Overview of Daniel Chapter Ten
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday January 30, 2014
Daniel: Overview of Daniel Chapter Ten
Lesson # 295
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 10:1.
Daniel chapter 10 records Daniel being prepared for the final vision of his life which he will receive from God through an elect angel.
This records Daniel receiving the fourth and final great prophetic revelation from God in 536 B.C. during the third year of the reign of Cyrus king of Persia.
Walvoord writes “The final three chapters of the book of Daniel record an extensive revelation of the prophetic future which is without parallel anywhere else in Scripture, As Leupold has expressed it, ‘There is hardly anything in the Bible that is just like these chapters, especially like chapter 11. The word, the vision, and minute prediction are combined in a manner that is found nowhere else in the Scriptures.’ The entire content of chapter 10, for instance, is introductory, indicating the extensive character of the prophecy to follow. The introduction actually extends through the first verse of chapter 11. The next section, 11:2-12:4, is divided into two major divisions. The first, 11:2-35, deals with the immediate future, from Darius to Antiochus; and the second, 11:36-12:4, with the far future, the end times just before the second advent of Christ. A final message and revelation is given to Daniel in 12:5-13. The last three chapters constitute the fourth vision of Daniel which gathers together the significant threads of prophecy, especially as they relate to the Holy Land and to the people of Israel.”
Verses 1-3 present to the reader Daniel’s circumstances when he received this final prophetic vision at the end of his life on earth.
Daniel 10:1 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. 2 In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. 3 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. (NASB95)
In verses 4-11, Daniel tells the reader that he received a vision of a supernatural being.
His description of this being reveals that he saw a vision of the preincarnate Christ.
In verse 4 he informs the reader where he was when he received it.
In verses 5-6, he describes what he saw.
Then, in verse 7, he describes the reaction of his companions to what he saw.
Verses 8-9 describe Daniel’s response to what he saw.
Daniel 10:4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris, 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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. (NASB95)
If one compares the account in Daniel 10:4-11 with the account of the revelation of Jesus Christ in Revelation 1:13-16, it appears that Daniel saw a vision of the preincarnate Christ.
John’s description of the glorified resurrected Christ is similar to Daniel’s description of the supernatural being he saw.
Revelation 1:13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. (NASB95)
Further indicating that Daniel saw the preincarnate Christ is the response of Daniel’s friends to this vision, which is similar to the response of those who saw the vision Paul saw of the resurrected Christ at his conversion.
Acts 9:1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” 7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. (NASB95)
Another indication that Daniel saw the preincarnate Christ is that the man he saw could very well be “the Son of Man” in Daniel 7:13.
However, there are those who argue that it is unlikely that Daniel saw the preincarnate Christ since they see that this individual was hindered by a prince (fallen angel) of Persia (10:13) and that he needed help from the arch-angel Michael.
But this has problems, since Daniel could have received this vision of Christ, then fell asleep and then was awakened by an elect angel.
After the vision recorded in Daniel 10:4-8, Daniel tells the reader in verse 9 that he fell into a deep sleep.
Then in verse 10, an elect angel touches him.
That this is an angel speaking to Daniel throughout the rest of the chapter is clearly indicated.
So Daniel could have very well received a vision of the preincarnate Christ, then fell into a deep sleep but then was awakened by an elect angel.
The evidence is in favor of Daniel receiving a vision of the preincarnate Christ.
The context does not refute this interpretation and John’s description of Christ in Revelation 1:13-16 is very similar to Daniel’s description in Daniel 10:4-7.
The description of the response to Paul’s vision of Christ by his traveling companions in Acts 9:1-7 is similar to the response of Daniel’s companions to the vision he received.
In verses 10-11, Daniel informs the reader that he was revived by an unidentified individual who then addresses him.
Daniel 10:10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. (NASB95)
Verses 12-14 record the elect-angel’s explanation for being delayed in communicating God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer.
Daniel 10:12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.” (NASB95)
Daniel is strengthened by the elect-angel in verses 15-19.
He is overwhelmed by the appearance of this angel.
Then, in response to Daniel this angel strengthens him physically, which he thanks him for.
Daniel 10:15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And behold, one who resembled a human being was touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a result of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.” 18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. 19 He said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” (NASB95)
In verses 20-21, this unidentified elect angel informs Daniel he will communicate to him what is written in the Word of God in heaven.
Daniel 10:20 Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. 21 However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.” (NASB95)
The chapter division at this point in the book of Daniel is unfortunate.
This account of Daniel’s preparation to receive his final prophetic vision continues in Daniel 11:1, which records this angel speaking to the reader.
Then, in Daniel 11:1, the account returns to the angel speaking to Daniel.
Daniel 10:13 and 20-21 teach the principle that the elect-angels are involved in spiritual combat with the non-elect or fallen angels but this passage also teaches that the elect-angels render service to believers.
Here in these verses we have the veil lifted with regards to this angel conflict.
Here the Word of God gives us information regarding this angelic battle between the forces of Satan and the forces of God.
The Bible teaches that angels do not die and nor does their number increase or decrease (Lu. 20:36) and that there are different ranks of angels (Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:16).
Daniel 10:13 records an unidentified fallen angel withstood this elect-angel.
This non-elect angel was both a political and military ruler of Persia in the angelic realm.
This angelic military commander from the kingdom of darkness was preventing Daniel’s prayer from being answered.
This angelic dictator over the nation of Persia did not want information to get to Daniel regarding the future of both Persia and Greece.
More importantly, this fallen angel that withstood the elect-angel did not want presented to Daniel the future of the nation of Israel.
The kingdom of darkness has waged war against the nation of Israel from its inception (cf. Revelation 12).
This information regarding the future of Israel, Greece and Persia is finally revealed to Daniel by the elect angel twenty-one days after the angel was dispatched from the throne room of God.
This information regarding the future of these three nations is revealed in Daniel 11.
If it were not for Michael who defends Israel, this unidentified elect angel would never have reached Daniel.
Michael’s responsibility regarding the human race is to protect and defend the nation of Israel from the attacks of Satan’s military commanders.
Now, Michael was able to defeat the prince of Persia because of one simple principle: Victory or defeat in angelic warfare is gained by the application of power and the withdrawal of the inferior force.
So we have here in Daniel 10:13 God delivering a message about the future of Israel, Greece and Persia through an angel of lower rank than the Prince of Persia who represented Satan’s forces.
We might say that the angel God sent was a lieutenant in His military.
As soon as he was opposed by an angel with greater rank and power from the forces of Satan, he was stopped at once.
He could not go on with his mighty ministry on behalf of Daniel until there was intervention by God Himself.
God then sent a still higher elect-angel to relieve this lieutenant from his struggle with superior adverse powers, thus permitting him to complete his mission to Daniel.
There is a principle here that I want to note regarding angelic warfare.
It appears that angels of every rank in both camps are constantly at war with each other in the invisible realm…we know this because the human governments throughout the world are in a constant stay of upheaval and war and the angels rule over these nations.
So the conflict between nations is a reflection of the invisible angelic battle that is being waged throughout the first and second heavens.
Now there is no question that these spiritual beings which we call angels cannot die.
So how does one achieve victory in the angelic realm if they cannot kill each other?
As we noted earlier, victory or defeat in angelic warfare is gained by the application of power and the withdrawal of the inferior force.