The Reality of Warfare

Introduction

This morning we are in Daniel 10, which means we are climbing the final mountain of the book of Daniel.

About six weeks ago I said that you can break Daniel 7-12 up into three mountains.

Show Mountain Image here

We have crossed the first mountain of Daniel 7 and 8.

We have crossed the second mountain of Daniel 9.

Now we begin the final mountain of Daniel 10-12 which serves as one unified vision to end Daniel’s prophecy.

This passage is taking place in the third year of the Persian ruler, Cyrus the Great.

Daniel is still in the land of Exile, but some of his people have gone home.

And yet, despite the fact that Exiles returning home is something that Daniel prayed for and wanted so badly, we find the old prophet in turmoil.

We find that life is hard for him.

And yet we will also see that Daniel is not alone.

Text—these are the very words of God

Daniel 10 ESV

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. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 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. 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. 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, 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.” When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. 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. How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.” Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. 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 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. 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.

Outline

We have seen some passages in Daniel that may initially seem strange to us and Daniel 10 is no exception.

But I am hoping that we can make sense of what is going on here and along the way learn some important things for us to take note of amidst the trials of life.

I’m going to give you One Big Idea, Three Things to Remember

One Big Idea: Spiritual Warfare is All Around

Three Things to Remember

1. There is a spiritual war behind the reality of this world.

2. The battle we are engaged in is not ultimately against flesh and blood.

3. The strength and victory we seek is found in Jesus Christ.

Exposition

But let’s start this morning by walking through this passage a bit to be sure that we understand what is going on.

Daniel 10:1-4

First of all, we have the setting for Daniel’s vision of the heavenly messenger that we meet in v. 5.

As I mentioned, this is the 3rd year of Cyrus. (v. 1)

And at this point, it has been two years since Cyrus sent out the word for the Jewish people to return home.

2 Chronicles 36:23 ESV

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up.’ ”

Daniel has not gone home, something made clear by him being referred to by his Babylonian name—Belteshazzar.

Daniel is still in the land of Exile.

But some Jewish people had gone home.

A man named Zerubbabel had led a small remnant back to Judah to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.

So this is the setting for Daniel’s vision, which is a vision that is true and regards a great conflict.

But you’ll notice in v. 2 that Daniel is in mourning for three weeks.

He is not eating delicacies or pleasant food (v. 3).

He is not eating meat (v. 3).

He is drinking no wine (v. 3).

And he is not bathing, which is what is meant when he says he did not anoint himself at all (v. 3).

And this mourning comes on the 24th day of the first month, which would mean this is three days after the Feast of the Passover ended (v. 4)

Why is Daniel mourning on the banks of the great Tigris River in this way?

Why did Daniel mourn through the Feast of Passover?

Well I think it has to do with two things:

First of all, only a small remnant of his people had gone home.

Why were so many Jews satisfied to remain in Persia?

Why were so many Jews complacent and satisfied to dwell in a foreign land during Passover, when they could be back in Jerusalem?

Daniel is around 86 years old at this point.

He has spent his entire adult life in Exile, longing for the return home.

It was surely perplexing to him that the next generation of Jewish people, who could certainly make the journey, seemed to lack the desire to go back.

Secondly, those who had returned home were facing opposition.

The Samaritans, Judah’s northern neighbors, were opposing the rebuilding efforts.

The Samaritans had developed their own worship practices focused on Mt. Gerizim.

A rebuilt Jerusalem could threaten their influence in the region and their way of life.

So they tried to become a part of the rebuilding efforts—presumably to undermine them

They harassed the workers

And worst of all, they mailed off letters to the Persian ruling authorities, accusing the Jews of being rebellious and lobbied them to halt the work

And that is exactly what happened for a time

I believe these are the things that has Daniel in mourning on the banks of the Tigris.

The return of the Exiles simply had not gone the way Daniel had hoped.

Daniel 10:5-12

But as he is in mourning, look at what occurs—Daniel lifts up his eyes and he sees a man, who is described with majestic language.

