Daniel 10

Daniel 10

Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" Hinneh is translated in the Septuagint with the interjection idou (strictly speaking a command in the second person idou (strictly speaking a command in the second person aorist imperative, middle voice) a demonstrative particle (used 1377 times in the Septuagint and NT) which is found especially in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke "and giving a peculiar vivacity to the style by bidding the reader or hearer to attend to what is said: : "Behold! See! Lo!" (Thayer) The command is calling for urgent attention. Do this now! Don't delay! It could be loosely paraphrased "Pay attention!" or "Listen up!" to arouse attention and introduce a new and extraordinary fact of considerable importance. Daniel 10:11 HE SAID TO ME, "O DANIEL, MAN OF HIGH ESTEEM, UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT I AM ABOUT TO TELL YOU AND STAND UPRIGHT, FOR I HAVE NOW BEEN SENT TO YOU." AND WHEN HE HAD SPOKEN THIS WORD TO ME, I STOOD UP TREMBLING. BGT Daniel 10:11 καὶ εἶπέν μοι Δανιηλ ἄνθρωπος ἐλεεινὸς εἶ διανοήθητι τοῖς προστάγμασιν οἷς ἐγὼ λαλῶ ἐπὶ σέ καὶ στῆθι ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου σου ἄρτι γὰρ ἀπεστάλην ἐπὶ σέ καὶ ἐν τῷ λαλῆσαι αὐτὸν μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦτο ἔστην τρέμων --- Daniel (TH) 10:11 καὶ εἶπεν πρός με Δανιηλ ἀνὴρ ἐπιθυμιῶν σύνες ἐν τοῖς λόγοις οἷς ἐγὼ λαλῶ πρὸς σέ καὶ στῆθι ἐπὶ τῇ στάσει σου ὅτι νῦν ἀπεστάλην πρὸς σέ καὶ ἐν τῷ λαλῆσαι αὐτὸν πρός με τὸν λόγον τοῦτον ἀνέστην ἔντρομος LXE Daniel 10:11 And he said to me, O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words which I speak to thee, and stand upright: for I am now sent to thee. And when he had spoken to me this word, I stood trembling. KJV Daniel 10:11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. NET Daniel 10:11 He said to me, "Daniel, you are of great value. Understand the words that I am about to speak to you. So stand up, for I have now been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up shaking. CSB Daniel 10:11 He said to me, "Daniel, you are a man treasured by God. Understand the words that I'm saying to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you." After he said this to me, I stood trembling. ESV Daniel 10:11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. NIV Daniel 10:11 He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. NLT Daniel 10:11 And the man said to me, "Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling. NRS Daniel 10:11 He said to me, "Daniel, greatly beloved, pay attention to the words that I am going to speak to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you." So while he was speaking this word to me, I stood up trembling. NJB Daniel 10:11 He said, 'Daniel, you are a man specially chosen; understand the words that I am about to say; stand up; I have been sent to you now.' He said this, and I stood up trembling. NAB Daniel 10:11 "Daniel, beloved," he said to me, "understand the words which I am speaking to you; stand up, for my mission now is to you." When he said this to me, I stood up trembling. YLT Daniel 10:11 'And he saith unto me: Daniel, man greatly desired, attend to the words that I am speaking unto thee, and stand on thy station, for now I have been sent unto thee. 'And when he speaketh with me this word, I have stood trembling. GWN Daniel 10:11 The man said to me, "Daniel, you are highly respected. Pay attention to my words. Stand up, because I've been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, trembling. a man: Da 9:23 Jn 13:23 21:20 High esteem: Heb. of desires, Da 10:3 Ps 45:11 Song 7:10 understand: Da 8:16,17 9:22,23 upright: Ac 26:16 I stood: Job 4:14-16 37:1 Mk 16:8 Ac 9:6 Daniel 10 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Daniel, God's Masterpiece! DANIEL A MAN OF HIGH ESTEEM Man of high esteem (Da 9:23-note, Da 10:19) - Literally the Hebrew reads "man greatly desired"; "a treasured person"; NET = "you are of great value." (see also Archer's reading below). This description is given to Daniel 2 years earlier (~538BC) in Daniel 9 and now again in chapter 10. It is interesting to note that on both occasions in which Daniel received these commendations, he was praying. THOUGHT - This can be read you are "a treasured person" or as the NET rendering says "you are of great value," which begs the question, "Am I treasured and is my life of great value to our Great God?" I submit that if you answer "no" today, it can be tomorrow! Enabled by God's Spirit and guided by His Word, we much make the choice to "lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and...run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus." (Heb 12:1-2+) Here's a song to motivate your temporal run for an eternal treasure - Run Like Heaven! Paul says we were saved by grace through faith and are now "His workmanship (poiema), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. ." (Eph 2:10+). (See Believers Are God's Masterpiece, His Poiema) Gleason Archer notes that the Hebrew... literally reads “man of preciousness” (cf. Da 9:23-note). This remarkable greeting reassured Daniel of the personal love and concern that the Almighty has for each one of his faithful servants. To Daniel this must have been even more incredible than it is for us who know the boundless love of God displayed in the sacrifice of his Son on Calvary. But observe that Daniel’s privileged status as one especially precious to God resulted from his complete absorption in the will and glory of the Lord to whom he had yielded his heart. His was the whole-souled devotion of a Paul or a Moses. The angel called on Daniel to give his careful attention so as to understand the details of the explanation he was about to give him of the vision he had received. Such attention was certainly needed; for chapter 11 is full of confusing detail couched in somewhat vague terms—from the standpoint of 535BC, at least—though the subsequent fulfillment in Hellenistic times is amazingly accurate. Incidentally, this furnishes an instructive analogy for prophecy students today, since they too (esp. in books like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Revelation) have to deal with predictions that are capable of varying interpretations but that will someday be fulfilled with similar exactness to those in Daniel 11:1–39. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary) Why was he a man of high esteem? Daniel knew his God (cf Da 11:32b+), did not compromise (Da 1:8+), had no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, remained faithful, and had no negligence (Da 6:4+), stood firm regardless of the cost (Da 6:10+, cf Mk 8:34-38+), was able to take action (because he knew God and he walked in the light of what he knew), allowed God’s word to be a light to him in the midst of many dark places (Da 9:2+). Spurgeon - Daniel 10:11 (Morning and Evening) - And he said to me, "O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling." Child of God, do you hesitate to appropriate this title? Ah! has your unbelief made you forget that you are greatly beloved too? Must you not have been greatly beloved, to have been bought with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot? When God smote his only begotten Son for you, what was this but being greatly beloved? You lived in sin, and rioted in it, must you not have been greatly beloved for God to have borne so patiently with you? You were called by grace and led to a Saviour, and made a child of God and an heir of heaven. All this proves, does it not, a very great and superabounding love? Since that time, whether your path has been rough with troubles, or smooth with mercies, it has been full of proofs that you are a man greatly beloved. If the Lord has chastened you, yet not in anger; if he has made you poor, yet in grace you have been rich. The more unworthy you feel yourself to be, the more evidence have you that nothing but unspeakable love could have led the Lord Jesus to save such a soul as yours. The more demerit you feel, the clearer is the display of the abounding love of God in having chosen you, and called you, and made you an heir of bliss. Now, if there be such love between God and us let us live in the influence and sweetness of it, and use the privilege of our position. Do not let us approach our Lord as though we were strangers, or as though he were unwilling to hear us—for we are greatly beloved by our loving Father. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Come boldly, O believer, for despite the whisperings of Satan and the doubtings of thine own heart, thou art greatly beloved. Meditate on the exceeding greatness and faithfulness of divine love this evening, and so go to thy bed in peace. (Morning and Evening) Daniel 10:12 THEN HE SAID TO ME, "DO NOT BE AFRAID, DANIEL, FOR FROM THE FIRST DAY THAT YOU SET YOUR HEART ON UNDERSTANDING THIS AND ON HUMBLING YOURSELF BEFORE YOUR GOD, YOUR WORDS WERE HEARD, AND I HAVE COME IN RESPONSE TO YOUR WORDS. Do not be afraid: Da 10:19 Isa 35:4 41:10,14 Mt 28:5,10 Mk 16:6 Lk 1:13,30 2:10 24:38 Ac 18:9,10 27:24 Rev 1:17 from: Da 10:2,3 9:3,4,20-23 Isa 58:9 65:24 Ac 10:4,30,31 Humbling: Lev 16:29,31 Nu 29:7 Ps 69:10 and I: Da 10:11 9:20, 21, 22 Ac 10:3, 4, 5,30,31 Daniel 10 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Do not be afraid - This divine being meets Daniel at his point of his greatest need which was fear. God's Word of Truth brings faith (Ro 10:17-note) which is the divine antidote for fear (which is driven by doubt in God's Word). From the first day - God hears our prayer immediately, even when we don't experience an immediate answer. Set your heart - This speaks of Daniel's single minded focus which we first saw in Daniel 1:8-note when "Daniel made up his mind (set his