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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
December 11, 2011
Revised October 15, 2023
Angelic Ministry
Daniel 10:11-21
Introduction
This morning we come to an intriguing section of Scripture that gives us some insight into an unseen dimension that has direct influence in our lives. We are creatures of the four dimensions of the time-space continuum: physical length, depth and height along with time. Materialists limit themselves to these dimensions with the consequence of shutting out the possibility of an additional dimension that cannot be contained in a science lab or even experienced by the scientific method. Despite the claims of such materialists that they are rational and scientific, they often hold beliefs that are outside the realm of science or even in contradiction to their own observations. The quest of man to justify his beliefs knows no bounds. That is why those who claim man is causing catastrophic climate change (global warming) will ignore the physical and historical evidence that contradicts their claim. Their quest is to prove their belief regardless of known truth. The same is true for the many materialists that espouse evolution. They are blinded to the fact they are in reality controlled by a philosophical system instead of a scientific one. Their quest is also to prove their belief system regardless of actual reality. They purposely ignore or reinterpret the actual physical and historical evidence until it fits their underlying beliefs while claiming they are the only true scientists. They are self-deceived.
While we may be creatures of the time-space continuum, there is another dimension that the Scriptures declare and into which we get occasional glimpses. There is a spiritual dimension in which actual spiritual beings battle for positions of power and influence. God is supreme and He created angels to serve Him, but some of those angels, the demons, have rejected God’s rule and seek to usurp Him and His plans. The Scriptures reveal that these spiritual beings, both the holy and the evil ones, have influence on people and their actions on both the personal level and the national level. Turn to Daniel 10.
The time frame of Daniel 10 is two years after Daniel had received Gabriel’s revelation of the future recorded in Daniel 9. Remember from our study two weeks ago that the angel Gabriel was sent in response to Daniel’s prayer which was prompted by his reading of Jeremiah’s prophecies. It would have been quite confusing for Daniel to understand how the visions he had received would fit with Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning the 70 years Jerusalem would be desolated which would be followed by a return and rebuilding of the Temple. Gabriel was sent to give Daniel understanding of these things. There would be a restoration in the near future just as Jeremiah had prophesied, but there would also be desolations in the distant future brought on by evil men and God’s consequential wrath upon them. However, when the time decreed had passed, God would have accomplished all that Daniel had seen in his previous visions. The transgression would be finished, sin would be put to an end, atonement would have been made for iniquity, everlasting righteousness would be brought in, the visions and prophecies would be fulfilled, and the most holy place would have been anointed. To put it more simply, there were many terrible things that would come in the future, but at the end of them the Most High would establish His everlasting kingdom and all dominions would serve and obey Him (Daniel 7:27). (See: The Prophecy of the Four Beasts and The Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks)
The Circumstances – Daniel 10:1-4
Daniel 10 (LSB), 1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the word was true and one of great conflict, but he understood the word and had an understanding of what had appeared. 2 In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. 3 I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were fulfilled. 4 And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris,
The Revelation of a Message – vs 1
The truthfulness of this chapter is attacked by liberal scholars who claim that Daniel did not live past the first year of Cyrus according to Daniel 1:21. However, the context of the verse is Daniel entering the king’s personal service, not the length of Daniel’s life. Daniel served the kings of the Babylonian Empire until Cyrus conquered it. Even though Daniel was old by that time, according to Daniel 6, he then became an important official in the new empire under king Darius who was over the Babylonian province. Daniel’s Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, is used to identify this as the same Daniel who was the Jewish captive that became an official in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.
Verse 1 summarizes what will be discussed in the next three chapters. A message was revealed to Daniel in the third year of Cyrus. The truthfulness of the message is emphasized since it is about a future period described in great detail and involving great conflict. It was a message that would be hard to believe, and indeed, liberal scholars reject the idea that it was all foretold hundreds to thousands of years beforehand. The attestation of the truthfulness of the message is a demonstration that it was from God. In addition, Daniel did understand this message and vision.
Daniel’s Mourning – vs. 2-4
The next few verses describe what Daniel was doing prior to receiving this revelation. Verse 2 states that he was “mourning” for three weeks of days during which he fasted from pleasant food and wine as well as using any ointments. I think most of us can understand fasting as part of mourning. Refraining from enjoyable foods is a common way to express grief. In addition, sorrow diminishes your appetite and you eat only because you have to do so for nourishment. Plain food is about all you can handle and what is described here as tasty or pleasant foods could even be repulsive.
