Chapter 10

“I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30

Chapter 10 is the beginning of a vision for Daniel whose words don’t actually start until the second verse of chapter 11 and running through chapter 12.

I.     Daniel 10:1-9

      A. (Vs 1) Daniel receives word of a great conflict that is to come (beginning in 11:2).

B. (Vs 2) Something terrible has happened because Daniel was in mourning for 3 weeks.  We’ll see in verse 13 that the angel speaking to Daniel was “held up” for 3 weeks (21 days) by, perhaps, the son of Cyrus the Great, prince Cambyses.

C. (Vss 5-6) Compare this to Revelation 1:13-16. This must be Christ! Daniel is “greatly loved” or “highly esteemed” and therefore “worthy” to view the power of God in Christ whom he was told would be coming (9:24-25).

      D. (Vs 7) Compare these men to the men with Saul at the time of his vision (Acts 9:7).

      E. (Vs 9) Daniel’s reaction is much like John’s at his Revelation (Revelation 1:17).

II.     Daniel 10:10-14

      A. A “messenger” or angel of God is going to speak to Daniel.

      B. After falling prostrate, Daniel requires help just to get to his hands and knees.

      C. Daniel had been mourning, praying, fasting and meditating (vss 2, 3) and from the start of that this angel had been sent to give Daniel understanding of what would be in days to come.

      D. “The prince of the kingdom of Persia” who withstood this angel for 21 days is either:

          1. Cambyses, the son of Cyrus the Great, who did not like the Jews and put a halt to the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 4:4-24) or…

          2. More likely, it is the devil or one of his angels trying to thwart the plan of God.

Bear in mind that we do not understand the business of angels and spiritual forces (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; 6:10-12; Jude 6, 9). The reason we do not understand is because they have been restrained from their activities and we do not behold them (John 12:27-31; 16:11; Revelation 20:1-3.)

III.    Daniel 10:15-19

      Daniel is so paralyzed at the sight of this vision that he cannot stand and he cannot breathe. “I can’t talk to you right now!” he seems to say. The angel touches him and tells him “Straighten up!” and immediately Daniel is able to talk and listen.

IV.    Daniel 10:20-11:1

      The angel is going to return to fight against this “prince of Persia” and when he goes, the prince of Greece will come (Alexander the Great). Before he goes, he wants to tell Daniel what is written in the book of truth (God’s inscribed plan?) which we see in the next two chapters. Nobody is strong enough to help this angel fight against these “forces” except Michael (the archangel) whose encouragement and protection is the very reason for the coming of this angel two years earlier.