The Church of Divine Guidance (CDG) Sunday morning adult bible study group is involved in a study of chapters 7-12 of the book of Daniel. In light of all the things that are going on in the Middle East today many Christians and others are wondering if these things are fulfillment of prophecy and a sign that the end is near. It is not my intent to prove or disprove what people are saying about whether these things are the fulfillment of prophecy or not. My goal is to equip you through study so you can make your own determinations.
Introduction
Last week in session 5 we finished the sections in chapter 9 when Gabriel answered Daniel's prayer to God on behalf of Israel and himself after reading the prophecy of Jeremiah.
In Gabriel's answer he identified six things that will happen for the people of Israel and the holy city of Jerusalem within seventy "sevens" (usually interpreted as 490 years). Those six things were:
We determined in our study that it was during the 69th week that the Messiah appeared and was "cut off" and the the final week the 70th was the end times when the Antichrist would be destroyed and the Messiah and his people would have complete and total victory. Meanwhile a lot of stuff would happen to Daniel's people before the 70th week so there is an apparent gap:
(1) Jesus placed the culminating week, with its "abomination" in the times of final Antichrist, just before His second advent
(2) Daniel 7:25, which describes what appear to be the very same events as those of 9:27, the seventieth week, is certainly a prophecy of the times of final Antichrist.
(3) The period of three and one-half times or years (the second half-week of v. 27) is often mentioned elsewhere in Scripture and always in an eschatological setting (Rev 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14). (4) The six things to be accomplished in the seventy weeks require the second advent of Christ, and the restoration and conversion of Israel.
Wars, terrorism, assassinations—so often world events seem out of control. We are frustrated and frightened because of our inability to do anything to stop them. The last of four great visions given to Daniel presents God's perspective on world events.
Conflicts in the Middle East directly involving Israel, ISIS advances in Syria and Iraq, shows the level of violence and disregard for life and order. Inability of men to solve differences without violence.
Just as it says in Judges 21:25 (NKJV) In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. There doesn't seem to be any solution outside of God.
The Ebola scare even with the advances in medicine, communication, and transportation we are having difficulty internationally, controlling and containing the epidemic again showing the limitations of man in dealing with disease even with all the advances of today.
Potential for terrorist attacks in the U.S. and those in government who say, quite rightly, that there is no guarantee that they won’t happen. Shows that even with all the technology and weapons that we possess man is capable of harm to man because of the hardness of his heart.
Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV) "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
The date (Daniel 10:1 (NKJV) In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.) explains Daniel's mourning.
It was now three years after Cyrus' proclamation allowing the Jews to go back to their land and to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem and it had not been completed. In fact work on the temple had stopped and Daniel was mourning these things.
Go to Ezra 1:1-4 (NKJV)1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.3 Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.4 And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
If you read the rest of chapter 1 and chapters 2 and 3 of Ezra there is a record of people who went back to Judah and Jerusalem and how they started restoring the temple and the opposition they got from the people that were there.
Go now to Ezra 4:4-5 (NKJV)4 Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building,5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
So by Cyrus' third year, the work begun on the restoration of the Temple had been stopped.
So Daniel was upset and stopped eating. It doesn't say that he fasted he just didn't eat what he may have usually eaten during this traditionally festive time year. Now remember that this was during Passover which would have been a time of celebration and feasting, although nothing that included leaven was to be eaten from the 14th through the 21st. Sort of like us during the holiday season of Thanksgiving through New Years not eating turkey and dressing and all the traditional things.
Daniel 10:2-3 (NKJV)2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
3. Why did the vision cause Daniel to react the way he did?
He was probably awestruck because of the brilliance of the man’s appearance and the power of his voice.
Daniel 10:4-6 (NKJV)4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
He was frightened and so were the guys that were with him because they took off apparently after hear the voice that sounded “like the voice of a multitude” because verse 7 says that Daniel was the only one that stuck around and he was so frightened that he apparently couldn't run:
Daniel 10:7-10 (NKJV)7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength.9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
The effect of this sight on Daniel should make men cautious about seeking or praying for unusual supernatural experiences of the presence of God beyond those experiences ordinarily granted to sincere believers.
Exodus 33:18-20 (NKJV)18 And he said, "Please, show me Your glory."19 Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."20 But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live."
