Chapter 10
Chapters 10, 11 and 12 are chapter divisions of one complete vision, stretching from Daniel’s day right down to our own times. The structure of the vision reveals to Daniel that before the final consummation he will “fall on sleep and see corruption” and will have to be raised from the dead, which will only take place after the passage of many days. To teach him this, he is made the subject of a typical resurrection, passing through all the various stages from emerging from unconsciousness in the dust of the earth to the final glorious liberty and immortality of the children of God. Chapter 10:1 tells us that he knew God’s word was true and that he finally understood the vision. This knowledge caused him to mourn for three full weeks, in which he abstained from all delicacies, including flesh and wine. The vision was given in the third year of Cyrus, on the 24th day of the first month, so it would be very near the end of Daniel’s life. He saw it when he was on the banks of the River Tigris.
The one he saw in the vision was very similar to that seen by John on Patmos and was that of a symbolic glorified man rather than an angel such as he had seen previously. Let us note the details. The whole being was glorious, indicating the immortality of the ones represented by him. He was —
Clothed in linen : Covered with the righteousness of Christ, which was the means whereby such are incorporated in the Christ body.
Girded with fine gold of Uphaz : Gold is incorruptible and precious, and indicated immortality.
Body like the beryl : A beryl is a precious stone and is found in the beds of rivers. polished by the action of the water and the grit in the river bed. It represents the refining action of tribulation. The saints are like precious stones, the jewels of Malachi 3:17.
Face appearance of lightning : Indicative of the glory radiating from the immortalised saint.
Eyes lamps of fire : The penetrating power of immortality, capable of discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart
In colour to be polished brass : Brass is indicative of mortality, but when polished and refined fittingly represents mortality refined into incorruptible immortality.
The voice of a multitude : Although this man was only one, like the body of Christ he comprehends a multitude of glorified men and women.
Daniel alone saw the vision and as he looked “his comeliness was turned into corruption” and typically he was now dead. He was “in a deep sleep with his face toward the ground.”
In v. 10 we begin the various stages in his typical resurrection. First he was on his hands and knees, when a hand touched him — just a body raised from the dust. There he is addressed as “a man greatly beloved” and intelligence was given to him. He was invited to “stand upright” but he was trembling as he did so. He was still very much a mortal man, not yet strengthened with the power of immortality. The angel tells him that from the very first when he tried to understand the vision his words were heard and the angel was sent to make him understand.
Paul tells us that “… the world to come hath he not put in subjection to the angels…” (Heb. 2:5) and Dan. 10:13 indicates that even angels have their limitations and various degrees of status. Gabriel “stands in the presence of God”; Michael is “one of the chief princes…” and has evidently more power than the angel sent to Daniel. We are told elsewhere of their limitations in knowledge as indicated by the expression “into which things the angels desire to look”, and similarly regarding the time of the second coming of Jesus the angels were in ignorance: “… neither the angels…” said Jesus.
- 13 gives us details of the angel’s limitations “… the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days” but with the help of Michael the opposition was overcome, and he explains to Daniel “what shall befall thy people in the latter days, for the vision is for many days.” We can well understand how upset Daniel would be when he knew what a long time would elapse before deliverance finally came to his people. Because of this long lapse of time Daniel was still typically mortal, and he looked earthward and was dumb.
There appeared “one like the similtude of the sons of men” (presumably the foreshadowing of the Lord Jesus who when he came was “the son of man” as well as the son of God). Daniel’s lips were touched (like those of Isaiah in Isa. 6) and he was given speech, and he lamented that “there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me”. Presumably this giving of speech agrees with what the Apostle Paul says, “… we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to answer for the things done in body…” Or again “… then shall the righteous say unto him, when saw we thee… etc.” (Matt. 25: 37).
Finally Daniel (10:19) was given the answer of peace “Oh man greatly beloved, fear not, peace be unto thee, be strong, yea be strong” and Daniel said “Let my Lord speak for thou hast strengthened me” and the typical resurrection was complete — he was given the strength associated with immortality. “We shall run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” Mortality will have fallen away like an unclean garment and we shall be given “a change of raiment” (Zech. 3) “not unclothed but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life”.
The angel then told Daniel that he “would shew him what was noted in the scriptures of truth” (referring to previous prophecies like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel) before he returned to fight with the Prince of Persia, and “when I am through with him” (R.S.V.) “lo, the Prince of Greece will come”. Although chronologically this latter item would be some 200 or more years ahead, it helps to appreciate that to the one who is the eternal the passage of time can be “timeless”. Michael was the only one who was going to “contend by my side” (R.S.V.).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One