Daniel 10:12-21; Not Against Flesh and Blood ~ 20221030 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org
10/30_Daniel 10:12-21; Not Against Flesh and Blood; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20221030_dan10_12-21.mp3
A Glimpse of the Unseen Realm
Daniel gives us a glimpse into the unseen realm. Like Balaam in Numbers 22, hired by the king of Moab to pronounce a curse over Israel; his donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the path with drawn sword. Each time the donkey turned aside, Balaam struck it. So the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and Balaam began to argue with his donkey.
Numbers 22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”
Balaam, and his donkey, are given a glimpse into the unseen realm. Like Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6, when the king of Syria discovered their location and by night surrounded them in the city of Dothan.
2 Kings 6:15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
There is more going on in our world than meets the eye. There is an unseen heavenly realm that is very real, very active, and like Balaam, like Elisha’s servant, often we are completely oblivious to what is going on right around us.
God’s Omnipresence
We believe God is omnipresent; that there is nowhere that he is not; that he is present everywhere and sees everything. David says in Psalm 139:
Psalm 139:7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
The Lord told Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 23:24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.
The Bible tells us that God is omnipresent, yet most of the time we act as if he did not even exist.
Heavenly Warrior
Daniel 10 is the introduction to the final vision of the book, chapter 11 is the main content of the revelation, and chapter 12 concludes the vision and the book. Daniel is given a glimpse of a heavenly warrior standing above the waters of the Tigris river, possibly the pre-incarnate Son of God, as his description matches many of the details of John’s vision of the resurrected Jesus in Revelation 1.
Daniel 10:5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground. 10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.
Daniel is weak, undone, utterly unable even to kneel in the presence of this heavenly warrior. He is strengthened by a touch, reminded that he is greatly loved, enabled to kneel, enabled to hear.
Michael and the Prince of Persia;
Daniel 10:12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”
Fear not Daniel, God heard your words. Fear not Daniel, I have come because of your words. God sent an answer. 21 days ago God sent an answer, but the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood the heavenly messenger 21 days. Michael, one of the chief princes came to assist the heavenly messenger.
Who is this prince of Persia? In verse 1, Cyrus is named as king of Persia, but this one not named is called prince of Persia.
Michael is called ‘one of the chief princes’; in verse 21 he is called ‘Michael your prince’; in chapter 12:1 Michael is called ‘the great prince who has charge of your people’. In Jude v.9 he is called ‘the archangel Michael’; in Revelation 12:7 it is ‘Michael and his angels’ who fight against the dragon. So if Michael is one of the chief princes, the great prince who has charge over your people, the archangel or a chief angel, then it follows that the prince of Persia who opposed him is also an angelic authority.
Allotted to the Sons of God
In Deuteronomy we get just a hint of what might be going on. In Deuteronomy 4, God’s people are warned:
Deuteronomy 4:19 And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. 20 But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day.
God’s people are warned not to worship angels, the starry host of heaven. God says he has made a distinction between his people and the rest of the peoples under the whole heaven. He had allotted the host of heaven to the rest of the peoples, but Israel was to be a people of God’s own inheritance. There is some clarification in Deuteronomy 32, which speaks of:
Deuteronomy 32:8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. 9 But the LORD's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.
God divided mankind; it says he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. Sons of God is another description of angelic beings. Could it be that God assigned angelic beings, or ‘princes’ to rule the nations? God’s heritage, God’s own portion is the descendants of Jacob.
We know that Satan is called ‘the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience’ in Ephesians 2:2, and he offered to give Jesus all the authority and the glory of all the kingdoms of the world ‘for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will’ (Lk.4:5-6). Jesus talks of ‘the ruler of this world’ who will be cast out, who has no claim on me, who is judged (Jn.12:31; 14:30; 16:11).
It seems likely that the prince of Persia is a heavenly being given authority over Persia.
Ezekiel 28 is a lamentation over the king of Tyre, but the language seems to go far beyond what could legitimately describe any earthly king.
Ezekiel 28:12 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. 14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. 16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. 18 By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. 19 All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.”
Not Against Flesh and Blood
We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Paul writes in Ephesians 6
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, ... 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
In Ephesians 4-6 he talks about bearing with one another, walking in unity in the church, not giving the devil opportunity in our anger, wife submitting to her own husband and husband sacrificially loving his own wife, children obeying parents, slave sincerely serving earthly master and master doing good to slaves. In our relationships in the church, in the family, in society, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Omnipotent God and 21 Days of Warfare
Here in Daniel we are given a glimpse into that unseen realm, where Jesus and his angel hosts contend against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Daniel 10:13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,
For three sevens of days Daniel set his heart to understand and humble himself before his God. Although from Daniel’s perspective it seemed like nothing was happening and no answer was coming, much was happening in the heavenly realms in answer to his prayer.
The fact that ‘the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days’ should not cause us to doubt the omnipotence of God.
Psalm 115:3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?
God is able to do all that he pleases. No purpose of his can be thwarted (Job42:2). The messenger in Daniel 9 showed up before Daniel was done praying. So if the heavenly messenger is delayed 21 days, it is because the Lord allows it for his good and wise purposes.
Even during Jesus’ earthly ministry, he tolerated some push back from the enemy. As in Mark 9,
Mark 9:20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” … 25 ...Jesus ...rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
Jesus was not surprised or worried or wondering what the outcome would be. He was fully in control of the situation. One day the Lord Jesus ‘will kill’ the lawless one ‘with the breath of his mouth and bring [him] to nothing by the appearance of his coming.’ (2Thes.2:8). His timing is perfect.
Strengthened for Spiritual Warfare
Daniel is undone by this encounter with the supernatural. He needed spiritual strengthening.
Daniel 10:15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. 16 And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.” 18 Again one having the appearance of a man touched me 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.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.
There is a spiritual battle going on. Daniel is not seeking to identify the spiritual forces of evil. He is simply humbling himself before his God. Daniel wasn’t praying against the prince of Persia, he was praying to his God. The messenger says ‘I will fight the prince of Persia, and the prince of Greece will come. Only Michael contends by my side. But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth.’ There is a great conflict, but the outcome is not uncertain. The fall of Babylon and the rise of Persia was no surprise, nor will be the fall of Persia and the rise of Greece. It is all inscribed in the book of truth. God is sovereign over the nations. God is sovereign over history. He is sovereign over the future. And you are greatly loved, so be strong and of good courage,
Victory in the Gospel:
Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. … 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
There is a spiritual battle going on in the unseen realm, but you have already been delivered from the domain of darkness, transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son. Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities, he cancelled the record of debt that stood against us, nailing it to the cross. Peace, do not be afraid. The victory has been won!
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2022.10.30 Sermon Notes - Daniel 10:12-21; Not Against Flesh and Blood
A glimpse into the unseen realm
Numbers 22:31-33; 2 Kings 6:15-17
The omnipresence of God
Psalm 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:24
Michael your prince
Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7
Nations allotted to the sons of God
Deuteronomy 4:19-20; 32:8-9
The prince of the power of the air
Ephesians 2:2; Luke 4:5-6; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Ezekiel 28:12-19
We wrestle not against flesh and blood
Ephesians 6:10-18
The omnipotence of God
Psalm 115:3; Jeremiah 32:27; Job 42:2; Mark 9:20-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:8
Our victory was won at the cross
Colossians 1:12-14; 2:8-15
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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org