2. Daniel Glimpses the Unseen Conflict Behind the Curtain of History

7. Dan. 10:1 In the 3rd year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision.

8. Ezra 1:1 In the 1 st year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the L ORD spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The L ORD put it into the mind of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and |to put it| in writing: 2 This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “ The L ORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.

9. Ezra 1:3 Whoever is among His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the L ORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 Let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem. ”

11. Dan. 10:1 In the 3rd year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision.

12. Dan. 10:2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for 3 full weeks. 3 I didn ’ t eat any rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn ’ t put any oil |on my body| until the 3 weeks were over.

14. Dan. 10:4 On the 24 th day of the 1 st month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5 I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.

17. Dan. 10:7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see it, but a great terror fell on them, and they ran and hid. 8 I was left alone, looking at this great vision. No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. 9 I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

22. Dan. 10:10 Suddenly, a hand touched me and raised me to my hands and knees. 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.

24. Dan. 10:12 “ Don ’ t be afraid, Daniel, ” he said to me, “ for from the 1 st day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

26. Matt. 7:7 Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

28. Dan. 10:12 “ Don ’ t be afraid, Daniel, ” he said to me, “ for from the 1 st day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

29. Now what we can understand in these vss? 1. God sends an angel to answer Daniel ’ s prayer on the 1 st day he starts praying.

30. 2. But for the next 21 days, while Daniel keeps praying, a demon called “ the prince of Persia ” opposes this angel and keeps him from delivering the answer to Daniel ’ s prayer.

31. 3. This stalemate between the angel and the demon is broken when Michael, a more powerful angel, comes to help.

32. 4. Unseen by us humans, there is super-natural conflict waged between God ’ s angels and Satan ’ s demons. This invisible conflict affects earthly nations and rulers. And this is one reason why our prayers sometimes go unanswered for a long time.

34. Dan. 10:14 Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision refers to those days. ”

35. Dan. 10:15 While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. 16 Suddenly one with human likeness touched my lips. I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, “ My lord, because of the vision, I am overwhelmed and powerless. 17 How can someone like me, your servant, speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me. ”

36. Dan 10:18 Then the one with human likeness touched me again and strengthened me. 19 He said, “ Don ’ t be afraid, you who are treasured |by God|. Peace to you; be very strong! ” As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “ Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me. ”

37. Dan. 11:20 He said, “ Do you know why I ’ ve come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come. 21 No one has the courage to support me against them except Michael, your prince. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth.

38. Here ’ s more of what we understand: 1. When this angel left Daniel, he had to return to battle the demon associated with Persia. 2. The angel says there would be a conflict with another demon associated with Greece. 3. And once again, the archangel Michael would have to help the angel fight those 2 demons.

39. 4. Michael is called “ your prince ”. In the Bible, Michael is the guardian angel God assigned to protect Daniel ’ s people, Israel. (Dan 12:1; Jude 9; Rev 12:1-9) 5. Finally, this good angel promises Daniel to reveal information from God ’ s “ book of truth ” — the prophecies we ’ ll study in the next 2 chapters, Dan 11-12!

40. Why would Satan assign demons to the nations of Persia and Greece?

41. Because those 2 empires Persia and Greece would rule over Israel for the next 500 years.

42. The Book of Esther

43. Daniel 7-8, 11-12

44. 7 Bible Facts about Angels, Demons, and Satan to help our study in Daniel:

45. 1. Before God created the Earth, He created millions of supernatural, powerful, and intelligent creatures called angels (Job 38:4-7).

46. These glorious beings worship God and serve Him in many ways (Heb 1:14). Angels are incredibly powerful, but compared to God who is Infinite and All-Powerful, angels are still finite creatures with limitations.

47. 2. Long ago, one of the highest angels rebelled against God and became Satan (Is 14:13-15; Ezk 28:11-19). Satan then led 1/3 of the angels in a revolt against God, and they became demons (Rev 12:3-4, 7-9).

48. Satan and his fallen angels or demons constantly oppose God, His kingdom, and God ’ s people.

49. 3. The power of Satan and his demons is also limited. We know from Job 1:12; 2:6 and Jesus ’ casting out demons in the Gospels that Satan and his evil forces cannot act without God ’ s permission. Any harm they cause is included in God ’ s good plan that will ultimately work together for the good of believers (Rom 8:28-29).

50. 1 Jn 4:4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

52. 4. Satan and his demons were all defeated by the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ!

53. John 16:8 When He [the Holy Spirit] comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment … 11 and about judgment, because the ruler of this world [Satan] has been judged.

54. 5. There are 2 errors we must avoid about Satan: a. Many deny or scoff that Satan exists or is involved in world events.

55. 5. There are 2 errors we must avoid about Satan: a. Many deny or scoff that Satan exists or is involved in world events. b. Others become too obsessed with Satan and give him too much credit for evil in the world.

56. The cure for both of these errors is good Biblical knowledge and obedience!

57. 6. Satan does influence human governments and leaders to a degree, especially against God ’ s people.

60. 7. Finally, we need to focus, not on a passage like Dan 10, but on what the Bible clearly teaches us about Satan in a passage like Eph 6.

61. Eph. 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest,

62. 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God ’ s word. 18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

63. God has given us 2 offensive weapons against Satan and his forces: God ’ s Word (the Bible) and Prayer