Daniel 10 Part 2

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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In Daniel 10, beginning with verse 12 and following, we cover the second portion of this chapter, which technically ends with the first verse of Daniel 11.

Verse 12 confirms that we should not give up in prayer because we do not know what may delay a response to our prayers. Daniel was not aware of what was transpiring in the spiritual realm until he was told by the angel (likely Gabriel). The angel tells Daniel he was dispatched the first day Daniel began to pray, but it took 21 days before he could arrive to the prophet. The angel tells Daniel he “withstood” the prince of Persia, which can mean ~ “be in the way of” or “prevent by force.”

This situation likely proves that this was an angel and not the Son of God who was “prevented” from going to Daniel, as Jesus would never have been kept from His mission. It is of course very possible and likely that demons worked through fallen people during Daniel’s day (and ours), to thwart God’s plans, as we learn in Ezra regarding the rebuilding of the Temple and city walls of Jerusalem. This was new to Daniel, but if we read Scripture, it becomes clear to us and there is no excuse not to know this reality since God has gone out of His way to reveal it to us through books like Ezekiel, Job, Daniel and others.

In Verse 14, the angel came to Daniel with news about the far future. He states to Daniel, “Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” We need to understand that this statement concerns Jewish people and the nation of Israel, not the Church. This is very important because if we willingly set Israel aside, we are guilty of changing the meaning of Scripture here and other places that specifically point toward God’s dealings with the nation of Israel and culling from that nation, His final remnant that will make up the nation of Israel and enter into the coming Millennial Kingdom, following the Tribulation period and judgment of the nations. Again, this vision is about Israel and the Jews, not the Church. The angel is describing what will occur during the coming Tribulation period of seven years (the 70th “week,” cf. Daniel 9:24-27).

In Verse 15, we see that Daniel had known nothing about the conflict that occurred in the spiritual realm and it left him speechless! It would have likely done the same to any of us if we had no previous knowledge of what transpires in that realm. The vision had caused Daniel anxiety and had robbed him of his strength (cf. Isa. 6:5). He said he felt so inferior to the angel that he considered himself unworthy to talk to him. This is Daniel’s level of humility here. Am I that humble? Are you? We need to check ourselves.

In Verse 18, Daniel receives strength from the angel for the 3rd time. This reminds us of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane who was also strengthened (Luke 22:39-44), by ministering angels. Once Daniel had been strengthened he asked the angel to continue speaking (v 19).

In Verse 20, the angel asks Daniel if he knew why he had arrived? This was designed to get Daniel to focus on the vision which was to follow and to draw his attention to what the angel was going to relate. He also told Daniel he had to go back and deal with the demonic power that sought to control Persia. After that, the angel would be fighting the demonic entity trying to control Greece. It is clear from these references that what Paul tells us about powers and authorities in the spiritual realms are actively engaged in trying to thwart God’s purposes (Ephesians 6:12).

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (KJV)

Persia and Greece are two key prophetic empires in God’s plan for Israel (chs. 2; 7; 8; 9; 11:2-4, 5-35). Though they are behind us from our vantage point historically, it proves that God’s plans will come to pass as He reveals them. The book of Daniel provides a glimpse into the unseen struggle between angelic forces in this world and the spiritual realm that the will of God may be accomplished. Again, this was all new to Daniel. In verse 21, “Your prince“ – links Michael with Daniel and Israel.

“Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him. (Daniel 11:1)

As noted, this verse actually goes with Daniel 10. There were no chapter or verse separations when these scrolls were originally written. The chapter/verses came later to make it easier to look things up. The angel is saying he had been responsible for encouraging and protecting Darius the Mede during the beginning of his reign over Babylon, in 539 B.C.

That’s an enlightening statement if there ever was one! Gabriel’s job in part, was to encourage, protect and strengthen Darius the Mede for the job that God was going to accomplish through him. We don’t know if Darius was a believer or not. He could have certainly been a pantheist as many in his day were, but that did not stop God from working in and through Darius to bring about His own purposes for His people, Israel.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Nothing can keep God’s purposes from coming to fruition! Not one thing! It is done because God has decreed it! We live in a day and age where we see God’s will being accomplished as revealed in His Word. While it can be a bit unnerving to some degree, it is only when we choose to focus entirely on what is happening in society globally, rather than God’s purposes in allowing what is occurring.

Today, we are seeing events occur that are in line with biblical prophecy. While we cannot (and should not), put any type of date on the outcome of these specific events, we can gain a good, general overview of how things might unfold. In Daniel’s day, it is increasingly apparent that what the prophet did not know was revealed directly to him. Even there though, he did not have perfect understanding, largely because the specifics would not occur until way after Daniel’s life was over.

I believe we are now living in the days Daniel and other prophets saw occurring far down the road from their perspective. Because of what is occurring today as God’s prophetic calendar unfolds, as noted it can be a bit unnerving as we try to remain strongly anchored to God in spite of everything that is now happening. The difficulty for the Christian during these times, is to continue persevering in God’s will in spite of the “tornadic” spiritual activity all around us. Because all of it has been previously revealed in His Word, we have no excuse to not understand it. It should prompt us to fall on His mercy and understand that His purposes will be accomplished. During the process, He will not ignore His own who humble themselves before Him and continue to seek His will daily.

God has done us a tremendous supernatural favor by taking the time to stoop and reveal His future will to us. He has done this over the centuries through numerous prophets, including Daniel. To ignore the writings of these godly men is to suffer for it. Forewarned is forearmed.

In Daniel 11, we will try to break the entire chapter down into just two sections. However, previously, I’ve written roughly 20 articles on just that one chapter of Daniel. The first part of that can be seen here at this link.[1]

We’ll see you next time as we open up Daniel 11!

[1] https://studygrowknowblog.com/2018/09/17/daniel-chapter-11-part-1/

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective