DANIEL - CHAPTER 10
DANIEL – CHAPTER 10
The Great Vision (10:8)
Taught by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Chapters 10-12 record Daniel’s final vision and is called “the Great vision” in verse 8 by Daniel himself. Daniel is still in Babylon in exile. Daniel is 86 years old at this time. It would now be approximately 5 years since he had the vision of the 70 weeks. David calls a prayer meeting. For three weeks Daniel mourned and prayed with several others while observing a partial fast.
On the first day Daniel started his prayer, God sent the Angel of the Lord in response to his prayer. The devil obstructed the passage of the angel with all his might, for the devil was afraid that he might lose his domain by the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
Daniel prayed daily, but had a vision only now and then. In 2 Cor. 12:2: Paul said I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. Paul says he has heard inexpressible things. But to keep him from becoming conceited due to these surpassingly great revelations, there was given to him a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from satan to torment him.
The revelation Daniel received is recorded in chapter 11. It was about war in the spiritual world. The revelation in chapter 12 concerns war in the human world.
The date of the vision is in the 3rd year of King Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28-45:1-6).
Cyrus was named and appointed by the Lord before he was born:
- Cyrus was to be a shepherd of God’s people.
- Perform God’s pleasure in liberating the Jews.
- Decree the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
- Decree the rebuilding of the temple of God in Jerusalem.
- Subdue all nations.
It was God’s good pleasure to raise up Cyrus:
1. Call him;
2. Make him ruler over kings;
3. Give nations to him to destroy;
4. Hold his right hand;
5. Subdue nations before him;
6. Loose the loins of kings;
7. Open the two leaded gates before him;
8. Go before him;
9. Make crooked places straight;
10. Break the gates of brass;
11. Cut the bars of iron asunder;
12. Give him the treasures and riches of Babylon;
13. Direct all his ways;
14. Punish the nations that had taken his people captive to prove to Israel and the heathen that the Lord is God.
Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah and a remnant were in a battle in Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the city. However, the work was being delayed by the interference and false accusations of countries neighboring Judah. Some think this was the purpose of Daniel’s intense prayer. This is valid. However, due to Daniel’s governmental anointing, I could say that he was called to prayer to engage by prayer and fasting in the battle raging in the Heavens between the Angel of the Lord, Michael, the Prince of Persia and the Prince of Grecia having to do with the Lord’s Kingdom purposes for those nations.
Here we see the scene behind the stage of the physical world---that is the spiritual world. Many lose heart in prayer, concluding that the answer will not come. The Lord wants us to recognize what is happening in the spiritual world so we can have hope to wait just a little longer.
Our prayer is our warfare. When we pray on the earth, the angels of God sent to answer our prayer fight in the realm of the First and Second Heaven between humanity and the throne of God, where the devil, who is the prince of the air, is encamped. His demons are desperately endeavoring to block our prayers from reaching heaven. As we continue in prayer, we are warring with the angelic host to defeat satan and his demons.
10:4-9: “In the 24th day of the first month, I was by the side of the great river which is the Hiddekel. Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz. His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I Daniel alone saw the vision; for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me deadly pale, and I retained no strength.”
To me, this is the same description of Jesus as seen in vision by John in the Book of Revelation. Commentators do not all agree on this. Those who do not, have the notion that if this was Jesus, He could have come quickly, penetrating the encampment of the devil. I will refer to this messenger throughout this teaching as the Angel of the Lord. It would feel irreverent in my Spirit to address him any other way.
Rev. 1: 12-18: “In the midst of the seven candlesticks one like the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and gird about the chest with a golden girdle. His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace. His voice as the sound of many waters. He had in His right hand seven stars, and out of His mouth went a sharp two edged sword; and His countenance was as the sun shines in His strength. When I saw Him, I fell at his feet as dead. He laid His right hand upon me, saying to me, “fear not: I am the first and the last. I am He that lives, and was dead; and I behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Linen was worn by the priests, David and angels. Jesus is the High Priest of our profession. That he gleamed like chrysolite is a picture of physical perfection with the Glory of God manifest.
Verse 7 recalls to us Paul’s experience in Acts 9. Even though the others who were praying with Daniel did not see the Lord, the heavenly presence affected all around; to Daniel it was greater than before. He grew weak and powerless. So it is whenever heavenly meets human.
10: 10-11: “Behold a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. He said to me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright; for to you am I now sent. When he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, Fear not Daniel; for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to chasten yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I am come for your words.”
The Angel of the Lord refreshed Daniel and set him on his feet although not immediately. Daniel first went to his knees then to the palms of his hands. The Angel of the Lord wanted him to hear clearly the detailed explanation about the war in the spiritual world. This war is described in only one other place in the Bible:
Eph. 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
While studying Acts, Chapter 7:42-43, there is mention of the Israelites worshiping the “host of heaven”; “Moloch”; and the “star of your god Remphan”. It was believed that Rempham was king of the heavenly deities.
10: 13-15: “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me 21 days; but lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what shall befall your people in the latter days; for yet the vision is for many days.
We are to realize that behind every earthly ruler there is a demonic force for good or evil with supernatural power.
