01.17. CHAPTER 17 - Daniel-A Man Greatly Beloved
CHAPTER 17
Daniel - A Man Greatly Beloved LESSON TEXT - - Daniel 10:1-21 An Understanding of the Seventy Prophetic Weeks of Daniel Is Very Important to Jews, Gentiles and Christians alike -- Only one prophetic Week Yet Unfulfilled -- The Time seems Very Near at Hand -- The Vision Given to Daniel Was a Man Greatly Beloved -- Why the Answer to His Prayers Had Been Delayed -- While Engaged in Prayer This Important Vision Was Given to the Prophet -- How the Divine Revelation Affected Daniel -- The Important Place which Michael the Archangel Holds in Relation to the Children of Israel
In view of all that has come to pass since the Book of Daniel was written, and those things which are now taking place throughout the world, and the impending judgments of God that are near at hand, all the Gentiles and the Jews also, as well as Christians would do well to study and to understand those things which are written in this remarkable book of prophecy.
THE SEVENTY WEEKS
Our last lesson was based upon Daniel 9:25-27, in which we discussed quite in detail the problem of the seventy weeks which the Angel Gabriel said were determined upon Daniel’s people, namely, upon the Jews, and upon the holy city "To finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."
These seventy weeks, as we know, were prophetic weeks of seven years each, making a total of 490 years which were determined upon Daniel’s people.
MESSIAH WAS TO BE CUT OFF
From our study of Daniel 9:25-27, we learned that Messiah was to come and was to be cut off at the end of the sixty-ninth week or after 483 years had expired. According to Bible chronology and the facts of history that was exactly the time when JESUS was rejected by His people and was crucified.
Daniel 9:26, also prophesied a destruction of Jerusalem and the desolation of the Jewish sanctuary, (which, as we know, came to pass about 70 A.D.
In Daniel 9:27 it is prophetically announced that the Antichrist will come and confirm the covenant with many (that is, with many of the Jews) for one week, and that in the midst of the week of seven years (or after 3 1/2 years have expired) he will break his covenant with the Jews and will seek to destroy them, at which time he will cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease at the rebuilt temple of the Jews of Jerusalem.
ONE WEEK OF SEVEN YEARS YET UNFULFILLED
It is important for us to know that 69 of the 70 weeks of Daniel have been fulfilled and that one week of seven years, yet remains unfulfilled. The reason for this is that when Messiah was cut off and the Jews were sent into international dispersion among the Gentiles, the Jewish age was interrupted and the Jewish clock stopped, as it were, and will remain stopped until the Church age is finished and the Church has been completed and raptured away to be with CHRIST. When this has taken place, GOD will turn again to the Jews and the Jewish clock will start ticking again and the last week of Daniel (or the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy concerning the Jews) will be fulfilled.
LESSON TEXT
With these things in mind we are ready to advance to a study of the tenth chapter of Daniel which gives to us an interesting account of how Daniel was prepared to receive the final prophecy which is recorded for us in the Book of Daniel.
In Daniel 10:1 it says, "In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision."
From this verse it is interesting to note that even though Cyrus had given commandment for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and that a remnant of the Jews had returned to their homeland, Daniel still remained in captivity. There is no way of knowing why he stayed behind and did not return with his brethren to Jerusalem.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS DIVINE REVELATION
Since GOD had revealed the march of empire, during the times of the Gentiles to Daniel and the information he desired concerning the Roman Empire and the ten kings and the Antichrist was not as yet fully revealed to him, by the Lord, it was necessary that the events of this chapter should take place and that full and complete information be given to him concerning those things which would come to pass during the times of the Gentiles and especially during the end time of the Gentile period.
THE THING WAS TRUE BUT THE TIME WAS LONG
In Daniel 10:1 of our lesson text it says, "In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long."
Let us not forget that Daniel, in the beginning of his supplications from what he understood then, expected that the Messiah would come and that the kingdom of righteousness would be established at the end of the Babylonian captivity, but in this he was mistaken, as confirmed in the first verse of our lesson text. Instead of the Messianic kingdom being established at that time, Daniel was given to understand that the fulfillment of the visions which he had received regarding the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of the kingdom were a long way off. The fact is they are still future! Therefore, we do not wonder that it says, "The thing was true, but the time appointed was long."
We must concede, however, that since so much time has elapsed from then until now, that the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom upon earth is much nearer now than it was then.
