DANIEL 10:8

The Bible says in Daniel 10:8-12, “Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.[9] Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.[10] And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.[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.[12] Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.” In verse twelve we are given three reasons that Daniel received understanding of the true meaning of this vision. First, Daniel had a great desire to understand: “thou didst set thine heart to understand.” Second, it says that Daniel did chasten himself before God. This refers to the fact that gaining understanding was very important to Daniel. It was a priority to Daniel, and God knew it. Third, Daniel prayed about it. He asked God to give him understanding, and the Lord did just that. Not many people understand the scriptures. Yes, many understand the doctrines and traditions of their denomination, but not many understand the scriptures. As the centuries have past there have been a few who have had the same kind of desire to understand God’s Word, and the Lord has rewarded each one, just like He did for Daniel.

The Bible says in Daniel 10:13-14, “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.[14] Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.” Verse 13 reminds of how great the spiritual battle is that is raging around us. We do not see the battle taking place, but it is taking place. The spiritual forces are battling one another. Remember that before Satan fell, he was an angel in the service of God like other angels. And then when he fell, other angels joined with him. These other angels we call demons. Although they seem to have some access to heaven still, the devil and the other evil angels were cast out of heaven, and they concentrate their efforts on the earth. For example, it says in Revelation 12:3-4, “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and a behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.”

There is a relationship between the devil and his evil angels, and the kingdoms of this world. Most of the kingdoms of this world, and those who are in power in them, are controlled by the evil forces. The devil uses people to accomplish as much evil as he can get them to do. The devil certainly has the power over kingdoms in his hand such that he is able to grant power to whom he will. That is why the devil said to Jesus in Matthew 4:8-9, “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Of course, without the devil knowing it, God overrides and controls whatever the devil does to make the ultimate outcome be the will of God, and to make it all fit into God’s plan.

In describing the spiritual warfare that is always going on around us, the Bible says in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” What are the “high places” where this war against spiritual wickedness is partly taking place? The answer to that is found by the literal translation for the Greek word “high places.” It means literally “heavenly places,” and is translated as it should be with the word “heaven” almost every other time it is used in the New Testament. For example, the same word is used in Ephesians 3:8-10, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;[9] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:[10] To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” The spiritual battle rages, and it has a lot to do with principalities and powers. The devil especially wants to influence the leaders of countries because as the leader goes, the whole nation goes. Hitler is a good example of this. Leadership is everything. The angel who came to Daniel said, “the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days.” Evidently demons are assigned certain countries to work their evil influence as they can. Of course, they can only do what human beings allow them to do. You are doing your part in the spiritual battle when you take upon you the armor of God for Christians as described in Ephesians chapter 6 and verses 11 through 18. One part of that armor is prayer. It says in Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;[19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,[20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Daniel had the prayer part down very well. He was a person of prayer. The angel said to Daniel in Daniel 10:12, “thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.”

Even the defeat of Satan when he is cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years will be performed by an angel. It says about this event in Revelation 20:1-3, “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, til the thousand years be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed for a season.”

The Bible says in Daniel 10:15-19, “And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.[16] And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.[17] For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.[18] Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,[19] 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.” Notice the three characteristics that the angel pronounced that Daniel should have in verse 19: “fear not,” “peace be unto thee,” and “be strong.” We can have no fear because Jesus is our Savior, and He is always with us to protect us and to take care of us. It says in Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” There is nothing to fear. Christians should be the bravest of all human beings. Several times Jesus told his disciples the same thing that Daniel was told, “Fear not.” Jesus said in Matthew 10:26-31, “Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.[27] What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.[28] And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.[29] Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.[30] But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.[31] Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

Just before the angel said to Daniel, “Fear not,” the angel said, “O thou greatly beloved.” We who believe in Jesus are also greatly beloved of God. It says in Romans 8:37-39, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus said in John 15:9, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” It says in First John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” If you believe in God’s love for you through Christ, then you will be confident and warm and secure, knowing that the Eternal Almighty God will do everything just for you: to guide you and to take care of you because of how much He loves you.

Daniel was told, “peace be unto thee.” Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He can give peace in the midst of any trouble. According to Jeremiah, there is a time when people cry out, “Peace, peace, when there is no peace.” It says in Isaiah 57:21, “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” And it says in Ezekiel 7:25, “Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.” The first peace that every human being needs to experience is the peace that comes from knowing Jesus as Savior. It says in Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” If you do not have peace about everything around you, maybe you need to spend more time with Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Daniel was not only told to be strong, but it was emphasized because it was said twice, “be strong, yea, be strong.” We are engaged in a spiritual warfare, and the Lord needs the best soldiers for this war. Many enemies will come against you: the world, the flesh, and the devil. How will you win unless you are strong? It says in Hebrews 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” It is important to notice how Daniel was strengthened. It says in Daniel 10:19, “And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened.” The Word of God will strengthen us. Without it, we will definitely grow weak. Our strength is based upon our faith in the Lord, and our faith in the Lord is based upon our involvement in the Word. It says in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” It is no wonder that Jesus said in Luke 4:4, “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

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