Daniel 10:1-7

Lets Go To Heaven July 29, 2012 New Light Baptist Church

Turn To Daniel 10

We have taken some time to remind ourselves of what the bible says about God.

He is the creator of the universe

He is almighty and powerful

He is all knowing and all seeing

He is far above our understanding

He is al together nothing like us

He is kind and gentle and He loves us.

Our survey of God should remind us that He is working through His plan for this earth whether we remember it or not.

We cannot allow ourselves…as Christians to overlook that.

Why? Because if He is still carrying out His plan, there is still a purpose for our lives.

But sometimes the unseen goes unnoticed.

That’s why we are remembering that there is an entire spiritual world that is existing right along side our visible world.

That’s hard to comprehend, seeing that we humans usually have to see it to believe it.

But God still tells us that there is a whole invisible world tied to us and even the reason we exist and see and be seen.

God tells us that the things in this life that He has allowed us to see come from unseen sources and should give us faith in Him.

Romans 1:18-20

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

So seeing each other, the trees from season to season, an egg in the womb growing into a human child, a caterpillar turning into a butterfly show the power God.

They are also accomplished by things and forces that we cannot see, but we get to see the results.

But there has been times when the invisible spiritual world has been made visible and God has allowed us to see it.

Sometimes we don’t even know it.

Hebrews 13 seems to indicate that angels secretly walk the earth.

Verse 2 says: “Don't forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”

Many have been visited by angels in biblical history.

Elizabeth was told that she would be the mother of John the Baptist

Mary was told that she would be the mother of Jesus

Jacob saw angels ascending and descending to and from earth.

Angels came to Abraham before they destroyed Sodom

It’s hard for us to believe that angels can come down and interact with us, but that is what God says.

There was one visitation from above where we were told that there is an entire spiritual battle going on and angels are fighting it.

Stand And Read Daniel 10 :1-7

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; 5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: 6 His body also was like the Beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

One Point: Heaven Sometimes, Comes To Earth

Our verses tell us these facts:

* Cyrus had been King of Persia for 3 years

* Something was revealed to Daniel

*It was true and it involved a long period of war

* Daniel understood what he was told

* Daniel had been mourning, fasting and praying for 3 weeks

* He only the basics in that time, and did not worry about cleaning

* One day while beside the Tigris river, he looked up and saw

* A Man clothed in linen, wrapped in fine gold

* His body was like beryl and His face like lightning

* His eyes like fire lamps and arms and feet like polished brass

* His voice was like the voice of a multitude of people

* Only Daniel saw this because the men with Him ran in fear

So after three weeks of eating hardly any food, Daniel is alone and in the presence of this Man he saw.

I hear about so many heavenly encounters and they talk about playing catch with Jesus, and splashing each other with water…

But look at how Daniel and the men with him reacted when they had an heavenly encounter.

Verses 7-8 I, Daniel, alone saw this great vision; the men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly filled with unreasoning terror and ran to hide, and I was left alone. When I saw this frightening vision my strength left me, and I grew pale and weak with fright.

KJV Says: “for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption”

Daniel body was responding to a terrible fear. He totally lost strength and was growing pale and weak moment by moment.

Daniel was paralyzed with fear, not ready to play catch.

Then this person spoke to Daniel…look at verse 9

9 Then he spoke to me, and I fell to the ground face downward in a deep faint. But a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees.

When this Man spoke to Daniel, he fainted and fell on his face, then someone touched him and lifted him to his hands and knees.

But he was still trembling, not comfortable enough to play water splash.

So Daniel woke up out of a deep faint but he is so weak that the best he can do is muster enough strength to get to his hands and knees.

This is what happens to you when you have a heavenly encounter.

Verses 11-13 continue the dialog

And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

* Daniel you are greatly loved in heaven

* I need you to understand what I am telling you

* So stand up and pay attention because I was sent to you

* Daniel says he stood up trembling

How would you respond if someone with a face like lightning appeared in front of you out of no where.

* Daniel was told to not be afraid

* The answer was on the way from the first day he started praying

* The man says that the Prince of Persia withstood him for 21 days

* Michael the arch angel had to come help him

This is not talking about the human prince of Persia.

But some angelic being that was evil and had influence over the ruler of Persia.

We can learn from this:

An invisible war for the nations and their people is raging on in the spirit world.

There is a spirit Prince of Russia, China, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, America, …etc.

The only question is; Is the spirit prince Good or evil.

If you look at America lately, what kind of spirit prince really rules us.

So this being, spoke with Daniel again

Look at 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

* I have come to tell you what going to happen to your people in the last days.

* Daniel fell on his face and fainted again.

Verse 16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. 18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, 19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

Listen at those verses in simple English

16 Then someone--he looked like a man--touched my lips and I could talk again, and I said to the messenger from heaven, ``Sir, I am terrified by your appearance and have no strength.

17 How can such a person as I even talk to you? For my strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.'' 18 Then the one who seemed to be a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. 19``God loves you very much,'' he said; ``don't be afraid! Calm yourself; be strong--yes, strong! ''Suddenly, as he spoke these words, I felt stronger and said to him, ``Now you can go ahead and speak, sir, for you have strengthened me.'' 20 He replied, ``Do you know why I have come? I am here to tell you what is written in the `Book of the Future.' Then, when I leave, I will go again to fight my way back, past the prince of Persia; and after him, the prince of Greece. Only Michael, the angel who guards your people Israel, will be there to help me.

Daniel is visited by some super natural beings from heaven.

It seems like it could be 2 or 3 there

One seems to be Jesus

They continue to try and calm Daniel down

Finally Daniel tells them he is ready to listen

Daniel is told that what he is about to hear concerns the future

After this mighty angel finishes, he tells Daniel he is going back to the war.

He has to fight through the Prince of Persia and then the Prince of Greece.

That battle is still raging on today, even though we can’t see it.

God’s business is being accomplished

Passages like this help to remind us that His will is being done and we ought not forget. Daniel had a visitation from heaven.

There was another time when heaven came to earth.

It was in the form of a little baby in a manger. Let’s Pray