Clothed in linden with a belt of gold from Uphaz—a place where the highest quality of gold could be found (v. 5)

His body is like beryl, which is a bluish-green sort of stone (v. 6)

His face is like the appearance of lightning (v. 6)

His eyes are like torches of fire (v. 6)

His arms and legs gleam like burnished bronze (v. 6)

And his voice is like the sound of a multitude (v. 6)

Now to understand who this is, we need to use one of the most basic rules of Bible interpretation.

We use the New Testament to interpret the Old Testament.

And if we go to the book of Revelation in the New Testament, there is no doubt about who Daniel is seeing here.

Consider these words from John in Revelation 1:12-16

Revelation 1:12–16 ESV

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Golden sash; eyes like a flame of fire; feet like burnished bronze; voice like the roar of many waters; face shining like the sun in full strength

These are direct parallels, letting us know that Daniel is having an encounter with the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, the 2nd Person of the Godhead.

Some other helpful clues is that Daniel reacts much like John.

In verses 7, the men who are with Daniel run away, even though they can’t see the vision.

They know they are in the presence of something or someone who is awesome and fearful.

And then in v. 8-9, Daniel himself has no strength left in him.

His face changes to fearfulness.

And he falls on his face in deep sleep.

This is much like John in Revelation 1 who falls at Jesus’ feet “as though dead” when he sees Him in the midst of the lampstands.

After John falls down, he says that Jesus placed His hand on him.

Revelation 1:17 ESV

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,

Of course this is very similar to the way the man in Daniel 10 touches Daniel and brings him back to his hands and knees in v. 10 and even uses the same words of “Fear not,” in v. 12.

The gentleness that we see from the heavenly messenger also lets us know this is our Savior.

It is the tenderness of the Good Shepherd that helps Daniel to his knees and calls him to stand up with a reminder that Daniel is greatly loved (v. 11).

The Heavenly Messenger will remind Daniel of this comforting fact more than once.

Gabriel reminded him of the same thing at the end of chapter 9.

And also like Gabriel, the Messenger tells Daniel that from the very beginning of his three week mourning period before God, his words have been heard.

In fact, the pre-incarnate Christ is there speaking to Daniel because of mournful prayers that Daniel had offered up as he humbled himself before God.

Daniel 10:13-14

Now this brings us to verses 13-14, which are two of the more odd verses in all of Daniel.

The Messenger says that He did not come for three weeks because “prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood” him for the 21 days that Daniel has been in morning (v. 13).

It wasn’t until Michael, the one called the Archangel in Jude 9, comes to help Him that the conflict ends and the Messenger is able to come to Daniel and give him a vision regarding the days yet to come (v. 14).

So what is happening here?

Well—we aren’t completely sure.

We have an idea, but we don’t have all the details and we don’t want to speculate too much beyond what Scripture gives us.

What is clear is this—As Daniel is mourning and praying, there is a spiritual battle going on.

The Messenger and Michael are in a great conflict with someone known as “the prince of the kingdom of Persia.”

And we say a spiritual battle because the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” doesn’t seem to be a man.

The physical rulers of Persia are referred to as kings throughout Daniel—not princes.

And the fact that this figure is at war with Christ and an angel tells us, this is a conflict taking place in the heavenly realms, not the realms of nature.

As we have said already today...Spiritual warfare is all around.

Now again—Scripture doesn’t give us a ton of details here, but I think we can take what we know from the rest of the Bible and draw some conclusions.

In 1 Corinthians 10:20, Paul explains that idols are never really nothing, because behind every idol there is real evil—demonic evil.

1 Corinthians 10:20 ESV

No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

This would mean that behind the false gods of nations like Babylon and Persia, there were demons.

Minions of Satan.

Therefore, I believe the Messenger is referring a powerful demon that was at work behind the scenes in pagan, idolatrous Persia.

In fact, it doesn’t take a large jump in logic to say that it was even this demonic prince who was behind the Persian decision to halt the rebuilding work in Jerusalem after the false accusations of the Samaritans.

Whatever the case may be, we are getting insight into the reality of spiritual warfare here in this passage.

And it is a battle that the forces of heaven claim victory in.

When Michael arrives, the text says that the Messenger was left there with the kings of Persia (v. 13).

The demonic prince that held sway over the kings of Persia is no longer there.

