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Angels in the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan Daniel 10 Angels in the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan

Just as Daniel chapters 2-7 form a unit, so do Daniel chapters 10-12. Daniel 10 – Prologue Daniel 11 – Body Daniel 12 - Epilogue

In the year 535 BC, Daniel and his attendants were walking beside the river Tigris (Hiddekel), about 35 miles from Babylon. It had been 70 years since he was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and he was now about 90 years old.

A crisis had developed, where work on the temple in Jerusalem (which had recently begun due to Cyrus’ authorization) was coming to a halt due to stiff opposition from surrounding tribesmen. Samaritans had even “hired counselors” (Ezra 4:5) against the Jews …

to try to stop the process to try to stop the process. They were likely trying to influence King Cyrus to rescind his decree.

As usual, Daniel begins to pray.

This time, he fasted for three weeks This time, he fasted for three weeks. The dates of his fast would have included the seven days of unleavened bread which followed Passover. This would have reminded him of God’s mighty power in delivering Israel from Egypt nearly a thousand years before.

During his fast, Daniel avoided rich foods and desserts so his mind could be clear as he communed with God.

God answered Daniel’s prayer again. Daniel 2 – Dream Daniel 6 – Angel Daniel 9 – Gabriel Daniel 10 – Jesus!

Revelation 1:13-16; Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:3

“Have no fear” – Matt. 17:6,7; Rev. 1:17; Daniel 10:10-12

This vision occurred on the 24th day of the first month (Nisan), after three “full” weeks of fasting. Full weeks come to an end after seven days; they end on the Sabbath, the seventh day. This vision, the final prophecy of the book of Daniel, was likely given on a Sabbath.

We find a parallel with John’s vision in Revelation 1:10 where he received his vision on the “Lord’s day”. Daniel and John, both exiles, would have been approximately the same age when they received their visions of Jesus on the Sabbath day.

Like Paul on the road to Damascus, Daniel alone saw the vision.

An angel (probably Gabriel) explains to Daniel that from the first day of his fast, his prayers had begun to be answered. Although Gabriel is not named in chapter 10 or 11, his position next to Michael makes him the logical candidate for the angel that brought this message to …

the prophet (Daniel 10:13, 20). The prophecies of Daniel 8, 9 and 11 are tied together by their common presenter and interpreter, Gabriel. We also happen to find Gabriel again in the New Testament. He not only gave the prophecy of chapter 9, he also came to announce the …

completion of one of its major segments when he announced the forthcoming birth of the forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist (Luke 1:1, 19).

v. 13

Who was this “prince of Persia” Who was this “prince of Persia”? Not Cyrus, called the Great King, King of Babylon and King of Lands.

He occupies a position somewhat like the other “princes” in this chapter – the “prince of Greece” in v. 20 and Michael, “your prince” in v. 21. The prince of Persia was evidently an angel-prince who identified himself with the Persian Empire. Because he opposed an angel of God …

for three weeks, we can conclude that he was an evil angel or demon (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus three times identified Satan as the “prince” or “ruler” of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

It has been concluded that “this ‘prince’ is not the king of the kingdom of Persia but rather the angelic leader of Persia, a fallen angel under the direction of Satan, in contrast to the angelic prince Michael who leads and protects Israel.”

Behind the visible realm, for three weeks day and night, an angel of God (probably Gabriel) has been wrestling with a determined and powerful demon in an attempt to countervail his influence and to prevent Cyrus from rescinding his all-important decree. At last Michael ...

– who defeated the entire army of demons on another occasion (Revelation 12:7) – reinforces Gabriel. The demon is routed, and the king of Persia makes the right decision. Cyrus refuses to acquiesce in the Samaritan scheme to shut down the temple reconstruction.

With this introduction – a vision of the glorified Jesus and a revelation of the great controversy that goes on hour by hour behind the scenes – the angel will proceed in chapters 11 and 12 to outline events of history to the end of time.

Daniel 8:16,17,27 Daniel 9