It’s about 536 BC.
Imagine you’re Daniel.
As a teen you were captured and castrated and hauled
hundreds of miles to Babylon.
From reading the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah, and
from dreams and visions and angelic visits, you knew that the captivity would
end after 70 years. (Isaiah 44:28, Jeremiah 29:10, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-3).
It’s been 70 years.
Just as prophesied Cyrus issued a decree and set the
captives free, even funded the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
You’re about 85. God’s been with you and promoted you
to one of the highest leaders of the land.
So, due to age and position, you figure you can do
more for God and country, by staying where you’re at. But your heart and
prayers are ever with your people and Jerusalem.
It’s been about three years since you had a visit from
the angel Gabriel. He gave you a 70 Week Prophecy that spans from the decree to
restore and rebuild Jerusalem to the Messiah and beyond.
Well, the ink is barely dry on the Cyrus decree. Was
that it? Has the 70 week clock begun?
How did it go again? There will be seven weeks, then
sixty-two weeks, then the Messiah will come...
But then...
The Messiah will be cut off? Executed? But
not for Himself ?
What does that mean?
Then another prince? The sanctuary and city, destroyed?
A covenant with many for a week? The abomination of desolation?
What does all that mean? Are my people walking back
into a trap?
Oh God! I need more information!
That’s where Daniel 10 begins.
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel,
whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but
the appointed time was long; and he understood the
message, and had understanding of the vision.
Clarification:
Only God knows why KJV and NKJV say: “but the
appointed time was long”
Original text has two words, which, by definition, reads:
Great; mass of people organized for war.
The NIV: “Its message was true, and it concerned a
great war.”
Most others are similar saying something like: Its
message was true, and it concerned a great conflict.
So, to paraphrase the verse says:
In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was
given a true message concerning a great war and he understood the vision.
Divine Timing.
In the third year of Cyrus...
God lives outside time but has certain hard stops on
our clock.
Jesus repeatedly said, His time or His hour
had not yet come. John 2:4, 7:6, 30, 8:20.
Until His hour
had come, then John 13:1, reads: "Now before the festival of the
Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this
world".
There’s a reason the Lord points to the clock. In the
third year of Cyrus tells us it’s been seventy years since
Nebuchadnezzar took Judah captive about 605 BC.
Which means the time had come for the captives to go
free according to prophecies recorded in Isaiah 44:28, Jeremiah 29:10, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-3.
Lord, help us to walk in step with Your
Divine Timing.
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three
full weeks.
Folks discuss why he was mourning.
We’ve already addressed how Daniel may have struggled
with the timing of the seventy year exile and the seventy-week prophecy.
Additionally, Scripture interprets Scripture, and we
just read in verse one that he was given a true message about a great war.
Then, to top it off, in verse 16 we read, “because
of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me.”
3 I ate no pleasant
food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all,
till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Daniel wasn’t depressed. He was not simply too bummed
out to eat. That would be a waste of time and of no value.
He was grieved in spirit and so he was fasting and
praying.
How do we know?
An angel tells us in verses 12-13. “Do not fear,
Daniel, for 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 come because of your words. 13 But
the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one
days.”
He saw something so he said something, to God.
He saw trouble coming, a great war, a conflict, and so
he went to war, spiritual warfare, in prayer.
He didn’t wait for all hell to break loose, for
everything to come undone.
He was productive and proactive and loaded up and went
full force into the first step for winning in spiritual warfare:
PREPRAYER.
At the first sign something was off, Daniel went to
God.
Proverbs 3:5-6.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 16:3. Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.
Matthew 6:33. But seek
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be
added to you.
Matthew 26:41. Watch
and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Philippians 4:6-7.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus.
James 1:5.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally
and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
What else did Danny do?
FAST.
Daniel may not have been on a total fast, but had no
pleasant food, no meat or wine and did not anoint himself. (Does that mean
he didn’t take a bath?).
In spiritual warfare, the first battle we must
win is our own.
Fasting is a fast way to victory over our
flesh.
Controlling appetite is serious business.
Adam ate, opening the gate for the curse on all
mankind.
Noah drank, resulting in a curse upon his son, Ham.
Esau ate away his birthright.
Esther, fasted three days, won the favor of the
king and saved the Jews from slaughter.
Luke 4:1, Jesus was led by the Spirit
into the wilderness but returned in the Power of the Spirit after
fasting forty days and nights. Luke 14:4.
Daniel and the boys refused the king’s meat and drink,
and God blessed them with wisdom and knowledge and understanding and favor.
Preprayer, get your flesh under control and...
PRAY THROUGH.
Daniel prayed until the answer came.
Matthew 26:41. Watch
and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak.
Galatians 6:9. Weary not in well doing,
for in due season you shall reap if you faint not. If
you don’t quit, you win.
This time, it was 21 days. Last time (chapter 9) the
answer came swiftly, right away, the same day.
Whether it be twenty-one seconds or twenty-one days or
years.
Keep praying.
Your prayer is heard immediately however the answer
may be delayed.
Always remember, the answer is His
answer.
If you’re trying to control the answer,
to be your answer, you may never see the answer.
Fastest way to answered prayer is: “Not my will but
yours be done.” Luke 22:42
4 Now on the
twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river,
that is, the Tigris, 5 I lifted my eyes
and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose
waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! 6 His
body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his
eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in
color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Compare those words to Revelation 1:13-15, when Jesus
appeared to John.
13 and
in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of
Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about
the chest with a golden band. 14 His head
and hair were white like wool, as white as snow,
and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His
feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace,
and His voice as the sound of many waters;
The similarities between the two cause many (including
me) to believe what Daniel saw by the riverside was a Christophany. Jesus
preincarnate.
Then, add to that Jeremiah 29:10a speaking of the
Babylonian exile. “After seventy years are completed, I will come to you...”
