DANIEL LESSON 11


     We will begin this lesson in Daniel 10:1 "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."

     Cyrus was the leader of the Persians which overthrew the
Babylonian Empire. Belteshazzar was the name Daniel had been given,
while he was captive in Babylon. It is explained that by a vision God
revealed to Daniel, things which would take place far in the future.

     Daniel 10:2 "In those days I Daniel was mourning three full
weeks."

     Mourning was accompanied by wearing sackcloth and throwing ashes
upon your head. These weeks were not speaking of a long period of
time, like the weeks in the previous chapter. These weeks were made up
of seven, twenty four hour days. Even at that, this is a long time to
mourn.

     Daniel 10:3 "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."

     We see this mourning was accompanied by self-sacrifice upon
Daniel's part. This was not a total fast, but was indeed a fast. He
was totally devoted to prayer at this time.

     Daniel 10:4 "And in the four and twentieth day of the first
month, as I was by the side of the great river, which [is] Hiddekel;"

     The Hiddekel river is the same as the Tigris river. Their first
month is Nisan or Abib, which is about the same as our April. So this
is in early spring.

     Daniel 10:5 "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:"

     "Linen" speaks of righteousness. "Gold" symbolizes the nearness
of God. The only thing known of this Uphaz is that it was a region of
gold. This appearance is as a man. Daniel seas the figure of a man. I
believe this is speaking of a presence reflecting the Lord to Daniel.

     Daniel 10:6 "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."

     Look, with me, at the similarities of this figure and the
following One. Revelation 1:13 "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."
Revelation 1:14 "His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as
white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire;"  Revelation
1:15 "And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a
furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."  Revelation 1:16
"And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a
sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in
his strength." Revelation 1:17 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet
as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not;
I am the first and the last:"   Both of these are describing the One
we call Jesus, who is the Word of God, who is Alpha and Omega. He is
also King of kings and Lord of lords. The eyes speak of great wisdom.
The feet of brass speak of judgement. He is the Light of the world so
Light would show forth from Him. Water and multitude speak of large
numbers of people. His voice is like many. We know that the Lord Jesus
does not need assistance from anyone, so this must be someone that
reflects the presence of the Lord, rather than being the Lord Himself.
He is the Lord's representative upon the earth. We must keep in mind
this is a vision.

     Daniel 10:7 "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."

     The vision was not for the other men with Daniel. Even though
they did not see the vision, the nearness of the heavenly being caused
them to shake uncontrollably. They fled. This reminds me of those who
heard God's voice from the mountain, and then were so afraid they
asked Moses to represent them to God. They could not stand the
presence. Possibly, the men with Daniel were not believers in God, but
men who accompanied high officials wherever they went. Visions are
generally for just one person to see.

     Daniel 10:8 "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."

     We see that even though Daniel was a godly man, the contact with
this heavenly being, representing God, was almost more than mortal man
could endure.  All of his strength left him. "Comeliness" means
beauty.  I believe Daniel was so overwhelmed, that he became very
pale.

     Daniel 10:9 "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."

     Daniel was lying prostrate before Him. His face was toward the
ground, so as not to see the face of the Lord. He was not exactly
asleep, because he heard the Words of God, through this heavenly
being.

     Daniel 10:10  "And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon
my knees and [upon] the palms of my hands."

     This would have put Daniel in a crawling position. This does not
mean that Daniel was to look up. It means that God strengthened Daniel
by touching Him, possibly, through this being.

     Daniel 10:11 "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."

     The power of God flowing through Daniel gave him strength to
stand. He was trembling, but standing. How beautiful to hear that he
was greatly beloved of God. We know, because this being was sent to
Daniel, he is not God. He is revealing Himself as God, because of the
message he brings. God can speak from a burning bush, or anything, or
anyone else He desires to.

     Daniel 10:12 "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."

     This being, which looks like a man, was sent of God with a
message to encourage Daniel. His appearance reveals to Daniel that he
is sent of God.

     Daniel 10:13 "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."

