Daniel 10

Daniel 10
Wednesday, October 28, 2020 by Zachary J. Hunter

Daniel 10: What it Means

By: Zachary J. Hunter

Last week I mentioned that there were several chapters of the Bible considered important right now via prophetic words. There are four; Daniel 9 and 10 as well as 2nd Kings 9 and 10. We have already covered Daniel 9 and this week we will be covering Daniel 10. In the following weeks I will cover the other two chapters as well. One caveat; if God tells me to write something else between now and then I will be doing that instead.

Daniel 10 starts off telling us it takes place in the 3rd year of the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia. Daniel 9, by contrast takes place in the first year of the reign of Darius, king of Babylon. The reason this is significant is that it means Daniel 10 takes place 20 years before Daniel 9. At this time Daniel received a vision of a great war. No further details on this war are given in this chapter.

What we do know is that this vision caused Daniel distress; he went into mourning for three weeks. During this time, he did not eat meat or drink wine. It does not say that he fasted completely but specifies what he did not eat or drink, also specifying that these were choice foods. He also did not use lotions during this time. I think this is significant because fasting is not always going without all food or water but can be more specific in what you give up.

On day 24 of the 1st month (of what he does not say but I presume it was since he had received the vision) Daniel was standing on the bank of the Tigris river. While there a man appears before Daniel. The man is actually the angel Gabriel. If you recall in Daniel 9 Daniel had called Gabriel “Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision.” Daniel goes on to describe what Gabriel looks like.

According to Daniel Gabriel was, “Dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, 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.” With a description like that I cannot guess how he could ever be considered a ‘man’. Maybe Daniel didn’t have another word to describe him with?

Daniel is the only person who sees Gabriel however his presence is so great that everyone else around flees in terror. From this we can gather that the bank was fairly busy with foot traffic. We can also get a decent idea of how great a presence spiritual beings have. Also, also, (also squared) this is one of the only times I have ever heard of people freaking out in the presence of angels without actually seeing the angel in question.

Even Daniel is affected, turning deathly pale and becoming helpless. Already having no strength left after three weeks of mourning he falls into a deep sleep face first on the ground. Gabriel touches Daniel and he gets to his hands and knees. Gabriel tells Daniel that he is highly esteemed and to carefully consider what Gabriel is about to tell him. Daniel is also told to stand up which he does.

Gabriel then gives the traditional heavenly greeting to humans, “Do not be afraid.” Go ahead, see how often angels say that to people they talk to and tell me that isn’t heaven’s greeting to us. Gabriel than says, “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.” I can only imagine he is speaking of Daniel’s time of mourning and what Daniel was trying to accomplish.

Gabriel however had encountered resistance in the form of the Prince of Persia, an immensely powerful demon with dominion over the area. How powerful was this demon? Powerful enough that Gabriel was delayed for 21 days and Michael, described as one of the great princes had to come help Gabriel out. For anyone who doesn’t think spiritual warfare is a thing, here you go. This also shows us that even among heavenly beings hierarchies exist.

Gabriel goes on to tell Daniel that he (Gabriel) is there to tell Daniel about his vision for it concerns the future and is about his (Daniel’s) people. Daniel was speechless and bowed his face toward the ground. Gabriel had to touch Daniel’s lips so he could even speak. Daniel said, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”

Gabriel touched Daniel again, giving him strength and telling him to be strong. Daniel now filled with strength tells Gabriel to speak for he has his strength back. Gabriel tells Daniel that he (Gabriel) is going to tell him (Daniel) what is written in the Book of Truth. Afterward Gabriel is going back to his fight with the Prince of Persia. The Prince of Greece, another demon, will be reinforcing the Prince of Persia. Gabriel’s only back-up is Michael. The chapter ends there, leaving me wondering what was told to Daniel and what war he saw a vision of.

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