Outline of Daniel Chapters 10-12



Daniel Chapter 10The following outline covers the rest of the Book of Daniel.Outline of Daniel Chapters 10-12A.Daniel is introduced, 10:1B.Daniel in distress for three weeks, 10:2–3C.Daniel is situated to see and hear the vision, 10:4D.The Man clothed in linen, 10:5–6E.Daniel in dialogue with the angel, 10:7–19F.Daniel is given the “writing of truth,” 10:20–11:1G.The Persian kings stand up, and then Alexander, whose reign does not endure, 11:2–4H.A new patriarchal age, descent into Egypt, and exodus, 11:5–20I.Apostasy: a new era of Judges and “abomination of desolation” like that of Eli, 11:21–35H′A new King Saul, 11:36–45G′A new David, Michael, stands up, and His reign endures, 12:1–3F′Daniel is told to seal up the book, the “writing of truth,” 12:4E′Daniel observes angelic dialogue, 12:5–6D′The Man clothed in linen, 12:7–8C′Daniel is told to leave the place where he saw the vision, 12:9B′The saints in distress, 12:10–12A′Daniel is given rest, 12:13Introduction“In his Fifth Vision, beginning in Daniel 10 and concluding in chapter 12, an angel describes a list of the kings who would drive world history until the time of the Messiah. Futurists, with their desire to read current events into the Bible, will often apply an interpretation to these chapters that puts at least some of these rulers in the future – usually the very near future. By contrast, a preterist interpretation provides a wonderful and awe-inspiring testimony to the power of Scripture as God’s Word. These prophecies amazingly have been fulfilled to the smallest detail. Here we have an accurate outline of history prophesied before any of the events took place, which point to the exact time of the coming of the Messiah. To ensure that believing Jews, such as Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:21-38), would not miss the Messiah, the vision depicts the major world rulers of Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, leading up to the time of Christ. “In Daniel 10, an angel appears to the prophet Daniel and gives an interpretation of a vision. The vision takes place in about 535 B.C. “in the third year of Cyrus king of Persia” (Daniel 10:1). Cyrus the Great reigned in Persia from 550 to 529 B.C. In alliance with the Medes, he overthrew the city of Babylon during a scene of wild revelry in the court of Belshazzar. The Medes and Persians captured the city of Jerusalem in 539 B.C.”Daniel Is Terrified by a Vision (10:1-21)“…God’s passion is to provide comfort to Daniel, and through him, the faithful of his generation, in the midst of their suffering, alienation, and oppression.”If you are being martyred, how does this help? The help is found in the knowledge that your death is not an accident of chance and wild circumstance. You know that you die in the center of God’s divine purpose for your life and enter his eternal reward for your faithfulness. 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long (or and was about a great conflict); and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. “Babylon fell to Cyrus in 539 B.C. or sixty-six years after Daniel had been taken captive to Babylon. Daniel lived through the entire period of the Babylonian captivity. Cyrus issued a decree in the first year of his reign, permitting the Israelites to return from captivity, and to take with them the vessels from the temple that had been seized by Nebuchadnezzar (Ezra 1:7–11).”“So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” (Daniel 6:28, NKJV) In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia…. This “third year” was 537/6 B.C. “This is very close to the time when the first wave of Jews are returning from captivity and beginning the rebuilding of the temple….” “Assuming Daniel was about fifteen when taken captive, he was approximately eighty-four years old at the time.”“Cyrus released an edict sponsoring restoration efforts in Jerusalem during the first year of his reign (see 2 Chr 36:22–23). Although many [some] of the Jewish captives likely returned home, some [many] remained in Babylon after having lived there for roughly 70 years. Due to his advanced age at this point, Daniel would probably not have made the harrowing trek back to Jerusalem. He likely retired from a position of prominence in the court and lived out his days in Babylon.” Or possibly Susa, the capital of Persia. We know when Cyrus issued a proclamation allowing the return of Israel to the land; it was 539-538 B.C. “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up!” (2 Chronicles 36:22–23, NKJV) Soon after this decree, the first group of exiles returned to Jerusalem. How soon? Anywhere from the year of the decree (not likely) to a couple years later (more likely). It would take time to talk to family, determine leaders, sell property, and arrange the trip. Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. “He adds his Babylonian name, it would seem because the Babylonian empire is now overthrown and he would preserve his identity among the people. He thus attests that he is the same person who was carried into captivity over seventy years previously and that he is the one concerning whom the previous portions of the book relate.” Remember, Daniel has not been active in public affairs since Nebuchadnezzar’s death till Darius, the Mede, came to the throne. This statement helps to identify Daniel to his audience, which Daniel are we talking about?The message was true…. One is to understand the truth hear as a certainty. This will come to pass. Men of faith will receive it as true and thereby certain, others will not. but the appointed time was long (or and was about a great conflict)…. The message was about a long and difficult conflict that lay ahead for Israel. The vision that Daniel is here addressing is unpacked in chapter 11. a great conflict or great tribulation…. This passage presents the main