Daniel 10.16-Daniel Tells Elect Angel He Was Overcome By Feelings of Anguish So That He Retained No Strength Because of the Revelation
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday March 11, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 10.16-Daniel Tells Elect Angel He Was Overcome By Feelings of Anguish So That He Retained No Strength Because of the Revelation
Lesson # 311
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 10:1.
Daniel 10:1 During Cyrus’s third year, king over Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel who was called by his name Belteshazzar. Specifically this message was truth and concerning a great conflict because he understood this message, yes he possessed understanding concerning this revelation. 2 During those days, I myself, Daniel caused myself to enter the state of mourning for three weeks. 3 I never ate expensive choice food or meat. Also, wine never entered into my mouth likewise I never anointed myself with oil until the end of the three weeks. 4 Then, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month while I myself was beside that great river, namely the Tigris, 5 while I lifted up my eyes, I then stared as behold there was a certain man dressed in linen. Specifically, his waist was girded with gold from Uphaz, 6 His torso like chrysolite, his face like a glittering appearance, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms as well as his legs like the appearance of polished bronze, and in addition the sound of his words like the sound of a large crowd. 7 Now, I myself, Daniel alone saw this revelatory vision while the men who were with me never saw this revelatory vision. However, a great panic fell upon them. In fact, they fled because they were hiding themselves. 8 Thus, I myself was left alone while staring at this great revelatory vision. However, absolutely no strength was left in me. Also, to my dismay, my facial appearance was transformed into a deathly pale state. Indeed, I retained absolutely no strength. 9 However, despite this, I could hear the sound of his words. In fact, as soon as I myself heard the sound of his words, I myself was then caused to enter the state of being in a deep sleep on my face, yes my face to the ground. 10 Then, behold, a hand touched me. Next, it set me trembling on my knees and the palms of my hands. 11 Immediately after this, he said, “O Daniel, a precious man. Please understand the message which I myself am about to communicate to you. Therefore, please stand in your place because for your benefit, I have been sent.” Consequently when he communicated this statement for my benefit, I stood shaking. 12 Then, he said to me, “Please do not be terrified, Daniel, because from the first day that you applied your heart in order to understand as well as to humble yourself in the presence of your God, your words were heard. Consequently, I myself have come because of your words. 13 But the ruler over the Persian kingdom stood opposing me twenty-one days. Then, behold, Michael, one of our chief rulers came to help me because I myself was left there opposing the kings ruling over Persia. 14 Now, I have come in order to cause you to understand what will take place for and against your people during the latter days because the revelation pertains to these days as in the future.” 15 Consequently, when, for my benefit, he communicated with these statements, I turned my face to the ground while I became speechless. (My translation)
Daniel 10:16 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.” (NASB95)
“And behold, one who resembled a human being was touching my lips” is used of the angelic being speaking to Daniel indicating that he resembled a human being implying that though he was similar in appearance, Daniel could see that he not a normal human being.
It is indicating a comparison between the appearance of the elect angel speaking to Daniel and the appearance of a human being.
“Then I opened my mouth” presents the result of one resembling a human being touching Daniel’s lips indicating that for Daniel’s benefit one who resembled a human being touched his lips so that he opened his mouth to speak.
“And spoke” presents the purpose of Daniel opening his mouth indicating that Daniel opened his mouth in order to speak to the elect angel who touched his lips.
“And said to him who was standing before me” presents the result of Daniel having the ability once again to speak as a result of the angel touching his lips indicating that Daniel spoke to the angel standing before him as a result of this angel touching his lips in order that he could speak again.
“O my lord” is used by Daniel as a term of respect for the angel and polite address.
“As a result of the vision” is composed of the preposition bĕ (בְּ) (beh) “as a result of” and its object is the noun mǎr∙ʾě(h) (מַרְאֶה) (mar-eh), “the vision.”
