The Heavenly Conflict of the Ages (Daniel 10)

Class Notes

• Daniel's Place and Time of Mourning (Daniel 10:1-4)
  • The time of events in this chapter is the third year of the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia (Daniel 10:1)
    • This is two years after the events of the previous chapter in which the SAME king is mentioned by his title "Darius", i.e. "the Restrainer" (Daniel 9:1)
    • Daniel has been retired from public office for two years (Daniel 10:1 cf. Daniel 1:21)
    • God is now to reveal to Daniel the final vision (Daniel 10:14 cf. Daniel 11:35; Daniel 12:4,9,13) concerning what shall befall Daniel's people in the time of their worst suffering (Daniel 12:1) during the
      "Times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24)
    • Daniel's prophecy, which reveals Israel's history during the entire course of the "Times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24 cf. Daniel 2:34-35,44-45), is very fittingly given a place of prominence in the Gentile courts of power for the duration of his lifelong prophetic ministry (Daniel 1:17-20 cf. Daniel 6:1-3)
  • Daniel is in mourning (Daniel 10:2) for having learned that "the time appointed was long" (Daniel 10:1) and is also in a time of fasting and physical privation (Daniel 10:3) as he was earlier when humbling himself before His God at the conclusion of God's chastisement of him and his people in Babylon (Daniel 9:2-3)
    • The Hebrew word "tsaba" translated "appointed" (Daniel 10:1) has the meaning of a protracted campaign of warfare
    • Daniel's three weeks of mourning is also the SAME amount of time (21 days) concerning a heavenly conflict which caused the delay of a Divine answer for Daniel (Daniel 10:12-13)
    • Daniel's people will also experience "Great Tribulation" (Matthew 24:21-22 cf. Daniel 12:1) for a period of three and half years (Revelation 12:13-14) as typified by Daniel's three weeks of mourning (Daniel 10:2)
  • Daniel's mourning comes to an end with the beholding of a glorious vision of Israel's glorified Messiah (Daniel 10:4-6)
    • The time of this vision is the 24th day of the first month (Daniel 10:4), which according to Israel's God-given calendar is AFTER the annual celebration of Israel's redemption from Egypt on the 14th day of the first month (Exodus 12:17-18)
    • Likewise, the mourning of Israel will be ended AFTER "her warfare is accomplished" and "her iniquity is pardoned" (Isaiah 40:1-2)
  • The site of this glorious vision of Israel's glorified Messiah (Daniel 10:4-6) was "the great river Hiddekel" (Daniel 10:4) and correctly identified as the Tigris in the Septuagint translation (Greek translation of the Hebrew around 250 BC)
    • The river was one of four tributary rivers, which flowed through God's sinless paradise giving life to Man's original habitation (Genesis 2:10-14)
    • Now these same rivers flow through Man's cursed habitation as a result of sin (Genesis 3:17-19) giving sustenance to the oppressors of God's people (Genesis 15:18-21; Psalms 83:3-8 cf. Revelation 16:12-14)
    • When Messiah returns in glory (Matthew 24:29-31) then will His people and His land be likewise transformed and ALL will be glorious (Isaiah 35)

• Daniel's Vision of Israel's Glorified Messiah (Daniel 10:5-6)
  • Daniel says he "lifted up mine eyes" and he beheld a "certain Man" (Daniel 10:5)
    • This expression, "lifted up mine eyes", was used earlier when beholding another vision by another river
      (Daniel 8:2-3)
    • The "certain Man" Whom Daniel beheld (Daniel 10:5) was the SAME "Son of Man" Whom John beheld in his opening vision (Revelation 1:13)
      • The title, "Son of Man", is used FIRST to describe Israel's Messiah in the LOWLINESS of His first advent (Matthew 8:20) and is LASTLY used to describe Israel's Messiah in the GLORIOUS EXALTATION of His second advent (Revelation 14:14)
  • The parallels between Daniel's vision of Israel's glorified Messiah (Daniel 10:5-6) and John's vision of Israel's glorified Messiah (Revelation 1:13-15) are indeed striking:

    • "clothed in linen" (Daniel 10:5)

      "clothed with a garment" (Revelation 1:13)

      • These were priestly garments (Exodus 28:3)

    • "loins girded with fine gold" (Daniel 10:5)

      "girt about the paps with a golden girdle" (Revelation 1:13)

      • John's description is of Messiah Who has finished "the travail of His soul" and is NOW seen "satisfied" (Isaiah 53:11) in the "midst" of His redeemed (Revelation 1:13)
      • In the East, when a person went out on a trip he pulled up his loin garment to his chest (paps)

    • "eyes as lamps of fire" (Daniel 10:6)

