THE FINAL 3 CHAPTERS OF DANIEL (10-11-12) ARE THE ACCOUNT OF YAHUAH’S LAST WORDS AND VISION TO HIS SERVANT DANIEL. SO CHAPTER 10 TODAY GIVES US THE SET-UP AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF HOW THE VISION CAME TO DANIEL AND THEN THE VISION ITSELF IS IN CH 11-12 ... AND THIS FINAL ENCOUNTER WAS A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR DANIEL! WHY?
BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN CHAPTER 10 IS NOT A DREAM THAT DANIEL IS HAVING WHILE HE'S ASLEEP, AND IT ALSO ISN’T A VISION (A 'CHIZAYON') IN THE SENSE OF A CONSCIOUS OR SEMI-CONSCIOUS INSPIRATION (LIKE DANIEL HAD IN HIS FIRST 2 VISIONS). RATHER THE EVENTS OF THESE LAST CHAPTERS WAS A FULLY AWAKE ACTUAL SUPERNATURAL ENCOUNTER AN EVENT THAT EVEN INVOLVED A VERY REAL GLIMPSE INTO THE SPIRITUAL REALM. SO WE SEE A PROGRESSION IN INTENSITY DURING DANIEL’S LIFE OF HOW YAHUAH COMMUNICATED WITH HIM.
JOEL 2:28
"YOUR OLD MEN WILL DREAM DREAMS AND YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS".
D A N I E L . 10
1During the third year that Cyrus was the King of Persia, these things were shown to Daniel. (Daniel’s other name is Belteshazzar.)
BY THIS TIME, THE FIRST WAVE OF JEWISH EXILES HAD RETURNED TO JERUSALEM UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF EZRA (EZRA 1-2) :
EZRA 1:1-4
"IN THE FIRST YEAR OF KORESH (CYRUS) KING OF PERSIA, IN ORDER FOR THE WORD OF YAHUAH (PROPHESIED BY JEREMIAH) TO BE FULFILLED, YAHUAH STIRRED UP THE SPIRIT OF KORESH KING OF PERSIA TO MAKE A PROCLAMATION THROUGHOUT HIS WHOLE KINGDOM, WHICH HE ALSO PUT IN WRITING, AS FOLLOWS: "HERE IS WHAT KORESH KING OF PERSIA SAYS: YAHUAH, THE ALAHIM OF HEAVEN, HAS GIVEN ME ALL THE KINGDOMS ON EARTH; AND HE HAS CHARGED ME TO BUILD HIM A HOUSE IN JERUSALEM, IN JUDAH. SO WHOEVER THERE IS AMONG YOU OF ALL HIS PEOPLE, MAY HIS ALAHIM BE WITH HIM! HE MAY GO UP TO JERUSALEM, IN JUDAH, AND BUILD THE HOUSE OF YAHUAH THE ALAHIM OF ISRAEL, THE ALAHIM WHO IS IN JERUSALEM. LET EVERY SURVIVOR, NO MATTER WHERE HE LIVES, BE HELPED BY HIS NEIGHBORS WITH SILVER, GOLD, GOODS AND ANIMALS, IN ADDITION TO THE VOLUNTARY OFFERING FOR THE HOUSE OF ALAHIM IN JERUSALEM."
SO ABOUT 2 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE EXILE OF THE JEWS TO
BABYLON WAS OVER, AND MANY JEWS HAD ALREADY FOUND THEIR WAY BACK TO JUDAH AND WERE WORKING WITH CYRUS’ BLESSINGS TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE AND TRYING TO MAKE JERUSALEM MORE LIVABLE.
The things shown are true, often troubling and hard to understand. But Daniel understood them because they were explained to him in a vision. 2At that time I, Daniel, was very sad and mourning for three weeks. 3During that time I didn’t eat any fancy food, I didn’t eat any meat or drink any wine, and I didn’t put any oil on my head. I didn’t do any of these things for three weeks.
DANIEL WAS NOT EXPECTING WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO HIM. DANIEL WAS IN MOURNING BECAUSE SO FEW JEWS HAD RETURNED WITH EZRA FROM BABYLONIAN EXILE. APART FROM LAZY INDIFFERENCE, ANOTHER MAJOR REASON FOR THE JEWS TO STAY WAS BECAUSE EZRA FACED SEVERE OPPOSITION IN REBUILDING THE TEMPLE.
THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE WAS BEING HINDERED TO THE POINT THAT THE PROJECT HAD ALL BUT COLLAPSED. THE LOCAL RESIDENTS, WHO HAD MOVED INTO JUDAH AND THE AREA OF JERUSALEM WHILE THE JEWS WERE EXILED, WERE THE CULPRITS; AND APPARENTLY KING CYRUS WASN’T DOING ANYTHING TO STOP THESE FOLKS FROM CAUSING TROUBLE. THE TEMPLE WAS EVERYTHING - FOR 70 YEARS THE JEWS WERE LEFT TO WALLOW IN THEIR SINS AND UNCLEANNESS WITH NO REMEDY BECAUSE THEY HAD NO TEMPLE, NO ALTAR, AND THEREFORE NO OPERATIONAL PRIESTHOOD. DANIEL WOULD HAVE FELT THIS LOSS THE MOST. THIS ONGOING CONFLICT IN JUDAH BETWEEN THE RETURNING JEWS AND THE LOCALS WAS WELL KNOWN IN THE REGION AND IT WAS EVEN RECORDED WITH SOME DETAIL IN THE BOOK OF EZRA.
DANIEL DID NOT GO BACK WITH EZRA’S GROUP OF EXILES EITHER, HOWEVER HE WAS NEARLY 90 YEARS OLD AT THIS TIME AND COULD BETTER SERVE THE EXILES FROM HIS HIGH POSITION IN GOVERNMENT THAN HE COULD WITH THEM IN THE JERUSALEM CONSTRUCTION SITE.
4On the 24th day of the first month of the year, I was walking beside the great Tigris (HIDDEQEL) River. 5While I was standing there, I looked up and saw a man standing in front of me (YAHUSHA). He was wearing linen clothes and wore a belt made of pure gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6His body was like a smooth, shiny beryl stone and his face shone bright like lightning. His eyes were like flames of fire, his arms and feet were shiny like polished brass, and his voice was loud like a great multitude of people.
THIS IS THE SAME DESCRIPTION BOTH EZEKIEL AND JOHN USE OF YAHUSHA’S APPEARANCE !
7I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision. The men with me didn’t see the vision, but they were still afraid. Infact they were so afraid that they ran away and hid.
REMEMBER PAUL’S EXPERIENCE WITH YAHUSHA ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS? THE MEN TRAVELLING WITH HIM SAW A LIGHT BUT COULDN’T HEAR YAHUSHA’S VOICE, FOR IT WAS NOT FOR THEM! LIKEWISE THESE GUYS WERE SEIZED WITH FEAR - EITHER FROM THE VOICE THEY HEARD, OR FROM SOME STRANGE CONCUSSION OR VIBRATION OF THE AIR THEY FELT, BUT IT WAS A GREAT QUAKING THAT FELL UPON THEM - PROVING THAT DANIEL WASN’T JUST IMAGINING HIS EXPERIENCE HERE!
THE MEN WITH DANIEL RETREATED IN HASTE WHEN THIS FEELING OF TERROR OVERCAME THEM, AND DANIEL WAS LEFT STANDING THERE ALONE. WHY DIDN’T DANIEL FLEE, TOO? BECAUSE HE HAD SIMILAR SUPERNATURAL EXPERIENCES BEFORE (THOUGH NOT AS INTENSE) AND NO DOUBT KNEW THAT A MEETING WITH A DIVINE PRESENCE WAS UNDERWAY (NO MATTER HOW UNCOMFORTABLE IT WAS). NONETHELESS, THIS IS SOMETHING ONE NEVER GETS USED TO - HE WAS SO OVERWHELMED AND FILLED WITH ANXIETY THAT HIS FACE BECAME CONTORTED UNDER THE STRESS. HIS KNEES BUCKLED AND HIS BODY SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. WHEN THE VOICE BEGAN TO INSTRUCT HIM, HIS INSTINCT WAS TO IMMEDIATELY FALL TO THE GROUND AND ASSUME THE POSITION OF SUBMISSION AND WORSHIP.
8So I was left alone. I was watching this vision, and it freaked me right out - I lost all my strength and dignity. My face turned white like a dead person’s and I was helpless! 9Then I heard the man in the vision talking, and as I listened to his voice, I laid with my face to the ground, completely stunned and shaking!
