Snapshots from the Bible
Daniel Chapter 10
There is a story that is told of a quite memorable baptism service. The church where it occurred was in the middle of constructing a new worship center. They had not had their own baptistery in the first wing of their building, and they were so excited about having their fist baptism that they decided to hold it in the new building even before it was finished. The changing rooms were not complete, so they hung sheets across the front of the sanctuary behind the baptistery where the people could change after they were baptized.
One woman was very nervous about being immersed, and she had shared her fear with the pastor he had spent many days reassuring her that everything would be fine. She was the final person to be baptized, and as she stepped into the water, she began to panic. She turned to leave the baptistery, and grabbed for the railing, but grabbed the support for the sheets, down came the dividers, revealing the posterior of the man who had just come out of the water. He, in turn, jumped into the baptistery, the only place he could go to protect his dignity!
There are times in the Bible when the veil is lifted, and we get the chance to see things that we do not normally see. In II Kings 6:16 we read of Elisha’s servant who is looking out over the enemy that has gathered to kill them, and he says, “Elisha, we are going to die!” And Elisha responds, “Don’t worry, those who are with us are greater than those who are against us.” Elisha’s servant looks out over the thousands that oppose them, and then he counts those that are on their side, “one, two.” And he thinks, “That’s it, he’s wigged out! He’s lost it!” But Elisha says, “Lord, lift the veil, open his eyes, so that he can see.” And when the servant looked out, he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha, protecting them.
In the New Testament, we see one brief occasion when Jesus’ heavenly glory was revealed to three of His disciples. We call it “the transfiguration,” when the veil was pulled back just a little, and Jesus’ face and garments became as bright as the brightest sun, and His glory shown all around them.
In the book of Daniel, we have another instance of the heavenly veil being pulled back, and we get a brief view of something that is normally hidden from us. This is a fascinating passage! There are some amazing insights that are revealed to us in this snapshot from the Bible.
First, let me re-introduce to you the man Daniel. Last week we saw a portrait of Daniel from the first chapter of this book that bears his name. We saw that Daniel, even as a young teen, was a man of character. Despite being taken from his home, dragged off into captivity, forced into a foreign culture, placed in their schools to attempt to brainwash him of his Hebrew culture, perhaps physically abused – Despite all that, Daniel stood for his principles. He would not violate the law of God or worship the gods of the Babylonians. And we saw that God blessed him for his faithfulness. In that first chapter, we read that Daniel was promoted to serve in the king’s court. And we are told in verse 21 of that verse that he served the king of Babylon, from the second year of Nebuchadnezzzar’s reign until the first year of king Cyrus’ term. That means that Daniel served in the courts of Babylon from 603BC until 539BC. For 64 years Daniel served faithfully. During that time he and his friends had been the victims of treacherous jealous co-workers, threats of death, faced fiery furnaces, and lion’s dens. From one king to another, Daniel served them by serving God.
In the first verse of chapter 10 we read that it is not the third year of Cyrus’ reign. Now remember, Daniel served until the first year of Cyrus, so this is actually in the second year of his retirement. Daniel was in his early to mid teens in chapter one. He served for 64 years, and two more years have gone by since his retirement. That means that he is not probably in his late 70’s or even his early 80’s.
At that time, Daniel had a vision, but he did not understand it. The images he had seen disturbed him, and it troubled him that he could not interpret the vision. So he began to pray. Hmm…sometime read this book of Daniel and notice how Daniel prays. He prays for strength, he prays for insight, he prays in confession, he prays for his nation, he prays for understanding. Here he has added to his prayers a fast. For three weeks he has eaten nothing but bread and water. No fine food, no meat, and no wine. Obviously this vision had really disturbed him, and he was seeking God with all his heart.
In verse 4, we read that while he was by the banks of the Tigris River when he saw “a certain man.” This was not ordinary man. From the description, it seems pretty safe to say that Daniel is seeing Jesus himself – the description of Daniel is so close to the description of John in the book of Revelation – let me read that description to you. Now John was also an old man, at the end of his life, when he was this vision of Jesus, and here is how he describes him:
Rev. 1:12-17
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lamp stands, [13] and among the lamp stands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. [14] His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. [15] His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. [16] In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
[17] When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
Daniel had much the same response that John did. In verse 9 he says that when he heard the voice, he fell into a deep sleep, and his face went to the ground. (Sometimes that happens here, too. People here my voice, and a deep sleep comes over them, but I don’t think it’s the same thing!)
Now here’s where it gets interesting. An angel comes over and touches Daniel, and he is able to stand. The angel then says, in verse 12:
12] Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. 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. [13] But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. [14] Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."
This is where the veil is pulled back for Daniel, and for us, into the world of the struggle that takes place between the forces of God and the forces of evil. Look once again at the story this angel tells.
