Daniel 10
Notes
Transcript
The Vision of a Man
The Vision of a Man
Hey guys, Hope you all are well.
I also hope and pray your days have been good over these past few days…
I know it has been a tough few days and many in our area are still waiting for power.
I want to encourage you to pray for all those around us, into the Carolina’s and East Tenn who have suffered, some have lost all including family members.
But I would also encourage you to pray for those who have worked, who are exhausted restoring our power and other services. Pray for these dear folks who have served well to help us and so many others.
Now this evening we come back to the book of Daniel and we will look at chapter 10.
Chapter 10 will involve another of Daniel’s visions, one that will disturb him greatly. But lets look at this vision and see what Daniel discovers.
Lets begin with verse 1 Dan 10:1
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.
Now we have come to speak of Cyrus reign, the King of Persia, his third year. we know that Cyrus’ 3rd year should be about 536/535b.c.
And this would have been about two years from Gabriel’s appearance to Daniel back in chapter 9. The date is significant, it would have been 2 years after (538bc) when the Jews were allowed to first return to the their homeland, Israel.
And for some reason Daniel tells us or reminds us of his Babylonian name, Belteshazzar. Maybe this was to signify this is the same person who has been speaking all through this time of Daniels life.
Why is Daniel still there in that area of Babylon? Remember, he is advanced in years. And maybe the responsibilities he bore and wants to continue to serve there. He is a respected statesman of the time, if even he was once a slave.
And even though this message was extraordinary, Daniel stresses that it was true. He understood its meaning and it was one of a great conflict, it was in the distant future.
Verse 2 Dan 10:2-3
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.
IN those days, refers back to that time as if it was already in the past, or days after he was told the revelation.
Daniel says he was mourning. We can mourn for a lot in this life. What he is mourning about, we will talk about in this chapter. But it involved prayer and fasting.
For 3 full weeks, Daniel says he fasted, he choice to limit the type of food, nothing that was considered good or special. He hate perhaps a very basic diet, like bread and water so to speak, No fragrant oil was applied to his body, like that of a lotion.
Fasting is a personal matter between the individual and God. It is a voluntary action, we only do it we feel led by God to do so. Daniel is fasting at this time…-5
Now lets look at verse 4 Dan 10:4-5
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
During the first month, that is the month of Nisan (March-April) and it seems like Daniel began this type of fasting on the 3rd of that month. And now this is the time of the festival of unleavened bread which lasted 7 days. It was the time of the Passover.
And Daniel was by the Tigris river personally, when a heavenly being appeared to him, someone in human form. A man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Ufaz upon his waist.
Those white garments are always a signal of purity, holiness. The saints of God are always depicted as wearing white robes.
And this golden belt, this belt most likely symbolized a royal position, we are not sure since this is a heavenly vision.
Verse 6 Dan 10:6
6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
His body like that of a precious stone, his face had the appearance of lightening, his arms and legs like burnished bronze, so this refers to a fiery appearance, like molten metal, red hot. And finally when he spoke, his his sound like that of thunder, a loud booming voice.
And there are a couple ideas about this, some think this person might be an angel, but with the description of the body it might be the preincarnate Christ. If you look at the first chapter of Revelation, you see the similarities.
Verse 7, Daniel 10:7
7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.
Daniel says that while he was not alone at the time of this vision, he was the only one to see it. But what ever happened, it was of such magnitude that those with him were greatly disturbed trembling and overcome by this experience.
Verses 8-9 Dan 10:8-9
8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.
Daniel, he alone sees this and the experience drained him of his energy, he says his strength left him. Daniel is shocked, and even his countenance was changed. Daniel even fell on his face in a deep trance or sleep and that seems to indicate this was no mere angel.
Can you imagine seeing this experience, to stand in front of a vision of God.
Now we move into a new section, lets look at verse 10.
10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
Now the vision of Christ passed and now an interpreting angels enters the picture and touches Daniel on the hand. It says Daniel was trembling with weakness and fear and was barely able to keep himself from falling back down on his face.
Verse 11 Dan 10:11
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.
