This chapter poses some problems and mysteries. It falls into three parts.
1. Daniel’s state of mind as he reacts to this final vision of the book.
2. He has an awesome vision of a dreadful man.
3. Daniel is comforted.
This final vision of Daniel, who is called Belteshazzar, Daniel 1:7, is extensive, taking up three chapters. It is dated ‘in the third year of Cyrus king of Persia’, Daniel 10:1 / Ezra 1:14 / Ezra 3:1 / Ezra 3:8.
We learn from Daniel 10:4 that it took place by the banks of the Tigris River. It was on the 24th day of the month Nisan, two years after the decree of Cyrus for the Jews to return to Jerusalem.
In Daniel 1:21, it is stated that ‘Daniel continued even unto the first year of King Cyrus.’ This does not imply he died at this time. It would seem that he retained his position of authority until then. He may have retired from the court after the accession of Cyrus.
The expression, ‘but the time appointed was long,’ Daniel 10:1, has been rendered and interpreted in a variety of ways. Some of the best scholarships seem to feel that it relates to a great warfare with many calamities to be endured. Many feel this is the warfare to come at the end of the seventy weeks related in Daniel 9:24-27, which would be the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
The vision made known was a great truth that would certainly come to pass, Daniel 10:2. There was no doubt in his mind that it would happen. It was evidently to be a great and long warfare, Daniel 10:2.
We also know that there was a series of wars during the period between the Old and New Testaments. Also, after their return from captivity, the Jews encountered difficulties in rebuilding the walls of the city, so they had to arm themselves for protection as they engaged in their work.
Whatever it was, it had to do with Daniel’s people, and it pertained to ‘the latter days’, Daniel 10:14. It was to be terminated when the ‘holy people’ had their power broken, Daniel 12:7. It would seem the evidence is strongly in favour of the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
While we do not know for certain, the meaning Daniel did know. He was so upset by the vision that he could not eat or anoint himself. He entered into three weeks of mourning and prayer, Daniel 10:3.
After three weeks, on the 24th of the month Nisan, which would roughly correspond to our month April, Daniel was standing by the Tigris River, Daniel 10:4. Why he was at this location we do not know.
He saw an awe-inspiring vision of a man clothed in linen, Daniel 10:5 / Acts 1:10. As it turns out, the man is an angel. In Revelation 15:6, linen is represented as the raiment of angels. He had a girdle of fine gold, Daniel 10:5. The term Uphaz is an unknown place from which gold was brought, Daniel 10:5.
Beryl is a mineral that is green or bluish-green, Daniel 10:6 / Revelation 1:13-16. His face was brilliant like lightning, Revelation 1:16. His eyes were like lamps of fire, thus keen and penetrating, Revelation 1:14.
His arms and feet were like polished brass, Revelation 1:15. His voice sounded like a multitude of people, strong and loud, Revelation 1:15. Some believe that this is Jesus, but Daniel 10:13 makes it clear that he is one of the angels.
Daniel was accompanied on this occasion by some men, but they did not see the vision; something happened to cause them to run away in fear, Daniel 10:7. Daniel is alone and sees the vision.
He was completely overcome and became very weak; his countenance became pale, Daniel 10:8 / Isaiah 6:1-3 / Jeremiah 1:4-19. A similar thing happened to John on Patmos, Revelation 1:17.
Butler, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The directness of this revelation literally drained every bit of physical strength from Daniel. Whatever appearance of health and strength Daniel had disappeared. It would be good for those who treat visions from the Lord and visits from angels lightly, claiming many such visions indiscriminately, to note how severely even a saint like Daniel was affected.’
The angel speaks to Daniel, and upon hearing his voice, Daniel sinks prostrate and senseless upon the earth, Daniel 10:9 / Daniel 8:18. The angel touches Daniel and causes him to be raised to his knees and hands. He still does not have the strength to stand erect.
The angel speaks to Daniel and calls upon him to pay attention to what has been said. He commands Daniel to stand up, Daniel 10:11. Daniel was greatly loved in heaven, Daniel 10:11 / Daniel 9:23 / Daniel 10:19, and this is why the angel has been sent. Daniel now stands erect, trembling, Daniel 10:11.
God hears and answers Daniel’s prayer, James 1:5, and Daniel is told not to be fearful, Daniel 10:12. From the very day he had started his prayer and fasting, the angel had been dispatched to come to him to answer his prayers, but had been detained from coming to Daniel, Daniel 10:12.
Dunagan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘God ultimately rules in the kingdoms of men, that is, He has final control over their rise and fall, Daniel 5:21 / Jeremiah 18. What is also true is that nations, just like individuals, can embark on a course that moves away from God and thus end up in the hands of Satan. This is one reason why Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would fall down and worship him, Luke 4:6. This is also why Satan is called by Jesus ‘the prince of this world,’ John 12:31 / John 14:30 / John 16:11.’
Dunagan, in his commentary, continues and says the following.
‘From the standpoint that Paul exhorts us to put on the whole armor of God, because we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of wickedness, it would appear that Satan still seeks to deceive nations and use them to persecute God’s people, Ephesians 6:11-12 / 1 John 5:19. No wonder that John, in the Revelation letter, speaks of Satan as the one who ‘deceives the whole world’, Revelation 12:9. In every nation, Satan and his angels seek to influence decisions that will hinder the preaching of the gospel and hinder the spread of God’s truth.’