Or Ezekiel 1:4-14 (NKJV) 4 Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and
radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 5 Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. 6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves' feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. 8 The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings. 9 Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies. 12 And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning. 14 And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning.
or Isaiah 6:1-5 (NKJV) 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a
throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."
They tell us that God hears our prayer immediately and he will answer even if the answer doesn't come right away and I might add in the way we want or expect. Look how he answered Daniel in a way that it frightened him.
Daniel 10:12-14 (NKJV)12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come."
In Daniel’s case the answer didn't happen right away and it looks like he prayed constantly for 24 days before he got an answer. However he did get an answer from God.
Daniel 10:2 (NKJV) In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. Daniel 10:4-5 (NKJV)4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!
That the unrest throughout the world is caused by demonic activity.
It was the prince of the kingdom of Persia. This was not a human prince. This was one of the devil’s servants.
In the OT world men believed each nation had its own special god.
Isaiah 37:37-38 (NKJV)37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh.38 Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.
Daniel 4:8 (NKJV) But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:
2 Chronicles 28:23 (NKJV) For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me." But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
We are not talking about idols because the scriptures say that idols are nothing but wood or stone. The scriptures do indicate that evil spirits are behind the illusion that the idols have power.
If it took the angel that came to Daniel three weeks or more to get past the Prince of Persia then we as humans by ourselves don’t have a chance against these powers. But thank God we don’t have to do it because Jesus has been victorious and God has given us, through His Spirit His armor to protect us and then the sword of the Spirit to go in the attack.
Go to Ephesians 6:11-18 (NKJV) 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NKJV)3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds,
Daniel 10:18-19 (NKJV) 18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."
Because he was strengthened he could understand the explanation that he was given and be able to record it. God had chosen Daniel to see the vision and to write it for his people and for all that these prophecies would affect. That includes us today. The man said in verse 11 and 19 that Daniel was greatly beloved;
Daniel 10:11 (NKJV) And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
Daniel 10:19 (NKJV)And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."
He told Daniel essentially to be strong because he was chosen to receive the understanding of this vision so that he could record it. He then told him that he needed to get back after talking to Daniel because he had to go back and fight the prince of Persia again and he would defeat but then another evil spirit the prince of Greece would be coming. We know from previous study and the previous visions that the kingdom of Greece would follow the kingdom of Persia. He also told him that Michael, who was the angel who watched over the Jews would support him in the fight.
Daniel 10:20-21 (NKJV) 20 Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.
Daniel 11:1-2 (NKJV) 1 "Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.) 2 And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.
The purpose and nature of the angelic strengthening of Darius may only be surmised. Perhaps it had something to do with the benevolent treatment this king of the realm accorded the Jews. The three kings in Persia appear to have been: first, Cambyses, Cyrus' son (accession 529 b.c.); second, Pseudo-Smerdis, an impostor (though Olmstead, History of Persia, argues that he was a genuine Achaemenid, who reigned briefly in 522 b.c.); and third, Darius I, or Hystaspes, also called, the Great, (522-486 b.c.); a truly great monarch. The fourth, far greater than they all was, then, Xerxes, known in Esther as Ahasuerus (486-464 b.c.). The wars of Darius and of Xerxes, by which the Persians infuriated all of Greece, are well known to students of classical antiquity and standard ancient history. Wycliffe Bible Commentary
10, What was the importance of the emergence of "a mighty king"?
Daniel 11:3-4 (NKJV) 3 Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 4 And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.
The mighty king is Alexander the Great or the goat in Daniel 8:5 (NKJV) And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
He defeats the Medo-Persian empire and crushes it, then he dies and his empire is broken up into four parts.Daniel 8:8 (NKJV) herefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.
One of those four kingdoms or empires will persecute the Daniel’s people eventually desecrating the temple and stopping the sacrifices. We talked about that when we studied chapter 8. But the angel talking to Daniel is going to provide greater detail of those events and also give us a glimpse into the distant future the end times.
- To finish the transgressions that Daniel had been confessing for his people
- To make an end of sins
- To make reconciliation for iniquity
- To bring in everlasting righteousness
- To seal up the vision and prophecy
- To anoint the most Holy (or most holy place)
We determined in our study that it was during the 69th week that the Messiah appeared and was "cut off" and the the final week the 70th was the end times when the Antichrist would be destroyed and the Messiah and his people would have complete and total victory. Meanwhile a lot of stuff would happen to Daniel's people before the 70th week so there is an apparent gap:
(1) Jesus placed the culminating week, with its "abomination" in the times of final Antichrist, just before His second advent
(2) Daniel 7:25, which describes what appear to be the very same events as those of 9:27, the seventieth week, is certainly a prophecy of the times of final Antichrist.