     Whoever this is representing God to Daniel, was not powerful
enough to break through the Satanic forces to Daniel. There is a great
spiritual warfare going on. The forces of God are fighting against the
forces of the devil constantly. The devil {Satan} does not want
Daniel, or any other believer, to receive help from God. It is
possible this was an angel, sent of God to represent Him to Daniel.
Angels are ministering spirits to help the saints. Perhaps, Michael
{an archangel} had more authority and broke through for him. Today the
authority to fight these evil forces lies in the name of Jesus.

     Daniel 10:14 "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."

     Gabriel had brought a similar message earlier to Daniel. The
vision is for the end.

     Daniel 10:15 "And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my
face toward the ground, and I became dumb."

     "Dumb" means unable to speak. Again, Daniel was humbled by this
presence and the Words of God he brought.

     Daniel 10:16 "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."

     Angels are spirits, but can appear as men. Hebrews 13:2 "Be not
forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained
angels unawares."  This touch on the lips of Daniel came from God, but
was through this being appearing as sons of men. In other words, he
looked like a man.

     Daniel 10:17 "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."

     Whoever this appearance is of, Daniel associates him with the
Lord. He truly is representing the Lord to Daniel. Daniel's strength
and breath have left him, because of the nearness of this presence.

     Daniel 10:18 "Then there came again and touched me [one] like the
appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,"

     This again, is like a touch of the Lord. It is the Lord's
strength that comes into Daniel. The being, appearing as the Lord, is
the one bringing the strength. Of course, the strength comes from the
Lord.

     Daniel 10:19 "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."

     This is telling Daniel to be strong mentally and physically to do
the work of the Lord. This is almost as if this being is saying,
receive the strength the Lord has given you, and apply it to your
actions. In the beginning of this lesson, we knew that Daniel was
fasting. Fasting, in the natural, makes you very weak. In the spirit,
the Lord strengthens us when we fast. He receives the strengthening,
because he said I was strengthened.

     Daniel 10:20 "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."

     It is God who fights the battles for all of His children. The
Persians were in control, when Daniel had this vision. Soon after the
Greecians had control. God sets kingdoms up, and pulls them down.
Both the Persians and the Greeks will be fallen, when God gets ready
for their fall. There is a warfare in the Spirit world, as well.
Ephesians 6:12 "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]."  The prince of Persia and the prince of Grecia were
speaking of a warfare with Satan's army.

     Daniel 10:21 "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."

     Michael is the Archangel associated with the one we call Jesus.
Perhaps, the one speaking here to Daniel is Gabriel. The visions of
the 11th and 12th chapter are revealed to the mind and spirit of
Daniel. We know that Gabriel and Michael are archangels who stayed
with God when Lucifer fell. They are over the other good angels. Their
words are truth, because they come directly from God.











































                          Daniel 11 Questions


1.  What was Daniel's Babylonian name?
2.  When did Daniel have this vision?
3.  How long was Daniel mourning?
4.  What type of food did Daniel give up in this fast?
5.  What is another name for the Hiddekel River?
6.  What is the Jewish first month?
7.  Which of our months is it similar to?
8.  Who did Daniel see?
9.  What does "linen" speak of?
10. What does the "gold" symbolize?
11. Who does the author believe this to be?
12. Describe this being that looked like a man.
13. Where do we read a similar description?
14. Who are these both descriptions of?
15. Since the Lord Jesus does not need assistance from anyone, who is
    this figure?
16. Who, besides Daniel, saw the vision?
17. What happened to the men with Daniel?
18. What happened to Daniel, when he had this vision?
19. What does "comeliness" mean?
20. What did Daniel hear?
21. A ______ touched Daniel, and brought him upon his knees.
22. What gave Daniel the power to stand?
23. When was help sent to Daniel?
24. Who withstood the help God sent?
25. Who came to help break through to Daniel?
26. How does a Christian fight these evil forces?
27. When is this vision for?
28. What does dumb mean?
29. Quote Hebrews chapter 13 verse 2.
30. Whose strength comes into Daniel?
31. What does he call Daniel in verse 19?
32. Who would he return to fight with?
33. Quote Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12.
34. The vision is revealed to the _______ and ______ of Daniel.