B i b l e S t u d y
Lesson: Daniel 10 - Daniel's Vision and the Angel
SCRIPTURE READING: Daniel 10:1-21
GOLDEN TEXT: Daniel 10:19
1. What year did Daniel have a vision in the reign of Cyrus king of Persia? (Daniel 10:1). What was Daniel’s other name? Was this revelation message true?
Note: The third year of Cyrus would have placed this vision in the spring of 536 B.C. Babylon fell in 539 B.C. What was this revelation message? Nothing is told of the revelation or this vision. What was received is an explanation of the revelation which follows in Daniel chapters 11 and 12. The stage is set in Daniel 10 for the revelation of the vision that Daniel received.
2. Did the vision disturb Daniel to the point of him mourning for how long? (Daniel 10:2).
3. What kind of food did Daniel not eat for three whole weeks? (Daniel 10:3).
Note: Notice Daniel’s reaction to the vision. He mourned and semi-fasted for three weeks. He was troubled over what he saw in the vision and did not understand it. This vision showed horrible things including the slaughter of people and children.
4. What great river was Daniel at on the 24th. day of the first Month? (Daniel 10:4).
Note: The first month was Nisan. The Persians used the spring to spring accession year reckoning so this would have been early in 536 B.C.
5. What did Daniel see when he lifted his eyes? (Daniel 10:5).
Note: There is no indication as to why Daniel was away from Babylon at this point in time. Daniel 1:21 indicates that Daniel’s official government position lasted only until the first year of Cyrus, so he was not here on government business. Josephus mentions that Daniel was an architect/engineer, so perhaps he was here working on a project, but this is only speculation.
6. What are some other characteristics of this angelic being that Daniel saw? (Daniel 10:6). What was the sound like of the voice that Daniel heard?
Note: Here we find described an angelic being and it is similar to what we read about in Revelation 1 regarding what Jesus Christ looks like, but this is not Jesus, because it is evident from the context of this chapter. This was an angel and it was probably Gabriel even though his name is not given. We will assume that it was Gabriel for this Bible study.
7. Did only Daniel see this angelic vision? (Daniel 10:7). What did the men do?
Note: The men who were with Daniel did not see the vision but they possibly heard the sound or noise of the voice like a multitude and great terror fell upon them.
8. Was Daniel frightened to the point of being weak in the knees and all of his strength gone? (Daniel 10:8).
9. Did Daniel hear the words of the angel and was he in a deep sleep? (Daniel 10:9).
10. Did a hand touch Daniel and did it make him tremble? (Daniel 10:10).
11. What did the angel say to Daniel? (Daniel 10:11). Did the angel say that Daniel was greatly beloved?
Note: Daniel was standing in the presence of this angelic being and he was not told to take off his sandals. If this would have been God or Jesus then he would have been told to do so as Moses was told at the burning bush. (Exodus 3:4-5).
The phrase "understand the words that I speak to you" is referring to the information of Daniel 11 and 12.
12. When did God first hear Daniel’s prayer? (Daniel 10:12). Was Gabriel sent by God as a result of Daniel’s prayer?
Note: Daniel’s prayer was answered immediately and God sent Gabriel to go to Daniel.
13. Who withstood Gabriel for 21 days? (Daniel 10:13). Who came to help Gabriel? Had he been left alone there with the kings of Persia?
Note: Gabriel wanted to come but he was prevented from coming by the prince of the kingdom of Persia. This prince was a spirit being. In Ezekiel 28 we read about the Prince of Tyre and the King of Tyre. One was in the physical realm and the other was in the spiritual realm. Gabriel’s job was probably to protect the human king Cyrus. The opposition to Gabriel’s coming to Daniel was that Satan had a demon to prevent Gabriel from leaving. God has given Satan authority over the earth and He allows him to flex his authority and yet God limits Satan as to how far he can go. An example of this is with Job. God allowed Satan to cover Job’s body with boils but he could not take his life. (Job 1 and 2).
Note: The decree of Cyrus was to allow the Jews to return back to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple. The decree had been issued. At this point in time Zerubbabel and Joshua were on their way or already there. This is speculation but it may have been the intent of Satan to prevent the rebuilding of the Temple by making Cyrus change his mind and to reverse the decree. Satan caused all kinds of problems in the rebuilding of the Temple as recorded in Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther. We are not told the reason as to why Gabriel could not leave but perhaps the reason was that he could not leave the human king Cyrus unprotected.
14. Did Gabriel come to Daniel to help him understand what was "to happen to your people in the latter days"? (Daniel 10:14).
Note: Latter days refers to the future. Who is your people? This may refer to the Jews, or the Church (spiritual Jews) or a combination of both groups.
15. Did Daniel become speechless when he heard the words of Gabriel? (Daniel 10:15). Was Daniel overwhelmed by the vision? (Daniel 10:16). Was Daniel out of breath? (Daniel 10:17). After Daniel was touched did it strengthen him? (Daniel 10:18). Was Daniel told to be strong? (Daniel 10:19). Was Gabriel going to return to fight with the prince of Persia? (Daniel 10:20). Who was to come after the prince of Persia? Who was to help Gabriel in the fight? (Daniel 10:21).
Note: The demonic forces were trying to undue God’s plan and purpose that He was working out through Cyrus during this Persian period and the succeeding Greek period. Cyrus and Alexander the Great thought of themselves as gods not realizing that they were puppets in the hands of supernatural beings of Satan and the demons.
Scriptures
Scripture Reading:
Daniel's Vision of a Man
(Daniel 10 NKJV) In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. {2} In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. {3} I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. {4} Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, {5} I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! {6} His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. {7} And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. {8} Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. {9} Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. {10} Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. {11} And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. {12} Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. {13} "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. {14} "Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come." {15} When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. {16} And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, "My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. {17} "For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me." {18} Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. {19} And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me." {20} Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. {21} "But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.
Golden Text:
Daniel 10:19 NKJV "And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."All Questions: See Scripture Reading.
13.) A Prophecy Against the King of Tyre
(Ezekiel 28:1-19 NKJV) The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, {2} "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,' Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god {3} (Behold, you are wiser than Daniel! There is no secret that can be hidden from you! {4} With your wisdom and your understanding You have gained riches for yourself, And gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; {5} By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, And your heart is lifted up because of your riches)," {6} 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god, {7} Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, The most terrible of the nations; And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, And defile your splendor. {8} They shall throw you down into the Pit, And you shall die the death of the slain In the midst of the seas. {9} "Will you still say before him who slays you, 'I am a god'? But you shall be a man, and not a god, In the hand of him who slays you. {10} You shall die the death of the uncircumcised By the hand of aliens; For I have spoken," says the Lord GOD.'" {11} Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, {12} "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. {13} You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. {14} "You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. {15} You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. {16} "By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. {17} "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. {18} "You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. {19} All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever."' "