The idea of not using ointments as a sign of mourning may be unfamiliar to many. There are several references in the Hebrew Scriptures to anointing with oil as a sign of provision, joy and gladness (Psalm 23:5; 45:7; 92:10; 104:15; Prov. 27:9). A lack of such oil was a sign of sorrow and mourning (Ecclesiastes 9:8; 2 Samuel 14:2). From the practical side, skin ointments are used in dry climates such as occur in Babylon and throughout the Middle East to keep the skin from drying out. To refrain from using them would be a sign of neglect of normal bodily care and a fitting sign of mourning.
The timing of this message gives us a clue about the reason for Daniel’s mourning. Daniel is by the Hiddekel, the Tigris river, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month and his three weeks of fasting where completed by that date. If Daniel’s fast was immediately before this, it would have included the period of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. These normally include fasting, but they would not be the cause of Daniel’s mourning. It is more likely his concern is about what may have been happening in Jerusalem.
This revelation is given to Daniel in 536 B.C. which is 73 years after Egypt gained control of Jerusalem, 69 years after Babylon captured Jerusalem and Daniel was taken captive, and 2 years after Cyrus’ decree that allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. From the book of Ezra we know that though it took some time to prepare for the journey, by the seventh month of the first year, the exiles had arrived back in Jerusalem and had set up an altar and celebrated the Feast of Booths. By the second year they had begun work on the foundation of the Temple, but this aroused the opposition of the surrounding people. Daniel did not go back with them most likely due to both his age and the importance of his governmental position. However, we can safely surmise that Daniel was very interested in what was happening in Jerusalem and the welfare of the people. This would have been a fitting reason for his mourning.
The Terrifying Vision – Daniel 10:5-9
While Daniel is standing by the bank of the Tigris river, he sees something that terrifies him.
What Daniel Saw – vs. 5-6
5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose loins were girded with a belt of pure fine gold of Uphaz. 6 His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
In some ways this was similar to previous visions and revelations Daniel had received and yet also very different. Daniel had previously seen glorious and supernatural beings in his visions including the Ancient of Days seated on a flaming throne in his vision of the four beasts. Daniel had also been overpowered by the presence of supernatural beings such as when he first met Gabriel and had become frightened and fainted. But this being is described in much more detail and is much more majestic than what he had seen before.
White linen was the common garment of the priests, and the high priest wore a woven band of gold, blue, purple and scarlet material. This being was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. The gold of Uphaz being of unusual quality so that it was easily distinguished by just looking at it. The word beryl here is also translated as chrysolite topaz and even yellow serpentine or jasper. Whatever particular stone is meant, it describes the entire body of this being as a jewel reflecting the glory of the rest of the vision. It is hard to even imagine how eyes described as flaming torches could even be distinguished in a face that appeared as lightning, but that is Daniel’s description. The arms and feet reflected like polished bronze and the voice was like many waters.
This description is very similar to the one given by John in Revelation 1:13-16, “. . . one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle. 14 And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire; 15 and His feet [were] like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice [was] like the sound of many waters. And in His right hand He held seven stars; and out of His mouth cane a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.” Because of these two descriptions are so similar this may have been a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus the Messiah. I think this may well be the case since no angel is given such a description.
The Reaction to the Vision – vs. 7-9
The effect this had on Daniel and those with him was immediate. 7 Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision that appeared, but the men who were with me did not see the vision that appeared; nevertheless, a great terror fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. 8 So I alone remained and saw this great vision that appeared; yet no might remained in me, for my outward splendor turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no might. 9 But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
The men with Daniel did not see what he saw, yet they were very aware something tremendous was happening. They were overcome with terror and great trembling and ran away to hide themselves. Daniel alone saw the vision but he did not run away, though he might have done so if any strength had been left in him. Daniel turned white at the sight and then fainted away when this being spoke. Daniel does not record what he said but only that it sounded like many waters.
This was not happening to Daniel in a vision as had occurred in the vision of the Ram and the Goat (Daniel 8). He was physically present near the bank of the Tigris river and he physically fainted at the sight and sound of this supernatural being. John had a similar experience when he saw the Lord while in the spirit on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9-17).
The common reaction recorded in the Scriptures of people seeing even just an angel is fear unless the angel has come in the form of an ordinary man, and even then their presence can be disconcerting. We live in a time when there are plenty of people who claim to have seen and talked with an angel or the Lord. Such claims always need to be examined by Scripture in both the claim itself and the supposed revelation given during such an encounter. A lack of fear in the encounter may be the first clue to a false claim. 1 John 4:1-3 warns us to not believe every spirit but to test them to see whether they are from God for many false prophets have gone out into the world. If what they claim does not match the Scriptures, then they are false. Do not fear them but actively and boldly oppose them.
