Immediately after the Jewish Feast of Rejoicing, Daniel went into three weeks of deep mourning with intense prayer and fasting. His grief was likely the result of having received the message that he now talks about.

The first verse of Daniel 10 suggests that he had the message already in some form (perhaps a vision also), but now receives its interpretation in the vision that will be described here. The message was so disturbing he mourned. Now he looks up and sees a vision.

Daniel 10:5-6

Then I looked up and saw a certain man dressed in linen, who wore a belt of the fine gold of Uphaz.

His body also was like beryl [or chrysolite], his face looked like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and feet were the color of polished brass, and his voice was like the sound of a multitude.

The description of this angel is almost identical to that of Jesus' appearance to the apostle John in Revelation 1:13-16. White robe, gold belt, face shining impossibly bright, eyes like fire, flesh like glowing bronze, voice like rushing water, rain or white noise (qol hamon). There are scholars who believe this is Jesus, for many reasons, including the sense of dread described in the next verse. Others say this could not be because of the fact, mentioned in verse 13, that he was held back by a demonic king. However, there are good rebuttals for the potential of the forces of evil holding back even Jesus for a time in this context. The result is an inconclusive argument. This angel may be Jesus, or it may be just an angel.

Daniel 10:7-8

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision, for the men with me didn't see it, but such terror fell upon them that they fled to hide themselves.

So I was left alone, and saw this great vision. There remained no strength left in me, for my color turned deathly pale and I became helplessly weak.

Daniel was evidently with companions at the Tigris river. But like the experience of Saul hundreds of years later, the men don't see the vision but know something spiritual is happening, which affected them in a powerful way.

"The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone."
-- Acts 9:7

The companions flee with an overwhelming sense of dread. Only Daniel is left. We flee from such a presence because when spiritual forces are so closely linked to our earthly existence, we are left with a deep understanding of our own fallen nature. The fear comes from a deep awareness that we are filled with sin and evil.

Daniel had no strength left. Though he didn't feel the terror that his companions experienced, the impact of this close interaction with the spiritual dimension left him trembling and weak. He couldn't move.

Daniel 10:9-11

Then I heard him speaking. As I listened to the voice of his words, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground.

A hand touched me, which set me upon my hands and knees.

And he said to me, "O Daniel, a man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand up, for I am now sent to you." And when he had said this to me, I stood trembling.

Daniel is called "highly esteemed" or "beloved of God." In the New Testament Gospel accounts, the apostle John is called the one Jesus loves and he is the one who receives the apocalyptic vision. In the Old Testament it is also the one loved by God who receives the apocalyptic vision.

Daniel 10:12-13

Then said he to me, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. From the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard and I have now come in response to them.

But the ruler of the kingdom of Persia resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I remained there with the kings of Persia.

This angel was held back from his attempt to reach Daniel by the spiritual forces of darkness. For 21 earthly days he battled the spiritual "king of Persia," a demon king in charge of the empire. This is one of the reasons scholars do not agree that this angel is Jesus, though there are strong rebuttals to this argument.

Note that in the second sentence related to this battle, the angel refers to these spiritual rulers in the plural. It wasn't just one demon king giving the Persian empire its blood lust!

Here we see a very real example of the structure of spiritual forces, both good and evil. The statement shows that demonic forces are organized into structural hierarchies. There are "ranks" of both angels and demons. Some are put in charge of groups, some in charge of cities, some in charge of countries and even of empires.

This passage also highlights a unique perspective on time. The angel indicates that he was held back for 21 days battling the demon king of Persia. God did not allow him to merely go back in time 21 days so that he appeared at Daniel's side the moment Daniel began to pray. Though God created time and has dominion over it, God does not apparently permit the spiritual forces to travel backwards in time. As with all of His perfect rules, this would make sense as a way to protect us. If spiritual forces could travel back in time they could potentially change history, so it would make sense that God does not allow this. Scripture always moves forward in time, never backwards. Scripture looks back in order to show us through examples of history our sinful condition or God's infinite love and grace. But Scripture never moves backward in time. When king Hezekiah saw the shadow move backwards on the steps (2 Kings 20:9-11), it was not an example of time going backwards but the shadow of the sun moving backwards.

next: War Far From Over

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