Daniel – Day 10
This chapter ultimately concerns a heavenly conflict the results of which are felt and seen on earth. This chapter supplies a vision of a period of intense suffering and trial that involves Daniel in intercession, prayer and fasting. Issuing forth in the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, Daniel received a message that was true but the appointed time for the fulfillment of the message was long. After setting himself apart to seek the Lord for period of three full weeks, Daniel went to the side of the great river Tigris and he looked up and saw a certain man clothed in linen whose waist was girded with gold, his body was beryl, his face like lighting, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze, and his voice like the voice of a multitude.
This description mirrors the description that John, the writer of the Revelation gives (See the Revelation 1:13-19). In other words, Jesus Christ assumes the same form as the angelic visitor to Daniel. Ronald Wallace argues that viewed from this perspective, before Christ came in the flesh in New Testament time, he was there in Old Testament times working among the people of God, who were equally his people, guiding them, bringing them to forgiveness, granting them faith and repentance. Such an interpretation is consistent with the gospel of John, where it states that “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5). In this view, Jesus was the Word made flesh but in addition, was always with God. Correspondingly, Revelation 13:8 states that the Book of Life is inescapably tied to the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. These various passages give evidence that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit spoke in the beginning, they speak today and they will have the final word at the end of time.
Returning to Daniel’s encounter, it seems clear that his interaction with the angelic visitor was more than simply a picture or a vision in his head. Daniel 10:7 states that Daniel alone saw the vision but the men who were with him fled in great terror indicating that they were aware of the angelic presence even if they could not see it. This vision was so terrifying that Daniel lost all his strength. And ultimately fell into a deep stupor. Yet the angelic presence touched him and insisted that Daniel stand upright and understand the words that this presence has come to give him. This suggests that this was a deliberate and intentional encounter sent from the Lord of heaven. Notably, Daniel 10:12 states that Daniel’s prayer was heard when it first left his mouth many days before. Why didn’t Daniel receive the answer to his prayer and supplication earlier? The answer seems clear. There was a titanic cosmic struggle initiated by a demonic spiritual being, the Prince of Persia who was able to withstand the angelic presence for 21 days. This passage suggests, as Ephesians confirms, that often our battle is not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers, against the rulers of darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:10-13). Mirroring Paul’s admonition in Ephesians that we Christians ought to be strong in the Lord, the angelic figure in Daniel chapter 10 strengthened Daniel and said: ‘O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes be strong!’ (Daniel 10:18-19). After being strengthened, Daniel was able to understand that there was a demonic spiritual presence coming from Persia and then coming from Greece which foreshadowed and confirmed at least some of the prophetic words that Daniel had received in Chapter 8. In any case, Daniel’s task was to receive, write down and convey the words that he had received from the angelic presence. In order to accomplish this task, struggle, perhaps extended struggle, appears to be necessary and on one view, followers of the Lord of heaven have a similar task: to co-labor with and intercede and pray on behalf of the hosts of heaven because we and they are engaged in a deadly struggle with the defeated but not yet destroyed forces of the evil one. In order to succeed in this spiritual struggle, we need to be in relationship with fellow Christians and also note that we have to accept and even welcome the help and assistance of the angelic hosts. Equally true, this passage suggests that at times, our struggle will be long and will require much patience as we are strengthened by the Lord and His angelic hosts.
Key Verses:
“Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” ~ Daniel 10:18-19
Questions:
- Do you look forward to spiritual conflict? Why or why not?
- Daniel seems to imply that all followers of the Most High God will at times face spiritual conflict with forces that are not really flesh and blood. What pattern does Daniel offer in dealing with such conflict?
- Please read Ephesians 6:10-20. What does Paul suggest we ought to do in order to be strong in the Lord?
