PHIL HARRIS | Seeker of Truth
Daniel’s Introduction
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.—Daniel 10:1
According to the Matthew Henry Commentary, “the third year of Cyrus king of Persia” refers to three years after Cyrus’ conquest of Babylon—534 BC. This Cyrus was the grandfather of Cyrus the Great.
At this time a message in the form of a vision was revealed to Daniel concerning a coming great conflict:
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks.I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.—Daniel 10:2-3
What Daniel learns from this ‘word’ we are not told, but it was serious enough to causes him to mourn and begin fasting for three weeks. What follows in this chapter suggests that received distressing news concerning what would happen to the Hebrew people.
Preincarnate Messiah
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris)—Daniel 10:4a
Here we have the exact time and place of this event. In accordance with the Hebrew calendar, this vision occurred on the 24th of Nisan (April 24 in our calendar) in the year 534 BC. The place would have been outside the city of Babylon on the west bank of the Tigris River and about 53 miles south of modern-day Baghdad.
Daniel was probably well over 90 years old at that time.
I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.—Daniel 10:4b-6
This startling appearance represents a new kind of prophecy within the book of Daniel. Instead of Gabriel or another angel appearing, Jesus Christ the Messiah and Son of God appeared before Daniel. In fact, appearance is very similar to what the apostle John experienced many years later:
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.—Revelation 1:12-16
Daniel knew he was witnessing more than just a vision. Just as when Moses saw the burning bush, Daniel realized he was on holy ground and reacted accordingly.
Daniel learns that the “son of man” is given an everlasting dominion. To the Jews “the son of man” was the Messiah, and we know him as Jesus the Savior of the world. Jesus applied the title “son of man” many times to Himself in the New Testament.
And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.—Daniel 10:7
This is much like what happened to Saul in Acts 9:1-9 where he was struck to the ground while on his way to Damascus. He heard a voice from heaven saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.—Acts 9:7
Daniel testifies:
So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength.—Daniel 10:8
Daniel has been fasting for three weeks. His friends have fled out of fear. And now he is astounded by the appearance of God himself. This “man” with “eyes like flaming torches” simply took away his strength.
Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.—Daniel 10 10:9
He hears the very sound of God speaking to him. His response is to fall face down and enter into a deep sleep.
An Angel Comes to Daniel
And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.—Daniel 10:10-12
While Daniel is asleep, a hand touches him and informs him that he is greatly loved; therefore, he is to stand up and understand the words he is about to hear. He is told to “fear not” because from the day Daniel had humbled himself and sought understanding, God heard his prayers and responded by sending this angel.
Cosmic Powers In This Present Darkness
Daniel had called for this prayer meeting out of concern for what was happening or not happening at his present time regarding his fellow countrymen. Now he is to learn of something of even greater significance.
The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”—Daniel 10:13-14
The word “prince” (Strong’s H8269) includes the meaning of “patron-angel”. The context in this chapter of Daniel suggests this is the proper meaning. The context also reveals that there are good patron-angels battling fallen angels within the unseen spiritual realm.
This angel speaking with Daniel had been battling the “prince” of Persia until the angel Michael came to give him assistance. Since Persia is modern-day Iran, this background information about the patron-angels of those nations would explain why Iran continues to hate Israel in our own time.
Daniel now learns that the vision does concern the Hebrew people but is for “days yet to come”, meaning in the distant future.
As for ongoing spiritual warfare, the apostle Paul wrote this:
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.—Ephesians 6:12
Daniel Is Mute
When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”—Daniel 10:15-17
Upon learning that the purpose and meaning of this vision concerns the Hebrew people in the distant future, Daniel faced the ground and became mute.
According Strong’s H113, “lord” (lower case l) refers to a “man”. Therefore “one in the likeness” would be an angel who takes on the appearance of a man and touched Daniel’s mouth so he can now speak:
Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me.And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”Daniel 10:18-19
Daniel is strengthened by the comforting words of this angel. While the text doesn’t say so, this angel must have been Gabriel.
Ongoing Battle of Angels
Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come.But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.—Daniel 10:20-21
This angel came to encourage Daniel but needs to rejoin Michael in the fight against the evil patron-angel of Persia. Daniel is warned that the next evil to be aware of is the patron-angel of Greece. Michael (Daniel’s prince, Israel’s patron-angel) is the only one to fight at the side of this angel. Furthermore, this angel needs to rejoin the angel Michael in the fight against the demonic Persian patron-angel.
Ellen G. White claimed Jesus was once the angel Michael. Here in Daniel10:20-22 Michael needs assistance in the fight against the evil Persian patron-angel. Jesus, the eternal, all-powerful Son of God, would not have needed any such assistance. In John 10:22-30 Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”
While the bible is “the book of truth”, the context suggests that the last two chapters of Daniel is “the book of truth” that this angel has in mind.
Summary
- Daniel learns of a great conflict. The context of this chapter suggests that this conflict has to do with Israel, his people. Apparently Daniel is thinking in terms of what is or is not happening to the Israelites currently, at that present time of his prayer and his vision. He responds to what he learns by fasting and calling for a prayer meeting.
- On April 24, 534 BC, while praying on the bank of the Tigris River outside of Babylon, Daniel beholds the awesome appearance of a man clothed in linen and other forms of glory. When compared with Revelation 1:12-16 it is clear that Daniel is in the presence of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. At the sound of his voice, Daniel realizes he is on holy ground and falls on his face and into a deep sleep.
- The hand of an angel touches Daniel and informs him that he is greatly loved, therefore he is to stand up and understand the words he is about to hear. He is told to “fear not” because from the day Daniel had humbled himself and sought understanding, God heard his prayers.
- Daniel learns that this angel was held back for 21 days fighting the evil patron-angel of Persia until Michael finally came to help him. Daniel now learns that the vision is for “days yet to come”.
- Upon learning what will happen to Israel in the distant future, Daniel, shocked, becomes mute, has great pain, and is very weak. The angel, having the appearance of a man, touched him and gave him strength and encouragement but warns him of the immediate danger that is to come from Greece.
- Within this chapter of Daniel, Jesus is clearly portrayed as a person apart from the angel Michael. Such a claim of the two being the same person—a claim made by Ellen G. White —is heresy. Rewriting Jude 9 in The Clear Word to conform to this Adventist false doctrine is also heresy.
- This prophecy is continued in the next two chapters of Daniel.
—All references unless otherwise stated are taken from the ESV.
- Daniel 10: Daniel’s Prayer Meeting - April 3, 2025
- Daniel 9: Seventy Weeks of Years - January 30, 2025
- Daniel 8: Abomination of Desolation - December 5, 2024