subject of Dan 10–12 as a great conflict, which will be described in chapters 11–12. and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. Daniel “attained to a satisfactory understanding of it—such an understanding as he had not had in respect to either of the three preceding visions; see 7:15, 28, 8:27, 10:12.”But the understanding did not come here in verse 1, at the beginning of the revelation, but later, at the end of the revelation. This is simply a summary statement. “The introductory summary here anticipates the end of the revelatory process, not Daniel’s initial reaction.”10:2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I, Daniel…. “Daniel narrates events in the first person….”was mourning…. “…Nehemiah (Neh 1:4) “mourned” (same Hebrew word) over the condition of the Jews who had returned to Palestine, and this is evidently what so deeply concerned Daniel here.” “By now, the Jewish captives had returned to Palestine, but their plight was precarious. Work on the temple was being opposed by the Samaritans, and it is possible that reconstruction had already been halted (cf. Ezra 4:5, 24).” We read in Ezra that soon after the return:“Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” (Ezra 4:24, NKJV) The proclamation to return was in 539-538 B.C. After that, efforts were made to restore Jerusalem. However, at some point, the work stopped. This may be the cause of Daniel’s prayer. The rebuilding did not begin again for many years. “The second year of Darius’ reign would be 520 BC….” Thirty-eight years pass between the two beginnings of the restoration. We don’t know how many years the work ceased during this period.Daniel would likely have been praying for the struggles of the returned captives, and it was their oppressed condition that he was mourning about. But besides, there was mourning that addressed the spiritual condition of the returned exiles as well. “Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away captive, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice. At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God.” (Ezra 9:4–5, NKJV) three full weeks or three weeks of days…. “The inclusion of “days” here and in v. 3 is perhaps intended to call attention to the fact that these weeks are very different in nature from those of chap. 9, which are “weeks of years.””10:3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth…. “Daniel seems to have engaged in a semi-fast rather than refraining from eating all food for this three-week period.”“Fasting is a personal matter between the individual and God. It is voluntary. However, if giants of the faith like Moses, David, Esther, Daniel, Paul, and Jesus himself felt the need to fast, it would seem reasonable that modern saints should be willing to deny themselves in order to pray more earnestly for the furtherance of the kingdom of God in a world that lies in deep spiritual darkness.”nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks …. “Anointing with them was particularly associated with gladness and feasting (Eccl. 9:8), and so it was not done during a period of mourning (2 Sam. 14:2; Isa. 61:3).” “Anointing the body with oil was a common practice among the Jews and other ancient peoples, its purpose being to soothe and refresh the skin and to protect against the heat.”till three whole weeks were fulfilled…. “Three full weeks refers to Daniel’s observance of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which took place during the first month of the year (see Ex. 12:1–20). The Passover was kept on the fourteenth of the month, and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread for the next eight days, with the whole festival ending on the twenty-first day of the month.”During this time, he is in spiritual warfare. An angel says of this period:“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.” (Daniel 10:13, NKJV) 10:4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month…. Daniel was fasting through the Passover and Unleavened Bread festivals, which are in the Jewish first month. “The first month in the Jewish calendar is Nisan, which corresponds approximately to mid-March to mid-April in our present system.”“Passover was the time of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, and this may have turned Daniel’s thoughts toward the present deliverance and “exodus” of the Israelites from Babylon.” “These celebrations were associated with Israel’s past deliverance, and Daniel is thinking about a future deliverance of his people.” Tigris…. The Tigris River was some twenty miles to the east of Babylon. It seems that Daniel has taken leave from his duties in Babylon to get alone with God to fast and pray over the distressing reports he has received from the exiles. 10:5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! “The description of the epiphany draws heavily on Ezekiel.”looked, and behold…. This is “an interjection and contains an element of excitement…. The prophet was amazed at this heavenly being.”a certain man clothed in linen…. This is “a “man” who closely resembles the Lord Jesus Christ as the Apostle John describes him in Revelation 1:13: “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot …”whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! In Revelation 1:13, we read, “girded about the chest with a golden band.” There is a similarity here between the two verses.10:6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. His body was like beryl…. “The Hebrew word translated as “chrysolite” (tar???) [beryl] suggests that it refers to the golden topaz, a gemstone imported from Tartessus in Spain.”his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire…. Again, in Revelation, we read, “The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire….” (Revelation 1:14, ESV) and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. And in