This means the rebuilding’s remnant situation is going to change and the work will be restarting.

Moreover, the Lord is now able to be there with Daniel, delivering the vision that will be seen and heard in chapters 11 and 12.

He is able to comfort Daniel and give him much needed understanding with His words.

Daniel 10:15-19

Once again, Daniel is deeply impacted by the words of the Messenger.

His face is toward the ground once more and his mouth is made mute (v 15).

In v. 16, one in the likeness of the children of man touched his lips.

This is just a different description of the same Messenger who has been speaking to Daniel throughout the chapter.

This is the Son of Man from Daniel 7.

The one who commanded Gabriel to make known the vision of the ram and the goat in Daniel 8.

The one who eyes are like fire and face shines like lightning.

Having his lips touched by divine power, Daniel is now able to speak, but all he is able to express is just how weak he is (v. 16-17).

And once more, the prophet’s weakness is met with tender mercy.

The Messenger touches him and gives him strength—something we see Jesus do throughout His earthly ministry—restoring physical strength and health and life with a mere touch. (v. 18).

And once again He tells Daniel that he is greatly loved and to not be in fear.

He pronounces peace upon him, just as Christ pronounces peace upon His disciples in John 20:21.

He tells him to be strong and of good courage.

And indeed Daniel is made strong and he is ready to hear what the Messenger has come to say (v. 19).

Daniel 10:20-Daniel 11:1

Finally, in the last couple of verses, we see that though a battle was won, the spiritual war is not over.

The Messenger will return to the battle with the prince of Persia. (v. 20).

And after the Persian Empire gives way to the Greek Empire, there will be more battle with the demonic forces at work behind Greece.

And in these battles, the Lord says none contend with Him except Michael the Archangel.

But notice what is said of Michael— “Daniel—this is YOUR prince.” (v. 21).

It is a reminder from the Messenger that though there are evil demons lurking behind the horns of power on the earth, there are also powerful angelic forces of righteousness working on behalf of God’s people.

Daniel and his people are not alone.

The first verse of chapter 11 makes that clear when the Messenger says that “in the first year of Darius” he stood up to confirm and strengthen him (11:1).

This is letting Daniel know that even the word from Cyrus (who is called Darius here), came because of spiritual victories that had taken place.

Again—the events of this world are not happening in a vacuum— Spiritual warfare is all around.

The Messenger will now spend the rest of the book of Daniel showing Daniel what is inscribed in the book of truth. (v. 21).

This is the book of God’s future plans—fixed in the heavens, but yet to play out on the earth.

We will see them in Daniel 11 and 12.

Three Things to Remember

So understanding this passage this morning and see that Spiritual Warfare is All Around, I want to give us three things to remember today.

1. There is a spiritual war behind the reality of this world.

Ignorant of the Warfare

Many people do not live this with this in mind.

Of course unbelievers don’t.

But I am even talking about believers.

Though we say we walk by faith, we can be so guilty of living as if everything under the sun is happening apart from spiritual realities.

Apart from God’s governance...

Apart from evil’s influence...

Apart from spiritual battle...

But this passage this morning shows us that this is not the case.

The things that were happening at the end of 2 Chronicles where Cyrus is sending Jews home to restore and rebuild Jerusalem are the result of the strength of God at work in the pagan ruler.

The things happening in Ezra 4-6 regarding opposition of the rebuilding of the city and the temple were directly impacted by the spiritual battle between the Messenger, Michael and the Prince of Persia.

All that will happen regarding the Greek Empire in the days after Persia, will also have a spiritual battle taking place behind it.

Now, Satan despises all Scripture, but I have to imagine he especially hates this passage we have studied today.

He does not want us to be tuned in to the realities of spiritual warfare.

He would much rather us forget about him all together and live as if he does not exist so that he can maneuver undetected in our lives and our families and our churches with malice.

Satan knows that if we do not recognize we are in a battle, we are unlikely to be armed.

We will not be prepared to defend against his offensive schemes.

We will not be prepared to go on offense and storm the gates of Hell.

Instead, we will live in a malaise as he slithers arounds working misery.

