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Daniel 10:1–11:1 (Daniel’s final vision)

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Stories and Visions, and today we begin the final vision in the book of Daniel. So far in the book we have seen visions of a great statue, a great tree, the hand writing on the wall, four great beasts, a little horn, one like a Son of Man approaching the throne of heaven, the ram and the goat, another horn, and now we come to Daniel’s vision of a man. (Read Daniel 10:4–6 and pray.)

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We don’t often think about it, but there’s a whole physical world out there that we can’t see. Our human eyes are only tuned to certain frequencies of light. Many animals are able to see shorter wavelengths than we do. For example, bees and butterflies use the ultraviolet spectrum to see nectar guides on flower petals that are completely invisible to us. Reindeer use ultraviolet vision to spot lichen on trees and wolves approaching against the reflections of ice and snow. Other animals, including snakes, insects, fish and amphibians can detect the longer infrared wavelengths. They use these to create thermal images and are able to locate their prey even in total darkness.

However, there’s not only a physical world we cannot see as humans. There is also a spiritual world we can’t see. That’s part of what we learn here in Daniel 10. There is a whole spiritual world filled with spiritual conflict and battles that is invisible to us and yet just as real as those parts of the physical world we can see with our eyes.

The Bible tells us that God through Christ created “all things … in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities” (Col. 1:16). It speaks of “the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Eph. 2:2).

When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the enemy, Elisha told the servant: “‘Don’t be afraid…. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16–17).

And then, of course, we have this passage here in Daniel where the angel gives Daniel a glimpse behind the curtain of the spiritual battle going on even in the affairs of the world’s nations. There’s a whole world out there that you can’t see. But it’s just as real and just as dangerous. Thankfully, God can see it, and he will guide you through it.

I. Fasting and prayer (1–3)

We come now to Daniel’s vision of the man, which was preceded by a period of fasting and prayer. This vision spans all three closing chapters in the book of Daniel. Chapter 10 is preparatory to the vision; chapter 11 describes the vision itself; chapter 12 provides the afterword. As with the other visions in the book, this vision builds on the visions before it and reveals additional details.

   A. Third year of Cyrus (1)

This is Daniel’s fourth and final vision in the book. The first one (chapter 7) began with the vision of the four beasts. The second one (chapter 8) began with the vision of the ram and the goat. The third one (chapter 9) took place through a prophetic revelation and focused on the seventy sevens. This fourth vision (chapters 10–12) begins with the vision of a man.

Look at verse 1 with me now:

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision. (Dan. 10:1)

The third year of Cyrus is the year 536 B.C. on our calendar. So this took place several years after the exiles were allowed to return to Jerusalem. Daniel speaks of a revelation that was given to him about a great war or conflict. As we continue through the passage we will see there was both an earthly conflict and a spiritual conflict at play here.

It is unclear whether this revelation refers to the vision that follows or whether it was a separate, initial revelation, in which case the understanding of the message came later in the vision. Either way, there is a period of time before Daniel receives the part of the vision recorded for us in these chapters.

   B. Three weeks of fasting (2–3)

This period of time involved three weeks of fasting, as we learn in verses 2–3:

At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. (Dan. 10:2–3)

This was three weeks of fasting from choice foods as well as from lotions, which were greatly needed in a dry climate. (Imagine going three weeks without any shampoo or body lotions even today.) This was also a time of mourning, most likely for the exiles back in Jerusalem who faced strong opposition when they returned. It was a time of Daniel humbling himself before the Lord by fasting and seeking him in prayer.

Many of us are not familiar with the practice of fasting, but it is spoken of throughout the Bible, including the New Testament. If you’ve never fasted or prayed before, I would encourage you to try it. You don’t need to do a long fast; you could simply fast for a meal or two to get started. Just set aside that time to fast and pray and see where God brings you from there.

II. The man dressed in linen (4–11)

So Daniel was fasting and praying for three weeks when he received this vision of the man dressed in linen.

   A. Overwhelming appearance (4–6)

This was an overwhelming appearance, as Daniel shares in verses 4–6:

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. (Dan. 10:4–6)

We know exactly when Daniel received this vision — on the twenty fourth day of the first month, which was ten days after Passover (see note at end of manuscript). Daniel spent the first three weeks of the new year fasting and praying, even throughout the entire Passover celebration. This was a time normally marked by feasting rather than fasting. This would be like you or me deciding to fast during the week of Thanksgiving and missing out on Thanksgiving dinner.