JUST LIKE MOSES’ EXPERIENCE ON THE MOUNTAIN! EVEN THE GREATEST OF MEN CANNOT BEAR THE IMMEDIATE RADIATING SHOCK OF DIVINE POWER AND ESTEEM. EXPOSURE TO YAHUSHA'S DIVINITY IS LIKE A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE - AND NOT PLEASANT - NO FLESH CAN SURVIVE IN HIS PRESENCE!!
BOTH YAHUSHA AND GABRIEL ARE HERE WITH DANIEL !
10Then a hand touched me, so I got to my hands and knees, so afraid that I was trembling. 11The man in the vision (GABRIEL SPEAKING NOW) said to me, “Daniel, you are loved and appreciated very much, so think very carefully about these words I speak to you. Stand up now, for I’ve been sent to you.”
And when he said this, I stood up, still shaking because I was petrified. 12Then the man in the vision started talking again, saying, “Daniel, don’t be afraid. From the very first day you set your heart on getting wisdom and to be humble in front of your Alahim, He’s been listening to your prayers - and that’s why I’m here today - because of your words!
WHAT ABOUT THE POWER OF PRAYER FROM A CLEAN HEART??? WE CAN’T PASS THIS OVER LIGHTLY. AN ARCH-ANGEL WAS ACTUALLY DISPATCHED BECAUSE OF DANIEL’S INTENSE PRAYERS. THIS IS ANOTHER OF MANY REMINDERS IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL THAT PRAYER TRULY MATTERS. IT ISN’T MERELY A THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE FOR THE ONE WHO PRAYS.
13But the Prince over Persia (A DEMON-SPIRIT) has been fighting against me for 21 days now. So Michael, one of our Chief Princes, came to help me because I was stuck there with that Prince of Persia. 14Now I’ve come to you Daniel, to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days. Yes …this vision is for a future time.”
15While the man was talking to me, I bowed low with my face toward the ground and couldn’t speak. 16Then the one who looked like a son of man (HUMAN BEING - YAHUSHA) touched my lips. Then I was able to open my mouth and I started to speak, saying to the one standing in front of me, “Master, I’m upset and afraid because of what I saw in the vision. I feel completely helpless. 17I am Daniel your servant, so how can I talk with you my Master? My strength is gone and it’s hard for me to breathe.”
18So the one who looked like a man (YAHUSHA) touched me again, and then I felt better. 19Then He said, “Daniel, don’t be afraid, for you are loved and appreciated very much. Peace be with you. Be strong now ... be strong!”
And when He spoke to me, I became stronger, and said, “Master, I feel much better now for You've given me strength. Please continue to speak.”
20So he (GABRIEL) said, “Daniel, do you know why I’ve come to you? Soon I must go back to fight against the Prince of Persia (DEMON-SPIRIT) And when I go, the Prince of Greece (ANOTHER DEMON-SPIRIT) will come. 21But Daniel, before I go, I must first tell you what is written in the Scripture of Truth. For no one stands with me against those Princes (DEMONS SPIRITS) except Michael, the Prince over your people.
SINCE THIS SPIRIT `PRINCE’ (OVER PERSIA) WAS ABLE TO OPPOSE THE ANGELIC MESSENGER TO DANIEL, WE KNOW THIS WAS MORE THAN A MAN. THIS PRINCE WAS SOME KIND OF PRINCIPALITY, AND WE KNOW HE WAS EVIL BECAUSE HE OPPOSED THE WORD OF YAHUAH COMING TO DANIEL AND
STOOD AGAINST THE ANGELIC MESSENGER.
IN HEBREW UNDERSTANDING, THE WORD ‘PRINCE’ HAS THE IDEA OF A RULER OR AUTHORITY, WHICH FITS IN WELL WITH THE LATTER IDEA THAT ANGELIC RANKS ARE ORGANISED AND HAVE A HIERARCHY:
EPHESIANS 6:12
“For we are not fighting people but demons in high places, against authorities, world rulers PRINCES of the darkness of this age. Against spiritual matters of wickedness in the heavenlies”.
DANIEL 12:1
“Now at that time Michael, the great PRINCE who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time, and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be delivered".
