Hello Friends!
Welcome back to our Encouraging Concepts Bible study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book of Daniel painted as a panoramic landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago… “The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 10: Verses 5-12)
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: 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. 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. 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. 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. 10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 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. 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 – Daniel 10:5-12
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: Here in this PROPHETICALLY poignant passage, the aged “Daniel” was again terribly “troubled” in heart. And as a “man greatly beloved” he now remarkedly RECEIVED an avid answer to his practical “prayer” as he was solemnly “stood upright” to uniquely “understand” this poignant – PROPHECY of Purpose!
The GREAT Vision!
As “Daniel” sees a “certain man” in what appears to be a Pre-Incarnate visitation of our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself “clothed in linen” with a “girdle” made of “fine gold” from a place called “Uphaz” with a “face as the appearance of lightning” and “eyes as lamps of fire” along with “arms and feet“ made of “polished brass” as such:
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: 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 – Daniel 10:5-6
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: His fantastic “face” and energizing “eyes” were very GLORIOUS to behold as the dazed “Daniel” uses some very strong SIMILES to describe them. Similarly, other Divine descriptions found within the “scriptures” of the New Testament concerning “God’s” powerful PRESENCE surrounding His Just “judgment” of which is incredibly identical to our PROPHETIC passage here in “Daniel” is the righteous reference to the grand “God the Son” in kind:
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 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. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters – Revelation 1:12-15
These powerfully prolific passages PROPHETICALLY point to the firm fact that the “Father” and the “Son” though directly distinct from each other are entirely equal in their DEITY within the transcendent Trinitarian glorious – GOD Head!
And as this vehement “vision” was unfolding before him, “Daniel” was seriously STRUGGLING within himself for the “meaning” of it all. And no doubt after having a personal PROPHETIC vicarious “vision” and after having intensely “interpreted“ a sensational SERIES of the “king Nebuchadnezzar’s” demanding “dreams” in kind, he was fervently trying to FIT the prompted pieces of this promised puzzle together IN his mind. However, without the blessed BENEFIT of some 2,600 years of fulfilled human HISTORY in his hindsight such as “we” have TODAY, it was no doubt very – DIFFICULT to DO!
The “vision” was given ONLY unto “Daniel” as the other “men” with him had fervently “fled to hide themselves” with a fearful “quaking” of Divine DANGER abound:
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 – Daniel 10:7
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: This very SAME solemn situation occurred with “Saul of Tarsus” on the rigorous “road to Damascus” as ONLY He solely saw and heard what had happened:
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man – Acts 9:3-7
Our great “God” can indeed righteously REVEAL His “truth” to His “saints” and choose to CONCEAL it from “others” at the same time and by the same means according to His – Sovereign SELECTION!
“Therefore” this vast “great vision” no doubt had profound spiritual, physical, mental and emotional adverse EFFECTS on the aged “Daniel” as it literally took AWAY his submitted “strength” and composed “comeliness” in kind:
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 – Daniel 10:8
Consider the GREATNESS of this man “Daniel” himself. Up to this trying “time” in his life, he had served at the very TOP echelon of TWO powerful waning world Empires. He had personally witnessed great miraculous MIRACLES and had surely stood before more than FIVE very fearful despots. However… Here he had literally LOST his faculties upon “visiting” with just ONE of “God’s” great servants! This righteous REACTION to the heavenly “hosts” is quite typical throughout the “Scriptures” themselves. And yet mere “men” manifest TODAY want to promote a caustic – CASUAL Worship?
“Yet” he had CONTINUED to wholly “hear” this magnificent “man’s” vibrant “voice” vehemently COMMUNICATING such wonderful “words” aptly spoken:
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 10:9
WOW! Here “Daniel” was LITERALLY made to become quite impotent through a daunting “deep sleep” set upon his “face” as it was fixed “toward the ground” surface – GROUNDED Greatness!
“And” next “Daniel” was soundly “set” into a “hands” and “knees” position BY the mighty HOLY helping “hand” of this Heavenly Helper:
And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands – Daniel 10:10
The angelic agent then graciously GREETS the prophet “Daniel” and mentions the heavenly affection for him and announces that he will ANSWER his righteous request to utterly “understand” these things:
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 – Daniel 10:11
Here AGAIN we find that “Heaven” and its loving “Lord” indeed LOVED this thoroughly “trembling” humble man “Daniel” in full:
At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision – Daniel 9:23
He instructs the devoted “Daniel” to soundly “stand upright” at apt ATTENTION to rightly “understand the words” of intense instruction that had been SENT for him. Likened to an Army private “standing” before a ranking General posted in command central, the diligent “Daniel” utterly “stands trembling” before this – Glorious Guardian!
“Then” this heavenly “host” calmly COMFORTS the distressed “Daniel” to faithfully “Fear not” in light of the fact that the ANSWER had gone forth immediately from the “first day” he had “set” his holdened “heart to understand” a full “three weeks” posed PRIOR his willing “words were heard” by the great “God of heaven” Himself:
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 – Daniel 10:12
PROPHETIC PROMISE: This poignant passage rightly REMINDS all of “us” of the quick response that “Daniel’s” initial session of constant “confession” and sound “supplications” had received. And the SERIOUS nature of “praying” is here Divinely described as a “chastening” when it was “heard” from heaven..
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope – Romans 15:4
Beloved, “we” too can LEARN perfect “patience” in complete “comfort” with holdened “hope” by boldly BELIEVING that the great “God in heaven” does indeed hear “our” petitioned prayers – Praise HIS Name!
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!We
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Shane K. Morin <><
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
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