Satan wants us ignorant and indifferent regarding spiritual battle.

He wants us unaware and unprepared.

Ignorance Leads to Unpreparedness

Let me illustrate it this way:

In 1812, the United States declared war on Britain—the War of 1812.

But way out on a remote island in the Great Lakes, there was an army Lieutenant named Porter Hanks.

Lieutenant Hanks was stationed there with a small garrison of American soldiers and they had no idea war had been declared.

They were going about their daily business.

Maintaining their fort.

Trading with the locals.

Guarding the frontier of the Northern Midwest.

But on July 17th, 1812, a unit of British soldiers and Native American allies showed up on their doorstep.

Hanks and his men were shocked. He wanted to know what they were doing at their gates!

The British informed him that there was a war going on and they were being attacked!

Hanks was outnumbered and unprepared and so all he could do was wave the white flag and surrender.

Now you probably get the point of the illustration—you can’t win a battle if you don’t know you are in a war!

If you find out that you are at arms when the enemy is seething at your gates, you are too late.

This is why too many believers end up waving the white flag to temptation...

...To despair...

To doubt...

To disobedience.

One of the main reasons that I believe this happens to us is that we have become to naturalistic in our mindset.

Many contemporary people speak of the devil in the same breath as ghouls, goblins, and the fantastic beasts of Harry Potter. The modern naturalistic worldview permeating Western civilization has no place for the supernatural.

Bill Cook

Cook is right. And sadly that way of thinking has crept into the mindset of too many Christians.

Reading this chapter of the Bible today, we see that we cannot afford to be swept up into the contemporary mindset.

We must reject the worldview that boils everything down to chemicals in a lab, knowing that there is much more to existence than that.

That is the wisdom of the world.

We must choose to stand on the wisdom of the world.

We have to ask ourselves, “Do I believe the Bible or not?”

If the answer is YES, then we must tune into the fact that Spiritual warfare is all around and there is a spiritual conflict behind the reality of what we can see, taste, touch and hear.

2. The battle we are engaged in is not ultimately against flesh and blood.

As Daniel mourns in Daniel 10, he is mourning what is happening with flesh and blood.

He is mourning things involving the Jews, the Persians and the Samaritans.

He is mourning things involved rulers with scepters and builders with brick.

But what he mourns in the physical world is impacted by what is happening in the spiritual realm.

And that means that we cannot be duped into thinking that our fights, as God’s people, are simply against flesh and blood.

Here is what the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6:

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

In many ways, Paul is giving us an explanation for the things we are seeing in Daniel 10.

Daniel’s people are dealing with evil being inflicted by the prince of Persia—a ruler and authority and cosmic power over this present darkness.

The Divine Messenger tells Daniel he will also do battle with the prince of Greece.

Another spiritual force in the heavenly places.

Spiritual Armor

And since the battle we are engaged in is not ultimately against flesh and blood, we need spiritual armor.

Paul lists out that armor in the verses that follow Ephesians 6:12.

Ephesians 6:13–17 ESV

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Any good commander doesn’t just rush headlong into war.

He takes stock of his opponent and suits up accordingly.

Only an ignorant soul is foolish enough to ride out of his castle unarmed during a siege. he obviously has not studied the enemy, or we would know what peril lies beyond his gates.

William Gurnall

We know the peril beyond our gates.

It is the same Serpent who slithered into the Garden and deceived our father Adam.

It is the same snake who came to Christ in the wilderness and tried to deceive the True and Better Adam.

It is the same Dragon that hunts the church in the world in Revelation 12.

It is Satan—who hates and opposes God.

It is Satan—who seeks to wear out the saints of God.

It is Satan—the one who is called the prince of the power of the air and the god of this world.

Therefore, understanding the peril, we must suit up.

We must stand firm.

Wearing God’s truth like a belt that cinches up our lives.

Wearing the breastplate of God’s righteousness, which has been won for you in the death of Christ.

Wearing the glorious Gospel as the boots on our feet—digging into the soil that we would not be moved

Holding the shield of faith, which repels the enemy’s fiery darts

Wearing the helmet of God’s salvation which protects us from a fatal blow

And wielding the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—which our enemy cannot withstand

Prayer

Furthermore, we don’t just put on the armor, but we do what we see Daniel doing in this passage.

