Daniel 10.18-The Angel Strengthens Daniel Again by Touching Him
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday March 13, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 10:18-The Angel Strengthens Daniel Again by Touching Him
Lesson # 313
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. 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. 17 Furthermore, how can someone like my lord’s servant speak with someone like my lord? Indeed, as for me, even now, absolutely no strength is present in me because absolutely no breath is left in me.” (My translation)
Daniel 10:18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. (NASB95)
Daniel 10:18 Then, he did it again, namely, he whose appearance resembled a human’s, touched me so that he strengthened me. (My translation)
This verse presents the next event that took place immediately after Daniel’s conversation with the angel as recorded in Daniel 10:16-17.
Here in Daniel 10:18, Daniel presents to the reader that the next event which took place immediately after Daniel’s conversation with this elect angel which is again recorded in Daniel 10:16-17.
In verse 18, Daniel informs the reader that this angel once again touched him so as to strengthen him in the sense that by touching him the angel restored Daniel’s physical strength so that he could finally receive the revelation from the angel which was with reference to the future of Israel during the Times of the Gentiles.
As was the case in verse 16, Daniel describes this elect angel’s appearance as like the appearance of a human being.
He resembled a human being but he was clearly not.
The fact that in verse 16 Daniel describes the angel’s appearance as like a human’s and repeats this again in verse 18 would indicate linkage between the two statements indicating that the angel in verse 16 is the same angel in verse 18.
Daniel 10:18 records the third time this elect angel had touched Daniel to strengthen him.
In Daniel 10:10, this angel sent by God to Daniel touched him and set him trembling on his hands and knees after he received a vision of the preincarnate Christ which is recorded in Daniel 10:4-9.
The second time Daniel is touched by this angel is found in Daniel 10:16.
This verse records this angel touching Daniel’s lips so that he could open his mouth to speak again after losing all his strength because of the revelation the angel communicated to him as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
He also lost strength because of being in the presence of this angel as mentioned by Daniel in Daniel 10:17.
In each instance, the angel touches Daniel to strengthen him after the latter is weakened physically by revelation he has received.
The fact that the simple touch from this angel could restore Daniel’s strength indicates that this angel has power over the human body.
It indicates that this angelic being has power to affect changes in the human body which no human being can duplicate.
Daniel was not the only human being in the Scriptures who was strengthened by an angel since Luke 22:43 records the human nature of the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ being strengthened by an angel in the Garden of Gethsemane.
While mankind is enjoying a sequential residence on earth (generation following generation), angelic kind has been experiencing a continuum of existence in heaven, even before the creation of Man.
This longevity, combined with the fact that angels (though creatures like Man) are not subject to the same degree to the restraints and necessities of time and space that encumber mankind, undoubtedly contributes to their superior knowledge and wisdom as well.
By its very essence, therefore, the angelic nature is superior to our present earthly human nature in terms of appearance, intellect, power, mobility and authority (2 Pet.2:11).
Angels will ultimately be inferior to mankind but they will not always be superior to mankind.
Just as our Lord’s humanity is, in resurrection, superior to angels in every way (Heb.1:4-2:18), so also we are destined to share that superiority with Him in our resurrection (1 Cor.6:3; Heb.2:5).
Angels are created spirit beings (Ps. 148:2, 5) and were created in eternity past, before the creation of the cosmos (Job 38:4, 7).
The Lord Jesus Christ created the angels in eternity past (Col. 1:16).
They are innumerable (He. 12:22).
They are in eternity (present) a higher category of beings than humans are (Heb. 2:6-7).
In eternity (future), redeemed humans will be a higher category of beings than the angels (Ps. 8:4-5).
The doctrine of positional sanctification states that the church age believer is positionally higher than the angels by virtue of their union with Christ through the Baptism of the Spirit, which takes place at the moment of salvation.
Man cannot see angels for they are invisible but can be seen by man when God does one of two things: (1) He lifts the veil of the spiritual dimension (2 Kings 6:17). (2) He allows them to change their form to human (Hebrews 13:2).
Angels: (1) Protect (2) Provide (3) Proclaim the Word of God (4) Execute God’s Judgments.
As God’s servants who are dispatched from the throne room of heaven to execute God’s purposes, we may observe that the ministry of the elect-angels falls into several categories.
In Relation to God the elect-angels perform the following services: (1) Attendants around the throne of God, and are waiting to serve Him and do His bidding (Ps. 103:20; Isa. 6:1f; Job 1:6; 2:1; Rev. 5:11; 8:1f). (2) Worshippers in praise of Him (Isa. 6:3; Ps. 148:1-2; Heb. 1:6; Rev. 5:12). (3) Observers who rejoice over what the Lord does (Job 38:6-7; Luke 2:12-13; 15:10), Soldiers in battle with Satan (Rev. 12:7). (4) Instruments used by God to execute judgments (Rev. 7:1; 8:2).
In Relation to the Nations, the elect-angels and non-elect angels perform the following services: (1) Michael, the archangel, is the guardian of the nation of Israel (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9). (2) The non-elect angels rule over the Gentile nations (Dan. 4:17; Eph. 6:11-16) and seek to influence their human leaders (Dan. 10:21; 11:1). (3) In the Tribulation the elect-angels will be the agents God uses to pour out His judgments (see Rev. 8-9 and 16).
In Relation to the unbeliever, the elect-angels will perform the following: (1) Angels not only announce and inflict judgment (Gen. 19:13; Rev. 14:6-7; Acts 12:23; Rev. 16:1). (2) They will separate the righteous from the unrighteous at the 2nd Advent (Matt. 13:39-40).
In Relation to the Church: Hebrews 1:14 describes ministry of the elect-angels “servant-spirits who are divinely commissioned and repeatedly dispatched for service on behalf of those who are destined to inherit salvation.”
In this, however, Scripture points to a number of specific ministries: (1) The elect-angels bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10). (2) They help in bringing people to the Savior (Acts 8:26; 10:3). (3) They may encourage in times of danger (Acts 27:23-24). (4) They care for God’s people at the time of death (Luke 16:22).