Angelic Ministry – Daniel 10:10-21
The rest of this chapter gives us insight into some of the ministries carried out by angels. We find two ministries in the next three verses.
Personal Ministry to Daniel – vs. 10-12.
“10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me shaking on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to speak to you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understand this and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. ”
The text is not clear if the one that touches and talks with Daniel is the pre-incarnate Messiah whom Daniel saw and described in verses 4-5 or if this is an angel. I take this to be an angel because in verse 13 we find that he is limited in power and needs the help of Michael. While Jesus needed and received the help of angels at times (Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43), that was after His incarnation. It does not make sense to me that the second person of the triune God would need such help prior to His taking on the limitations of human flesh. Even in His humanity Jesus could cast out even a legion of demons with just a word (Matt. 8:28-32). Why then would one demon cause such problems if this was the pre-incarnate Messiah and not just an angel?
The first thing the angel did was to touch Daniel and begin to strengthen him. The Hebrew here describes this as shaking Daniel up to his hands and knees. Daniel had fainted and the angel rouses him so that he is able to rise to his hands and knees though still shaking.
The angel then encourages Daniel by telling him of the high regard given to him and that he had been sent to give Daniel a message. It was obvious to Daniel this was an angelic being so it would have been very encouraging to hear from him that he was a man highly esteemed. Daniel was then able to rise to his feet, though still trembling.
The angel further encourages him by telling him not to fear for Daniel’s prayer had been heard from the first day he had humbled himself and set his heart to understand. The angel was there in response to Daniel’s prayer.
Hebrews 1:14 states that angels are “ministering spirits sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.” These are two of their ministries. They strengthen believers and are sent out by God in response to our prayers. Obviously it is rare that those who receive the ministry of angels will actually see them. Even in the Scriptures the appearance of angels to men in a form clearly distinguishable as an angel is rare, but that does not mean they are not present and active. We must remember that angels exist in another dimension and that men only rarely get glimpses of that dimension.
You might recall the story in 2 Kings 6 when the king of Aram became upset that Elisha the prophet kept revealing his secret plans to make war to the king of Israel. The king of Aram finally sent his army to surround Elisha who was at that time staying in the city of Dothan. We then read in 2 Kings 6:15-17, “Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
These angels where there the whole time, but the servant could not see them until the Lord opened his eyes to see this additional dimension. The promise of Psalm 34:7 that “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them” is true whether we can see the angel or not. I think most of us have heard of stories that can only find an explanation in a supernatural intervention. While it is becoming common in our society to attribute this to “the universe” due to the influence of eastern mysticism, it is not “the universe.” It is God, creator of the universe, who is at work through His angels which Hebrews 1:14 describes as “ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.”
While there will be no physical manifestation of the angel in many of these encounters, Hebrews 13:2 informs us that at times the angel will physically manifest himself though we will not recognize their true identity – “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” This was definitely the case with Manoah in Judges 13:9-16 and probably the case with both Abraham and Lot in Genesis 18 and 19. They did not realize until afterward the true identity of those to whom they had shown hospitality. I wonder how many angels you and I may have encountered in the course of life which we will not know about until eternity.
Angels have a personal ministry when they strengthen believers and are sent in answer to our prayers. We will probably not recognize them as they perform their ministry, but they are active nevertheless. They are also active on a much larger scale that is also unseen to us. The angel had been sent the first day that Daniel had started to pray but had not arrived until at least twenty-one days later. The explanation given by the angel reveals another whole dimension of conflict in the spiritual realm.
Conflict Over Nations – vs. 13.
13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing against me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. Now I had been left there with the kings of Persia.”
We learn from Ephesians 6:12 that the demons, which are fallen angels, are organized in some way according to rank and duty. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places.]” The good angels are also arranged with some sort of hierarchy. Ephesians 1:20 apparently references this organization in saying that Christ, who is seated at the Father’s right hand in the heavenly places is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the age to come.” 1 Peter 3:22 speaks about the same thing saying that Christ, “who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.” Ephesians 3:10 speaks about the “rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”
The reference “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” is not to the human king of that nation but rather to the demon that was in charge of satanic influence upon the affairs of Persia. Because Satan’s forces are organized, I think this demon had many demons under him to carry out the work of influencing that nation for evil. I also find that it is not hard to look at history and see the nations and human leaders that have fallen to such influences. Even the politically correct recognize the obvious case of Hitler and Nazi Germany. I don’t think it is hard to recognize the same type of Satanic influence upon atheistic communist countries, nations under Islamic sharia law, or those under other false religions. I don’t even think it is hard to recognize it in certain of our own political leaders. As I have said before, evil is the proper term for some of the things advocated by such people including abortion, euthanasia, eugenics, sodomite marriage, chemical and physical mutilation of those with gender dysphoria and laws against Christian practice.