This noun mǎr∙ʾě(h) means “revelation” referring to the statements the elect angel of God communicated to Daniel as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
The articular construction of this word is anaphoric meaning that this noun is a reference to the angelic being’s preceding statements recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
This noun mǎr∙ʾě(h) is also the object of the preposition bĕ, which is a marker of cause indicating that anguish came upon Daniel so that he possessed no strength “because of” the revelation he received in the form of the statements the angel made to him as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
This interpretation is indicated by Daniel’s statement in Daniel 10:15 in which he tells the reader that when the angel communicated to Daniel with his statements recorded in Daniel 10:12-14, he turned his face to the ground while becoming speechless.
Thus, the angel’s statements in Daniel 10:12-14 were the cause or reason why Daniel had no strength to speak.
“Anguish has come upon me” is referring to Daniel being overcome by feelings of anguish because of the revelation the angel gave Daniel as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
“And I have retained no strength” presents the result of Daniel being overcome by feelings of anguish, disabling him because of the revelation the angel communicated to him in Daniel 10:12-14.
It expresses the fact that Daniel retained absolutely no physical strength as a result of coming into contact with the preincarnate Christ.
Daniel 10:16 Then, behold, for my benefit, one who resembled the sons of Adam touched my lips so that I could open my mouth in order that I could speak. Therefore, I spoke to the one who was standing directly in front of me, “O my lord, because of this revelation, I have been overcome by feelings of anguish, disabling me so that I retained absolutely no strength.” (My translation)
At least three important questions arise from these statements here in Daniel 10:16.
The first, who is the person who resembled a human being and touched Daniel’s lips which gave him the strength to speak again.
The second, who is the person standing directly in front of Daniel?
Are they the same person?
They are the same person.
They refer to the unidentified elect angel who spoke to Daniel in Daniel 10:12-14.
There is nothing in Daniel 10:15-16 which says that Daniel lost consciousness and went into a deep sleep as was the case in Daniel 10:9.
The revelation given to Daniel of the preincarnate Christ in Daniel 10:4-6 was the reason why he went into a deep sleep with his face to the ground.
However, here in Daniel 10:15-16, Daniel does not mention going into a deep sleep but only that he lost all physical strength so as to not be able to speak to the angel again.
Therefore, the angel mentioned as reviving Daniel in Daniel 10:10 and then speaking to him in Daniel 10:12-14 is the same person mentioned here in Daniel 10:16 as resembling a human being and standing directly in front of Daniel.
What is the revelation mentioned by Daniel in Daniel 10:16?
What is he referring to when he tells the angel that the revelation caused him to be overcome by great feelings of anguish so that he retained no strength whatsoever?
The context would indicate that this “revelation” is a reference to the statements the angel made to Daniel as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
In verse 12, the angel encouraged Daniel to not be terrified because from the first day that he applied his heart to understand as well as to humble himself in God’s presence through prayer, his prayer for his people, Israel, was heard by God.
The angel then says because of Daniel’s prayer, God sent him to give Daniel the answer to his prayer.
In verse 13, the angel then tells Daniel something astounding, namely, an angel of Satan who ruled the Persian kingdom opposed this angel speaking to Daniel for three weeks.
The elect angel then tells Daniel that Michael the archangel came to his rescue because he was left alone to oppose three fallen angels who helped to rule Persia for Satan.
Lastly, in verse 14, the elect angel informs Daniel that he came in order to cause him to understand what will take place for and against his people Israel during the latter days because this revelation regarding the future of Israel pertains to the future.
Daniel lost all strength again when this angel made these statements since they reveal to him that he was involved in a conflict involving the elect angels of God and the non-elect angels of Satan.
Thus, we can understand why Daniel asked the angel in Daniel 10:17 how he could even talked to him since he was a powerful angel fighting Satan’s kingdom.
In Daniel 10:12-14, the angel was telling him that Israel would continue to suffer terribly for many years into the future.
This also had an emotional and physical affect on Daniel to hear this.
Therefore, this served as another reason for his feelings of anguish which he mentions in Daniel 10:16.
Therefore, here in Daniel 10:16, Daniel is telling the elect angel who touched his lips which gave him the ability to speak once again, that the revelation that he communicated to him as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14 produced feelings of anguish in him which resulted in him losing all physical strength.