"In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled" (Dan. 10:2,3).

On this occasion Daniel sought rest and quietude for meditation and prayer, being depressed by the conditions as they existed. He therefore betook himself to a place beside the Hiddekel river, the Tigris. This vision was given to him on the twenty-fourth day of the first month. He informs us that he had mourned for three whole weeks. The Passover feast had been observed on the fourteenth of the first month. The feast of unleavened bread followed the Passover, from the fourteenth to the twenty-first day: "In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even" (Ex. 12:18). Daniel not only observed the feast of unleavened bread, but he fasted and mourned for three whole weeks.

Weeks of what? of days or years? The Jews used the word week as a numeral adjective indicating seven of the events, items, or objects which were under consideration. In Daniel 9:24-27 we learn from the facts of the context that a week meant seven years. But in Daniel 10:3,4 it is clear from the context that a week means a week of days--seven days.

"And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, 5 I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: 6 his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude (Dan. 10:4-6).

Daniel lifted up his eyes and saw above the river a glorious celestial being. Bible students are divided on the identity of this one. Some say he was one of the mighty angels, whereas others are convinced that this one was none other than the glorified Son of Man, the Son of God. By studying the description of this glorious Being and comparing it with that which is described in Revelation 1:10-18, a person cannot avoid, in my judgment, the conclusion that this one was and is the Son of God in His preincarnate state, whom Daniel saw on this occasion.

For the convenience of the reader I shall quote Revelation 1:10-18: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet 11 saying, What thou seest, write in a book and send it to the seven churches: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle. 14 And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last, 18 and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades."

"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, and they tried to hide themselves. 8 So 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" (Dan. 10:7,8).

When the vision of the Son of God appeared to Daniel on this occasion, those who were with him fled, leaving him alone. They therefore did not see the vision. A great quaking fell upon them and they fled to hide themselves. The sight of the vision terrified Daniel so that there remained no strength in him. This experience reminds one of that which the Apostle Paul had on his way to Damascus. The reader will do well to read Acts, chapters 9,22, and 26 for a clear picture of the conversion of the Apostle Paul.

"Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground. 10 And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, thou 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 thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words' sake (Dan 10:9-12).

When Daniel was lying in a deep sleep with his face toward the ground, a hand touched him and set him upon his knees and upon the palms of his hands. Who touched him? Some writers say that it was the Son of God who had appeared to him in the vision. Others say that it was an angel. The one who touched Daniel said to him, "O Daniel, thou 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." It is quite unlikely that this one was the Son of God, because he said that he had been sent to Daniel, and also because he said that he had been delayed twenty-one days, by satanic opposition.

Daniel was greatly beloved. Why was he thus esteemed by the Lord? Like Abraham, he was a man of great faith and chose the things which delight the heart of God. Daniel stood trembling before the heavenly visitor, but he allayed Daniel's fear: "Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words' sake" (Dan. 10:12). Anyone who trusts and is seeking the things of God, the Lord will put spiritual powers into operation in his behalf.

"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days" (Dan. 10:13,14).

In Daniel 10:13,14 God used Daniel to pull aside the veil hiding the great unseen world of spirits from man's gaze. That there is a host of evil spirits is seen in Isaiah 24:21 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth." Also, evil spirits are seen in such passages as Ephesians 6:10-20.

Elisha and his young attendant were in Dothan, in the plain of Dothan, when the Syrian army with all their war chariots and equipment poured into the valley as they were preparing to storm the city. It seems that they were just beginning their campaign, having arrived during the night. The next morning when the young man awoke, he saw from the city wall the great host marshaled against the city. The sight of such a formidable enemy terrified the young man, who reported to the Prophet what he had seen. Elisha, by faith, prayed, and said, "Jehovah, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And Jehovah opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (II Kings 6:17).

The prince of the kingdom of Persia doubtless had vast hosts of evil spirits that formed the policies and the general direction of the nation. But Satan and all his hosts can only do that which the Almighty allows. Jesus told the Apostles that Satan had asked permission to sift them as wheat. We see from this statement that Satan must ask permission from God to touch the people of God. Thus Satan's activities are limited by the Almighty. In a real and true sense the world lies in the evil one (I John 5:19).

"The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them" (Ps. 34:7).

There is also a mighty host of good angels. The writer of Hebrews refers to this heavenly host as ministering spirits sent forth to do service for those who shall inherit salvation (Heb. 1:14). There are various ranks and orders of these angels. See Ephesians 3:10 and I Peter 3:22.

"And when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb. 16 And, behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me. 18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. 19 And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me." (Dan. 10:15-19).

When the angel spoke to Daniel, he set his face toward the ground and was dumb. And one in the likeness of the sons of men touched his lips. Then Daniel was enabled to speak and said, " O my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength." This vision affected Daniel as the Apostle John was affected when the glorified Lord Jesus appeared unto him. See Revelation chapter 1. Then one whose appearance was like that of a man touched him, saying, "O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me."

"Then said he, Knowest thou, wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come. 21 But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael your prince.

"And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him" (Dan. 10:20-11:1).

Then the heavenly visitor asked Daniel if he knew why he had come to him. Before Daniel could reply to this rhetorical question, the messenger said, "And now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come." This language seems to imply that the angel intended to convey the idea that he would resume the conflict with the prince of Persia and win a signal victory. He would also have to fight against the prince of Greece.

The angel said that he would tell Daniel that which is inscribed in the writing of truth. We are not to think that there is a large volume of Scripture in heaven, though the inspired Biblical writers occasionally spoke of the will of God in terms of a material Book:

"Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance;
And in thy book they were all written,
Even the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was none of them" (Ps. 139:16).

"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals" (Rev. 5:1).