heart) that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food", a decision which was pivotal in setting the entire course of his life. James affirms the efficacy of resolute praying like Daniel... Therefore, confess (present imperative) your sins to one another, and pray (present imperative) for one another so that you may be healed. The effective (energeo in the present tense = continually "energized") prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (Jas 5:16) Humbling yourself before God - The Hebrew verb 'anah means to be afflicted, to be oppressed or be bowed down. In this context 'anah denotes humbling in a positive sense (i.e., repentance and/or contrition). The KJV is somewhat misleading in my opinion as it translates it "to chasten thyself." This verb 'anah is used in describing fasting associated with the Day of Atonement (which was the only fast prescribed by law)... This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble ('anah) your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you; for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord. It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble ('anah) your souls; it is a permanent statute. (Lev 16:29, 30, 31, cp Lev 23:27, 32) Humility, fasting and prayer go together (2Chr 7:13, 14, Ps 35:13). To humble one's self before God is to acknowledge one's proper relationship of the creature to the Creator and to admit our desperate dependence upon Him for everything necessary for life and godliness. Proud people "by definition" don't humble themselves before God. Perhaps one reason I don't pray as much as I should is because of my unwillingness to humble myself, to admit my dependence on God to give me "daily bread", etc. Come in response to your words - The angel's (I favor this as an angel at this point in the chapter) appearance was clearly a response to Daniel's prayer. The writer of Hebrews describes this function of the angels asking... Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14-note) John Blanchard makes the point that... No answer to prayer is an indication of our merit; every answer to prayer is an indication of God's mercy. William Gurnall adds that... Never was a faithful prayer lost. Some prayers have a longer voyage than others, but then they return with their richer lading at last, so that the praying soul is a gainer by waiting for an answer. Richard Sibbes... When we shoot an arrow, we look to the fall of it; when we send a ship to sea, we look for the return of it; and when we sow seed, we look for a harvest; and so when we sow our prayers into God's bosom, shall we not look for an answer? In the context of the Millennial Age God says... It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. (Is 65:24) Beyond our utmost wants His love and power can bless To praying souls he always grants More than they can express. John Newton I have come - More literally (and emphatically) = "I, myself, have come". PRAYER: A POWERFUL WEAPON A Significant Impact - John Wesley was convinced that the prayers of God's people rather than his preaching accounted for the thousands who came to Christ through his ministry. That's why he said, "God will do nothing except in answer to prayer." An overstatement? Yes. But the fact is that our praying is a powerful weapon in the war between God and Satan. In today's Scripture reading, Daniel was so disturbed by a revelation about Israel's future that he could do nothing except fast and pray. Three weeks later a heavenly messenger appeared, saying that God had sent him when Daniel prayed, but that the prince of Persia had detained him (Da 10:13). This "prince" was an evil spirit who sought to influence the rulers of Persia to oppose God's plan. He had detained God's messenger, until the archangel Michael came to his aid. A cosmic conflict between good and evil is continually being fought in the invisible spirit world. Paul reminded us that it involves Christians. He listed the spiritual armor and weaponry we need for these battles (Ephesians 6:13, 14, 15, 16, 17), and then he added "praying always" (Ep 6:18). Something happens when we pray, Powers of evil lose their sway, We gain strength and fear gives way— Therefore, let us pray. —Anon. Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees. Daniel 10:13 "BUT THE PRINCE OF THE KINGDOM OF PERSIA WAS WITHSTANDING ME FOR TWENTY-ONE DAYS; THEN BEHOLD, MICHAEL, ONE OF THE CHIEF PRINCES, CAME TO HELP ME, FOR I HAD BEEN LEFT THERE WITH THE KINGS OF PERSIA. the prince: Da 10:20 Ezra 4:4, 5, 6,24 Zec 3:1,2 Ep 6:12 1Th 2:18 Michael: Da 10:21 12:1 Jude 1:9 Rev 12:7 one: or, the first, Col 2:10 1Pe 3:22 Daniel 10 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries A STRANGE SUPERNATURAL SCENE! The prince of the kingdom of Persia - From the context this is not human prince (for a human could not stand against a supernatural being) but is an evil spirit, a fallen angel, a demonic force, who is "over" the empire (government) of Persia! This highly placed demon (some think it could refer to Satan himself given that this was the world's leading empire at the time) somehow exerts a power or force that is able to prevent the good angel from bringing the message to Daniel. In Da 10:20 the angel predicts the coming of the prince of Greece, which in context is a demonic spirit over the empire of Greece. While one cannot be absolutely dogmatic these passages suggest that every empire or possibly every country has a demonic spirit which presumably can exert a godless, anti-God influence over the government. One must be wary in saying much more. Donald Campbell... A number of things are of compelling interest regarding this "prince of the kingdom of Persia." First, it is obvious that he was not a man, for no human being could have resisted a messenger from God. Second, since he did oppose God's emissary, he must have been one of Satan's evil messengers or demons. Third, his particular mission apparently was to influence the king of Persia against the people of God. Fourth, the angelic messenger, with the help of the chief angel Michael, was able to wrest the position of influence with the Persian king away from the evil angel before coming on to Daniel. Thereafter, he was able to influence the Persian rulers in favor of God's people, the Jews. (Borrow Donald Campbell's excellent commentary - Daniel God's Man in a Secular Society - formerly entitled "Daniel, Decoder of Dreams") Gleason Archer explains that "The powers of evil apparently have the capacity to bring about hindrances and delays, even of the delivery of the answers to believers whose requests God is minded to answer. God’s response was immediate, so far as his intention was concerned. But “the prince of the Persian kingdom” (Da 10:13-note)—apparently the satanic agent assigned to the sponsorship and control of the Persian realm—put up a determined opposition to the actual delivery of the divine answer. 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 and 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. But as Job 1:12 and 2:6 indicate, the malignity of Satan is never allowed to go beyond the due limit set by God, who will not allow the believer to be tested beyond his limit (1Cor 10:13)." (Ibid) Withstanding ('amad) means to stand or take one's stand. In the present context the picture is literally of one "standing opposite". Twenty one days - What's the message? Delay does not mean denial. Michael one of the chief princes - This is the first mention by name of the angel Michael, who is later described as "your prince" (Da 10:21) indicating he is Israel's prince, a premise which is substantiated by Da 12:1 where we observe that Michael will arise when Israel is in a time of great distress (which in context is the Great Tribulation). In Jude 1:9 Michael is called an archangel one of the first or highest angels, a leader of the angels. Finally in the last Biblical use, Rev 12:7-note, Michael is found in heaven waging war with (and defeating) the dragon and his angels. Miller draws the conclusion that "the implications of these statements are clear. Israel has a mighty angelic supporter in the heavenly realm. Therefore, regardless of Israel’s political, military, and economic weaknesses, its existence is assured because no earthly power can resist their great prince." (Miller, S. R. - Daniel - New American Commentary, 18) Chief princes - "Chief" indicates an angelic hierarchy as described by Paul in Ephesians who explains to the saints why they must be strong in the Lord (Eph 6:10) and put on the full armor of God to be enabled to stand against this invisible evil army of demonic forces... 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. (Eph 6:12-note) Came to help me - God's angels overcame the resisting power of Satan's evil angels. Strauss writes "True, Daniel did not get immediate response to his prayer, but then the answer that is delayed must not be interpreted as having been denied. The answer was forthcoming even though Daniel did not know it for three full weeks. At the very beginning of his intercession God went into action in behalf of His child and servant. Not only was the prayer heard at once in Heaven but it was likewise answered at once in Heaven. It is healthy for the child of God, who is in the will of God, to know that his prayers are always heard and answered, even though the answer be a direct one, a delayed one, or a denial....Dr. Roy L. Laurin has said: "As a matter of fact the answer may be long in coming, but as a matter of faith it is ours at the time of our asking." Daniel prayed for three full weeks, and though he had received no answer from God, he was given the assurance that his prayer had been heard. (Ibid) This verse underscores the truth that believers are involved in a spiritual war against powerful, real, invisible demonic forces. Alan Redpath says it this way "The Christian life is not a playground it is a battleground." John reminds us ... You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He Who is in you (The Spirit of Christ) than he who is in the world (Satan and his minions). (1Jn 4:4+) The kings of Persia - The plural suggests that the influence of the demonic prince would continue over all the kings of Persia. CONTINUAL CONFLICT IN HEAVEN COMES TO A CLOSE Indeed the Revelation gives us additional insights to suggest the age long war between angelic forces in the heavenlies... 