(3) The period of three and one-half times or years (the second half-week of v. 27) is often mentioned elsewhere in Scripture and always in an eschatological setting (Rev 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14). (4) The six things to be accomplished in the seventy weeks require the second advent of Christ, and the restoration and conversion of Israel.
Now on to this week's study of chapter 10:1-11:4 yet another vision and it's explanation
Wars, terrorism, assassinations—so often world events seem out of control. We are frustrated and frightened because of our inability to do anything to stop them. The last of four great visions given to Daniel presents God's perspective on world events.
1. What recent national or international crisis made you feel insecure or frightened? Explain.
Conflicts in the Middle East directly involving Israel, ISIS advances in Syria and Iraq, shows the level of violence and disregard for life and order. Inability of men to solve differences without violence.
Just as it says in Judges 21:25 (NKJV) In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. There doesn't seem to be any solution outside of God.
The Ebola scare even with the advances in medicine, communication, and transportation we are having difficulty internationally, controlling and containing the epidemic again showing the limitations of man in dealing with disease even with all the advances of today.
Potential for terrorist attacks in the U.S. and those in government who say, quite rightly, that there is no guarantee that they won’t happen. Shows that even with all the technology and weapons that we possess man is capable of harm to man because of the hardness of his heart.
Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV) "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
What are other things, going on in the world, that make you feel insecure or frightened?
2. Read Daniel 10:1-11:1. Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread took place in the first month of the year, from the 14th to the 21st. Why was Daniel mourning and fasting when traditionally Jews feasted and gave thanks for God's deliverance out of Egypt?
The date (Daniel 10:1 (NKJV) In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.) explains Daniel's mourning.
It was now three years after Cyrus' proclamation allowing the Jews to go back to their land and to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem and it had not been completed. In fact work on the temple had stopped and Daniel was mourning these things.
Go to Ezra 1:1-4 (NKJV)1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.3 Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.4 And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
If you read the rest of chapter 1 and chapters 2 and 3 of Ezra there is a record of people who went back to Judah and Jerusalem and how they started restoring the temple and the opposition they got from the people that were there.
Go now to Ezra 4:4-5 (NKJV)4 Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building,5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
So by Cyrus' third year, the work begun on the restoration of the Temple had been stopped.
So Daniel was upset and stopped eating. It doesn't say that he fasted he just didn't eat what he may have usually eaten during this traditionally festive time year. Now remember that this was during Passover which would have been a time of celebration and feasting, although nothing that included leaven was to be eaten from the 14th through the 21st. Sort of like us during the holiday season of Thanksgiving through New Years not eating turkey and dressing and all the traditional things.
Daniel 10:2-3 (NKJV)2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
3. Why did the vision cause Daniel to react the way he did?
The Archangel Gabriel Print by Shelia Diemert
He was probably awestruck because of the brilliance of the man’s appearance and the power of his voice.
Daniel 10:4-6 (NKJV)4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
He was frightened and so were the guys that were with him because they took off apparently after hear the voice that sounded “like the voice of a multitude” because verse 7 says that Daniel was the only one that stuck around and he was so frightened that he apparently couldn't run:
Daniel 10:7-10 (NKJV)7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength.9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
How would you react if you saw this kind of vision after praying?
The effect of this sight on Daniel should make men cautious about seeking or praying for unusual supernatural experiences of the presence of God beyond those experiences ordinarily granted to sincere believers.
Remember what God told Moses when he ask to see His glory?
Exodus 33:18-20 (NKJV)18 And he said, "Please, show me Your glory."19 Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."20 But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live."
Or Ezekiel 1:4-14 (NKJV) 4 Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and
radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 5 Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. 6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves' feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. 8 The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings. 9 Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies. 12 And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning. 14 And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning.
or Isaiah 6:1-5 (NKJV) 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a
throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."
4. What do the angel's words to Daniel tell us about God's response to those who seek him?
They tell us that God hears our prayer immediately and he will answer even if the answer doesn't come right away and I might add in the way we want or expect. Look how he answered Daniel in a way that it frightened him.
Daniel 10:12-14 (NKJV)12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come."
