A Frightening Image
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A Frightening Image and Untold Message
A Frightening Image and Untold Message
AS we dive into today’s scripture, we will see that Daniel never reveals the message told to him. However if we read between the lines we can take the hints by the situation surrounding them and the timeline.
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and one of great conflict, but he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision.
According to this first vs, We are reading events that took place Right before the Medo-Persian take over of Babylon. This is important as it give us clues to the mystery of this chapter.
2 In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks.
3 I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris,
Daniel Had been praying and fasting for 3 weeks, Scripture explains that Daniel was “Mourning” What was he mourning? maybe Sin? One thing is clear, Daniel didnt just has a casual conversation with God from time to time. He lived for it. Daniel held dear to his relationship with God.
5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz.
6 His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult.
Who could this be?
Who could this be?
13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
The likeness to Jesus is Astounding! Many argue that this is Jesus, I am leaning towards Jesus for sure. The other side of the spectrum says it is Micheal, but This heavenly Host refers to Michael later in the chapter.
The appearance of Angels was not new to Daniel. Daniel had seen Gabriel on a couple occasions, so this Heavenly Host was someone very special. It must have been jesus.
7 Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves.
Why didn’t anyone else see?
Why didn’t anyone else see?
Daniel was very obedient to God, He is referred to as being held to a high esteem. But they ran away in fear? why is that?
well if this really is Jesus, they had something to fear. Jesus had not yet entered as the lamb, so the other way we know Him is as the Lion on judah.
5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”
7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
7 Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves.
These other men had a lot to fear, The conviction of sin would have become unbearable to them in that moment. Just as today when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, he comes to convict us of our sin. John tells us
7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;
9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;
8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength.
What we have just read is Daniel being torn out of our realm and into the Heavenly realm, where a war is wagging. He was left almost lifeless, to see this vision. But what is the vision?
9 But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
Even as righteous and esteemed as Daniel was, He was trembling at the presence of this ultimate judge. Just as you or I would tremble sitting on the stand as the accused of a crime we know we committed. No peace can come on us, without the assurance of the foregiveness of Christ. and what Daniel had felt was that fear of the ultimate Judge.
11 He said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.
Still full of fear Daniel was brought to his feet.
12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.
Grace, Absolute Grace. A Command from, whoI am confident is Jesus, to not be afraid. Man that is the same peace that we experience the moment we are saved. The unloading of the weight of sin carried around with us everywhere. To stand before the almighty with the fear of respect and not the fear of judgment.
13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
Here the Heavenly Host is speaking to Daniel about something truly eye opening. Since we know Daniel has seen angels before and this Heavenly Host was noticeable more powerful and Holy, i assume with some confidence that this is Jesus.
What is this so important?
What is this so important?
13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
Withstanding is used in this verse to reflect battle, or war.
This was one year before the Medo-Persian siege of Babylon. so we can speculate that the Prince of the kingdom of Persia was non other than the fallen angel lucifer or one of his own, doing his bidding, and the Battle was over God’s will being made on Earth. As a key pivot point of Daniels life was the moment the Medo-Persian take over.
The Heavenly Host visits him 21 days into a 21 day fast saying he was held up for 21 days in this battle in Persia.
Daniel Was very important. and what he was mourning about was important. He may have been mourning the loss of the presence of God and with the explanation in scripture, it may have been Jesus who accompanied Daniel through his walk through life.
Again
What was the message?
What was the message?
The message this heavenly host brought was never written about in Daniel other than it being a message. But if we look at the detail so far we can start to see what the message may have been
The Heavenly Hosts name is not recorded.
The message is not recorded
The heavenly host is breath taking by image and His presence strike fear in the unrighteous.
The heavenly Host Explained why He wasn't there at the beginning of Daniel’s Mourning.
We can only speculate
We can only speculate
It is possible that the message was for Daniel to understand what the writing on the will be as we read in chapter 5
But this next vs might lead us to believe that the message is far more important,
14 “Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.”
This message must be important, with real implications, as iot speaks of what would become of Daniels people in the future.
This next vs should really cause us to stop and think.
15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless.
Could this message be about the Jesus Christ in the flesh and what the Jews would do to him, how they would deny Him, how they would treat him, and how they would kills Him, resulting in the Jews falling away from God’s will?
Daniel became speechless as the message, He couldn't even rationalize the message into words for us today.
What eve the message was, This next vs give us the hope of Gods comfort.
16 And behold, one who resembled a human being was touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a result of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength.
17 “For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”
The after Daniel Heard and understood the Message, He referred to this Heavenly Host as my Lord. This message must have been profound! it must have changed the way Daniel viewed this Angelic Person.
18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me.
19 And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
You may have read the words be strong and courageous else where in the bible, it appears in Deut 31:6, Josh 1:9, Psalm 27:14, and 2 Sam 2:7 and every time it is God telling the authors to be strong as we read Joshua keep that in mind
9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
This is our Lord Jesus Christ, He who is, was and will be.
20 Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come.
21 “However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.
What should we take from this?
What should we take from this?
The battle wages on, AS this Heavenly Host Bids farewell, He take ownership in the battle as he says in this last VS There is no one who stands with me against these forces except Michael your prince. Whether this Heavenly Host was Jesus, or an angel delivering the message for Him has very little importance, except for the fact that Jesus Is and was and will be forever.
And if the last vs was any indication to us a writing of truth was explained to Daniel, if that writing was the writing on the wall the we should head that warning as truth.
26 “This is the interpretation of the message: ‘MENĒ’—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.
27 “ ‘TEKĒL’—you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.
28 “ ‘PERĒS’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”
By our sins we will be judged, but with Jesus we are forgiven if we trust in Him!