7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” 13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (Re 12:7-14+) Grant Richison discusses a potential misapplication of the revelation in these passages... Some in the spiritual warfare movement believe that “Territorial Spirit” must be bound for the gospel to be effective in a national entity. They call this “Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare.” They believe in three levels of demonic control. Firstly, ground level demons control individuals. Secondly, occult demons give power to magicians, shamans and witches. Lastly, strategic level demons, whose main purpose is to hinder the advance of the gospel, rule geographical regions. Frank Peretti’s writing (This Present Darkness) is an example of this belief. Peter Wagner (reference) represents a church growth author of this position. Wagner asserts that this belief brought down the Berlin Wall and opened the gospel to Albania. He claimed that 10 million Japanese would come to Christ by the year 2000. The growing movement of exorcism of territorial spirits does not have biblical foundation. These people pray over neighborhoods, cities and nations to exorcise demons controlling these geographical areas. Some church growth techniques recommend this approach to evangelism. This movement grew out of citywide evangelistic campaigns in Latin America movement and might have its roots in animism. The argument for waging war on “territorial demons” rests primarily on Daniel 10:13. There is such a thing as territorial demons but there is no biblical basis for claiming victory over demons by name. Daniel did not know about this conflict before the angel told him about it so he did not pray to overcome these demons. The Bible never suggests that believers are to command demons to give up national territory. In Daniel 10, God sent the Archangel Michael to deal with the fallen angels responsible for Persia and Greece. The content of the gospel itself has “power” “unto salvation” so there is no need for “power encounters” to validate God’s message. Ro 1:16+ “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Daniel 10:13 Bible Exposition Commentary) James Rosscup in his review in Master's Seminary Journal on Frank E. Peretti's book This Present Darkness (published in 1986) writes... Peretti's fast-selling works stress the urgency of prayer in spiritual warfare that encounters unseen angels and demons. The plots are fascinating, and the action fast-moving. His characters engage in eastern meditation, channeling, expanded consciousness, realization of potential claims to be gods, and experience in past and future lives. A novel can be a poor place to learn Christian doctrine and practice. Unfortunately, Peretti and others sometimes go beyond Scripture. He makes holy angels sarcastic and spiteful and victorious only when humans pray. He gives all of them wings and swords, and attributes to them different nationalities. Demons dissolve, fall into many bits, vanish in a red puff, have their heads cut off by angels, and roll like a puppy on black tar. Other distinctions that Scripture never makes include designations of particular demons of lust, lawlessness, deception, complacency, despair, murder, and the like. The author's stories make prayer a priority, which is good. Yet to make God and angels completely dependent on human prayer questions His sovereignty. (See page 21 in Christian Books on the New Age) Gotquestions adds "Popular fiction, such as the novel This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti, often features lurid descriptions of spiritual battles in which demons are dispatched by sword-wielding angels with a slash, a flash, and a puff of smoke. The implication is that the demons “die” somehow when sliced in half by angelic blades. It should go without saying that our theology should be based on what the Bible says, not contemporary novels. The Bible teaches the reality of spiritual battle (Jude 1:9). But the Bible also says that, after the final judgment, demons will be consigned forever to the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10). Since demons (and angels) do not “die” or suffer physical wounds, what is the point of doing spiritual battle? ( If angels and demons can’t die, what is the point of their engaging in battle? | GotQuestions.org) QUESTION - Who is the prince