The Book of Daniel, The Angels Among Us, Daniel 10:18 thru 11:1 - Lesson 40

Chapter 10 of the book of Daniel is a revelation into things that we are not normally given to see.

Those without eyes of faith operate under the premise that only that which can be seen, exists.

But those who have been given the eyes of faith are able to see the reality of God’s creation, both that which is physical and that which is spiritual.

The Apostle Paul lived his life with this understanding and the fact that he saw God’s world as he created it, both physical and spiritual, gave him great comfort and sustained him through more trials than any of us will ever sustain.

Even though he was troubled on every side, he was not distressed, he was perplexed, but not in despair, he was persecuted, but not forsaken, he was cast down but not destroyed.

For he was able to operate with the eyes of faith and could see God and his angels fighting the good fight, he could see the shed blood of Christ bringing victory over all that was evil.

So much of our time is spent looking at those things which we can see, but Paul concentrated upon those things he could not see as he tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:18,  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The way to a healthy Christian life is to invest it in the things which are not seen and to take our focus off of the things of this world for the things of this world will pass away for all that this world has, is temporal.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Isaiah spoke of this priority of life when he said in:

Isaiah 26:3-4,  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. ⁴Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Daniel’s eyes were opened to God’s entire world when he was given a vision of the Christ, the Messiah the Son of God and I suppose that life was never the same afterward for Daniel.

His eyes were again opened by the presence of the angel who had come to give him the understanding that he had prayed for for 21 days.

He had just seen the Christ and now he was touched by one with the appearance of a man and he received strength.

Daniel 10:18–11:1,  Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,  And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.  Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.  But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.  Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

This one who touched him and gave him strength asks the question Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee?

Basically he is introducing the subject of why he has come.

It is a rhetorical question, unanswered by Daniel but answered by the angel.

But before he answers his own question he tells Daniel that he must return to do battle with the prince of Persia and after that the prince of Greece will come.

This is in line with what Daniel knows about the timeline of history that was given him by the angel Gabriel and in the message of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar.

The message to Daniel is clear, the battle is ongoing and long with angels of both sides fully engaged and therefore this angel must return to the fight after delivering this message to Daniel.

It seems to be that the princes of Persia and Greece are the heavenly counterparts of the earthly kings of Persia and Greece.

The prophecies of chapters 8 and 9 have concentrated on the kingdoms of Persia and Greece.

The defeat of the prince of Persia who is Satan’s angel of Persia, seems to be preliminary to the defeat of Persia and to the rise of Greece, whose "prince" was soon coming.

It is as though the struggle is waged and won first by the angelic forces in heaven and then carried out on earth by human kings.

The battles among the angels seem to foretell what is to take place on the earth.

The battle against the angel of the king of Persia was to be won by Michael and the messenger angel and therefore this victory allows the king of Grecia to come on the scene.

In chapter eight we were given a future view of what takes place on earth and in chapter ten we are given a view of what is taking place in the heavens which seems to open doors for things to occur on earth.

Chapter 10 provides us with another perspective, allowing us to see that events on earth correspond to angelic activity, not seen by mortal men.

In 2 Kings, Elisha prayed that the eyes of the servant be opened allowing us to view human events in the light of heavenly activity.

The fall of Medo-Persia and the rise of Greece is also the result of angelic activity.

Satan is bent upon a one world system of power and rule and his plan through the ages has been thwarted by God and his angels.

Nebuchadnezzar saw himself as a statue of pure gold.

God showed him a statue of different metals and feet of clay and iron.

A one world system is not to be until God deems it to be in the kingdom of his Son, Jesus Christ.

These are things we can not perceive with the eye, but God’s word lifts the veil, opening our eyes to the broader realm of spiritual warfare.

In my lifetime and yours we have seen nations and world leaders rise and fall.

This has not happened by chance.

All of these things are a part of the plan of God opposing the plan of Satan.

God is good to those of us of faith for His word assures us that behind much that has happened in political realms, angelic activity has played a significant part, even though unseen by the human eye.

We believe this to be true because the Bible tells us this is so.

How clearly this shows that the rise and fall of kings is according to the sovereign plan and purpose of God and each rise and fall involves both men and angels.

God lifts the great curtain which separates two worlds so that events on earth, which seem to us to only have human causes and methods, now appear to be related to angelic activity.