      "eyes as a flame of fire" (Revelation 1:14)

      • Nothing escapes the gaze of Him (Hebrews 4:13) "from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away" (Revelation 20:11)

    • "arms and feet like polished brass" (Daniel 10:6)

      "feet like fine brass burned in a furnace" (Revelation 1:15)

      • Strength with which He will "trample" His enemies (Isaiah 63:3-4)

    • "voice of His words like the voice of a multitude" (Daniel 10:6)

      "voice as the sound of many waters" (Revelation 1:15)

      • The voice of the "Lord God Omnipotent" Who "reigneth" (Revelation 19:6)

• Daniel's Human Weakness and Divine Strengthening (Daniel 10:7-11)
  • Daniel was "alone" in beholding the vision of Israel's glorified Messiah (Daniel 10:5-6) - ALL his companions "quaked" and "fled" (Daniel 10:7)
    • The apostle Paul was "alone" when arrested by the glory of the Lord (Acts 9:3; Acts 22:6) - ALL who were with him were "speechless" (Acts 9:7) and "afraid" (Acts 22:9)
    • Daniel's companions "fleeing" from the presence of Israel's glorified Messiah (Daniel 10:7) is a reminder of what awaits those who will seek to be "hid" from "the face of Him that sitteth on the Throne" in "the Day of His Wrath" (Revelation 6:15-17)
    • Daniel as the man "alone" (Daniel 10:7) in the Gentile courts of power is a type of his nation that is NOT to be "reckoned among the nations" (Numbers 23:8-10)
  • "This great vision" (Daniel 10:5-6) in which Daniel was "left alone" also left him with "no strength" and ALL his "comeliness" was turned to "corruption" (Daniel 10:8)
    • This is ever the experience of fallen man when confronted with the glory and majesty of his Creator
      • Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-5)
      • Job (Job 40:1-5; Job 42:1-6)
    • The apostle John "leaned upon the breast" (John 21:20) of the lowly "Son of Man" (Matthew 8:20), but "fell at His feet as dead" (Revelation 1:17) when beholding the glorified "Son of Man"
      (Revelation 1:13-15)
  • While beholding the vision of Israel's glorified Messiah (Daniel 10:5-6), Daniel hears "the voice of His words" and is put into "a deep sleep" with his "face toward the ground" (Daniel 10:9) as was the case in a prior vision (Daniel 8:18)
    • Two other individuals were made to experience "a deep sleep" by the Lord - a visual reminder that man cannot do what only God ALONE can do:
      • Adam when God made Eve, his "help meet" (Genesis 2:20-22) - God ALONE as Creator
      • Abraham when being told of his people's fiery trial in Egypt (Genesis 15:12-18), which is a striking type of Daniel being told of his people's final unprecedented "time of trouble" (Daniel 12:1) - God ALONE as Redeemer
    • The only other individual that the Bible records as having "fallen into a deep sleep" was a young man named Eutychus, who fell out of a three story window while Paul was preaching and yet was revived (Acts 20:7-11)
      • This is a very graphic portrayal of the Church in the "last days" (II Timothy 3:1) - positionally seated in the "third heaven" (Ephesians 2:5-6 cf. II Corinthians 12:1-2), but having "fallen" from experiencing its heavenly citizenship by "minding earthly things" (Philippians 3:18-20)
      • Many will be saved "yet as by fire" even though their life's work will go up in flames (I Corinthians 3:13-15)
  • Another person touches Daniel and lifts him to his "hands" and "knees" and addresses Daniel as "a man greatly beloved" and with encouraging words of instruction - he commands Daniel to "stand upright" and listen (Daniel 10:10-11)
    • This same person previously identified as "the man Gabriel" also told Daniel at that time "thou art greatly beloved" and was Divinely charged with providing instruction to Daniel (Daniel 9:21-23)