We also find in this verse that God has his angels active at national levels too. This angel was hindered for twenty-one days by the demon over Persia until Michael, one of the chief princes, helped him. Michael is an archangel according to Jude 1:9 and is most closely associated with the protection of the nation of Israel (Daniel 12:1). For whatever reason, the demon did not want Daniel to receive the answer to his prayer. However, when Michael arrived, the other angel was no longer hindered and came straightaway to Daniel. I think history also shows angelic influence on godly leaders and nations.
Revelation of the Future – vs. 14.
The angel now tells Daniel the specific purpose of his coming in verse 14. “Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet [future.]” This news appears to be beyond Daniel’s immediate concerns and it overwhelms him.
Daniel’s Response – vs. 15-17. 15 Now when he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men was touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a result of the vision that appeared, pains have come upon me, and I have retained no might. 17 “Now how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, right now no might stands within me, nor does any breath remain within me.”
The previous revelations to Daniel concerning the future had overwhelmed him leaving him exhausted and sick. He had already fainted and even with the angel strengthening him he was currently standing up on wobbly legs. This news resulted in him becoming weak again so that he could not hold up his head or speak. Once again Daniel is strengthened by an angel. This angel that touches him on the lips may have been a different one from the one that had spoken to him. There may have been more than one angel with Daniel. In either case, Daniel is then able to speak and he expresses his weakness lacking both strength and even breath. Daniel is physically overwhelmed by this experience.
Strengthening the Weak – vs. 18-19. The angel responds and encourages and strengthens Daniel. 18 Then this one with the appearance of a man touched me again and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; gather strength and be strong!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
The angel once again touches him again while expressing how much Daniel is highly regarded and beloved. Daniel did not have reason to fear but should take courage. The fear is replaced by peace as the angel strengthens Daniel so that he is now able to receive what the angel has to say.
Continuing Ministry – vs. 20-21. The angel then tells Daniel, “20 Then he said, “Do you know why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. 21 “However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Now there is no one who exerts strength with me against these forces except Michael your prince.”
The angel is going to return to his battle with the demon over Persia. He would then in the future have to deal with the demon that would be over Greece. He was not going to leave Michael alone in these struggles. Michael is described here as Daniel’s “prince.” Michael is the archangel charged with guarding the nation of Israel, but this makes it more personal to Daniel. Michael’s ministry is also directly in behalf of Daniel.
This return to the fight reveals that winning a battle is not the same as winning a war. Satan’s forces are not going to give up just because they are held in check or even defeated in a matter. Nations will come and go, but Satan and his followers will continue their struggle against God. This spiritual war is still going on and will continue until the Millennium when Satan is bound in the abyss, but at the end of that period he will be released for a short time before his final defeat and he and his followers are thrown into the lake of eternal fire (Revelation 20).
Since Daniel had fainted and been so weak, the angel makes sure Daniel understands why he has come. He is going to rejoin Michael the archangel, but before he does he will complete his current mission and tell Daniel what has been written in the book of truth. This book contains God’s decrees of what will occur in the future. Though the events had not yet been revealed by history, they would surely happen. We will look at what the angel revealed to Daniel about what God has decreed for the future in our study next week of Daniel 11.
If Psalm 139:16 is referring to the same book, and it probably is, this is true for individuals as well as nations. I realize that some people do not like the idea of God’s sovereignty, but those called by God should find it to be a great comfort as did Daniel. There will be overwhelming things that will occur in the future. We may even join our Lord in the “fellowship of His suffering” as Paul describes it in Philippians 3:10. However, God has already revealed what He has sovereignly appointed to be the end of the story. The good news is that God wins and those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be with Him in heaven throughout eternity. In the meantime, we can also take comfort that God has His angels who are “ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.”