Revelation, “his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.” (Revelation 1:15, ESV) “The description of the man here is very much like Ezekiel’s description of the glory of God (see Ezek. 1:4–28) and John’s description of the triumphant, risen Christ (see Rev. 1:9–20).” As we read further, it will appear that there are two men here: “the “man dressed in linen” (v. 5) and the interpreting angel introduced in v. 10.” So, there are two men, the first, Jesus Christ (10:5-6) and the second, an interpreting angel (10:10). The description of this person is very regal and resembles God in Ezekiel and Revelation. “…the personage described in 10:5–6 is a theophany, but the contents of the vision are related by the interpreting angel, who is introduced at v. 10.”Verses 5 and 6 are not so much to be studied like a textbook as they are to be viewed for the impact of the whole. We are to get the full measure of this one who is presented to us in great glory and power. We are to take time to take this all in instead of to just rush past it. 10:7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. I, Daniel, alone….the men who were with me…. From this, we can see that Daniel was initially not alone; perhaps other Jews were in prayer with him. But these other men fled. the men who were with me did not see the vision…. The apostle Paul had a similar experience.“And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.” (Acts 9:7, NKJV) 10:8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. great vision…. “…grand, majestic, such as he had not seen before.”my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. The Hebrew expression suggests the idea of passing from life to death.” “As the heavenly personage spoke, the prophet evidently was so overwhelmed with shock at hearing the voice of God that he “fell into a deep sleep” with his “face to the ground” (cf. John’s experience in Rev 1:17).” The apostle John had a similar experience. “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.” (Revelation 1:17, NKJV) Prophecies Concerning Persia and Greece (10:9-21)10:9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. Daniel had this experience in chapter 8 as well. “Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright.” (Daniel 8:18, NKJV) 10:10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. “Now the vision of Christ has passed, and the interpreting angel enters the picture.” “…many scholars identify this angel as Gabriel, a view that probably is correct.”Suddenly, a hand touched me…. In this way, Daniel knew that this was not a dream, but one who physically appears to him. which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. “Gradually, Daniel is restored to consciousness. The hand shakes him, i.e., by way of rousing him, so that he is upon his knees. Only after he hears the words of comfort is he enabled to stand upright.”10:11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, [or treasured by God] understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:” (Daniel 9:23, NKJV) 10:12 Then 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. Do not fear….“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” (Isaiah 41:10, NKJV) for from the first day that you set your heart to understand…. The beginning of the 21 days of v. 2.“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.” (Daniel 10:2, NKJV) and to humble yourself before your God…. Great men find it necessary to humble themselves before God, lesser men do not.“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV) your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. This vision was a response to Daniel’s prayers as was Cornelius’ prayer. “So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.” (Acts 10:30–31, NKJV) 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia…. This person “cannot be a human ruler because the conflict referred to here is in the spiritual, heavenly realm, as the allusion to Michael makes clear. The prince, therefore, must be understood as a satanic figure who was to supervise the affairs of Persia, inspiring its religious, social, and political structures to works of evil. The apostle Paul refers to principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (see Eph. 6:12).”withstood me…. This is a picture of a believer involved in spiritual warfare. “The angel’s delay does not signify that God’s will can be thwarted, even temporarily. In this case, the delay was permitted within God’s divine plan, possibly to accomplish some work in Daniel’s spiritual life as he prayed and fasted (vv. 2–3).” This “prince” was probably opposing the work of God in Jerusalem at this time, and for a while was being successful. Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me…. “The name means “Who is like God?”” “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1, NKJV) “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”” (Jude 9, NKJV) “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,” (Revelation 12:7, NKJV) “Gabriel had been on his way from heaven with a message for Daniel but had been prevented by the prince of Persia. Michael had helped him to have victory over this foe, and Gabriel was then able to continue his journey.”