He prays.

In fact, it is his prayer that beckons the Lord to come to him in the first place.

Going back to Ephesians 6, I want you to notice something.

Ephesians 6:18–19 ESV

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

While the Christian warrior suits up in the spiritual armor and wields the weapon of the Word, they are also engaged in a constant, overarching action—and that is prayer.

Notice Paul’s use of the word all.

Praying at ALL times

With ALL prayer and supplication

With ALL Perseverance

For ALL the saints

Prayer is presenting as a relentless action.

And it is presented as an action with ability to impact all of the spiritual areas in which Satan is trying to attack

For Paul, it is a given that someone wearing the armor and wielding the sword will also be someone who is praying.

Someone who suits up will also bow down.

Are You Fighting?

Church, we have to ask ourselves if we are taking this seriously.

And if we aren’t, it may worth you looking at your life and considering what negative effect it is having upon you.

It may be worth looking at the people around you who are plagued by sin and sorrow and ask yourself, “Have I been waging war on their behalf?”

Our part in the battle will not happen on accident.

It only happens:

Intentionally.

Deliberately.

Courageously.

We must prepare ourselves for the war that will not cease until we breathe our last.

After all, Daniel is in his mid-eighties here...and the old man is still doing battle.

If you have been checked out, it is time to clock in.

Today is the day to suit up again.

Today is the day to commit yourself to the Sword of the Spirit once more.

Today is the day to repent of prayerlessness and get back down on your knees.

Don’t wait.

That is what Satan wants.

The battle is already at your door.

We must engage.

3. The strength and victory we seek is found in Jesus Christ.

Union with Christ

For all of our preparations, let us not be deceived into thinking that the victory will be found in us.

It is only found in Christ.

Again—let’s remember who is doing the winning in the passage!

It is not Daniel, it is the Heavenly Messenger and Michael whom He commands.

Daniel is so weak in the text that he cannot even stand.

The strength is all found in the one who touches Daniel and brings him back to his feet and says “Fear not!”

In fact, the only way that any mere man or woman will ever taste spiritual victory over evil, will be if they are in union with the One whose powerful voice is the like the sound of a multitude.

Do not let anyone deceive you. Spiritual darkness can never be expelled except by union with Christ.

William Gurnall

We want to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might, but that strength is only found in union with Christ by faith.

Sanctification Through Warfare

In fact, I believe this is one of God’s sovereign purposes for us in spiritual warfare, that we would grow in our faith and find that we are growing our union with Christ and becoming less unified with the world.

Maybe you read this text and you wondered, “Wait—couldn’t God just speak and do away with the prince of Persia?”

“Why does the battle tarry on for 3 weeks?”

After all, the Bible does not present God and Satan as a battle between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant—two equal, but opposite forces.

Not at all.

Satan is no more than a powerful angel himself.

He was created by God and ultimately there are limits to his schemes and plans.

You see this in Job when he has to come and ask permission from God to stretch Job’s skin.

So why then does the battle in Daniel 10 go on for 21 days?

I would argue that God allows such things so that the faith of a man like Daniel might grow.

So that he might experience what it is like to be strengthened by heaven in the hour of his weakness.

That he would grow closer to God and trust in Him more.

The allowed opposition to the rebuild would also help the Jewish remnant in Judah grow.

They would have to depend on God to move the hearts of foreign rulers so that their rebuilding efforts could resume.

This would be crucial faith that they would need for the task at hand and the days ahead.

Satan’s purpose in the warfare is to harm us, but God’s is to strengthen our union with Him.

He is gripping us in perfection, but He uses the harassment from the enemy to draw us closer to Christ and to strengthen our grip of faith on Him.

And so if you are in spiritual battle this morning, take heart.

God is using this conflict to grow you.

Don’t give up.

Don’t wave the white flag.

Satan will not be victorious.

Jesus lays His hand on you as His child and He says, “Fear not. Peace be with you. Take courage. You are greatly loved.”

He has proven his trustworthiness in dying for Your sin and rising from the dead.

He will not forsake you now.