ~ “Beryl” is uncertain, the Hebrew is “tarshish”. Best to understand Dan’s description to mean that the Angel’s body shone like a brilliant gemstone!)
His eyes shone like fire (vs. 6)
His arms and feet like bronze (vs. 6)
His voice was loud (vs. 6)
Wow, Angel’s have an awesome appearance!
√ Not Jesus
Some Bible students are quick to point out the similarities between the description of the individual whom Daniel saw…
…and the description of Jesus given by John in Revelation 1.
If you lay them side by side there are some very strong similarities.
But, this guy can’t be Jesus because…
His belt is around his waist, not His chest as John describes Jesus (ref. Rev. 1:13), the difference between a priest, and the High Priest in Heaven!
He wasn’t able to overpower a demon (vs. 13), no demon has ever got the upper hand on Jesus!
So, this guy is an Angel of God and probably looks similar to Jesus because he reflects the glory of God!
√ Could be Gabriel
While Daniel doesn’t tell us it was Gabriel, it would make sense that it was because in both chapters 8 and 9 God sent Gabriel to help Daniel understand and interpret spiritual truth.
√ Men’s Disappearance!
Did you note how the people with Daniel responded to the appearance of the Angel?
They all disappear ~ run away and hide! J
For his part Dan says that all his strength drained away and that he fell onto his face and slept!
Ap. Angel’s are awesome beings!
Don’t be fooled by
Clarence in “It’s a wonderful life”
Al in “Angel’s in the Outfield”
Monica in “Touched by an Angel”
Angels, both holy and wicked, are very powerful and awesome beings!
Peter tells us…
2Pet. 2:11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
Biblical examples…
1 Angel killed off 185,000 Assyrian troops in one night
Some demons are so powerful that they’re chained in the Abyss because if they were free to roam they’d destroy the earth! (ref. Jude 6 & Rev. 9:1-12))
4 Angels (demons) will destroy 1/3 of earth’s population
(ref. Rev. 9:13-15)
It’s no wonder then that when they show up in Scripture that people are terrified by their appearance!
Angel wars (vs. 10-14)
Dan. 10:10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
Dan. 10:11 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.
Dan. 10:12 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.
Dan. 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.
Dan. 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.”
√ Angel wars
The Angel tells Daniel that he had been sent by God to help him understand the vision.
In fact, he tells Daniel that as soon as he began to pray for understanding that God dispatched the Angel to bring him an answer.
But, the Angel says he was delayed for 21 days (vs. 13) by
the “Prince of the
Additionally he tells us that…
He’d still be fighting with the Prince of Persia except that Michael, a “Chief Prince” had come to his aid!
And, that there were more bad guys involved called “the kings of
We know these are Angels because the Bibles tells us that Michael is an Arch Angel (Jude 9), and because the battle is taking place in the Spirit World (unseen by humans).
Michael and Daniel’s friend are Holy Angels ~ working for God.
The Prince of Persia, the Prince of Greece and the kings of
So, here’s what we can discern about what’s going on behind the scenes in the Spirit World!
Angels and demons are involved in an on-going war.
Angels are used by God to help His people.
Demons try to keep Angels from doing God’s will and from communicating with God’s people.
Angels and demons are assigned to, or associated with
Earthly powers (
It would also appear that there are ranks within the Spirit realm (i.e. princes, kings, arch, etc. ~ see Eph. 1:21).
What that means to us is that what we experience in our physical and emotional world…
Personal conflicts, tribulations, temptations, etc.
Regional and International conflicts
Difficulties and opposition to our work for Jesus
…are related to the conflicts going on in the Spirit World!
Ex. Daniel by the river
He prayed to God for the knowledge to understand the vision he’d received…
…God answered immediately, but Dan didn’t get the answer for 3 weeks because of Spiritual Warfare!
Ex. Peter in the courtyard
His temptation to deny Jesus came from the Devil himself (ref. Luke 22:31).
Ex. Jesus in the wilderness
The devil tempted Him, Angels ministered to Him.
Ap. You’re in a war!
The reality there is a war going on all around us that we’re not even aware of!
Angels and demons are fighting over you!
At stake is…
Your will and the decisions you make ~ to sin or to be holy.
Your priorities ~ the time you spend in prayer, God’s Word and worshipping Him with the Body of Christ.
Your spiritual & emotional state ~ waiting for the answer to your prayers!
Both the Angels and the demons have an agenda and they both serve a Master.
So, when it seems like “all heck is breaking loose” in your life…
…it may very well be that the devil or some demon has let all heck loose in your life!
Ex. Spiritual warfare
It doesn’t have to be organized persecution!
It can be as simple as doubt, depression or discouragement.
As obvious as temptation to sin or a series of trials in your life.
As subtle as a whisper that you wrongly interpret to be a sign of hostility or anger.
The key to gaining victory in this war is to recognize it for what it is, a spiritual attack…
…and respond with the spiritual weapons that God has given us!
Ap. How should you respond?
Remember, Paul wrote that our battle is in not of this world…
Eph. 6:12 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.
He wrote to the Corinthians…
2Cor. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
2Cor. 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2Cor. 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
So, we need to employ spiritual weapons and deal with spiritual warfare…
With prayer ~ knowing that like Daniel you are greatly beloved by God and that He will answer!
With patience ~ knowing that God’s answer is on the way the moment you ask, but that it may be delayed by war in the Spirit world.
With fasting ~ following Daniel and Jesus’ example as the Spirit leads that you might be strengthened against the enemy.
With faith ~ confident that God has you covered just as He did with Daniel and even Peter!
If you do these things you’ll find that you can face the challenges in life with a quiet confidence because you know that God is going to win the battle for you!
Angel ministries (vs. 15-21)
Dan. 10:15 When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless.
Dan. 10:16 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.
Dan. 10:17 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.”
Dan. 10:18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
Dan. 10:19 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.”
Dan. 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
Dan. 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.
√ Angel ministries
God sends His Angels to minister to His people as soldiers, counselors, and mailmen!
1) Comfort and strengthen God’s people
Daniel tells us that the Angel gave him the strength to stand and receive the message that God sent.
Ex. Paul was strengthen and encouraged by an Angel when shipwrecked.
2) Protect God’s people
Kept the lions from eating Daniel.
Ex. Saved Peter from Herod
3) Deliver God’s Word
Brought the message and interpretation of Daniel’s vision to him.
Ex. Told Philip where to minister & Cornelius where to find the truth.
Ap. You have an Angel
The Bible indicates that God has assigned each of His children and Angel, some call them “Guarding Angels”.
Some of us need more than one! J
They’re personal…
Matt. 18:10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
They’re sent to help…
Heb. 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said:
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
Heb. 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
They work along side of us…
Rev. 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
They’re stunned by God’s Grace toward us…
1Pet. 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
So, God’s Holy Angels exist in part to assist us as we walk with God and serve Him here on Earth.
But, there are also Fallen Angels who use their time and strength to work against us and the work we’re doing for the Lord.
As cool as the Holy Angels are don’t give them any more esteem than God’s other servants…
…because we’re only supposed to worship God.
Close
√ Behind the scenes
What a cool look at the powers behind what we see going on in the world around us!
This knowledge helps us to understand why we see some of the strange things happening in world, and even local politics!
There’s a spiritual power behind the material authority.
The good news is that the Ultimate Power in the Universe is in control and if you’ve given your heart to Him…
…no worries because God’s has a plan and He’s bringing it to pass!