"THE BOOK OF DANIEL" The Vision Of The Time Of The End - I (10:1-11:1) INTRODUCTION 1. As mentioned in previous lessons, the second half of Daniel contains four visions... a. The vision of the four beasts - Dan 7:1-28 b. The vision of the ram and the goat - Dan 8:1-27 c. The vision of the seventy weeks - Dan 9:1-27 d. The vision of the time of the end - Dan 10:1-12:13 -- In which God reveals to Daniel many things about His purpose and plan in history, regarding the nation of Israel and the everlasting kingdom to come 2. In the tenth chapter, therefore, we find the beginning of the final vision recorded by Daniel... a. A vision that pertains to what will affect Daniel's people (i.e., Israel) - Dan 10:14 b. Describing what will occur "in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come" - Dan 10:14 c. Its words were to be closed and sealed "till the time of the end" - Dan 12:9 -- For such reasons this vision has been called "The Vision Of The Time Of The End" 3. But what is meant by the expression "the time of the end"? a. Is it the end of time as we think of it, when Christ returns? b. Or does it refer to the end of God's dealings with Israel as His covenant nation? [As we seek to address this and other questions raised in this difficult portion of Scripture, we first notice...] I. THE APPEARANCE OF A GLORIOUS MAN A. THE DATE AND SETTING OF THE VISION... 1. It occurred in the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, on the 24th day of the first month (ca. 535 B.C.) - Dan 10:1,4 2. Daniel had been in mourning (fasting) for three weeks - Dan10:2,3 3. He was beside the Tigris river - Dan 10:4 B. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE GLORIOUS MAN... 1. Daniel saw a certain man - Dan 10:5-6 a. Clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz b. With a body like beryl c. His face like lightning, his eyes like torches of fire d. His arms and feet like burnished bronze in color e. His words like the voice of a multitude 2. Only Daniel saw the vision - Dan 10:7 a. The men with him did not b. They fled with great terror to hide themselves 3. The impact on Daniel - Dan 10:8-9 a. Without strength, his vigor turned to frailty (he was probably in his nineties!) b. When he heard the sounds of the man's words, Daniel was in a deep sleep with his face to the ground [The similarity between this "certain man" and John's vision of the Son of Man (cf. Re 1:12-17) have led many to wonder if this was a Christophany (an appearance of the preincarnate Christ); but he may have been only an angel. As we continue, we next read of...] II. THE CONVERSATION WITH THE GLORIOUS MAN A. THE MAN'S INITIAL WORDS TO DANIEL... 1. A hand touches Daniel, causing him to tremble - Dan 10:10 2. The man addresses Daniel - Dan 10:11 a. Calling him "man greatly beloved" - cf. Dan 9:23; 10:19 b. For Daniel to understand, and to stand up c. For the man has been sent to Daniel -- Daniel stands up, but trembling 3. The man comforts Daniel - Dan 10:12 a. Telling him not to fear b. That he has come because of Daniel's humility, and desire to understand 4. The man explains the reason for the delay - Dan 10:13 a. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood him twenty-one days (the same time during which Daniel had been in mourning - cf. Dan 10:2-3) 1) Spiritual warfare seems to have been taking place (cf. Re 12:7; Ep 6:12) 2) The "prince" (angel?) of the kingdom of Persia had been withstanding him - cf. Dan 11:1 b. But Michael came to help him who had been left alone with the kings of Persia 1) Michael is described as "one of the chief princes" 2) Later he is called "your prince" and "the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people" - Dan10:21; 12:1 3) Jude calls him "the archangel", who contended with the devil over the body of Moses - Jude 9 -- Michael appears to have served as the guardian of the nation of Israel 5. But now the man has come make Daniel understand - Dan 10:14 a. What will happen to his people (Israel) b. What will occur "in the latter days", "many days yet to come" -- From what follows, the expression "latter days" appears to refer to the time leading up to the coming of the Messiah and into the Messianic period (Harkrider) - cf. Dan 2:28; Ac 2:16-17 B. DANIEL IS STRENGTHENED... 1. Daniel is initially speechless - Dan 10:15-17 a. With his face turned to the ground b. But one with "the likeness of the sons of men" touched his lips (some think this may have been Gabriel, who had helped Daniel before - Dan 8:16) c. Daniel can now speak, but is overwhelmed with sorrow and without strength 2. Daniel is strengthened - Dan 10:18-19 a. By the touch of the one having the likeness of a man b. By the words bestowing love, peace and courage c. Ready now to hear what he has to say C. THE MAN RESUMES HIS WORDS WITH DANIEL... 1. Though he must soon return - Dan 10:20 a. To fight with the prince (angel?) of Persia b. To deal with the prince (angel?) of Greece yet to come 2. Yet he will tell Daniel what is noted in the Scripture of Truth - Dan 10:21-11:1 a. Adding that only Michael helps him against them (the angelic princes of Persia and Greece) - cf. Dan 10:13 b. Adding that he had confirmed and strengthened him (Michael?) in the first year of Darius the Mede CONCLUSION 1. At this point (Dan 11:2), "The Vision Of The Time Of The End" begins in earnest... a. Describing what will happen "in the latter days" b. Referring to what will occur "many days yet to come" -- Which we shall examine when we resume our study in the next lesson 2. In these introductory remarks of the vision, we find a glimpse of the spiritual warfare that was going on "behind the scenes"... a. With angelic forces withstanding each other - Dan 10:13a,20 b. With angelic forces helping each other - Dan 10:13b,21; 11:1 c. With Michael introduced to Daniel as: 1) "one of the chief princes" - Dan 10:13 2) "your prince" - Dan 10:21 3) "the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people" - Dan 12:1 While there is little we truly know about this "spiritual warfare", and to what extent it may be going on today, perhaps our study will encourage us to take more seriously Paul's words: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." - Ep 6:12-13 What are we doing to take up the armor of God, that we might be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (cf. Ep 6:10-18)?