The Conflict is Great: Jesus is Greater

Chapter 10 of Daniel begins the final section and vision of the book. Chapters 11 and 12 accounts for us the great detail of the conflicts that will play out on earth as the prophecies of the empires are fulfilled.

The context of Daniel is important to keep in mind throughout the entire study. This is not a book written to modern day people about wars that are future to us. Daniel was a Jewish prophet chosen by God to faithfully live in exile from 605BC to around 536 BC, preach the Gospel, and be a comfort to the centuries of Jewish people who would await the coming of the Messiah by recording what God had showed him.

Chapter 10 is the prelude to his final vision. It’s as of God lifts the veil on the spiritual world so that Daniel, and we today, are able to see that the major conflicts of our world that we can see are connected to conflicts in the heavens that we cannot see.

That’s large scale.

But of course it would be reasonable to think that on a smaller scale, the circumstances of our lives, communities, governments, political affairs, families, churches, and even our individual lives are more than what we can simply see on the surface.

This is the study of spiritual warfare. It’s a massive topic, and one that the Bible is not silent on.

Take Daniel 10 as an example.

What’s happening at the time that Daniel sees the vision, and is visited by this heavenly being?

Well remember from our last time together that the 70 years of captivity were drawing to a close. Cyrus was the King who would come into power and give the permission for the Jews to return to their home and begin to rebuild again. That decree happened in the first year of Cyrus, and here we are in the third year of Cyrus, which means that progress should have been made by now.

But what do we know about the rebuilding process from Scripture? It did not go smoothly.

Look at Ezra 4:1-5  Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”

4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build 5 and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

It would take years to actually complete the rebuild, as well as the walls of the city. Definitely check out what is recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah to learn more about that.

But this quite possibly the kind of scenario that caused Daniel to go into fasting and mourning for those three weeks.

Hear me on this, Church...

Satan hates all progress that advances the Kingdom of Christ.

Think about this...

Satan was not ignorant of the prophecies of Jeremiah. He knows the story and the plan. He had been watching Daniel, with every new emperor attempting to thwart the plan of God, he could not.

Now the captives are being called home, and what does the enemy do? Through discouragement of the people he causes fear to spread, and the rebuilding stops.

How often is this the case with the follower of Jesus Christ? That through fear and discouragement, the work of the Kingdom in your life comes to a stop.

The scene is set for us…Daniel has been in prayer and fasting, mourning for his people, standing at the Tigris river, when a man appeared to him...

v5. 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. 6 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. 7 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.

In Revelation 1:12 - 17 we see a similar description given to the risen and glorified Christ, seen by the Apostle John in his vision. So this is great evidence that the person Daniel is seeing is the preincarnate, second person of the Godhead, the Son of God.

Throughout the OT we have may appearances of a being called “The Angel of the Lord”, whom many believe to be this same person…also the commander of the Lord’s army seen by Joshua just before going into the battle of Jericho.

What’s the point? That God was in the habit of showing on the brink of great moments to bring comfort, to affirm his promises, and give strength to his people.

Interestingly, the affect that this being had on Daniel seems to be negative at first. The men who were with him at the time didn’t see the vision, but there was such a strong sense of spiritual battle that they fled the scene and left Daniel alone.

v8 and 9 tell us that his strength left him, his radiant appearance changed, and the very sound of his words caused him to fall on his face. Then v10 -12 … And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 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. 12 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.

In every instance when Gabriel was present, he is mentioned by name. Which is why I don’t believe v10 introduces a new character. It could be, but it doesn’t have to be. Either way, the message is clear. What’s the message?

Again, he reminds him that he is a man greatly loved. But he says to him. Stand up, and listen to my words.

And when he spoke the word to him, He stood up trembling.

This is an important aspect of Biblical spiritual warfare.

Stand up. He’s not told to stand up and fight demons. He’s not told to stand up and curse sinners. He’s not told to stand up and do his best.

No,

Daniel was made aware of His weakness, and his utter need for the strength which God alone supplies.

Church, you need to stand up in the strength that the God supplies.

Sounds a lot like the words of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians, doesn’t it?

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” Ephesians 6:10

Because the strength of our might is very small when we realize where the real battle lies. And that’s the veil being pulled back for Daniel to some degree in this chapter.

