The Unseen War

Introduction

Ephesians 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.” The unseen spiritual realm is very real. It is more real than the pews you are sitting in or this pulpit in front of me. Daniel now in his 80s has seen, heard, and experienced much of this spiritual warfare and some that was manifested in the slander and lies brought against him and his friends. Yet, he and his friends had seen the hand of God in the midst of this warfare. When we left off last week, Daniel had been mourning when an angel showed up.

Daniel 10:5-9 “I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! 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. 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. 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. 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.”

Mission from the Messenger / Spiritual Warfare

Daniel 10:10–13 NKJV

Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 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. 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. 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.

English Standard Version Chapter 10

10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,

As I have mentioned last week and in previous chapters of Daniel as well as the account in the New Testament, when angels show up peopled get freaked out. Daniel is on his face, but this touch brings him up to his hands and knees (even if he is trembling).

Matthew 4:11 “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

Mark 1:13 “And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.”

Angels minister and strengthen.

Psalm 104:4 “Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” and quoted in Hebrews 1:7 “And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.””

This unnamed angel has a message for Daniel “greatly beloved”

Daniel 9:23 “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:”

He has Daniel stand up as he went from the ground to his hands / knees and now he wants him on his feet. He has been sent to Daniel.

Daniel does stand up, but is still trembling.

The New King James Version Chapter 10

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.

Once again the statement “Do not fear”

Luke 1:13 “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”

Luke 1:30 “Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

Luke 2:10 “Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”

Remember he had been mourning for three weeks and that time of mourning had been praying as well. God had sent this angel to respond to that prayer and those mournings of the heart

Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

The words of Daniel’s heart were heard. The angel is there as a direct response to those prayers. Then we move into the Spiritual Warfare aspect.

Daniel 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.”

The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible Daniel and Paul

Biblical scholars are in unanimous agreement that the “princes” referred to in Daniel 10 are divine beings, not humans. This is transparent from the mention of Michael in 10:13 and 10:21, who is called “prince” (cf. Dan 12:1). They are also agreed that the concept is based on Deuteronomy 32:8–9.

This passage, along with Deuteronomy 32:8–9, is the foundation for Paul’s theology of the unseen world. This is made clear in an overarching sense in Acts 17:26–27, where Luke records Paul’s speech at the Areopagus. In talking about God’s salvation plan, Paul says:

26 And he [God] made from one man every nation of humanity to live on all the face of the earth, determining their fixed times and the fixed boundaries of their habitation, 27 to search for God, if perhaps indeed they might feel around for him and find him. And indeed he is not far away from each one of us (Acts 17:26–27).

Deuteronomy 32:8–9 NKJV

When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the children of Israel. For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance.

2 Kings 6:15–18 NKJV

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

Persia and Greece

Daniel 10:14–21 NKJV

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.” When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 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. 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.” Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 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.” Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.