DANIEL WAS A MAN OF PRAYER
Be that as it may, in Daniel 10:2-3 of our lesson text Daniel said, "In those days, I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."
Let us not forget that by this time Daniel was a very old man. According to the historical facts in the case he must have been nearly ninety years old. GOD had given to him some wonderful visions concerning his own people the Jews and concerning the future of the Gentiles, but since the time appointed was long, Daniel could not hope to live to see the fulfillment of any of these things. Therefore, as he meditated upon the condition of his own people who had returned from Babylon back to Jerusalem, and of the things that would come upon them in the future according to the visions he had received, he was very sad.
Because his heart was filled with sorrow he was mourning for three full weeks. It was while he was thus engaged in fasting and prayer that he received a wonderful vision as recorded in Daniel 10:4-9 of our lesson text, where it says, "And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned, in me, into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground."
A CERTAIN MAN
This is a very descriptive passage and the important thing for us to decide upon if we can is, who this "Certain Man" was who spake on this point but from the wording of the text, I am constrained to believe that the "Certain Man" who came to speak with Daniel was none other than the Lord JESUS CHRIST Himself who appeared to Daniel in human form much the same as He appeared to Abraham at the door of his tent, as recorded in the eighteenth chapter of Genesis.
The description given by Daniel of the "Certain Man" compares favorably with the description given of CHRIST in Revelation 1:12-15 where John said, "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."
I am constrained, therefore, to believe that the "Certain Man" who spoke to Daniel was none other than CHRIST in His preincarnate form. If this was not the CHRIST who spoke with Daniel, he was to say the least a Heaven-sent messenger of great glory and power. THE REVEALING ANGEL AND THE MESSAGE
Since Daniel was speaking with One so great and glorious and full of power, we do not wonder that he fell prostrate upon the ground with his face toward the earth. In Daniel 10:10-15 of our lesson text He said, "And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me, (one and twenty days:) but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb."
It is evident from the wording of this portion of our lesson text that the one who addressed Daniel, as "a man greatly beloved," was not the "Certain Man" which he had seen by the river, but was an angel who had come to make Daniel understand what would befall his people in the latter days, which he announced to Daniel were yet far off.
WHY ANSWERS TO PRAYERS ARE DELAYED
The interesting part of this portion of our narrative is the mystery of the delayed answer. Daniel had been praying for nearly three weeks but the answer to his prayer had been delayed and here the reason for the delay is explained. From our lesson text we gather that our prayers are often hindered by satanic opposition, who uses evil angels to hinder the purposes of GOD.
We know that the true angels of GOD are sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation, as confirmed in Hebrews 1:14, and judging from our lesson text, there are evil angels whom Satan uses as rulers of the darkness of this world, who do all they can to hinder the purposes of GOD which He is bringing to pass through His saints upon earth. Therefore, if the answer to Daniel’s prayer was delayed by three full weeks, and GOD had to send Michael the archangel to defeat the enemy, and get His message through to Daniel, we do not need to wonder if some of our own prayers are not answered as soon as we would like for them to be. We recognize, therefore, that while there is a conflict going on here upon earth between the powers of righteousness and the forces of evil, a similar conflict is going on in the heavens above us, between the angels of GOD and the angels of Satan who are both struggling to influence the hearts and the actions of men.
Understanding this thing, we can realize more fully what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, in Ephesians 6:12-13, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand."
HOW DANIEL WAS AFFECTED
All of this is further confirmed in Daniel 10:16-21, in our lesson text where Daniel further said, "And, Behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision, my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. For how can the servant, of this my lord, talk with this my lord? for, as for me, straightway there remaineth no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. Then, there came again and touched me one like the appearance of the man, and he strengthened me, and said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince."
MICHAEL STANDS READY TO DEFEND AND DELIVER ISRAEL
From these words, it is plain to see that Michael the archangel stands in a special position, appointed of GOD, for the defense and protection and deliverance of the Children of Israel. I want to close this message with these words, by an unknown author:
"Pilgrim of earth, who are journeying to Heaven!
Heir of eternal life! child of the day!
Cared for, watched over, beloved and forgiven!
Art thou discouraged because of the way?
Be trustful, be steadfast, whatever betide thee,
Only one thing do thou ask of the Lord --
Grace to go forward wherever He guide thee,
Simply believing the truth of His word."
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