Gabriel helped Michael overthrow the prince of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar and establish Persia under King Cyrus. Now in the third year of Cyrus, the Angel of the Lord is revealing to Daniel a great war yet to come.
Different good and bad angels have under their control certain responsibilities in certain kingdoms. Daniel carried a governmental anointing. Throughout his life, the visions concerning the rise and fall of kings and nations was given to him.
God ordains certain angels and sends them forth to cause the rise and fall of certain kingdoms. Also satanic princes over these kingdoms try to hinder the rise and fall of such kingdoms for fear of losing his domain by the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
Daniel 2: 44-45: “In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. For as much as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold…”
The battle is fought in prayer for nations and leaders.
Nevertheless, it took 21 days for the angel to come to Daniel. We read here that the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted the angel 21 days so that the angel was detained.
The King of Persia was a human being who lived on the earth. How then was it possible for the Angel of the Lord to be detained for 21-days by a human being?
Here lies a deep secret of the spiritual world. We must realize that behind this earthly king of Persia was a demonic force all called the king of Persia. The demons were encamped in the air over that throne, and they took possession of the king of Persia and his people, exercising strong influence over them.
From this we know that behind the human kingdoms of the earth there is always a struggle between the demons and the angels of God. For that reason we Christians must view evil rulers in the light of this spiritual reality.
With this scene in mind we should remember that throughout all the ages those who pray for their country and their people are the true patriots, men and women of prayer who have fervently dedicated themselves to a vigil of fasting and prayer. We should pray day and night for the leaders of our country.
Similarly when we are praying for the repentance of family members, we should also take the victory in the war of the spiritual world. Exhortation and persuasion with worldly wisdom cannot bear any fruit. For example, a spirit of rebellion and defiance will cause Children to be even more resistant to authority when parents discipline them. I am not saying that we should not discipline children. Merely that when you are dealing with a spirit of rebellion, that is not the answer.
At such times, parents should pray that the demons who are behind their children be cast out. A person is completely changed when the demons are cast out and the Holy Spirit comes in. The bible says that, when Philip preached the gospel to a city in Samaria, evil spirits came out of many with shrieks, and many paralytics and cripples were healed (Acts 8: 5-8). Evil spirits must first be cast out to heal those who are paralyzed and crippled spiritually and make them children of God who are overcomers.
10: 16-19: “behold one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to him that stood before me, O my Lord by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. For how can the servant of this my Lord talk with this my Lord? For as for me, immediately there remains no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. He said, O man greatly beloved, fear not; peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong. When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, Let my Lord speak; for you have strengthened me.”
Even the encouragement left Daniel confused. The speaker had first to assure him he could speak in his presence. Finally a figure touched and gave strength to Daniel with words of greeting, so that at length he was ready.
The Angel of the Lord’s work is to restrain the Persians’ angel, then the Greeks’, that God’s limits be maintained. The affairs to be unveiled to Daniel were certain written in the Book of Truth of God’s decrees. The Angel of the Lord was responsible for control of the coming events with the aid only of Michael. He had been striving on Israel’s behalf since Babylon fell, the first year of Darius.
10: 20-21: “Then he said, Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. But I will show that which is noted in the scripture of truth; and there is none that holds with me in these things, but Michael your prince”.
Michael is here identified as the Angelic prince of Daniel’s governmental office.
The scripture of truth in verse 21 concerning the overthrow of Persia by Grecia was given in chapter 8: 1-26 in the 3rd year of the reign of Belshazzar. The spiritual warfare to fulfill this prophecy was not done until Chapter 10 in the 3rd year of King Cyrus.
The prince of Grecia who was to come was Alexander the Great who overthrew the Persians quite easily because it was God’s time and the battle had been waged and won down by the riverside by Daniel in prayer.
The fight will continue with the kingdom of satan and with his power to the end of the world. We should pray unceasingly to help angels win in the spiritual war.
Our nation is politically polarized with the spiritual warfare to control this nation. The so called Evangelical Christians have joined the political contention. We must concentrate our efforts to pray that the U.S.A. may more abundantly receive grace and be filled with the Spirit, that the fire of revival may grow.
We are all generals engaged in spiritual war, and Michael, the captain of God’s host, stands by our side.
Daniel 12:1 “At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people.”
Because of this scripture, we have considered Michael to be the Angelic Prince over Israel. Yes, he is! However, the word for children here means “Sons”. I believe he is also the Angelic prince of the “Sons of God” in spiritual Israel warring with the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of the saints for the eternal purposes of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven.
Revelation 12:7: “And there was war in heaven’ Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation ,and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before God day and night. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives to the death.”
This war in the heavens is being fought over the “manchild”, the anointed one, Jesus and His Sons. The Sun Clothed Woman is always the ”carrier of the anointing”, whether this is metaphorical of the nation Israel, The virgin Mary, or those who through faith have given birth to the anointing. The “manchild” is the birth of the anointing in the Sons of God.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V.; Bibliography, Daniel Insight on the life and Dreams of the Prophet From Babylon by: Paul Yonggi Cho; F. F. Bruce Bible Commentary; Teaching of Pastor Carolyn Sissom on Daniel dated Nov. 3, 1994. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those from whom I have gleaned.