Why would Daniel fast and mourn during Passover? This was likely because even though Cyrus had allowed the Jews to return home three years earlier, they faced opposition as they began the work of rebuilding the temple (Ezra 4:1–5). They got a good start. They began the work in the second month of the second year after they arrived (Ezra 3:8), but now the peoples around them set out to discourage them and keep them from building. Daniel mourns for his people and prays concerning their situation.

Daniel is standing beside the Tigris River, which is north of the city, away from the capital, when he receives this vision of the man. Some interpreters this is Gabriel; some believe this is a pre incarnate appearance of Christ; others think this is simply an unnamed angel.

Although the descriptions here are similar to the description of Jesus in the book of Revelation (1:12–16), I believe it is best to view this man as an angel rather than Christ. The description given is similar to the description of the cherubim in the book of Ezekiel (1:4–8). The linen clothing represents priesthood and holiness; the golden belt represents royalty; the precious metals, blazing fire, and voice like a multitude all describe a majestic, powerful, fearsome being. This could very well be Gabriel again, although he is not specifically named this time.

   B. Only Daniel could see (7–9)

Another interesting aspect of this vision is that only Daniel could see it. Look at verses 7–9 next:

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground. (Dan. 10:7–9)

Similar to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:7), only Daniel could see the vision, although there must have been some other sense of this mighty being’s presence, because all his companions fled in terror. And so Daniel was left all alone. The vision drained him of all energy, and he fell face down to the ground in a daze.

This seems to be the normal response when it comes to visions of heaven or angelic visitations in the Bible. A lot of people think they would like to see an angel. Just make sure you put some pillows and carpeting down on the floor first, because you are probably going down. Everyone else does.

   C. Touched by an angel (10–11)

But then Daniel is touched by an angel. Look at verse 10–11 with me now:

A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. (Dan. 10:10–11)

The angel touches Daniel, which at first only makes Daniel more afraid. He gets partway up to his hands and knees. The angel speaks encouraging words to him, and finally Daniel stands all the way up, although he is still trembling. Daniel was a righteous man, and even he was awestruck by this vision. The angel tells Daniel, “I have been sent to you.” The Bible tells us elsewhere that angels are messengers who are sent to minister to God’s people (Heb. 1:14).

III. Behind the scenes (10:12–11:1)

Finally, we get a look at what was happening behind the scenes while Daniel was fasting and praying.

   A. The prince of Persia (12–14)

Here we get introduced to another mysterious figure, the prince of Persia. Look at verses 12–14 as the angel continues to address Daniel:

Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” (Dan. 10:12–14)

That’s another reason why I lean toward this being an angel rather than Christ. I don’t know that Christ would have needed anyone’s help; this angel certainly did.

Daniel had been praying for three weeks without a response. Now he learns that God had sent the angel to him on the very first day. So why the three-week delay? The angel tells him that “the prince of the Persian kingdom” resisted him for twenty one days.

Who is this “prince of Persia”? Some understand this as a reference to a human ruler, since the word “prince” can refer to earthly leaders. Others see this as an angelic being assigned to Persia. The context points to a spiritual adversary of great power, someone who can oppose an angelic messenger from God and whose resistance requires the help of Michael, whom the angel describes as “one of the chief princes.” The mention of both the “prince of Persia” and the “king of Persia” in the same breath suggests a distinction between earthly rulers and the spiritual powers operating behind the scenes.

So here we get this fascinating glimpse into the spiritual world where we learn that there are spiritual forces at work behind the kingdoms of this world. This should not surprise us. Remember how these empires were represented by beasts in the earlier visions? That was a clue to the spiritual source of evil behind the oppression and cruelty of these empires.

This particular conflict was so intense that the angel God sent to Daniel needed the help of Michael to break through the resistance. We find a similar example of spiritual resistance in the New Testament when Paul writes to the Thessalonian church: “We wanted to come to you — certainly I, Paul, did, again and again — but Satan stopped us” (1 Thess. 2:18). And so there is continued spiritual opposition from the enemy even today.

But now the angel has come in answer to Daniel’s prayer. He has come to explain what will happen to Daniel’s people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.

