When Daniel had first begun his fasting and prayer near the beginning of the month, he hardly expected the intense pressure the vision made upon him, just after the Passover of that year. He was completely overwhelmed with the vision of the coming Messiah, prior to his becoming flesh (John 1:14; cp. Daniel 10:5-9). At this point in time, it appears there was a need for an intermediary angel with whom Daniel would be able to speak, but still, even after the angel had strengthen him (Daniel 10:10), Daniel was still so affected by the sight of the Messiah, that he was unable to speak and couldn’t hold up his head (Daniel 10:15).
Therefore, that angel, who had been speaking to Daniel (Daniel 10:11-14), touched Daniel’s lips, so he was again able to speak (Daniel 10:16). Daniel explained to the angel that the intensity of the vision had overwhelmed his whole being. The fact of the matter was he was unable to strengthen himself enough to stand before him. Therefore, how would the servant of my Lord (referring to the Messiah) speak before my Lord (the Messiah), …for the mere sight of him takes my breath away? (Daniel 10:16-17).
At this time, the angel who spoke with Daniel touched him a second time, and Daniel was strengthened once more (Daniel 10:18; cp. verse 10). Moreover, the angel told him, once again, that (the Lord) delighted in him, and that he should not be afraid. On the contrary, be at peace, take courage and be strong. And, when the angel had thus spoken, Daniel could feel an inner peace and strength welling up within him, so he told the angel to speak for he was already feeling the strength of the angel’s touch (Daniel 10:19).
At this point, the angel asked Daniel, if he knew why he had come to him, meaning he should know, because he had come in answer to Daniel’s prayer. The angel explained that he was about to return to the Prince of Persia and resume fighting with him, so that the Prince of Greece would be able to come. It may be, that this angel who spoke with Daniel was the guardian and helper of the rising Grecian empire (Zechariah 1:18-19; 6:5; cp. Daniel 7:17). There isn’t a great deal that is really known, as it pertains to the work of angelic beings. As I mentioned in an earlier study, some are devoted to helping individuals (Acts 12:15), while others are devoted to helping, or being the power behind, different and often opposing nations (Zechariah 6:5). It seems that it wouldn’t be long before Persia would be replaced by Greece in the saga of those powers that held sway over the affairs of God’s people, the Jews (Daniel 10:20).
Nevertheless, before he did so, this angel was sent on a mission to explain to Daniel what was about to occur to the Jewish people (Daniel 10:21). In other words, Daniel had been praying for clarity of the “Seventy Weeks Prophecy” (Daniel 9:24-27). So, this angle who had been speaking with him was sent in answer to that prayer. Answered prayer, it seems, are other angelic duties that concern the power and influence over the nations. Daniel desired clarity, and clarity was to be given him at the price of progress in this angel’s battle with the Prince of Persia. Thus, Daniel was informed that the authorities or the gentile powers, who were at this time influencing the destiny of the Jews,[1] would be changed once more. Previously, it was changed from a Babylonian influence to a Persian, and, presently, it would change yet again before the time of the end would arrive. Thus, the angel told Daniel that he would tell him what was written down in a book among the treasures held by God (Daniel 10:21; cp. Deuteronomy 32:34; Malachi 3:16; Psalm 139:16; Revelation 5:1), and there was none who helped him in this matter, except Michael (the Messiah) who is YOUR Prince. In other words, high ranking angels may be the powers behind different gentile nations, but the Messiah, even before his actual coming in the flesh, is the Prince of the Jews!
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[1] Knowledge is power, and the revelation of future influences of different gentil kingdoms over the Jews, helped the Jews to survive as a people, although they weren’t nearly as strong as their enemies. Josephus mentions that, when Alexander the Great, had come to Jerusalem to fight against it, he changed his mind, when he saw the procession of the priest aligned in the way to Jerusalem and the city gates open wide. Although the high priest had refused to supply Alexander’s troops, when laying siege against Tyre, because the high priest had promised Darius he wouldn’t fight against Persia, while Darius lived, he knew from the Book of Daniel that Greece would conquer Persia. Therefore, neither would he fight against Alexander. When Alexander was shown from the scriptures that a Grecian king would be successful in defeating Persia, he believed he would be that king (Antiquities of the Jews 11.8.5).
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3 responses to “The Influence Angels Have Over Nations!”
I take it from the date of this that you are still active. I just ran across your “How to be a Christian Without Being Religious” comments. That was one of my favorite books from the ’70’s. I have a Daughter in Law who is fighting her way OUT of her Gothard/Duggar/Independent Fundamental Baptist Church youth, and I was searching for another copy of “How” to give to her (mine is well worn) when I ran across your page. I hope to enjoy your comments as much as I enjoyed the book.
Daniel, Greetings and thanks for the comment. It’s been nearly 60 years since I bought the book and read it. I read it again later, maybe twice. I enjoyed Fritz’s manner in communicating his Christianity. It meant a lot to me, too. I bought several other books by him, but this one was my first. I hope you enjoy what I wrote, and I hope you won’t be too disappointed in my interpretation of his writings. Lord bless you and your daughter. God is good. Give it time, he’ll bring her completely out of her difficult past.
Thanks. Through conversations this morning about this topic, I just found out that my Son In Law (different child’s husband) had also been raised in that, and was even sent to the Gothard summer camp by HIS parents (for being rebellious), and rejected the whole thing. Their relationship went down hill after that I take everyone’s input and WON’T be disappointed. Iron sharpens Iron in many ways. For Moody Grad School, we had to evaluate Gary Friesen’s “Decision Making and the Will of God”, and my conclusion was that it’s OK to stay home and support missionaries – which we did throughout our life together.