5
Daniel 10 4-20-00
“Touched by an Angel!”
1. Intro (1-3)
1.1. Chapter 10 is really an intro to chapters 11 & 12’s prophecies(this is Daniel’s 4th Vision).
1.1.1. Breakdown: 10:1-11:1 Intro; 11:2-35 deals w/immediate future; 11:36-12:4 deals w/far future.
1.2. At this time the Jewish exiles have already returned to the land & were rebuilding the temple.
1.3. (1) In Cyrus’ 1st year as king of Persia, he gave the Jews permission to return to rebuild their temple.
1.3.1. Read Ezra 1:1-4
1.3.2. Some believe (like Josephus) that Cyrus’ heart was touched by Daniel sharing the Prophecy about himself in Isaiah 170 years before he was even born!
1.3.2.1. See Isaiah 44:28-45:1
1.3.2.2. This prophecy was in 710bc. - Cyrus was born 170 years later.
1.3.2.3. Also both Jerusalem & the Temple were still standing at this time!
1.4. (2,3) Now 2 years later, 50,000 Jews have returned, The Temple reconstruction is in progress, all is well??? Nope!
1.4.1. You’d think Daniel’s task was over, he’s old now, he was diligent to see the Jews through to getting back to their land.
1.4.2. This seems like a great time to cash in his Prophets 401-k’s. Find himself a little river front shack on the edge of the river Tigris.
1.4.3. Instead he found himself burdened by the harassing of Israel’s Ol enemies (Ezra 4:1-5). Also Daniel grieves for he knows the turmoil that awaits Israel in the future(though he doesn’t know when).
1.4.4. Daniel fasts & prays for 21 days…with know answer…heaven seems “Shut!”
1.4.4.1. Ever experience this before? {It’s like when you really need to talk to a friend & the phone rings & rings…no answer. Are they home & they just can’t answer? Are they home & they don’t want to answer? Are they home?}
2. THE VISION! (4-9)
2.1. (5,6) Who is this?
2.1.1. The debate continues on whether this is an angel, a theophany, or a christophany?
2.1.1.1. Theophany = Appearance of the Father or Jesus before His incarnation.
2.1.1.2. Christophany = Appearance of Jesus post-incarnation.
2.1.2. Many believe because of the description in Rev.1:13-15 it is a “theophany”.
2.1.2.1. But the description in Rev.1 is actually a “christophany”!
2.1.3. This was Daniel’s mini “mount-of-transfiguration” experience!
2.2. (7-9) Daniel & friends Response!
2.2.1. Though Daniel’s companions couldn’t see the “certain man”, they obviously felt its presence.
3. THE PROPHECY! (10-21)
3.1. Here Daniel tries to make visible what is in the invisible realm.
3.1.1. We have all dreamt of what it must be like to see into the unseen realm.
3.1.1.1. Explain: My glimpse of hell in the automotive store. (scary)
3.1.2. We must remind ourselves who are enemy really is!
3.1.2.1. Read Eph.6:10-13
3.1.2.2. We often forget this, when we fight amongst ourselves do we not?
3.2. We definitely learn a lot about angels in this section.
3.2.1. How does vs.10 seem different than the TV show “Touched by an Angel”?
3.2.1.1. Monica & Tess the angelic caseworkers floating into peoples lives with a word of hope for them.
3.2.1.2. Swindoll says, “It’s hard to imagine Daniel trembling before an angel named Tess!”
3.2.2. Before we get into this – Let’s take an Angelology test.
3.3. Q: What do we know about angels?
3.3.1. Different power of rank!
3.3.1.1. Eph.1:21 (Christ is raised….) “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”
3.3.2. They are vast in number!
3.3.2.1. Rev.5:11 “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,”
3.3.3. They do Gods will!
3.3.3.1. Ps.103:20,21 “Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.”
3.3.4. They boom His Praises!
3.3.4.1. Is. 6:3,4 "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.”
3.3.5. They stand as His Attendants around His throne!
3.3.5.1. Daniel 7:9,10 "I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.”
3.3.6. They’ve kept God’s people from their attacking Armies!
3.3.6.1. 2 Kings 6 Elisha/young man
3.3.7. They’ve released people from prison!
3.3.7.1. Acts 12 Peter
3.3.8. Guardian Angels?
3.3.8.1. Mt.18:10 “"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”
3.4. Q: What we shouldn’t speculate about angels?
3.4.1. Just because there was a “Prince of Persia” & a “Prince of Greece” that there is a “Prince over Murrieta”!
3.4.1.1. {Popular in Pentecostal circles as Spiritual mapping}
3.4.2. Just because a prayer isn’t answered it doesn’t always mean that angels are being held back.
3.5. When Believers Pray, God hears Immediately! (12)
3.5.1. Read vs.12 - When did the Lord hear Daniel prayer? – What does this angel note as to what he did right in praying? {he set his heart to understand & he humbled himself}
3.5.2. Heb. 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
3.5.3. Ps.4:3 “But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.”
3.6. When Believers await a response, it may be being delayed! (13,14)
3.6.1. We see demonic forces can delay answers.
3.6.2. Dwight Pentecost explains, “God has arranged the angelic realm in differing ranks referred to as “rule, authority, power, & dominion” (Eph.1:21)
3.6.3. We always see Gabriel & Michael administering Gods affairs for the nation Israel.
3.6.3.1. It seems Satan imitates this here w/the Prince over regions (namely Persia & Greece; world powers at the time)
3.6.4. Q: Why didn’t God Himself rescue the angels?
3.6.4.1. Gleason Archer explains, “While God can, of course, override the united resistance of all the forces of hell if he chooses to do so, he accords to demons certain limited powers of obstruction & rebellion somewhat like those he allows humans. In both cases the exercise of free will in opposition to the Lord of heaven is permitted by him when he sees fit.”[1]
3.6.5. We need to “pray & do not lose heart”(Lk.18:1)!
3.6.5.1. Perseverance in prayer is often the key to victory!
3.7. When Believers wrestle in Prayer, it may be exhausting! (15-19)
3.7.1. Paul asks in Rom.15:30 “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,”
3.7.1.1. Strive together – is where we get our English word “agonize”.
3.7.1.2. Paul asks them, “do spiritual battle for me!”
3.7.2. When Daniel’s at his lowest, unable even to lift his head(15), the angel showered him w/grace.
3.7.2.1. Greatly beloved (11) – touched him 3 times (10,16,18).
3.7.3. Wrestling in prayer may be wearisome, but strength returns in extra measures (18).
3.7.4. Angels can still “touch us!”
3.7.4.1. Heb.1:4 “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”
3.7.4.2. Heb.13:2 “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”
3.8. Overcoming Demonic forces is not a once-for-all matter! (20,21)
3.8.1. “…indeed the prince of Greece will come” - Right when you sense the victory, look out! Here comes another one!
3.8.2. Remember, 1 Pet.5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
3.8.3. And yet, Col 2:15 “(cross context) Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
3.8.4. Rom.8:38,39 “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
3.8.5. Martin Luther’s 3rd verse to “A Mighty Fortress is our God” sums up our confidence in Christ!
3.8.5.1. “And though this world w/devils filled, should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him – His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure: One little word shall fell him.”
[1] The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol.7, page 125