   B. Daniel strengthened (15–19)

However, before the angel can proceed, Daniel needs further strengthening. Look at verses 15–19 next:

While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”

Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. “Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.” (Dan. 10:15–19)

Daniel is so overwhelmed by the experience that at first he can’t even speak. Then one who looks like a man touches his lips to give him strength. This is now the second time Daniel has been touched by an angel, although it is unclear whether the one touching him is the same angel who was speaking to him or perhaps another angelic presence.

Either way, this one who looks like a man touches Daniel’s lips, and Daniel is finally able to speak. Of course, he doesn’t say much. He can barely breathe, never mind speak. Then he is touched a third time and given strength. The angel speaks peace to him again and tells him to be strong. Finally Daniel is ready to receive the word the angel has for him.

   C. Spiritual battles (10:20–11:1)

The angel is getting ready to tell Daniel the vision, but first he prepares him by giving him further details about the spiritual battles that are going on all around him. Look at verses 20–21 now as well as the first verse of chapter 11:

So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince. And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.) (Dan. 10:20–11:1)

Why has the angel even come to Daniel? He has all these battles to fight, after all. He is fighting against the prince of Persia now, and the prince of Greece is on his way. This mirrors what happened historically (it was future for Daniel but history for us) when the Persian empire eventually fell to the Greeks.

He is in the middle of all these battles, but he has come to answer Daniel’s prayer for understanding. He will share with Daniel what is written in the Book of Truth. This is a powerful statement of God’s foreknowledge and sovereignty. All God’s words are truth. Everything he speaks will be fulfilled. He is sovereign over all of history.

The angel tells Daniel how Michael has helped him in his battles before, and how he has also helped Michael. Together they were involved in the overthrow of Babylon by Darius the Mede. It is an amazing peek behind the curtain as we get a glimpse behind the scenes of the spiritual battles that are going on all around us and throughout history.

CONCLUSION: That was a lot, and we haven’t even gotten to the main vision yet. This part of the vision was all preparatory for what the angel will reveal to Daniel in chapter 11. But we need to pause here, so let’s take a moment to look at some applications from this chapter before proceeding to the next.

1) There is a spiritual battle. The apostle Paul tells us in the New Testament: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). The apostle Peter tells us: “Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:8–9).

There is a spiritual battle going on, and you will sometimes get caught in the middle. Don’t be surprised when things don’t always go smoothly or as planned. Don’t be surprised when you experience setbacks in your church, your family, your work or your life. There’s a battle going on, and we are all part of it.

2) Your prayers make a difference. We need to set Daniel 10 alongside Ezra 1–4. In Ezra we learn about the opposition to the Jews who returned to the land to rebuild Jerusalem. Here in Daniel we learn that the opposition had a spiritual component. The enemy was attacking God’s people in Jerusalem, but Daniel was praying, and as you read Ezra 1–4 you see God answering as he gives the Jews relief. The battle on earth is won here on your knees as you engage the spiritual battle that is going on in the heavenly realms.

It’s good to remember that Daniel is in his eighties in this chapter. This is retirement age. The younger people are rebuilding Jerusalem, while Daniel is providing prayer support. Don’t ever think that you are too old to make major contributions to the kingdom of God. You may not be able to do as much physical work as before, but you can always be on the frontlines of prayer.

3) Remember you are not alone. Daniel felt all alone (10:8), but God heard his prayers. God came and gave him strength. Sometimes we feel alone too. Sometimes we pray and don’t see God’s answers right away. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by world events. Sometimes we wonder why Christians are persecuted or why the church is struggling.

And that’s when you need to remember there is a whole spiritual world out there that you can’t see, yet it is just as real as the physical world, and it has a direct impact on events in the physical world. Sometimes God draws back the curtain so we can see what is really going on, but most times we simply need to put on the full armor of God and take our stand.

And we should never be discouraged, because as Elisha told his servant, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). Or as God tells us in 1 John 4:4: “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

God’s delays are not God’s denials. There’s a whole lot going on that you and I don’t know about and can’t see. So let’s learn to trust God and his timing, knowing that God wins in the end, and he will deliver us as he has promised. Let us pray.

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*Note: The “first month” refers to Nisan (also called Abib), which is the first month of the Jewish religious calendar. It is also the month during which Passover takes place. Daniel’s fast lasted three weeks and ended on the twenty-fourth day, which means he began his period of mourning and fasting on the third day of the month. Passover was on the fourteenth day of the month followed by seven days of feasting (days 15–21). Daniel was fasting from days 3–24, which means he fasted during the entire time of the Passover celebration.

© Ray Fowler

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