On the very first day Daniel had prayed to God, three weeks earlier, God had heard his prayer. Isn’t that a great truth?! God hears our prayers the moment we utter them! The God who put the stars in place, who set the earth spinning, who ordained that the sun would rise in the east and set in the west – the God who keeps it all in place is concerned with the day to day affairs of men and women, boys and girls today. Don’t just read that over and let it go in one ear and out the other. Dwell there for just a minute. “Since the first day that you set you mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard.” Wow! How often we fail to recognize this truth. The old hymn is right – “Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.” Far to frequently we wait until we have exhausted all the other options before we turn to prayer.
But not Daniel. Remember last week’s key phrase? “Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself…” Look at the angel’s words here: “Since the day you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself…” Daniel was one who took his walk with God seriously. He was a man of purpose and conviction.
Just as at the beginning of his life he purposed in his heart to stand firm for God, now he has set his mind to seek God. How we need people like this in the church today! People who will not be tossed around by the world’s onslaught, but will stand by their convictions and have such a determination to seek God’s heart and to do His will! Far too often we get derailed, discouraged or defeated – but not Daniel! He kept on fasting, he kept on praying, he kept on seeking until he got an answer. Jesus said, (Matthew 7:7)
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
Knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Those words were spoken in a tense that carries with it a meaning of continuous action – “Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking…” Daniel kept at it for twenty-one days, and I believe he would have kept at it longer if necessary.
But it wasn’t necessary. The answer came through to Daniel on day 21. Look at the cause for the delay. Verse 12: “I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me 21 days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the princes of Persia.”
This is a dramatic and somewhat disturbing picture of the battle that is raging all around us in an unseen dimension. This angel was sent from God the same day, and was unable to make it to Daniel for three weeks – why? The answer may shock you. We tend to think of angels as powerful spiritual beings that can rush to our aid unhindered and do miraculous things, but the lifting of this veil shows us that there is a spiritual war that rages all around us. In this specific case, the angel that was sent came up against the “Prince of Persia.” This is apparently a reference to a strong demonic being, who withstood the angel. These two spiritual beings struggled for the entire 21 days.
Most of the teaching we have in our popular culture about angels would cause us to think that the good angel would easily overtake the evil one, but he is unable to prevail. He has to call for reinforcements. And when he does, an angel named Michael comes to his aid. Michael is one of only two angels who are referred to by name in the Bible. The other is Gabriel. Michael is mentioned three times in Daniel, and again in the book of Jude, verse 19, where he is called, “Michael the archangel,” and then in Revelation 12:7, where Michael is shown as the leader of the forces of heaven in doing battle against Satan, defeating him and all his evil angels.
Michael is obviously one tough angel. Each time he is mentioned in the Bible, it is a struggle with the powers of darkness, both now and in the future in that great last battle. It took Michael’s direct intervention for the angel to get through to Daniel. When he arrived, he explained the vision to Daniel, a vision concerning the future of the Persian and Greek empires that were to come. Daniel, in his vision, gives us a record of history before it happened. Here in 539 BC, Daniel outlines history before it occurs – from the rule of Darius, through Alexander the Great of Greece, all the way through Rome, over 400 years, in specific detail, and then continues on to the second coming of Christ, which we still wait for. No wonder Daniel was disturbed by his vision! No wonder Satan wanted it kept hidden!
Daniel had no idea that this battle was going on. He does not know that God has heard him, and has already dispatched a messenger with the answer to his prayer. He simply knew that he was going to keep on praying until he had an answer.
One thing about looking behind the veil, you quite often are surprised by what you see! Certainly that was the case at that baptism service! It is also the case here. What an amazing view we have as we get rare, short peak into another dimension – the spiritual world that surrounds us. Does it surprise you? Does it change some of the preconceived notions you had about angels and demons? It does for me.
But more importantly, what are some practical lessons we can take from this snapshot of the Bible?
1. The word “quit” just did not exist in Daniel’s vocabulary.
Here was a guy for whom 60, 70 or even 80 years of age was still a time of godly vitality. He was still, even in his retirement, a man of prayer, a man of such character that God knew he could entrust him with this vision in the first place. But even more than that, when his fast went from a day, to two days, to 21 days, Daniel did not quit. He had “set his mind,” to seeking God, and he wasn’t going to let go until he found Him! Dennis Simon was telling me Wednesday night at prayer time that he is reading a book called “God Catchers,” that talks about this very thing – praying through. Getting on your face before God and praying and fasting and seeking God until an answer comes, until deliverance comes, until the matter is settled. Oh! How our church needs that! If there were anything I could plead with God for, it would be people who would pray like Daniel for this church, for this community, for lost people who need to hear the message of Christ! When it comes right down to it, everything else hinges on that. What else could be a problem? Do you think money would be a problem if we had people praying like that? Teachers? Youth volunteers? Nursery workers? I think not.