of Persia in Daniel 10? ANSWER - The prince of Persia is only mentioned in Daniel 10, a highly apocalyptic (and therefore at least partially symbolic) section of the book of Daniel. Most likely, the prince of Persia is a reference to an evil spiritual entity that wielded authority over the ancient kingdom of Persia. The prophet Daniel had received a troubling vision concerning a great war (Daniel 10:1). He went into a three-week period of mourning, fasting, and prayer. In response to Daniel’s prayer, God sent a heavenly messenger to explain the vision. However, the messenger was delayed for those same three weeks, as he explains to Daniel: “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” (Daniel 10:13). Later, the angel speaking to Daniel predicts further fighting: “Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince)” (verses 20–21). Taking this passage at face value, it seems that the prince of Persia is a fallen angel who in some sense had authority or influence over the physical kingdom of Persia. In Daniel 10, the prophet is praying about the future of his people and their exile in Persia. A heavenly angel is dispatched with the answer, but a demonic “prince of Persia” obstructs the messenger. This action would make sense, as the divine answer involves the overthrow of the Persian Empire. The angelic messenger finally gets some help from the archangel Michael, who is apparently the prince (or one of the princes) of Israel in the angelic realm (Daniel 10:13, 21). Then the angelic messenger says he will face even more spiritual warfare, returning to fight against the prince of Persia. After that, he will face another spiritual enemy, the prince of Greece (Daniel 10:20). We know from history (and as was prophesied in Daniel) that Greece would be the next world power after Persia, and that Greece would dominate Israel for a time. In this passage, three spiritual entities are mentioned in relation to three earthly nations: the prince of Persia, the prince of Greece, and the prince of Israel (Michael). As the New Testament reminds us, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). The battle is real. It seems that, as events play out on earth, there is corresponding activity in the spiritual realm. Whether or not this spiritual prince of Persia’s fate was tied to that of the physical Persian Empire is unknown. We do know that, if his job was to keep the Persian Empire in a place of dominance over the nation of Israel, he failed. It is interesting to note that Iran is modern Persia, and the leaders of Iran still want to dominate or obliterate the nation of Israel. As a Shiite Muslim nation, Iran persecutes Christian believers as well—so perhaps the spiritual prince of Persia is still active today. But, as with all of Satan’s minions, his time is limited, and he can only go as far as God will allow in accomplishing His perfect will.GotQuestions.org QUESTION - What are territorial spirits? ANSWER - “Territorial spirits” is a term some Christians use to identify demonic occupation of a specific geographic location. Ironically, it is also a term pagans use to describe an otherworldly presence believed to be residing in a specific geographical location. The Christian concept of territorial spirits comes from passages such as Daniel 10; John 12:31; John 14:30; John 16:11; Mark 5:10; and Ephesians 6:12. All of these passages imply that fallen angels have been given some type of responsibility over a certain area. Thus, they seem to be territorial. However, we need to remember that this teaching is inferred; the Bible never explicitly delineates a hierarchy of demonic authority in the world. What the Bible is clear about is that demons are at work in the world and that believers are very much involved in a battle against them. In Daniel 10, for example, an angel struggled against a demonic adversary the entire time Daniel was praying and fasting. It wasn’t until the end of Daniel’s spiritually focused time that the angel finally broke away and came to Daniel. Ephesians 6 exhorts believers to stand firm against our spiritual adversaries and to remain alert and ready for battle. There is no doubt that our struggle on Earth is mirrored in some way in the spiritual realm. The problem inherent in the term “territorial spirits” is that some Christians believe it is their duty to engage territorial demons in spiritual warfare. This, however, cannot be justified by Scripture. There is not a single instance in the Bible where someone actively sought out a demon in order to engage it. Demon-possessed individuals were encountered, and some were brought to Jesus and His disciples for healing, but the disciples didn’t go looking for demons to cast out of people. No one in the Bible ever prayed that the “demon princes” of a town be “bound” from working their will against the residents of that town. Territorial spirits, although not explicitly a scriptural