I love his words to Daniel. He tells Daniel that he is greatly loved. Those are special words my friends. Daniel stood up listening to the angel as he began to tell Daniel the words he needed to hear.
Daniel was loved, I think that words are what every person needs to hear and realize. We are loved by our father, we know this today and everyday by the work of Jesus Christ.
Verse 12 Dan 10:12
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.
Fear not, that is a powerful way to start these words, fear not. We need to hear those words at times...
God is comforting him,
And from the first day that Daniel was trying to understand all these… God had sent his angel to him, this is an angel
So three weeks ago,those three weeks of fasting, when all this came to him, As Daniel humbled himself, and set himself before God, God sought to give him the explanation and God sent the angelto help him
Verse 13 Dan 10:13
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,
This is demonic oppression, The angel related that he was hindered by the king of Persia, one of names for either satan himself or a demon under the rule of Satan. But in the midst of this struggle, Michael had come to help him overcome the foe.
There is spiritual warfare, satan hindering the messengers of God,
There are good and evil angels. Both can help or hurt the human governments
Verse 14 Dan 10:14
14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”
The angel now declared the purpose of the visit. Daniel’s prayer had been heard and God was granting him the knowledge he needed concerning the matters he experienced.
The message coming for Daniel to know for about future days, or latter days. But it is visions concerning days he would not see...
Now lets look at verse 15-17 Dan 10:15-17
15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. 16 And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”
It seems that Daniel was frightened and or overcome with emotion with what was shown to him. Daniel felt helpless in the midst of what was taking place, even unable to talk to the angel before him.
It would seem there was a great magnitude of spiritual warfare against the people of God, especially those back in Jerusalem.
Coming back to Jerusalem was a victory for the people, Satan doesn't want Israel to have any victory. He directs the forces of this world against them and the church.
But do not fear, God is faithful and Satan cannot stand against God. He will always win the victory.
Verse 18-19 Dan 10:18-19
18 Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
Then, one who appeared as of a man touched and strengthened Daniel. And he tells Daniel again that he is greatly loved.
He is told to fear not and that peace be with him, these are more than just words, it is words of comfort and strength
be strong and of good courage…those are good words, it reminds us that when we feel like there is nothing that we know to do when we are fearful and possibly uncertain. Stand firm and be strong.
I thought of Joshua as they prepared to enter the promised land in the OT, the Lord came to him and gave him instruction. I just want to read one verse to you, but look at Joshua 1 when you get a change...
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
Verse 20 Dan 10:20
20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come.
Daniel is asked is he knew why the angel had come, and it is rhetorical since he has already been told, but now the angel was going to return to fight against the prince of persia.
A battle that would continue to last for many years to come before they are completely defeated ...
This struggle involved all of the decisions and relationships pertaining to the Jews during the Persian period
Think about Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the Temple and how King Xerxes helped him, and what of the time of Esther, and Ezra’s return to the city. And of course we know that the scope of God’s activities reached far beyond the Jews affairs.
The angel also says “when I go” there would be another king and those who were trying to fight against God, Gabriel and the others would fight Keep Alexander the Great within the boundaries of God.
And after him would come the guy Antiochus IV and all that he did against the Jews,
I think that guy was possessed or lead by Satan himself.
Now the last verse of this chapter Verse 21
21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.
Gabriel told Daniel the purpose of his visit, answering the question asked in the previous verse. The “Book of Truth” figuratively refers to God’s plan for Israel and the world, not merely the revelation entrusted to Daniel.
Keil comments that it “is the book in which God has designated beforehand, according to truth, the history of the world as it shall certainly be unfolded.”
Before sharing the message, the angel added further parenthetical information. Michael’s special assignment apparently was to assist and protect the nation Israel. No one except Michael supported Gabriel in his spiritual warfare—not because no one else was available but because no one else was needed.
Mic drop… Greater is God and his forces than anything or anyone else, Trust him, above all else, trust him.
He will never let you down, nor let your foot slip. He is always for us and calls us to live for him, draw close to him and know him more and more.
