The Spiritual Is Reality (Part 1)

Years ago, I was spared in a major accident during my senior year of high school. I was on my way to work on the farm. As I was getting ready to turn off the highway into the driveway, I was waiting for a motor home to drive by, heading the opposite direction. Looking into my mirrors, I saw a semi-truck coming behind me, looking as if he was not going to slow down. Suddenly, he pulled into the left lane as if to pass me. I did a quick assessment of the situation and realized I was going to die in a fiery crash while I just sat there. The semi had three options; come back into my lane and slam on its brakes and crash into me or stay where it was and have a head on collision with the motor home or lock its brakes and still smash into the motorhome. And it was going to happen with me sitting in my lane in my old pickup truck.

What actually happened is that the semi slammed on his brakes which caused him to jackknife. The motorhome also slammed on its brakes. However, it was too late for all of us. The rear drive wheels of the semi smashed into the front of the motor home. I was still there - untouched. The police reported that the semi missed the back of my pickup by inches. The family in the motor home was unharmed, as was the truck driver. For some reason, known only to God, we were all spared. There was no earthly explanation for what didn’t happen, which should have happened.

We believe that what we see is what is real. I submit to you that Reality is found in the spiritual realm.

This vision that we’ll start looking at today, is actually beginning here, going through the end of the book of Daniel. Some of this may seem a bit redundant, as the angel shares with Daniel about Israel’s future from this point until God’s Kingdom is established. We will see some of this information has already been covered earlier in Daniel, but the information about the Greek Empire will have more details. We’ll also get more insight into the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation period.

This vision doesn’t seem to have the symbolism of his earlier visions, but seems to have an unexpected visitor and an angel giving direct information and revelation.

Today, the message is almost like an introduction or background setup for the contents of the vision which will be given later in the book. Another interesting thing we will glean from this portion of Daniel today is that we will learn some things about angels and demons and how they work in relation to people and to God.

The Situation - 10:1-3

Daniel 10:1–3 (NASB95)

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and one of great conflict, but he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision. In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed.

This vision, as seen in verse 1, takes place while Daniel is under the authority of King Cyrus of Persia. Also, this would let us know that 2 years had passed since Gabriel had shared with Daniel in chapter 9. In addition, the first group of Jewish exiles had gone back to their homeland. This takes place about 70 years after Daniel had been taken prisoner by the Babylonians. So for those who think that when a person gets older, we don’t need to be as active in our service to the Lord, consider the fact that Daniel is probably about 85 years of age at this point.

We also see that the message was true. In addition, the message spoke of a great conflict or war. This could mean a great war on earth or a great spiritual war that was to take place. Based upon the rest of Daniel, it would seem that it probably will involve both.

The phrase that Daniel understood the message and had an understanding of the vision contains two clauses that mean the same thing. It might be simpler to say that Daniel had an understanding of the vision. Of course, this is because God enlightened and helped him to understand this. I would guess that Daniel understood the principle which James reminds us that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask of God.

Verse 2 helps us to understand what Daniel was doing at the time. The phrase, mourning for three entire weeks, carries a variety of meanings. The Hebrew understanding of this is mourning for the dead, over sin, and over calamity. During this time, we know that Daniel was praying and fasting.

We see this further explained in verse 3 that the tasty or choice food would be the meat and wine. He may have eaten bread and water or other vegetables and fruits during this time. He also did not use any ointment at all for the 3 week period. In other words, he didn’t use the normal oils that would be used in grooming for protection against the heat or to keep the skin soft.

Let me take a side trip for a bit and talk about fasting. This is actually a biblical discipline that is often forgotten and avoided today. However, we need to understand that according to the Law, there was only one fast that was required of the Jews. This was to happen on the Day of Atonement as they mourned over their sins. Is it a requirement for today? I believe that it is a personal issue between each one of us and God. It is to be voluntary and is not something that should be part of a checklist hoping to attain righteousness. It does seem like a good idea, recognizing the Old and New Testament saints who did fast, including Jesus. The purpose as seen throughout the Bible seems to be that we would pray for God’s Kingdom to penetrate this dark world and how we can be a part of that.

Now we have the Background. Let’s go on to see what’s in store for Daniel.

The Visitation - 10:4-9

Daniel 10:4–9 (NASB95)

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult. Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

This period of fasting and praying in which Daniel was involved was actually during the Passover time. Thinking about the past deliverance of God’s chosen people and the situation they were now in, combined with the previous visions, would have probably caused Daniel to be intense earnestness by seeking out God.

In verse 4, we see that Daniel is actually by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris. It would make sense for Daniel to leave the capital city of Babylon for some quiet during this time of prayer and fasting. My friends, sometimes it is a good idea to “get away” to seek out the Lord. Maybe it means a little retreat or a complete disconnect from the electronic and media world. We tend to understand God’s directions better when we’re not distracted.

Verse 5 reads as if there is a level of excitement in seeing this unique being. This same being is found in 12:6 and is in the air above the Tigris. We could probably assume he is in the same position here. In addition, verse 4 tells us that Daniel was by the bank, which when he lifted [his] eyes and looked, would give us a clue that this being was above or above and in front of Daniel.

This person is called a man because he appeared to Daniel in human form. The wording of what he was wearing suggests strongly that this was someone holy; probably an angel. The belt implies this person had the bearing of a king or judge. The description of his body in verse 6 starts out with a stone that implied the body glowed like a golden fire. The whole body had a fiery appearance to it. His voice was way more powerful than even James Earl Jones. His voice thundered like a multitude of people.

We’ve got an amazing description of a being that is extraordinary and highly unusual. Who could this be? Some suggest it may have been Gabriel. Yet, I don’t really believe it was. Daniel had not been afraid of Gabriel at his earlier meeting. Yet here, we see that there was an unknown fear among those with him and Daniel himself seems to have passed out.

Any guesses as to who this might have been? The Bible doesn’t spell it out for us, yet it seems to be God, the preincarnate Christ. The description Daniel gives seems to match that of Ezekiel 1 and even Revelation 1. Later, this same being is shown to have knowledge that no angel has, plus this being takes a divine oath later in 12:7. Thus, it would seem that here we see a theophany. This is comparable to what John experienced in Revelation.

Verse 7 shows that the others, though they didn’t see the vision, they felt a supernatural presence which caused them to be terrified. This sounds quite similar to when Saul met Jesus on the Damascus Road. Saul was the only one to actually see Jesus, but the others were still petrified with fear.

In verses 8-9, it seems that Daniel’s experience of actually hearing God speak, drained Daniel of his strength causing him to seemingly pass out. To me, this is further evidence that this being is not an angel.

Conclusion

One thing is certain, Daniel knows that Reality is found in the spiritual realm. We’ll pick this message up next time at verse 10.