Daniel 10: A Glimpse Behind the Throne
After three weeks of mourning, Daniel meets a glorious messenger and learns of the unseen conflict behind the kingdoms of the earth.
Daniel 10 (WEB)
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks.
3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4 In the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel,
5 I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, whose thighs were adorned with pure gold of Uphaz:
6 his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7 I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men who were with me didn’t see the vision; but a great quaking fell on them, and they fled to hide themselves.
8 So 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.
9 Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.
10 Behold, a hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
11 He said to me, Daniel, you man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright; for am I now sent to you. When he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling.
12 Then he said to me, Don’t be afraid, 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 for your words’ sake.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
14 Now I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days:
15 and when he had spoken to me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was mute.
16 Behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke and said to him who stood before me, my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned on me, and I retain no strength.
17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, immediately there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me.
18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me.
19 He said, “Greatly beloved man, don’t be afraid: peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong.” 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? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go out, behold, the prince of Greece shall come.
21 But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is no one who holds with me against these, but Michael your prince.”
Daniel 10 (KJV)
1 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.
2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
3 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.
4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
5 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:
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
16 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.
17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
19 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.
20 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.
21 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.
Daniel 10 (ASV)
1 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, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks.
3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel,
5 I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz:
6 his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7 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, and they fled to hide themselves.
8 So 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.
9 Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.
10 And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, thou 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.
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words’ sake.
13 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.
14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days.
15 And when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb.
16 And, behold, one in the likeness 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 reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength.
17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me.
18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me.
19 And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come.
21 But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael your prince.
Summary
In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel receives a true word about a great conflict and gives himself to three weeks of mourning, eating no pleasant food. By the river Hiddekel he lifts his eyes and sees a man clothed in linen, his body like beryl, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches. Those with Daniel do not see the vision but flee in terror, and Daniel is left alone, his strength drained, falling into a deep sleep. A hand touches him and sets him trembling on his hands and knees, and the messenger tells him not to fear: from the first day Daniel set his heart to understand and humble himself, his words were heard. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood the messenger twenty-one days until Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help. The messenger has come to make Daniel understand what will befall his people in the latter days. Again Daniel is overwhelmed and strengthened, told he is greatly beloved, and urged to be strong. The messenger must return to fight the prince of Persia, and then the prince of Greece will come; only Michael, Daniel's prince, stands with him. The chapter opens a window onto the spiritual war behind the rise of nations.
Key Figures
- Daniel — The aged seer who mourns and prays for three weeks and is overwhelmed by the glory of the heavenly messenger, then strengthened and called beloved.
- The man clothed in linen — The radiant heavenly messenger whose appearance drains Daniel's strength and who reveals the conflict behind the kingdoms.
- Michael — One of the chief princes, called Daniel's prince, who comes to help in the unseen battle against the prince of Persia.
- The princes of Persia and Greece — Spiritual powers behind earthly empires who oppose the messenger, revealing a hidden war beyond what human eyes can see.
Key Verse
Daniel 10:12 (WEB)
Then he said to me, Don’t be afraid, 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 for your words’ sake.
Lessons Learned
- God hears our prayers from the very first day, even when the answer is delayed.
- There is a real spiritual conflict behind the visible struggles of nations.
- Encountering God's glory humbles us and drains our strength, yet he strengthens us again.
- God assures his servants that they are beloved and bids them not to fear.
- God hears from the first day. “From the first day that you set your heart to understand… your words were heard” (Daniel 10:12, WEB). Delay in the answer is not silence in heaven.
- There is war behind the thrones. The messenger is withstood by “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” until Michael helps (Daniel 10:13, WEB). Visible history has an invisible battlefield.
- God's glory humbles us. Before the vision Daniel says “there remained no strength in me” (Daniel 10:8, WEB). True encounters with God leave us low before they lift us up.
- The beloved need not fear. Twice Daniel is told he is “greatly beloved” and “don’t be afraid” (Daniel 10:11-12, 19, WEB). God steadies his servants with assurance of his love.
- What does it mean that Daniel's words were heard “from the first day” though help came after three weeks?
- How does this chapter pull back the curtain on the spiritual realities behind earthly events?
- Why does the vision leave Daniel so weak, and how is he restored?
- What is the significance of being told twice that he is “greatly beloved”?
- When your prayers seem unanswered, how does this chapter encourage you to keep praying?
- Daniel's prayer was heard immediately, but the messenger was delayed by spiritual opposition for twenty-one days (10:12-13). The lesson is that delay does not mean denial or divine indifference. God is at work even when the answer tarries.
- The mention of the princes of Persia and Greece and the help of Michael reveals a conflict in the heavenly realm behind the affairs of nations (10:13, 20-21). What we see on earth is not the whole story. It calls us to pray with awareness of unseen realities.
- The sheer glory of the messenger overwhelms Daniel, draining his strength until a touch and a word restore him (10:8-10, 18-19). Genuine encounters with God's majesty humble us. Yet God does not leave us crushed; he strengthens his servants.
- Being called “greatly beloved” assures Daniel of God's affection in the midst of fearful revelation (10:11, 19). The truth that frees from fear is being loved by God. Encourage members to hear that word over their own anxieties.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to recall a prayer that seemed unanswered and to consider that heaven may be at work unseen. As leader, encourage persistence, resting in the assurance that we are heard and beloved.