5. How might Daniel's experience encourage us to be persistent in prayer?
In Daniel’s case the answer didn't happen right away and it looks like he prayed constantly for 24 days before he got an answer. However he did get an answer from God.
Daniel 10:2 (NKJV) In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. Daniel 10:4-5 (NKJV)4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!
6. When Daniel mentions "the prince of the Persian kingdom" who resisted God's messenger, he probably means an evil spirit who influenced the affairs of the Persian government. What does this "unveiling" of demonic activity in political affairs teach us about our modern world?
That the unrest throughout the world is caused by demonic activity.
It was the prince of the kingdom of Persia. This was not a human prince. This was one of the devil’s servants.
In the OT world men believed each nation had its own special god.
Isaiah 37:37-38 (NKJV)37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh.38 Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.
Daniel 4:8 (NKJV) But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:
2 Chronicles 28:23 (NKJV) For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me." But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
We are not talking about idols because the scriptures say that idols are nothing but wood or stone. The scriptures do indicate that evil spirits are behind the illusion that the idols have power.
7. If an evil power could hinder an angel in Daniel's day, what does this indicate about our own need for help against Satan's forces?
If it took the angel that came to Daniel three weeks or more to get past the Prince of Persia then we as humans by ourselves don’t have a chance against these powers. But thank God we don’t have to do it because Jesus has been victorious and God has given us, through His Spirit His armor to protect us and then the sword of the Spirit to go in the attack.
Go to Ephesians 6:11-18 (NKJV) 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NKJV)3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds,
8.What was the significance of Daniel’s strengthening?
Daniel 10:18-19 (NKJV) 18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."
Because he was strengthened he could understand the explanation that he was given and be able to record it. God had chosen Daniel to see the vision and to write it for his people and for all that these prophecies would affect. That includes us today. The man said in verse 11 and 19 that Daniel was greatly beloved;
Daniel 10:11 (NKJV) And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
Daniel 10:19 (NKJV)And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."
He told Daniel essentially to be strong because he was chosen to receive the understanding of this vision so that he could record it. He then told him that he needed to get back after talking to Daniel because he had to go back and fight the prince of Persia again and he would defeat but then another evil spirit the prince of Greece would be coming. We know from previous study and the previous visions that the kingdom of Greece would follow the kingdom of Persia. He also told him that Michael, who was the angel who watched over the Jews would support him in the fight.
Daniel 10:20-21 (NKJV) 20 Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.
9. What details were given concerning Israel’s history under Persia?
Daniel 11:1-2 (NKJV) 1 "Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.) 2 And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.
The purpose and nature of the angelic strengthening of Darius may only be surmised. Perhaps it had something to do with the benevolent treatment this king of the realm accorded the Jews. The three kings in Persia appear to have been: first, Cambyses, Cyrus' son (accession 529 b.c.); second, Pseudo-Smerdis, an impostor (though Olmstead, History of Persia, argues that he was a genuine Achaemenid, who reigned briefly in 522 b.c.); and third, Darius I, or Hystaspes, also called, the Great, (522-486 b.c.); a truly great monarch. The fourth, far greater than they all was, then, Xerxes, known in Esther as Ahasuerus (486-464 b.c.). The wars of Darius and of Xerxes, by which the Persians infuriated all of Greece, are well known to students of classical antiquity and standard ancient history. Wycliffe Bible Commentary
10, What was the importance of the emergence of "a mighty king"?
Daniel 11:3-4 (NKJV) 3 Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 4 And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.
The mighty king is Alexander the Great or the goat in Daniel 8:5 (NKJV) And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
He defeats the Medo-Persian empire and crushes it, then he dies and his empire is broken up into four parts.Daniel 8:8 (NKJV) herefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.
One of those four kingdoms or empires will persecute the Daniel’s people eventually desecrating the temple and stopping the sacrifices. We talked about that when we studied chapter 8. But the angel talking to Daniel is going to provide greater detail of those events and also give us a glimpse into the distant future the end times.
We will get into those details next week when we continue in chapter 11 starting at verse 5 and read through the last chapter of the book chapter 12.
For more study resources on the book of Daniel click these links:
I also recommend the Wycliffe Bible Commentary by Charles F. Pfieffer and Everettt F. Harrison (Editors) for a powerful handbook that walks you, phrase by phrase, through the entire text of the Old and New Testaments
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