By revealing what is taking place in high places and relating it to the kings of the earth we can see clearly that:

And as we see in Daniel 10 the results that kings realize are many times caused by what takes place in the battle against the prince of darkness and his forces, Satan and his angels.

The angels not only take part in that which occurs in high places but take part in that which occurs to those who are heirs of salvation.

Hebrews 1:14 reminds us of this where they are called ministering spirits.

Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Abraham Lincoln referred to these angels in his first inaugural address as the better angels of our nature.

God’s children are not alone in this life for angels take part in their life and it is seen that all results in your life and of mine are not caused by our actions alone.

Being in the Spirit we are related to the angelic world and to the spiritual warfare presently going on out of human sight in high places.

We not only are told that the spiritual warfare is raging, but we are encouraged to take part, just as Daniel did, in prayer:

Paul wrote the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6,  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Now conversely it is apparent that Satan’s angels are also ministering spirits to those who belong to him.

We have been given examples of demon possessed men in the New Testament.

These demons are Satan’s angels who move men according to Satan’s will.

It is easy to see today that Satan’s angels are busy in the lives of those who hate God’s chosen people with such intensity and zeal such as those who lob rockets into Israel and strap on bombs with the intention of killing as many Jews as possible.

What kind of religion is it that fosters this kind of hatred?

It has to be a religion where Satan is in control.

So this angel who has just come from the battle then tells Daniel that his mission is to reveal to him the truth which has already been written.

Verse 21,  But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth:

God has already decreed so there is no wonder or question about the outcome.

It is settled in the truth that has already been written and this angel is about to tell that outcome to Daniel, the greatly beloved servant of God.

But before he does that, he informs Daniel in the last half of verse 21: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

Here is a second reference to the angel named Michael, a chief angel, who is the prince of the people of Daniel.

There are mentioned in this chapter, princes of the kingdom of Persia and Grecia and here Michael is mentioned as your prince, in other words Michael is the Prince of the kingdom of Israel, the kingdom of Daniel.

But the scripture of truth is written with an victorious outcome assured in spite of what seems to be great odds against this pair of angels because for some reason only this angel and Michael are taking on the opposing forces in battle.

In other words there is a great battle and from a casual view one would think that the forces of God are on the losing side.

But the angel does not seem to cast any doubt as to the outcome of his struggle, nor does he in any way downplay the strength of the opposition.

He, as those of us who worship and serve the same God, know that the victor of the battle is God.

In the final analysis, it will not be the angels who are praised for the destruction of Satan and his fallen angels, or for the defeat and judgment of those men and women who oppose God.

The credit will all go to God.

Now in verse 1 of chapter 11 we learn more of the personal ministry of angels on the behalf of God’s people for this angel tells Daniel of his work with a king well known to Daniel.

This king is Darius, the king who greatly desired for Daniel to escape the mouth of the lions.

Daniel 11:1,  Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

In chapter 10 we learned that fallen angels influence unbelieving earthly kings and kingdoms.

This message to Daniel tells us a way that a holy angel helps and strengthens godly kings.

The angel visiting Daniel, who is speaking with him, now relates the ministry he has had in the life of king Darius.

According to his words, his ministry was that of encouragement and protection.

And that encouragement and protection must have included Darius to show favor toward Daniel and the Jews.

There seems to be in this statement an indication that this angel protected this king from both human and angelic attacks which might result in his injury, death, or political downfall.

Any king who set out to honor God and His people would be a target for satanic opposition.

Remember Daniel 6, where Daniel experienced a sudden rise to power under Darius, especially when in chapter 5 Daniel seems to be unknown to the Babylonian king, Belshazzar.

From chapter 6, we find Darius very attached to Daniel and eager to spare his life.

He seems to expect God to rescue His servant from the mouths of the lions.

From the words of chapter 11:1 it would seem that this angel’s ministry to king Darius had a significant impact on the events of chapter 6.

If those kings which opposed God had satanic qualities and satanic support, other God-fearing kings like Darius and Nebuchadnezzar can show the influence of angels, such as the one speaking to Daniel in chapters 10-12.

Now this is what God opens to us as he swings back the curtain of prophesy.

We are given this view to know that that which is eternal is what we are to major in.

As the heavens were opened to Elisha’s servant so that he might see the hosts gathered around God’s people God has, through Daniel, opened the heavens to us so that our faith is strengthened and our focus is toward those things which will not pass away.