“…the OT assumes that the results of battles on earth reflect the involvement of heaven. Usually, the picture is of heavenly forces aiding Israel and enabling them to win against otherwise overwhelming earthly forces. Yahweh and his armies fight with Israel’s armies: hence Israel’s victories against impossible odds (Num 10:35–36; Deut 33:2–3; Judg 5:19–20; cf. 1QM 12; Hab 3; Ps 68).”Angles“From this passage, several important facts are evident concerning angels: (1) angels are real; (2) there are good and evil angels; (3) angels can influence the affairs of human beings. Particularly this passage teaches that angels inspire human governments and their leaders.”10:14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” in the latter days…. This does not refer to the last days of human history but to the time in which the prophecy will be fulfilled. This phrase can apply to any period in history that might be summed up as “last days.” The question always needs to be asked, “The last days of what?” In this case, in particular, this is addressing the content of chapters 11 and 12. With the destruction of Israel, it is the last days of the Jewish era. The latter days, a phrase already used in 2:28 has been shown to mean ‘in the future’….” “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:” (Daniel 2:28, NKJV) “And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:” (Genesis 49:1, NKJV) “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s houseShall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.” (Isaiah 2:2, NKJV) “The anger of the Lord will not turn back Until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly.” (Jeremiah 23:20, NKJV) 10:15 When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. The same thing happened to Paul’s friends when he received a vision from Jesus. “And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.” (Acts 9:7, NKJV) 10:16 And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. one having the likeness of the sons of men…. This one looked like a human being—as did Jesus in his incarnation.touched my lips…. “And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”” (Isaiah 6:7, NKJV) “Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.” (Jeremiah 1:9, NKJV) because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me…. It turns out that Daniel's vision is on destruction on Israel. When Isaiah had a vision of the destruction of Israel, he had a similar reaction.“Therefore my loins are filled with pain; Pangs have taken hold of me, like the pangs of a woman in labor. I was distressed when I heard it; I was dismayed when I saw it. My heart wavered, fearfulness frightened me; The night for which I longed He turned into fear for me.” (Isaiah 21:3–4, NKJV) and I have retained no strength. Daniel had the same reaction in earlier visions.“And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.” (Daniel 8:27, NKJV) 10:17 For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.” talk with you, my lord? Daniel is asking, “how he can possibly speak with someone whose rank or standing is so different from his own.”10:18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. touched me and strengthened me…. “For the third time in this chapter, Daniel is supernaturally strengthened by one who touched him (see also vv. 10, 16). The first touch, enabled him to arise from the ground, the second to speak, and the third to carry on a conversation.” See 1010; 10:16; 1018. 10:19 And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” O man greatly beloved…. “He then addresses the prophet with words of encouragement, beginning with “you who are highly esteemed.” … Daniel is a highly desired, precious man, coveted by God.”“And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.” (Daniel 10:11, NKJV) fear not! “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1, NKJV) 10:20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. Do you know why I have come to you? The “why” was addressed earlier in 10:14. “Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”” (Daniel 10:14, NKJV) And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia…. “God himself fights for the people of Israel to force the Persian king to release the Jews, so that the Temple at Jerusalem will be rebuilt and finally the Messiah will come.”This is “a battle that would continue for two centuries of Persian rule (539–331 B.C.). This struggle involved all of the decisions and relationships pertaining to the Jews during the Persian period (e.g., the reconstruction of the temple, deliverance for the Jews during the time of Esther, permission for Ezra and Nehemiah to return, and their subsequent construction of the city).”indeed the prince of Greece will come. “This speaks of the time of the end of the Persian Empire that will last until the time of the prince of Greece, that is, Alexander’s conquest of the world, which foreshadows further trouble for the Jews under Alexander’s successors.”“Just as Persia was under the ultimate dominion of an evil spirit from Satan (vv. 13, 14), so also was Greece. Once the prince of Persia was overcome, the messenger would enter into conflict with the prince of Greece. The succession of world powers follows the pattern of Daniel’s second vision (8:20–22).”“…the angelic conflict would continue into the time of the Greek Empire. Angelic support for God’s people would be needed then, for chap. 11 details many of the struggles of the Jews during the Greek period, especially the crisis during the rule of Antiochus IV. Thus the statement of conflict during the Greek period is noted because it is preparatory to the revelation presented in the following chapter.”10:21 But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture [Book] of Truth. No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince. I will tell you…. “…in this context the verb in Hebrew has the sense of “explain,” “reveal, or “make known” something that is not generally known or that has not been known before, or something hidden or mysterious.”Scripture [or book] of Truth…. “It is not known exactly what this refers to.” “This book apparently contains the unfolding of history.” This is “a reference not to a particular earthly book but to God’s heavenly decrees about the future of all nations.”Michael your prince. “Michael is the angel who is the guardian general of God’s covenant people. Sometimes in Scripture, he is depicted as the archangel, or as “the angel of the Lord,” an appearance in type of the Messiah.” ................
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