It is the first month of the year in the Jewish calendar (Daniel 10:4). Normally, back in Israel, the Jews would have been preparing for the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:1-14). Daniel and his friends are not feasting. They are fasting. In spirit they are keeping these times sacred, though unable to physically practice God’s ordinances (What do we do on Sundays when we can’t make it to church?). Passover celebrates Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. Now God is showing Daniel about Israel’s deliverance from the Babylonian & Medo-Persian captivity. After three weeks of fasting and praying, Daniel receives a glorious visitation. This visitation was fearful and confusing to Daniels’s friends (Daniel 10:7 cp. Acts 9:1-7; 22:6-9; John 12:27-29).

Who visited Daniel? There is a lot of debate about this. Sometimes (as in the books of Ezekiel and Revelation cp. Matthew 28:2-4) angels can make appearances, so powerful and glorious, that it can seem like an appearance of God (Theophany) or a glorious appearance of the pre-incarnate Son of God (Christophany). Some scholars feel that Daniel was visited by a very powerful angel, similar to the greatness of Michael the Archangel (Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7). Some feel that it could be Gabriel, who was mentioned earlier in Daniel 8:16; 9:21. It could be questioned why Gabriel’s name was not mentioned again in this vision. On the other hand, it is possible that Daniel 10:5-6 is an appearance of Christ (cp. Revelation 1:12-17 ~ note John’s reaction was very similar to that of Daniel). If indeed this is a Christophony, then it might be understandable that the following angelic appearances went un-named. Daniel is so overwhelmed by this visitation, that he is strengthened three times before he can be taught the prophetic truths to answer his questions (Daniel 10:10-11, 15-17,18-19 cp. Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:39-43; Hebrews 1:14; 13:2).

Daniel is Battling in an invisible War. Daniel 10:10-21

The world is full of war and conflict. However, a more important and powerful war is going on in the world that is either unknown or unheeded by many. It is an invisible war. Its effects can be quite visible, but will not be understood without the benefit of God’s Word and His Spirit (John 3:3; I Corinthians 2:4-16). The activity of God’s Kingdom; The Spirit of Christ, angels, the kingdom of darkness; Satan, demons – are all part of another dimension called “The Spirit World” (II Kings 6:11-17; Mark 1:23-27; Luke 9:1-2; 10:17-20; Matthew 28:18-20 cp. Mark 16:20; I Thessalonians 2:18; II Corinthians 2:11). All forms of earthly authority and power have corresponding angelic and demonic involvement (Daniel 10:12-13, 20-21; 11:1 cp. Ephesians 6:12). Scripture says much about the invisible war, but here are three things we must learn from the book of Daniel now:

• God is sovereign over all that is done in heaven and earth, among angelic beings or among human beings. See Daniel 4:34-35; 2:44-45; 7:9-14 cp. Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalm 2; 46; Isaiah 24:21; Philippians 2:9-11; I Timothy 1:17; Revelation 20; Romans 8:28-39.


• Man is involved in the war against God. He must choose the side on which to be. There is no middle ground; no way to ignore this without severe consequences. The book of Daniel demonstrates this dramatically. See I John 2:15-17; 4:1-6; I Timothy 4:1-2; James 4:1-10; I Peter 5:5-10; II Timothy 2:1-26.


• The way to fight this war is spiritual. It cannot be fought with physical weapons or human wisdom. Daniel was victorious because of his spiritual character and graces, his hunger for God’s Word and for God’s glory. See II Corinthians 10:3-5; Romans 12:21; 13:11-14; Ephesians 6:10-18; I John 5:1-5.