As I read this passage, I am struck by the thought that Daniels prayers were actually part of the battle that angel waged. I wondered, “What if Daniel had stopped praying at day 13? Or day 20? Would that angel have still come? Would he have been victorious? In verse 20 the angel says, “Do you know why I have come to you?'" That is encouragement to Daniel to think a bit. Then the angel goes on to answer his own question.
"But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I am through with him, lo, the prince of Greece will come." {Dan 10:20 RSV}
The implication is, "I've got a lot more fighting to do, Daniel, and I have come to strengthen you that you might fight with me. I'm going back and fight with the prince of Persia, the invisible angel behind the scenes of Persian affairs. And when I am through with him, then the prince of Greece will come. But I have strengthened you, Daniel, that you might stand with me in all this."
I believe that our prayers are part of the battle that rages between good and evil in our families, in our churches and in our nation. In Rev. 8:3-4, we read that the angels before the throne of God bring the prayers of the saints before God. Listen:
Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar, which was before the throne. [4] And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.
Our prayers are somehow linked, I believe, to the work and deeds of the angels of God. Are we helping them by our faithfulness? Do we “set our minds” to seek God, and stay with it?
2. Angels, good and bad, appear to be territorial.
Secondly, it seems from this story that angels, both good and bad appear to be territorial. The angel that came to assist Daniel describes the demon that fought him as, “the prince of Persia.” Later, he speaks of the “prince of Greece.” Likewise, Michael is described in 12:1 as the angel who stands watch over the people of Israel.
This is very important information. I believe that Scripture shows that there are not only demons of nations, but of regions. When Jesus got in a boat in Luke chapter, verse 22 and following, it very specifically says that he did so on a certain day, and gave them specific instructions, “let’s go to the other side of the lake.” Jesus was doing so with a specific mission in mind – he was going to battle the demonic powers of that region. That’s why the boat he was on was struck by a huge storm, to the point that the disciples were sure they would die. But Jesus calmed the storm. As soon as he landed, this demon possessed man came, and Jesus took control of that situation, and he cast out not one, but a Legion of demons who had dominion in that area.
I believe that demons are territorial. I believe that there are demons that have influence over entire nations, like Persia, Greece, or the United States. I believe there are demons that have responsibility for regions, states, cities or even neighborhoods. I believe that there is probably a demon that is responsible for the Internet – sometimes I think there is one who specifically targets cars and trucks and vans! I believe that there are demons that wrestle with the angels of God to prevent some from hearing the Gospel. You can see it. You give a clear, effective presentation of the truth of God’s word, and it’s like your speaking a foreign language to them! I believe that is spiritual warfare.
I don’t tell you this to freak you out – or have you going home paranoid about a demon behind every door or bush, but I think it is important that we are aware of the activity of our enemy. I want us to be aware because of the third lesson –
Let me remind you of the passage I eluded to earlier – Revelation 12:7. “And war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon (Satan), and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was any place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast our, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth and his angels were cast out with him.” After tormenting the earth following this defeat, Satan once again will attempt to fight against God, and then his doom will be complete. Revelation 20:10 we read of his fate: “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
There is a battle that rages all around us. It is a battle for the hearts and souls of men and women, boys and girls. Satan wants to blind and confuse the lost. He wants to discourage and frustrate the children of God. He will send his evil angels to blind you from the truth. He will try to convince you that God does not hear or answer your prayers. He knows his doom is already certain, but he wants to take as many with him as he can – he will do all he can to destroy you.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, and know the certainty of your eternal home, let this snapshot from the Bible encourage you to be a more disciplined and urgent person of prayer. When it seems God has not answered, keep praying it through. You don’t know, but there may be a spiritual battle raging all around you as Satan does his best to discourage you. Pray through the silence! Pray through the days, weeks or even years! Never give up! Your prayers are part of the battle! Set it in your mind to seek understanding and humble yourself, as Daniel did, and never quit.
Perhaps you have heard the truth of the gospel before, and there has been something that has kept you from responding. Maybe you have never known why you hesitate. It may be that some evil angel is working over-time to keep you blinded to the truth. Telling you that you have plenty of time; that you’ll get more out of life staying just as you are. If that is the case, Let me challenge you to set it in your mind today to seek God, to humble yourself, admit you are a sinner, find forgiveness in Him. Allow God to breath eternal life into your spirit that is dead in trespasses and sins, and by His grace alone, you will be welcomed as a member of God’s family, and you will have a life here on earth that is abundant, and life eternal with God when this one ends.
Father, in this hour, as the battle rages all around us for the souls of people and the heart of the church, will you grant to us a great victory this morning? Cast away that evil one who would hold back those to whom your Holy Spirit is speaking to this morning. Free your children from the oppressive lies and despair that the enemy wants us to live in. Grant us, Father, through your Holy Spirit, a heart like Daniel, that we may seek you, and humble ourselves, and know your presence in our lives day-to-day, moment to moment. It is all possible because of the life-giving work of your Son, in whose name we pray, Amen.