DANIEL 10

The reason for this post is… I was at a Bible teaching on Daniel 10 one day (actually it was a part of a series on the entire book of Daniel) and I believe the “speaker” got it totally wrong.

My scripture text begins at verse 4…

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.

So we have a description here of a vision Daniel had of “a certain man” clothed in linen, girded at the waist with gold, a body like Beryl, a face having the appearance of Lightning, eyes as torches of fire, etc.

Beryl is a silicate of beryllium and aluminum… a mineral composed of beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate… of which the Emerald, Jasper and Aquamarine are a part. It would seem that the Internet cannot agree on the color of the beryl mentioned in Daniel, probably like Jasper. 

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.

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.

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.

There is a similar description in Revelation chapter one…

and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.… His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.… When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.…

Clearly of the Lord Jesus in Glory.

Continuing on now, we have an interruption in the interaction between Daniel and the man in his vision, Who is clearly the pre-incarnate Christ… an interruption by a hand suddenly touching Daniel…

10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

15 When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless.

So here, verses 10–15, we clearly have a being of lesser authority than the Lord. I say this for three reasons…

1. He was SENT, a messenger… obviously by One Who could order this being, possibly Gabriel, to do something. In fact, the Greek word for angel is, angelos. It means “M E S S E N G E R!”

2. he was WITHSTOOD by the prince of the kingdom of Persia. The prince of the kingdom being a satanic being/demon who was the influencing force in Persia. Kind of like with the United States today. The angel, perhaps Gabriel, was “withstood” meaning “to stand against, to hinder.” The angel was delayed 21 days from the moment he was sent. Notice, the demon did not overcome Gabriel, BUT was able to continue in the warfare without being defeated until….

3. MICHAEL the Archangel, came to Gabriel’s rescue.

So this being was a “messenger,” was able to be withstood by a demon for 21 days, and needed rescue by Michael the Archangel. This could NOT be the pre-incarnate Christ, God the Son. And yet, THAT is what was taught that day in church.

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.”

18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.

19 And he said, “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.”

20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.

21 But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.

There are some Christians who declare this passage in Daniel to be a theophany of the pre-incarnate Christ – Who is God the Son. And perhaps it is, partly. BUT… verses 10–15 do NOT refer to the pre-incarnate Christ. For the three reasons I gave above, it must be an angel appearing with God the Son; some believe Gabriel... or it is an angel throughout the vision. If anyone really believes the being in verses 10 – 15 is the pre-incarnate Christ, God the Son, then you do not worship a Sovereign God. You worship a being subordinate to satan.

Undoubtedly there is today an evil angel… a demon assigned to the United States to stir up all kinds of trouble and to corrupt. Doubtless he's been promoted lately! There is one also assigned to Russia, and to China, and to all the other countries of the world. These evil angels relate to the countries of earth by influencing rulers and people to do evil. That is the revelation Daniel was shown. There are also angels who are ministers of good, of justice and truth, and they are in conflict, the one with the other.

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, wicked spirits in high places, the rulers of the darkness of this world. Ephesians 6:12