1-21 Conflict of Nations and Heavenly Powers
1 Daniel receives “a word” in the 3rd year of King Cyrus of Persia concerning a great conflict.
2-6 Daniel, who has been sad for 3 weeks, is standing on the bank of the Tigris River when he sees a man in linen with a belt of gold, a body like beryl, face like lightning, eyes like flaming torches, limbs like bronze, whose voice is like a multitude’s roar. Can this be anyone except the second person of the Godhead? It is very similar to the description in Revelation 1 of the Son of God:
13 and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters.
7-9 Though those with Daniel cannot see the vision, they run or hide, and he falls into a trance, face to the ground.
10-12 A hand gently touches Daniel and brings him to his hands and knees, telling him not to be afraid, for it is because of his humility before God he is receiving this message. This, I think, is an angel rather than the Son that appeared at first. The whole tone of the scene seems to change, and he is now referred to as “one in human form,” as if it’s the first time Daniel has seen him. And in verse 10, it’s “a hand” rather than “his hand.”
13-14 The king of Persia has opposed the speaker for 21 days, so Michael has been sent to the king, and the speaker has come to help Daniel understand what will happen to his people.
15-17 After “one in human form” touches his lips, Daniel tells him that the vision has caused him to lose all his strength.
18-21 The “one in human form” touches him and strengthens him and tells him he is returning to fight against the prince of Persia, and after that the prince of Greece, but he will tell Daniel what is in the book of truth. Only he and Michael are fighting against those princes. Even today, those in "the heavenlies" fight on our behalf, as stated in Ephesians 6:12:
For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
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