MATTHEW 9:34
"But the Pharisees were saying, 'He casts out the demons by the PRINCE of the demons.”
JOHN 12:31
"Now judgment is upon this world - now the PRINCE of this world will be cast out".
JOHN 14:30
"I will not speak much more with you, for the PRINCE of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me".
EPHESIANS 2:2
"In which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the PRINCE of the power of the airwaves, of the spirit that is now working in all the sons of disobedience".
1 TIMOTHY 4:1
"But the Spirit says clearly that in latter times some will be turned away from the belief, giving their minds (hearts) over to spirits of deceit, and the teachings of evil spirit PRINCES".
REVELATION 16:14
"For they are evil spirits, working signs - who go out even to the Kings of all the earth, to get them together to the war of the great day of YAHUSHA, the PRINCE of all".
THE ANGELIC RANKS INCLUDE BOTH OBEDIENT ANGELS AND FALLEN ANGELS, AND APPARENTLY, THIS 'PRINCE' IN DANIEL.10 WAS A DEMON OF HIGH RANK THAT OPPOSED THE ANSWER TO DANIEL’S PRAYER. ON 3 OCCASIONS, YAHUSHA REFERRED TO SATAN AS 'THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIRWAVES!'
SO SINCE THIS ANGEL SPEAKING TO DANIEL WAS DISPATCHED IMMEDIATELY AND DANIEL’S PERIOD OF PRAYER WAS 21 DAYS (THE THREE FULL WEEKS MENTIONED), WE SEE THAT THE ANSWER TO THE PRAYER WAS DELAYED BY THIS DEMON ‘PRINCE’ OVER PERSIA.
DANIEL WAS SO LOVED THAT A RESPONSE TO HIS DISTRESS WAS SENT IMMEDIATELY BUT TOOK 3 WEEKS TO GET THROUGH!!
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DANIEL’S TIME OF PRAYER AND THE DURATION OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE ANGELS AND THE DEMON-PRINCE OF PERSIA ESTABLISHES A LINK BETWEEN DANIEL’S PRAYER AND THE ANGELIC VICTORY. SINCE THE VICTORY CAME ON THE 21ST DAY.
IN OTHER SCRIPTURES (LIKE JUDE & REVELATION) MICHAEL IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD ANGELS AND EVIL ANGELS . YAHUAH OBVIOUSLY ALLOWED THIS KIND OF CONFLICT SURROUNDING DANIEL BECAUSE HE HAD A PURPOSE. HE CERTAINLY COULD HAVE BLASTED AWAY ANY DEMONIC OPPOSITION IN A MOMENT, BUT HIS PLAN WAS TO USE THE TIME OF DELAY TO DEVELOP DANIEL AS A MAN OF PERSISTENT PRAYER AND STRONG BELIEF .... THE BEHAVIOUR OF WAITING.
SO PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER IS NECESSARY, NOT BECAUSE YAHUSHA IS RELUCTANT AND NEEDS TO BE OVERCOME - BUT RATHER, IT IS NECESSARY TO TRAIN US AND MATURE US. SO DANIEL’S SUCCESS MAKES US REFLECT ON OUR OWN LIVES. HOW MUCH ANGELIC ASSISTANCE OR INSIGHT HAS NEVER BEEN REALISED, OR GREATLY DELAYED, BECAUSE OF A LACK OF REQUESTING IT (PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER)? “YOU DON’T RECEIVE BECAUSE YOU DON’T ASK!”
Daniel 10 provides some insight into “spiritual warfare” and the conflict of these invisible kingdoms at war over the inhabitants of the kingdoms of this world. The work of demons is to oppose all that is Divine, and particularly the purposes of Yahusha in the earth.
In the historical setting, Babylon had fallen, Medo-Persia had come to power and the restoration of Judah and Jerusalem was taking place. But the various 'Princes' of the World-Kingdoms, under Satanic influence and control, were opposing the restorative work of Yahuah in Jerusalem. This is also seen in the vision of Zechariah as he sees Satan standing at the right hand of Joshua, the High Priest, to resist and oppose him in his priestly functions (Zech.3:1-2). See also Satan’s activities against Yahuah’s servant, Job (Job 1-2). But Yahuah is in control. He is sovereign. All will be ready for Messiah when He comes in the appointed time.