• Daniel's Divine Explanation of Delayed Response (Daniel 10:12-14)
  • Daniel hears the encouraging words "fear not" (Daniel 10:12) after seeing Israel's glorified Messiah (Daniel 10:5-6) as did John after beholding the SAME glorified Person (Revelation 1:13-17)
  • Daniel is assured that God has visited him with an answer to "his words" (Daniel 10:12), i.e. his mournful prayer (Daniel 10:2-3) concerning the meaning of what was "revealed" to him - that the time "appointed" (literally, "of warfare") was "long" (Daniel 10:1 cf. Isaiah 40:2)
  • Daniel is told the reason for the delayed Divine response was a 21-day heavenly conflict with "the Prince of the kingdom of Persia" (Daniel 10:13) during which time Daniel was engaged in prayer being in mourning and fasting (Daniel 10:2-3)
    • The conflict necessitated the help of Michael, "one of the chief princes" (Daniel 10:13), who is also identified as Israel's prince and the one who will stand up for Daniel's people in their darkest hour (Daniel 12:1)
    • The heavenly conflict always had, has, and will have earthly consequences:
      • Israel in the past (I Chronicles 21:1-7; Zechariah 3:1-2)
      • The Church at present (Ephesians 6:10-13 cf. Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:6-7)
      • Israel in the future (Revelation 12:1-6 cf. Genesis 37:9-11; Revelation 20:1-3)
  • Daniel is told that God has dispatched his visitor for the purpose of making him "understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days" (Daniel 10:14)
    • The identity of Daniel's visitor and his mission to Daniel were revealed in the two immediate prior chapters:
      • "the man Gabriel" (Daniel 8:16) to tell Daniel "what shall be in the last indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be" (Daniel 8:19)
      • "the man Gabriel" (Daniel 9:21) telling Daniel "I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding" (Daniel 9:22)

• Daniel's Human Weakness and Divine Strengthening (Daniel 10:15-19)
  • Daniel's reaction to hearing the words of the angel (Daniel 10:15-16) is similar to his reaction upon hearing the words of Israel's glorified Messiah (Daniel 10:6,9) - "speechless" with "face toward the ground"
    • isaiah was "undone" when he beheld the glory of the Lord (Isaiah 6:1-5)
  • Daniel marvels at how the angel is able to speak with Israel's glorified Messiah (Daniel 10:17 cf.
    Daniel 10:11-12) while Daniel was completely "without strength" after beholding Him in vision (Daniel 10:7-8)
    • "His angels" - "excel in strength", "do His commandments", "hearken unto the voice of His word" (Psalms 103:20)
    • "His angels" - each one "a ministering spirit" and "a flaming fire" (Psalms 104:4)
    • One angel slew 185,000 Assyrians in one night (II Chronicles 32:20-22 cf. II Kings 19:32-36)
  • Daniel is again strengthened with "the touch" of the angel (Daniel 10:18) as he was earlier Daniel 10:10-11)
  • Daniel is again assured to "fear not" and is now ready to listen (Daniel 10:19) as he was earlier Daniel 10:12)

• Daniel's Divine Assurance of Divine Understanding (Daniel 10:20-21)
  • The angel asks Daniel for confirmation concerning Daniel's understanding for the purpose of his visit (Daniel 10:20 cf. Daniel 10:11-12)
    • God communicated to Daniel detailed information on what will befall his people in the "latter days", i.e. the "time of the end" of Gentile dominion over them (Daniel 2:28-30 cf. Daniel 12:8-10)
  • The angel tells Daniel that upon leaving him - he will return to the heavenly conflict being waged over Daniel's people (Daniel 10:20 cf. Daniel 8:20-21)
  • Daniel is again assured of the truthfulness of God's Word ("the Scripture of Truth") to His earthly people and to Daniel himself (Daniel 10:21 cf. Daniel 12:1,13)
    • God's Eternal Record faithfully records the names (Malachi 3:16-17) and the sufferings (Psalms 56:8) of His redeemed
  • Daniel is told that ONLY two of God's chief princes remained true to Him after the fall of God's "anointed cherub that covereth" (Ezekiel 28:12-16 cf. Exodus 25:19-20; Exodus 37:8-9)
    • Gabriel, God's messenger to His earthly people (Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21; Luke 1:19,26)
    • Michael, God's warrior for His earthly people (Daniel 10:13; Daniel 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7)
  • Satan's chief princes, i.e. those belonging to "the Dragon" (Revelation 20:2) and "the Beast" (Revelation 19:20), are at least 17 in number:
    • The "seven crowned heads" on "the Dragon" (Revelation 12:3)
    • The "ten crowned horns" on "the Beast" (Revelation 13:1)
    • BOTH "the heads" and "the horns" (Revelation 17:3) are said to be "kings" (Revelation 17:9-10,12-13)
    • The reign of the seven kings occurs while "the Dragon" is still "in heaven" (Revelation 12:3), and is followed by the reign of the ten kings with "the Beast" AFTER "the Dragon" is cast out of heaven to the earth (Revelation 12:7-9,12) AFTER which he calls up "the Beast" (Revelation 13:1) from out of the "bottomless pit" (Revelation 9:1-3,11)

Study Outline

Daniel 10:1-4

Audio Message #1

Audio Message #2

Daniel 10:5-6

Audio Message #3

Daniel 10:7-11

Audio Message #4

Audio Message #5

Daniel 10:12-14

Audio Message #6

Daniel 10:15-19

Audio Message #7

Daniel 10:20-21

Audio Message #8