Sermon Notes – 10/15/2023
Angelic Ministry – Daniel 10:1-21
Introduction
We are creatures of the _________ dimensions of the time-space continuum: length, depth, height & time
Scripture declares another dimension that is ______________ into which we get occasional glimpses
It has been two years since Daniel received the revelation concerning the ______________ from Gabriel
The Circumstances – Daniel 10:1-4
The Revelation of a Message – vs 1
Daniel served the Babylonian empire until ________ conquered it, and then he served in the new empire
The ____________of the message about future events is emphasized because it would be hard to believe
Daniel’s Mourning – vs. 2-4
Daniel’s ____________ was part of his mourning.
Refraining from using skin ______________ was a sign of sorrow and mourning (Eccl. 9:8; 2 Sam. 14:2)
Daniel is by the Hiddekel (Tigris river) on the 24th of Nisan, which is 10 days after ______________
The year is ____ B.C. – two years after Cyrus’ decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the Temple
There was _______________ by the local people to the Jews rebuilding the Temple (Ezra 4)
The Terrifying Vision – Daniel 10:5-9
What Daniel Saw – vs. 5-6
A white _________ garment like a priest; a belt of high quality gold; a body like a jewel reflecting glory
A _______like lightening, yet the eyes like flaming torches still visible; arms & feet like polished bronze;
A __________ like the sound of many waters.
The similarity to Revelation 1:13-16 indicates this may have been a pre-incarnate appearance of _______
The Reaction to the Vision – vs. 7-9
The men with Daniel do not see what he saw, but were overcome with terror and __________ to hide
Daniel is also overwhelmed, loses his strength and ___________
Claims of people getting a message from the Lord or an angel must be ______by Scripture – 1 John 4:1-3
Angelic Ministry – Daniel 10:10-21
Personal Ministry to Daniel – vs. 10-12
The angel that touched him may have been _______________ from the one he had seen before fainting
The angel ________ Daniel awake and encourages him until he is able to stand up though still trembling
The angel was there in response to Daniel’s _______________ – Hebrews 1:14
Angels are around us even though we ___________________ them – 2 Kings 6; Psalm 34:7
We may see & interact with angels without __________it – Heb. 13:2 (cf. Judges 13:9-16; Gen. 18 & 19)
Conflict Over Nations – vs. 13
Angels, both good and evil, have hierarchical ______________- Ephesians 6:12; 1:20; 3:10; 1 Peter 3:22
The “prince of the kingdom of Persia” is the ____________ in charge of satanic influence of that nation
The angel speaking was hindered until helped by Michael who is an _________________ – Jude 1:9
Revelation of the Future – vs. 14.
The angel has come to give Daniel ______________ of future events
Daniel’s Response – vs. 15-17.
Daniel is _________________ again
Strengthening the Weak – vs. 18-19.
The angel again strengthens and _________________ Daniel
Continuing Ministry – vs. 20-21.
The angel will return to join _____________ in the fight with the demon over Persia
Michael’s ministry is both national to _____________ (Daniel 12:1) and personal to Daniel
Winning a battle is not winning the war and Satan & his followers will continue to _________ to the end
The angel is going to tell Daniel about the ___________ by revealing what is written in the book of truth
God’s sovereignty is a ________________ to His people.
There are terrifying things that will occur in the future, but God has told us the end of the story. He ______!
In the meantime, God’s angels _____________ to the saved (Hebrews 1:14)
KIDS KORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Count how many times angels are mentioned. Discuss with your parents the ministry angels have to people.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. What are the dimensions of the time-space continuum? What do the Scriptures indicate about an additional dimension that affects us? Where is Daniel when this event occurs? What year and date does this occur? What does the timing suggest about the reason Daniel was mourning for so long? Describe what Daniel saw. Why did that terrify him? Who could this person be? Explain. What was the reaction of the men with Daniel? Of Daniel? Who touches Daniel? Could this have been the pre-incarnate Messiah? Why or why not? What ministry does this angel have to Daniel? What ministry might angels have to us in the present? Would you see them? Would you recognize them if you did see them? What do the Scriptures tell us about the organization and hierarchy of angels – both good and evil (demons)? Who is the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” in Daniel 10:13? Who is “Michael, one of the chief princes” in Daniel 10:13? What does this verse indicate about spiritual conflict over nations? Can you think of historical examples of nations that evidenced demonic influence? Of angelic influence? What is the specific purpose of the angel in coming to Daniel? Why does this overwhelm Daniel again? How does the angel strengthen and encourage Daniel? What does the angel do when he leaves Daniel? How does the angel know what will occur in the future? What is your reaction to God’s sovereignty?
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