The Book of Daniel

Daniel was taught by Dr. James Modlish

 

Chapter Ten
(Prayer And More Visions -10:1-21)

 

Intro:

In (Dan. 9) we discussed the revelation of the 70 weeks of Daniel. 70 (and, of course 7) is a key number in the Bible. Each of Daniel's 70 weeks is a 7 year period, making a total of 490 years. This figure of 490 years plays an important part in Scripture.
  • There were 490 yrs. from the Exodus to the building of the Temple.
  • There were 490 yrs. from the building of the first Temple to the building of the second Temple.

These 490 years do not include the time when the Jews as a nation were out of fellowship with God. Larkin has figured out 7 periods of 490 years in the Word of God:

[1]. From Adam to Enoch
[2]. From Enoch to Noah
[3]. From Noah to Abraham
[4]. From Abraham to Moses
[5]. From Exodus to the 1st Temple
[6]. From the 1st Temple to the 2nd Temple
[7]. 490 years (actually 483 - the last 7 years yet to be fulfilled in the Tribulation) from (Neh. 2) to the triumphal entry of Jesus on Palm Sunday.

God's clock is stopped according to His time table of dealing with the Jews; for example, the Church Age is a 2,000 year parentheses.

 

I. Daniel in Prayer and Mourning - (10:1-3)

A. "The time appointed was long". The answer to Daniel's prayer was a long time in coming. we are too often impatient for God's answer.

B. "I Daniel was mourning three full weeks." Daniel went on a three week fast of all but a basic, minimal diet. He was serious about his prayer.

 

II. Daniel's Vision - (10:4-6)

A. The Lord Jesus Christ appears to Daniel. Compare these verses with (Rev. 1:11-16; 2:18).

B. There are many appearances of Jesus Christ to particular people in the Old Testament, and He is called on many occasions "the angel of the Lord." An angel is the appearance of a man in the Bible. An angel may or may not be a messenger, but an angel is always an appearance. (e.g. - the angels in the garden to Jesus; the angel in the wilderness to Jesus; the angel of (2 Kings), who killed 184,000 soldiers.)

 

III. Response to the Vision - (10:7-10)

A. Daniel's experience -is similar to that of Paul in (Acts 9). He alone saw the vision.

B. Daniel, as others in the Bible who have a personal confrontation with the Lord, left in a state of dumbfoundedness. Those today who claim visions have not accepted that God's completed revelation eliminates the need for these experiences. But Satan is the great imitator.

C. Daniel is flat on his face before the Lord, but is raised to a kneeling position.

 

IV. Daniel's Reputation in Heaven - (10:11)

A. "A man greatly beloved" By whom? This same terminology is used by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself toward John. John ("the beloved disciple") wrote the Revelation of the New Testament, while Daniel ("greatly beloved") wrote the Revelation of the Old Testament. These men stood close to the Lord and His Word.

B. Others in the Bible had a reputation in heaven.

  • Paul (Acts 19:15)
  • Gideon "the mighty man of valor" (Judg. 6:12).
  • Mary "highly favored" (Lk. 1:28)
  • Job "one that feareth God and escheweth evil" (Job 1:8).

 

V. The Message to Daniel

A. There appears to be representatives of individuals, and nations, and churches, in heaven - angelic representatives.
[1]. (Vs. 12) presents a tremendous problem. If indeed the appearance is that of the Lord Jesus Himself, the question which must come is "How could God be detained for three weeks?"
[2]. The answer comes in examining Daniel's actions, described in (vs. 12). Daniel "chastened" or judged himself. Paul admonishes us in (1 Cor. 11:28) to "judge" and "examine'' ourselves. This involves an honest evaluation of ourselves in the light of God's Word - not in the light of the testimonies of other Christians.
[3]. Though the Lord's response to Daniel's prayer was immediate, His detainment was undoubtedly the result of His work as Daniel' advocate against the accusations of the "prince of Persia" - SATAN This is a reproduction of the Lord's confrontation with Satan in (Matt. 4). Our sin is what keeps the Lord from immediate response to our prayers.

B. This "Prince of Persia" pictures Satan. This is not just some guy on the ground. It is a spiritual prince over Persia.

[1]. Every kingdom and nation has an angelic representative, determined by that nations attitude toward God.
[2]. Individuals also have representatives - (Matt. 18:10). First John refers to us as "my little children."
[3]. Churches have representatives (Rev. 1:20).

C. Jesus is called an angel on many occasions (Acts 27:23, Gal. 4:14).

 

VI. Daniel after the Appearance of Christ - (10:15-19)

A. He finds himself in an emaciated, weakened condition.

B. A word is spoken, and he is strengthened (vs. 19). When God says something, it is completed.

 

VII. The Lord Reveals Truth to Daniel - (10:20,21)

A. "The prince of Persia" is no mere king; this pictures Satan. The Bible speaks of "spiritual wickedness in high places." His forces are all around us. He is a manipulator of the powers of this world.

B. The Lord was preparing to show Daniel the vision of (ch. 11), which was already "in the scripture of truth," before Daniel had recorded it. It must have been written down SOMEWHERE - (Ps. 119:89).

 

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