Angel's Message To Daniel In Daniel 10
Angel's Message to Daniel in Daniel 10
Daniel 10 records an extraordinary angelic encounter in the third year of Cyrus, two years after the Persian decree permitting Jewish restoration [5]. The angel addresses Daniel with striking reassurance: "O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent" [2]. This message comes after Daniel had spent three weeks in mourning and prayer, seeking understanding about the future of his people [5].
The Angel's Explanation of Delay
The messenger explains a remarkable reason for his delayed arrival: "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 because of your words" [1]. Though Daniel's prayer was heard immediately in heaven, the angel was detained for twenty-one days—corresponding precisely to Daniel's three weeks of mourning [6, 8]. The delay resulted from opposition by "the prince of Persia," identified by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown as "the angel of darkness that represented the Persian world power, to which Israel was then subject" [6]. Only when Michael, "one of the chief princes," came to assist did the messenger break through [6].
Purpose and Scope of the Vision
The angel came specifically to make Daniel "understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days" [8]. This vision provides "not merely general outlines, or symbols, but minute details of the future, in short, anticipative history" [5]. It expands upon the earlier vision in Daniel 8, which "none understood," but which Daniel would now comprehend through this messenger's explanation [5]. The angel indicates he must soon return to continue the spiritual conflict with Persia's prince, and afterward "the prince of Grecia shall come"—a reference to Alexander the Great, who would conquer Persia and favor the Jews [3].
Theological Significance
This passage reveals the hidden spiritual warfare accompanying earthly political events. Hippolytus notes the contrast between Daniel being told to "seal the words" until the end time, while Christ would later "loose the things bound of old" [4]. The angel's repeated encouragement of Daniel—who struggled to recover from his fright—demonstrates the overwhelming nature of divine revelation even for the faithful [7]. The immediate hearing of prayer in heaven, despite delayed earthly answers, offers profound consolation to those enduring protracted trials [8].
Sources
- Daniel “Daniel 10:12 (LITV) — And he said to me, Do not fear, 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 because of your words.”
- King James Version “[KJV] 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.”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 10:20: Knowest thou wherefore--The angel asks, after Daniel had recovered from his fright, whether he has understood what was revealed (Dan 10:13). On Daniel, by his silence, intimating that he did understand, the angel declares he will return to renew the fight with the evil angel, the prince of Persia. This points to new difficulties to the Jews' restoration which would arise in the Persian court, but which would be counteracted by God, through the ministry of angels. prince of Grecia shall come--Alexander the Great, who conquered Persia, and favored the”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — ON JEREMIAH AND EZEKIEL.(2) (part 12): now be proclaimed with boldness upon the house-tops.(10) 21. For this reason, then, the angel says to Daniel, "Seal the words, for the vision is until 182 the end of the time." But to Christ it was not said "seal," but "loose" the things bound of old; in order that, by His grace, we might know the will of the Father, and believe upon Him whom He has sent for the salvation of men, Jesus our Lord. He says, therefore, "They shall return, and the street shall be built, and the wall;" which in reality took plac”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 10 (introduction): DANIEL COMFORTED BY AN ANGELIC VISION. (Dan. 10:1-21) third year of Cyrus--two years after Cyrus' decree for the restoration of the Jews had gone forth, in accordance with Daniel's prayer in Dan. 9:3-19. This vision gives not merely general outlines, or symbols, but minute details of the future, in short, anticipative history. It is the expansion of the vision in Dan 8:1-14. That which then "none understood," he says here, "he understood"; the messenger being sent to him for this (Dan 10:11, Dan 10:14), to make him understand it. Probably”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 10:13: prince of . . . Persia--the angel of darkness that represented the Persian world power, to which Israel was then subject. This verse gives the reason why, though Daniel's "words were heard from the first day" (Dan 10:12), the good angel did not come to him until more than three weeks had elapsed (Dan 10:4). one and twenty days--answering to the three weeks of Daniel's mourning (Dan 10:2). Michael--that is, "Who is like God?" Though an archangel, "one of the chief princes," Michael was not to be compared to God. help me--Michael, as patron of Isr”
- Daniel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Daniel 10:10: Much ado here is to bring Daniel to be able to bear what Christ has to say to him. Still we have him in a fright, hardly and very slowly recovering himself; but he is still answered and supported with good words and comfortable words. Let us see how Daniel is by degrees brought to himself, and gather up the several passages that are to the same purport. I. Daniel is in a great consternation and finds it very difficult to get clear of it. The hand that touched him set him at first upon his knees and the palms of his hands, Dan 10:10. Note, Strength and comfort com”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 10:12: Fear not--Be not affrighted at my presence. didst set thine heart to understand--what shall come to pass to thy people at the last times (compare Dan 10:14). chasten thyself-- (Dan 10:2-3). thy words were heard-- (Act 10:4). Prayer is heard at once in heaven, though the sensible answer may seem to be delayed. God's messenger was detained on the way (Dan 10:13) by the opposition of the powers of darkness. If in our prayers amidst long protracted sorrows we believed God's angel is on his way to us, what consolation it would give us! for thy word”