We’ve come to the point in our study, where we couldn’t expect Daniel, being 90 years old (give or take a year or two),[1] to survive much longer. The release of the Jews had occurred two years prior (Daniel 10:1; Ezra 1:1), but Daniel wasn’t among them who returned to Jerusalem. Whether this was by choice or by command the text doesn’t say, but one wonders, had he tried to make the journey back to Jerusalem, would Daniel have survived such a long and physically draining expedition. Whatever the reason for his still being in Babylon, Daniel received his final vision and prophetic word at this time, and it will take two chapters (11 & 12) to tell it. It reads almost like history, especially chapter 11, but it is the word of God revealed beforehand to his servant Daniel, because he prayed for clarification of the “Seventy Weeks Prophecy.” In fact, Daniel tells us that the word he received was very clear, and he understood both the words spoken and the vision itself (Daniel 10:1). Indeed, it is a true wonder, when the Lord answers prayer in such a manner as this.
The vision was a spiritual event, which was physically draining, and Daniel says he had lost all his vigor (Daniel 10:8). In fact, when the heavenly being, whom Daniel describes as having the appearance of a man (Daniel 10:5), began to speak the sound of his voice caused a deep sleep to come over him. In fact, Daniel was now face down upon the ground. Suddenly, a hand touched him, which also set him up on his knees and the palms of his hands (Daniel 10:9-10). This hand did not come from the one in Daniel’s vision. Some scholars believe it was the hand of Gabriel, but this is conjecture that is not verified in the text. It is better to conclude that it was a high-ranking angel, and we’ll consider this further as we go on.
Then, the other heavenly being, the angel who had helped him to his feet, addressed Daniel, saying (the Lord) delighted in him, and he told Daniel to stand upright and consider the words he was about to speak, because he was sent to him (by God). When the angel had thus spoken, Daniel stood up, but he was trembling (Daniel 10:11).
He, then, told Daniel not to be afraid, and he began by informing Daniel that, at the very beginning of his fasting and prayer to God, he was sent out in answer to Daniel’s request. However, he was delayed for twenty-one days[2] by another spirit being, whom he identifies as the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia![3] Then Michael, the name of the one who appeared to Daniel in the vision (Daniel 10:5-9), and the one whom the angel describes as the first of the chief princes (cp. 1Timothey 6:5), came to the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia, and the second angel was then permitted to come to Daniel in answer to his prayer (Daniel 10:12-13).
At this time, the angel told Daniel he had come to him in order to help him understand what would befall the Jews in the latter days (Daniel 10:14), meaning the time of the end, which is a time appointed long after Daniel’s days.
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[1] If Daniel was 18-20 years old when he was taken to Babylon, which was three years into Jeremiah’s Seventy Years Prophecy (Jeremiah 25:11; 27:1-6; cp. Daniel 1:1), the third year of Cyrus (Daniel 10:1) would be 70 years after Daniel was in captivity in Babylon. Therefore, he would be about 90 years old at this time in his life.
[2] If this angel was sent at the very beginning of Daniel’s prayer, but was delayed by another angel for 21 days, then the whole time of Daniel’s prayer and fasting was three full weeks, not three weeks plus 1-6 days. In other words, Daniel had begun his prayer on the third day of the first month of the Jewish calendar (Daniel 10:3-4)
[3] The scholars are divided on how this “prince” should be interpreted. Some believe it refers to a human authority, but I can hardly reconcile how a man, whatever his rank, could oppose and delay a spirit being sent by God for his purpose. Other scholars believe it to be an evil angel. However, I find absolutely nothing in scripture that would denote there ever have been a rebellion in heaven, whereby a company of angels opposed God and were expelled from heaven. Nor is there any proof in scripture that God actually created evil angels. Therefore, if there isn’t any evidence in scripture for an angelic rebellion or that any man, regardless of rank, could successfully oppose the power of an angel, the only thing left is to say this prince is an angelic being, whom we might describe as a ‘good angel.’ This angel had been placed in his position by God, himself. Some, are for the care of people (Acts 12:15), and others are for the charge of nations (Zechariah 6:5; cp. Daniel 7:17). Angels seem to be amoral creatures. Nothing is ever said of them having free moral agency. They are given their responsibilities by God and they behave in a manner that best fulfills that responsibility, or according to their understanding of God’s will. If the Lord sends a second angel on a mission that is perceived contrary to the interests of the first angel, the second angel will be opposed by the first, as is seen in Daniel 10:13. Consider the fact that men do have free moral agency. If the Lord has placed angels in power to aid them, they could not have free moral agency, themselves. Otherwise, they would be able to affect the free moral agency of mankind, especially those whom the Lord had sent to aid men. A man’s freewill must be his own, unaffected by either a heavenly being or even God, himself. A man’s will could certainly be opposed, but not directed by spirit being, whether angelic or the Lord.
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