But here Daniel sees that there is spiritual warfare taking place against the purposes of Yahuah and His people. No wonder he was burdened in prayer and mourning in his spirit before Yahuah.
Satan has his kingdom over which he reigns. Satan is the 'prince' of the power of the air, and the 'prince' of darkness and he controls the princes of the world systems. He influences the minds and wills of earth rulers. The 'prince' of the Kingdom of Persia and Greece refers to those principalities and powers who influenced the earthly kings of these kingdoms. Satan is a fallen angel and fights against Yahuah’s elect and set-apart angels, Gabriel and Michael.
There is a “set-apart war” going on in the spirit realm. Yahuah is a Man of War (Ex.15). He is Captain of Yahuah's Hosts (Josh.5:13-15; 1Sam.23:16). The ultimate war is the war in heaven (Rev.12:6-12). Satan and his angels fight against Michael and his angels, and then are cast out to the earth. These are the things that are in seed form in the Revelation given to Daniel here in Chapter 10.
DANIEL WAS ABOUT TO RECEIVE THE ANSWER TO HIS PRAYER, BUT THE BATTLE WAS NOT OVER FOR HIS HEAVENLY MESSENGER. FIRST HE MUST BATTLE THE 'PRINCE' OF PERSIA, THEN THE 'PRINCE' OF GREECE. YAHUAH WATCHED OUT FOR ISRAEL, WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM. MICHAEL SEEMED TO BE AN ANGELIC GUARDIAN OF ISRAEL (AT THIS TIME), BATTLING AGAINST THE DEMONIC REPRESENTATIVE OF PERSIA OR ANY OTHER WHO OPPOSED YAHUAH’S PEOPLE.
DOES THIS UNPEEL A WHOLE NEW LAYER OF SPIRITUAL AWARENESS FOR YOU - SOMETHING WE SEEM TO HAVE VERY LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF? ON EARTH, WE (HIS BRIDAL PEOPLE) SEEM LOWLY, BASE AND WEAK - AND THE `EVIL PRINCES' WILL HAVE US STAY THAT WAY (IN COMPLETE IGNORANCE AND DARKNESS) OF WHO WE TRULY ARE, WHAT WE'VE BEEN CREATED FOR, AND WHO WE HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO THROUGH OUR PORTALS. DESPITE OUR FLESHLY SHORT-COMINGS ... IN THE HEAVENS, WE HAVE THE MIGHTIEST REPRESENTATIVES PROTECTING AND DEFENDING US!
SO WHY DON'T WE BELIEVE IT AND COMMUNICATE? BELIEVE WHO WE ARE `DESPITE ALL OPPOSITION' ?
YAHUSHA HAS GIVEN US THE POWER TO SAY ``NO`` TO THESE WICKED PRINCES AND OVERCOME THEM AND OPERATE IN SYNC WITH THE SUPERNATURAL!
1. Yahusha is always looking for those who are open to hear His voice and into whose hearts He may drop His special words and understandings into - a right word in the right moment! (JUST LIKE LAST NIGHT)
2. Dan.10 provides us with the assurance that Yahusha always hears our prayers from the very first day we pray them.
3. We need to recognise that there is a Spiritual Warfare going on between heaven and earth, Yahusha and Satan, demons and the set-apart elect Angels.
4. It may take some time for this Angelic Warfare to be accomplished but the answer is always on the way. Yahusha is sovereign and in control of the whole universe and rules over all creation and creatures.
5. But Remember — it is the Angels who do the fighting while we do the praying and overcoming.
6. Yahusha and His Angels are all FOR the Bride and no weapon formed against us shall prosper.
IS THE SUPERNATURAL REALITY OF ANGELS & DEMONS PRESENT IN OUR HOMES?
ARE WE REALLY, CONSCIOUSLY COMMUNICATING WITH YAHUSHA AND LISTENING FOR HIS REPLY?
WHAT ANGELIC ASSISTANCE ARE WE MISSING OUT ON DUE TO LACK OF BELIEF AND OBSESSION WITH THE WORLD ?
THE BRIDE IS TO BE WORKING ALONGSIDE YAHUSHA AND HIS ANGELS, IN RIDDING THE EVIL FORCES FROM OUR HOMES ... OTHERWISE HE CAN NOT RETURN YET!