7 And I, Daniel,
alone saw the vision, for the men who
were with me did not see the vision; but a
great terror fell upon them, so
that they fled to hide themselves.
If the Creator of the Universe chose to show up right
here, right now, we’d all fall to our knees and our faces.
Some in the Presence
of the Lord fear and want to draw near. Others fear
and flee. It depends on the condition of their heart. Adam & Eve walked
with God in the cool of the day, until they sinned,
then they hid.
Daniel was seeking, fasting, praying, and his eyes
were opened.
Whereas the others did not see, they only felt terror
and ran to hide.
There may be angelic beings right where you are right
now. If the Lord willed they could appear right before your very eyes.
8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me;
for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength.
Did you notice that’s the second time Daniel said, alone.
We all stand or fall alone before the Lord. We
cannot blame anyone for our sins and failures and we cannot be propped up or
ride on anyone else’s successes.
No strength remained in me, said
Daniel.
We have no strength of our own, if we have any, it is
from the Lord.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me. Phil. 4:13.
By His Grace, if we give Him our lives, He becomes our
strength, our righteousness, and we never stand alone.
9 Yet I heard the sound of his words;
and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my
face, with my face to the ground.
I heard the sound of His words...
There is no escaping the Word of the Lord. His Word
has gone out to all the earth. Every morning, every evening the heavens declare
His glory. Psalm 19:1-4.
Even in our deep sleep He speaks.
We choose to accept or reject, but we cannot deny His
Voice was heard.
Daniel passed out, fainted. Face planted in the dirt.
10 Suddenly, a
hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees
and on the palms of my hands.
Notice it says “a hand” not His hand.
So?
Well, it matters if we believe Jesus was the One he
saw and heard by the riverside.
But now this must be an angel.
Why?
Well, skip ahead to verse thirteen and notice it says,
Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been
left alone there with the kings of Persia.
Jesus would need no help fighting the
princes of Persia, or all the host of hell.
Also notice the hand touched Daniel.
The touch helped raise him up. Remember, he was face
planted and passed out, but with a touch he was on his hands and knees.
We see the angelic touch three times in this
conversation.
Verse 16, he touched Daniel’s lips to help him regain
his composure and speak.
Verse 18, his touch gave Daniel strength.
It’s not so strange. Sometimes all a person needs is a
touch, a hug, and they are lifted, encouraged, and strengthened.
God set that up, and taught angels how it works.
Now watch the care, compassion, empathy of the angel.
11 And he said
to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that
I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to
you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
O Daniel, man greatly beloved.
Those same kind words were spoken the last time an angel appeared. Daniel 9:23.
Those same words are spoken to you. You
are greatly beloved.
I have now been sent to you.
Angels are ministering spirits for those who inherit salvation. Hebrews 1:4.
Angels are ministers, messengers, they are never to be
prayed to or worshipped.
12 Then he
said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for 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 come because
of your words.
PRAYER
The
effectual fervent prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. James
5:16.
From the first day. When
you set your heart, to understand, (to stand under) to humbly
come before the Lord, your prayers are heard right away.
I have come because of your words. Daniel’s prayer deployed
the angel.
Your prayers may activate angels. But remember they
are servants of God. Not you. Do not try to command them, or call them, or
activate them.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one
days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help
me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Angelic beings (good and bad) have territories.
Persia, Israel, Greece (vs. 20)
They have a hierarchy. Michael, chief prince,
Archangel, of Israel. The demonic prince
and kings of Persia.
There is an invisible battle that influences the
visible.
Your prayers influence both.
Ephesians 6:12-13. For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore
take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the
evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Daniel was 85, a eunich, yet a powerful Prayer
Warrior. He fasted and prayed and the answer was dispatched right away, but
delayed by spiritual warfare, by the prince of the kingdom of Persia.
Delayed but not defeated. Was it because Daniel
continued to pray? Did the power of prayer strengthen the good angel, weaken the bad, until Daniel's prayer prevailed?
When you pray, you’re heard right away, but the
answer may be delayed.
Keep praying!
Your prayers may determine the outcome.
The timing of the delay may be due to:
1) Spiritual
warfare.
2) God’s
Divine timing.
3) You
might not be ready.
14 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.”
Many days to come for Daniel.
For us, it appears we’re at the threshold.
Lord, we pray for spiritual discernment
to understand the times in which we live.
15 When he had
spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and
became speechless.
Perhaps memories of the great conflict came flooding
back.
16 And
suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched
my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me,
“My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed
me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can this servant
of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains
in me now, nor is any breath left in me.”
The angelic touch helped him to regain his composure
and speak.
The word “lord” small “l” is as if saying
respectfully, “sir”.
First the vision of the coming war, the great
conflict, and now you sir, leave a battle just to talk to me, a servant.
I’m overwhelmed, my lord.
18 Then
again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened
me.
And one more angelic hug, for strength.
19 And he said, “O man greatly
beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be
strong!”
Lord, we need some angels deployed to
speak these words to the men of our nation,
“O man greatly beloved,
fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”
So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and
said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
Strengthened by word and deed.
Encouragement with a simple touch and a kind word can
do much.
Daniel 10:20-21.
New Living Translation
20 He replied,
“Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit
prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the
kingdom of Greece will come. 21 Meanwhile, I will
tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these
spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.
How to win spiritual warfare.
Peace through Strength.
Philippians
4:6-7. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
There is nothing stronger than the Prince
of Peace guarding your peace.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us Your heart,
Your compassion, Your love, through Godly examples of men and angels. Help us
to learn and do likewise. Lord please stir up a passion in us to pray, to preprayer,
to pray through, so Your will is done in our lives, and all those You’ve given
us, so none are lost.
Thank You.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
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