The Book of Daniel

Chapter 10

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1984-2001 by Dr. Richard W. Fry Published by Promise of Life Ministries. Printed in the United States Of America. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system or database, or translated into any human or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, photocopying, recording, manual, or otherwise, or disclosed to third parties without the express written consent of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Making copies of any part of this publication for any purpose other than your own personal use is a violation of United States copyright laws.

Chapter 10 records an introductory vision which goes along with the first two verses of chapter 9. Throughout this section Daniel is filling in details of the picture sketched in his earlier prophecies.

Chapter 2 gave the grand outline; chapter 7 renewed it from another point of view, enlarging upon the final end-time stage of the fourth kingdom and the kingdom of Messiah. The future of the Hebrews ("saints" or "holy people") is barely introduced.

Chapter 8 enlarged upon Jewish fortunes in the period of Medo-Persia and Greece, concentrating on Antiochus Epiphanes and the Maccabean conflict.

Chapter 9 presented a sketch of the whole future of Israel and Jerusalem.

Verses 1-4

Now, this last oracle, chapters 10 to 12, fills in further details of Israel's future, focusing both on the Antiochus era and on the question of "last things":

• The Great Tribulation

• The Resurrection of the Dead

• Final Rewards and Punishments

These final chapters also report a model of growth experienced by Daniel.

1. First, he only interpreted another's dream by means of a dream of his own (ch. 2).

2. Later, he interpreted further dreams and experiences of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar (chs. 4; 5).

3. Chapter 7 reports visions of his own  -  truly grand spiritual experiences.

4. The story of chapter 8 reports a spiritual "transportation" whereby he received, in a land far from home, a vision of the future as it would affect his nation.

5. Next is reported actual physical sight of the angelic Gabriel in Daniel's own room.

6. Now the prophet sees with his eyes one like the very Son of God in his physical presence.

Circumstances of the Revelation. 10:1-4:
The date explains Daniel's mourning. By Cyrus' third year, the work begun on the restoration of the Temple (Ezra 1-3) had been stopped (Ezra 4:4,5). 2,3. These verses show that old age may be a time of intense spiritual activity and accomplishment (cf. Luke 2:36,37).

Verses 5-9
This man is the heavenly Christ, the preincarnate Jesus!

In favor of identifying this man with the preincarnate Christ are:

1. Harmony of language with 7:13

2. Similarities to Ezekiel's vision of Him (Ezekiel 1:26, in context)

3. Similarity to John's vision of Christ (Revelation 1:12-20)

4. His standing, later in the vision, "above the waters," set apart, where even angels dare not stand (Daniel 12:6, ASV)

5. The manner in which angels appeal to Him as having superior knowledge (12:6).

The effect of this sight on Daniel should make men cautious about seeking or praying for unusual supernatural experiences of the presence of God beyond those experiences ordinarily granted to genuine believers.

Verses 10-12 & 15-19
Suggestions for the believer's private devotional life:

1. Fear is not necessarily detrimental (contrast Romans 3:18). "God wishes our fears to restrain us like a bridle" (Calvin).

2. Prayer may be with fervor when the will of God is clear. The angel only confirmed Daniel's knowledge (cf. 1John 5:14).

3. Deep humility is a proper accompaniment of prayer in view of God's sovereignty.

4. Fear, fervor, and humility may be joined with confidence or boldness, for we come to our God in Christ (cf. "thy God," Daniel 10:12). See also Hebrews 11:6; James 1:6,7; Hebrews 4:16.

5. Expectancy. Something will really happen.

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