The reason for this delay was that the ‘prince of the kingdom of Persia’, Daniel 12:13, had detained him. It is believed that this was an opposing or evil angel, one who was influential over the government of Persia, trying to influence it toward an unfavourable attitude toward the Jews, Ezra 4:1-24.
We know from the previous chapter that Daniel was concerned about the return of his people from captivity. So much depended upon the attitude of the Persian government. It was important that they be favourable toward the Jews as they went about rebuilding the city and walls in Jerusalem and the raising of the temple.
Leupold, in his commentary, says the following concerning Daniel 10:13.
‘Bad angels, called demons in the New Testament, are, without a doubt, referred to here. In the course of time, these demonic powers gained a very strong influence over certain nations and the governments of these nations. They became the controlling power. They used whatever resources they could muster to hamper God’s work and to thwart His purposes.’
Michael, another angel of God, came to Daniel’s assistance, Daniel 12:13. Michael intervenes to help this heavenly messenger, and this enabled him to finally come to Daniel. Michael is mentioned again in Daniel 12:1, Jude 9, and Revelation 12:7.
Notice that the text actually says that Michael is ONE of the chief princes; it doesn’t say Michael is the ONLY one or THE one. The New World Translation has a footnote for Daniel 10:13 for the phrase ‘one of the chief princes,’ and the alternate translation which is given is ‘a prince of the first rank.’
Remember, the footnotes aren’t inspired by God, but ask yourself, even if this footnote were true, could it not imply that Michael is ONE of a number of princes of first rank, just like any modern-day army can have a number of generals?
Notice in Jude 9, what the text says, it says that Michael wouldn’t dare to condemn the devil; instead, Michael said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ The very fact that we see that Michael the Archangel said, ‘The Lord rebuke you,’ demonstrates he can’t be Jesus.
In other words, if Michael were the Lord Jesus, why would He refer to someone else as Lord? Also, if Jesus was Michael and wouldn’t dare to condemn or rebuke Satan, then why did Jesus rebuke Satan on at least two occasions? Matthew 4:10 / Mark 8:33.
If the prayer of Daniel on behalf of his people was to be answered, some influence favouring the position of the Jews with the removal of any obstacles which might impede their progress had to be manifested.
The dispatched angel had run into opposition. With the help of Michael, this angel had been able to overcome the unfavourable influence of the evil angel and secure a favourable attitude on the part of the Persian government.
After a delay of twenty-one days, Daniel 10:13, the angel arrives to inform Daniel of what would happen not only immediately but even down to the ‘latter days’, which was at that time a long way off, Daniel 10:14. In Daniel 10:20, the latter days covers the era when Persia and Greece will rule over God’s people, and Daniel 11 deals with that era in detail.
It seems Daniel is overcome by all this and lays his face on the ground, becoming speechless and exhausted, Daniel 10:15. One who looked like a man touched his lips in order for him to speak, Daniel 10:16.
The phrase ‘touching my lips’ may refer to the angel giving Daniel divine assistance to find boldness to address the supernatural. It would appear that Daniel was filled with grief; he felt weak, couldn’t speak, had no strength and could hardly breathe, Daniel 10:17.
The one who looked like a man is filled with compassion towards Daniel as he is now encouraged to be comforted, yet to be strong. He has nothing to fear but must be strong so as to bear the message the angel brings to him.
The angel tells Daniel that he has his own warfare to carry on. The conflict in Persia has not yet been resolved. He must return to complete arrangements which had been commenced.
It would seem that the difficulties were not yet completely overcome; it was desirable for him to return to exert further influence at the Persian court so that the desired objectives might be accomplished.
After this, there would be another conflict with the prince of the kingdom of Greece. Some think just the opposite is meant, that with the coming of the king of Greece, things would be on a different footing, and they would have the favour of Alexander the Great. History seems to indicate that Alexander was favourable toward the Jews.
Michael was the supporter of the angel dispatched from God. Due to his help, this angel was able to tell Daniel what was inscribed in ‘the Book of Truth.’ This book of God contained all His plans, purposes, and decrees regarding the future.
Butler, in his commentary, says the following concerning the Book of Truth.
‘It is a phrase to inform Daniel that the history which is about to be revealed (chapter 11) contains events of which God’s wisdom alone bears record, and as always, is infallibly accurate.’
Angelology, the study of angels, is a most fascinating subject. We do not know all that we would like to know about angels. It is clear from what is stated in this chapter that in the spirit realm, there are dominions and principalities just as we have in our own realm here on earth.
Paul refers to this wicked realm in Ephesians 6:12. This spiritual host of wickedness is headed by the devil. Jesus calls him “the prince of this world,” a title which shows he has unusual power and authority. Paul calls him ‘the god of this world.’ Wicked angels who sinned and were cast down to hell, 2 Peter 2:4 / Jude 6, are subject to Satan, their prince.
They evidently have rank and authority among themselves. They seem to thrive on world rulers influencing them to a great degree, Luke 4:6. The warfare between God’s angels and the angels of the devil is symbolically described in Revelation 12:7.
The Jews in Daniel’s time had powerful opponents, but they also had powerful allies in the angels dispatched by God. Would not the same be true of God’s people today? Hebrews 1:14. Let us be careful that Satan does not overcome us. We must fight hard, but at the same time, it seems we will have the help of angels.