idea, may very well exist, as seen in the previous passages. Whether or not a spirit is “territorial” is really not that important, though. What is important is our response. A believer in Christ has no biblical support to engage in prayer-led spiritual warfare against demons. Rather, a believer needs to be aware that there is a spiritual battle and to take it seriously (1 Peter 5:8). Our lives need to be focused on prayer and on growing in faith. Should we ever encounter a demon, we definitely have the Christ-given authority to deal with it, but we should not go looking for them, territorial or otherwise. GotQuestions.org The Courier (Daniel 10) - Among his duties as a soldier during World War II, my friend Oscar was a military courier. He would carry messages to other units near the front lines. At dark he made his way through brush and trees to deliver information vital to the battle plan. Several times he ran into enemy patrols and had to change his course. More than once he was shot at. In our Bible reading today, Daniel described a time that an angel was a courier, carrying a message from heaven to earth. Satan, though, tried to keep the message from getting through. His minion (referred to as the prince of Persia) succeeded in slowing up the angel who had been sent with God's message (Daniel 10:13). And no wonder—it outlined Satan's battle plans. For Further Study Read What Can We Learn From The Angels? Read What In The World Is Satan Doing? The wiles of Satan are no match for the wisdom of God. Daniel 10:14 "NOW I HAVE COME TO GIVE YOU AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR PEOPLE IN THE LATTER DAYS, FOR THE VISION PERTAINS TO THE DAYS YET FUTURE." latter days: Da 2:28 Ge 49:1 De 4:30 31:21 Isa 2:2 Ho 3:5 Mic 4:1 2Ti 3:1 vision: Da 10:1 8:26 12:4,9 Hab 2:3 Heb 2:3 Daniel 10 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries 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. (NIV) THE KEY VERSE OF DANIEL 10-12 I have come - The angel explains that his primary purpose was to explain what would happen to Israel in the future. What will happen to your people - The prophecy that the angel elaborates on in Daniel 11 and Daniel 12 has to do with Daniel's people Israel, not the Church. And specifically it speaks of what will happen to Israel in the end of time (the latter days). Latter days - compare synonymous phrases with eschatological (pertaining to future) implications - Latter days = Dt 4:30 31:29 Je 30:24 48:47 Da 2:28 10:14 Last days = Isa 2:2 Je 23:20 49:39 Ho 3:5 Mic 4:1 (See The Last Days) Days to come = Ge 49:1 Isa 27:6 Nu 24:14 The latter days - This is a phrase filled with eschatological implications as several of the seven uses of this phrase (in NAS) point to events concerning Israel's future. For example... When you (Israel) are in distress (Trouble pictured as a narrow or tight space and the anguish one experiences in adverse circumstances) and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice (Note: This has not happened, so speaks of a future event). 31 For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant (Abrahamic covenant) with your fathers which He swore to them. (Dt 4:30, 31, cf Dt 30:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) Comment: Here the latter days is associated with the return of Israel to her God, which describes a yet future event when Messiah pours out a Spirit of grace and supplication and they look on Jesus Whom they pierced and mourn and repent and believe (cf Zech 12:9, 10, Ro 11:25, 26-note). Dt 4:31 explains why Jehovah will not destroy the recalcitrant and rebellious nation of Israel --- He is the God of compassion and the God Who keeps covenant, referring to the unconditional covenant promises He made with "your fathers", Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see Abrahamic versus Mosaic and Abrahamic vs Old vs New). In short, God will not forget Israel and will not "replace" Israel with the Church as sadly is so often taught. The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has performed and until He has accomplished the intent of His heart; In the latter days you will understand this. 31:1 “At that time (the latter days),” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 30:24, 31:1) Comment: Jeremiah's prophecy also describes the future national repentance of Israel (see Jer 23:6, 30:3, 10, 33:7, 33:24, 25, cf similar time phrase "in those days" speaking of future restoration of Israel - Jer 3:16, 17, 18, Jer 33:14, 15, 16, Jer 50:4, 20, Joel 3:1, 2, Zech 8:23 this last verse referring to the Millennium). The latter days and in those days will come to "fruition" and reach their summum bonum (Latin = "highest good") and perfect fulfillment at the glorious Second Coming of the Messiah at which time "all Israel" (Ro 11:26-note = "all" equates with all who believe in Messiah, which Zech 13:8,9 says will be 1/3 of Israel at His Second Coming)