“If once the curtain were pulled back, and the spiritual world behind it came to view, it would expose to our spiritual vision a struggle so intense, so convulsive, sweeping everything within its range, that the fiercest battle fought on earth would seem, by comparison, a mere game. Not here, but up there – that is where the real conflict is engaged.. Our earthly struggle drones in its backlash.” Abraham Kuyper

Part of me wants to see, and another part of me says, no thanks, I believe you Lord. What’s important though, is that we do not become preoccupied with what we cannot see, and remain faithfully focused on what has and is revealed to the Church for the warfare we are called to.

Daniel 10:12 shows us that Daniel’s prayer triggered movement in the heavens. This messenger came, because of Daniel’s prayer.

That’s significant.

But when we look at v13, we begin to see a little bit how the battles are waged.  

Daniel 10:13-14 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, 14 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.”

I don’t want to belabor this, but do you see what is happening here?

Daniel prayed, an Angel of the Lord was dispatched, but the prince of Persia withstood him for 21 days, delaying the messenger from getting to Daniel. Then Michael, also called a prince, but who we know to be a chief angel of the Lord, came to assist in fighting against the princes (plural) of Persia, so that the message about the latter days of Daniel’s people could be delivered to Daniel and recorded.

Couple things that this seems to be indicating to us...

Humble prayer to God in the battle of truth has greater affect that we might ever realize.

Daniel never prayed to angels, but to God.

Territorial spirits over earthly kingdoms were at least a reality in Daniel’s day (before Christ).

What we are make of this today is definitely debated among Christians.

Is there a demon over every territory seeking to cause and spread as much chaos as possible for the people of God? I can’t say definitely. People, apart from demons, are actually quite capable of causing a lot of sin and damage. But the point of Daniel 10 was to prepare Daniel to understand what was truly at stake. As kingdoms rise and fall, and the days moved closer to the coming of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, there would be war. There always has been, and it’s always been centered around the promises of redemption.

Satan has always attempted to disrupt the blood line of the Messiah, but has failed. This is why he hates human life. This is why so many in the world rages against the unborn - because Jesus is life. This is why, without any common sense, those who love and follow and preach the Jesus of the Bible will be opposed, while those who follow Buddah, Ala, or Brahman are embraced. Why, because the only God that Satan is interested in opposing is the one true God, Jesus Christ, who actually has the power to save souls from His dominion and cast Him into outer darkness.

In verses 15-17 we see that great agony and pain, and further fatigue comes upon Daniel because of the heavenly conflict he was allowed to see.

But again, the Lord touched his lips. He stood before Him mute, but the Lord gave him strength to speak.

His questions was basically this…What am I to do with this information? It’s left me with no strength and no breath left in me.

And this is where we will draw some application, church.

For those of you who engage in the warfare of Christian ministry, and Kingdom work, you know the fatigue that is often unexplainable. You’ve been down. You’ve been without words. You’ve felt the attack on the most important institutions in the world…Marriage, the church, family, the raising of Children...

Like the men who returned from exile and sought to rebuild the city, you have been fearful and discouraged, and in moments, stopped in your tracks.

And this is why this next part is so important.

v18. The Lord touched him again and strengthened him in his fear...

From the Word of God Daniel recieved peace, strength, and courage. And though the battle wasn’t over, and the prince of Persia would be replaced with another spirit prince of Greece, the heavenly being said “I will return and fight.”

Oh, Church, God has fought for his people ever since Eve was deceived in the Garden. “Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The conflict is great, but Jesus is greater. So, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

“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. 13 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.” Ephesians 6:12-13

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Colossians 2:13-15

I cannot think of a greater Kingdom work than a church that multiplies disciples and churches. This kind of Church is concerned about eternal life and the souls of those who have yet to believe upon Christ. EVERY endeavor to this end will experience opposition. Every person, family, husband and wife who seeks to join with a church with this kind of a mission should plan to suffer the affects of Satan’s schemes and persecution. But we do not suffer without the hope of ultimate victory. We suffer with the hope of a sure win, because Jesus forgives sin, gives eternal life through the blood of His cross, and has disarmed demonic authorities.

Whatever the next 5 years hold, may they exceed our imaginations, New City, and cause each of us to press into the battle of Kingdom work. If you choose not to engage because of a love for the world, you could lose your own soul. So let’s pray for a move of the Spirit of God in our midst that is undeniable, and one to which we all respond, YES Lord.