Dan 10:1-4 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel,

whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was

long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those

days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine

came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river,

that is, the Tigris,

A. This is the most detailed revelation in the Old Testament concerning the drama

and culmination of the end of the age and the salvation of Israel. In fact, Daniel

10 is the preparation for the receiving of revelation in chapters 11 & 12.

knew he could help them more as an intercessor than a builder. 2. His Calling to

Government.

C. Message was Revealed

translate. Sometimes it is translated "great warfare," "great task," or

long and strenuous one involving great conflict and trouble for the people

of God."

3. Daniel understands the vision. In the first three visions there is no

statement of resolve. He leaves the first vision troubled, the second not

understanding, and the third silent about the understanding. This time

Daniel states that the meaning is quite clear. We are tipped off by Daniel

to know that this vision is of great importance.

1. 21 days of not eating any pleasant food, meat, or wine and not anointing

himself with oil.

2. Why the Mourning?

of those exiled and the Passover.

Ezra 1:2-4 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the

earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded

me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. 3 Who is

among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him

go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the

LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. 4 And

whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place

help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the

freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.

b. Scholars point out that he also had two reasons not to celebrate: 1.

The Vision of Daniel 9 let him know that 70 years is not the end of the

trials of his people, rather 70 weeks of sevens to finish the

transgressions and bring in everlasting righteousness and 2. The

current state of the returnees. Ezra 4:24 tells us that in 536 the

foundation was laid but the work on the Temple had ceased due to the

great difficulty and adversity from the surrounding peoples. The work

would not begin until the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah in

520BC.

c. I believe that Daniel had the message revealed before the visionary

experience of the angel in verse 5. The angel comes to give

just as in chapter 9 Daniel has had a visionary experience of chapters

11 & 12 that left him in a state of mourning. He sees the drama at the

end of the age and is left undone. Imagine this; Daniel in his mideighties

is left shaken by few things after being in the court for this

long. He has survived death decrees, evil tyrants, and a lion’s den, yet

he is left distressed and mourning by the vision. The only appropriate

response is fasting, prayer, and mourning.

3. Daniel once again displays the wisdom of intercession. Though a man of

great governmental and political influence, he appeals to a higher

government. He takes his cause to a higher governing body. He presents

his case in prayer before the King of Kings. He knows that God is the one

who changes the times and seasons, He is the One who raises kings up and

tears them down.

Ps 82:1God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among

the gods.

Ps 47:8-9 God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. 9 The

princes of the people have gathered together, the people of the God of

Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.

Ps 76:12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes; He is awesome to the kings

of the earth.

Ps 102:15-17 So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, And all the

kings of the earth Your glory. 16 For the LORD shall build up Zion; He

shall appear in His glory. 17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute,

And shall not despise their prayer.

Ps 149:5-9 Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their

beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged

sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations, And

punishments on the peoples; 8 To bind their kings with chains, And their

nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute on them the written judgment --

This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!

and others believe that it is a mighty angel on par with the likes of Michael. I will give

you the reasons for both.

A. Jesus

1. Pros

and description of the theophanies of Christ in Ezekial 1:26 &

Revelation 1:12.

Ezek 1:26-28 And above the firmament over their heads was the

the LORD.

b. It leaves everyone in a similar disposition as encounters with Christ.

vision

Acts 9:3-9 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly

a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then 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?" Then the

Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for

you to kick against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and astonished,

said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to

him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you

must do."

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing

a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and

when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the

hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days

without sight, and neither ate nor drank. NKJV

2. Major Con

a. V. 13 states that the Prince of Persia withstood him for 21 days, that he

had been left alone there, and that Michael helped him. How could the

Pre-Incarnate Christ, the Captain of the Lord of Hosts be left alone and

work around this by stating that the figure over the river is different

from the interpreting angel that begins in v. 10. The interpreting angel

needed Michael for the breakthrough, but the pre-incarnate Christ of

course did not.

impossible that this could be an angel. Unless you receive a revelation of how

marvelous and powerful some of the angels in the Bible are.

1. Angel in the Exodus

Ex 14:19-20 And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel,

moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before

them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of the

Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the

one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come

near the other all that night.

Ex 23:20-22 "Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way

and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of Him

and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your

transgressions; for My name is in Him.

1 Chron 21:30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he

was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

3. Angels of Revelation

a. Rev 10:1-5 I saw still another mighty angel coming down from

heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face

was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book

open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot

on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When

he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the

seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a

voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven

thunders uttered, and do not write them."

b. Rev 15:5-8 5 After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of

the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 6 And out of the

temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in

pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. 7

Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven

golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8

The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His

power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues

of the seven angels were completed.

c. Rev 18:1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from

heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his

glory.

d. Rev. 19:17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with

a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven,

"Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 "that

you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of

mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the

flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."

Michael, the great prince. The reasons are as follows:

1. It is established that there are significantly powerful angels who have this

affect on people. Twice John falls down in Revelation to worship one of

the angels who released the bowl judgments.

of the chief princes." "Behold" (Hebrew word, "hinneh") in this verse is

the same as 10:5 when used concerning the majestic figure. Miller points

was noticeable and stood out among the other angels present.

3. Michael is on the scene as the one who paved the way or broke through

the enemy defenses. He is called one of the chief princes in 10:13 and is

called the "great prince" in Dan. 12:1 "who stands watch over the sons of

your people." Michael is one if not the highest ranking angelic being of

or chief angel. It makes sense to the scene that Michael broke through the

blockade of the Prince of Persia and is now escorting the angelic envoy to

deliver the message. In Dan. 10:13 the interpreting angel points to

Michael who is above the river standing guard and tells Daniel to look at

him.

4. Also, the content of the vision lends to the appearance of Michael being a

big encouragement to Daniel. The vision concerns the great wars and the

great tribulation at the end of the age. Israel will endure the rage of Satan,

the attack of the nations, and the chastisement of God. Michael is the one

in Dan. 12 who stands up and protects Israel. Daniel sees God’s provision

of divine protection through Michael and is encouraged. In Rev. 12:7

Michael leads the angels of heaven against Satan and his angels.

A. Others fled in terror

B. Daniel loses all his strength. His vigor was turned to frailty. Confronted by

Glory Daniel is reduced to nothing. The meaning of the Hebrew word for Glory,

"Kabowd," is the great physical weight or quantity of a thing. When used in

describing God’s glory it means "imposing, weighty presence." All the nations

will bow before His glory.

1. Ex 24:16-18 Now the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the

cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out

of the midst of the cloud. 17 The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a

consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of

Israel.

2. Psalm 29:1,2,3,9

3. Isa 40:5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it

together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

sorrows.

found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, "Why do you

sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

A. Daniel 10 is the preparation of Daniel for the reception of the revelation in

chapters 11 & 12.

B. There are four realities that are vital for Daniel to be strengthened in the midst of

this revelation. Four realities will strengthen his heart and move him beyond fear

and offense into fervent sustained love and understanding. Matthew 13 tells us

that it will be a time when the wheat and the tares have reached maturity. Good

and evil will crescendo with such glory and such wickedness that it will produce

the conflict of the ages and will be the precise context for the purifying of the

saints, the judgment of the wicked, the salvation of Israel, and the return of the

Son. Yet before Daniel can move beyond fear and beyond accusation, he must

strengthening by angels, 3) the reception of divine love, and 4) divine

understanding.