10:12Daniel 10:12

From the first day Daniel set his heart to understand and humbled himself before God, his words were heard in heaven and a heavenly messenger was sent and came in response to his words.Ms 95, 1903, par. 1–5+2 He chastened himself by mourning three full weeks with fasting from pleasant bread and flesh and wine, with tears and confession and earnest fervent prayer.Ms 93, 1900, par. 27+2 Though heard from the first day, the coming of the answer was delayed one and twenty days because Satan and mighty evil angels withstood the messenger by working upon the king of Persia to resist God's Spirit.Ms 95, 1903, par. 1–5+2 Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help the messenger and hold the evil powers in check until the king's heart was turned.Ms 95, 1903, par. 1–5+2 Delay therefore does not mean God has not heard, and His servants advance His work never by their own efforts or outward display but only by humiliation, confession, self-sacrifice and sincere humble fervent prayer.11MR 98.3–99.3+4

From the first day Daniel set his heart to understand and humbled himself before his God, his words were heard in heaven.Ms 95, 1903, par. 1–5+4 A heavenly messenger was sent and came in response to his words, moved from heaven to his relief to give in vision the communication from God.Ms 95, 1903, par. 1–5+4 The assurance given was most satisfying, that his earnest prayer was heard and answered from the first day and not for naught.Ms 93, 1900, par. 27+2 Though hindrances had to be overcome before the purpose was fulfilled, the answer came through heavenly agencies.Ms 95, 1903, par. 1–5+2

Daniel chastened himself by mourning three full weeks, eating no pleasant bread and taking no flesh nor wine, and not anointing himself.Ms 93, 1900, par. 27+1 He fasted and afflicted his soul before God with tears and with confession and humiliation, confessing sin as his own in we have sinned and rebelled.Ms 93, 1900, par. 27+2 He came down from self-exaltation and trembled before God with no strength left in him.Lt 271, 1904, par. 11–16+1 His earnest desire to understand and his self-discipline were joined with sincere, earnest, fervent, righteous prayer with sincere lips.Ms 49, 1894, par. 35–38+3

The command not to fear was spoken to Daniel as one greatly beloved.Lt 271, 1904, par. 11–16+2 He was a man of lofty principle and untarnished honor in the courts of Babylon, who amid surrounding ruinous influences and eager watching plotters kept a spotless record with no stain of unfaithfulness.Lt 271, 1904, par. 11–16+1 The unfallen universe calls him greatly beloved.Lt 5b, 1891, par. 23+1

The messenger came to give Daniel understanding, bringing in vision the communication and heavenly light from God concerning His purposes.Ms 93, 1900, par. 27+2 That light concerned God's purposes for those living in the latter days, with assurance and with strength and wisdom for faithful, earnest petitions as an example for daily prayer.BS 42.4+2 Because Daniel could not endure the appearance, the angel strengthened him and appeared as a man.Ms 16, 1893, par. 8–9+1

Though heard from the first day, the fulfillment and arrival of the answer were delayed, for heavenly agencies must contend with hindrances before the purpose of God is fulfilled in its time.Lt 201, 1899, par. 5–6+4 A delay in receiving an answer does not mean that God has not heard, and opposition to God's word can delay its fulfillment.Lt 201, 1899, par. 5–6+3 Spiritual opposition delayed the angel's arrival though the prayer was heard from the first day understanding was sought in humility.Lt 201, 1899, par. 5–6+4

The delay came because mighty invisible supernatural foes hindered the messenger for one and twenty days.Ms 95, 1903, par. 1–5+3 Satan and his forces and the highest of evil angels worked on the king of Persia, controlling the prince of the kingdom of Persia to withstand the messenger.Ms 95, 1903, par. 1–5+3 That withstanding was by representations against the Jews and by refusing to obey the word of the Lord as Pharaoh did, resisting God's Spirit.Lt 201, 1899, par. 5–6+1 In this way the messenger was blocked from convincing the king of the work he was to do during the three weeks Daniel fasted and prayed.Ms 95, 1903, par. 1–5+3

Michael, one of the chief princes, came to Gabriel's assistance and to help the messenger withstood by the prince of Persia.Ms 95, 1903, par. 1–5+2 He remained with the kings of Persia, holding the powers in check and giving right counsel against evil counsel.Lt 201, 1899, par. 5–6 He was sent to turn the king's heart toward action.Ms 95, 1903, par. 1–5+2

Good and evil angels take part in the planning of God in His earthly kingdom, with heavenly agencies working on the minds of kings and rulers while satanic agencies are also at work on their minds at the same time.Lt 201, 1899, par. 5–6+1 God purposes to carry forward His work in correct lines in ways that advance His glory, while Satan ever tries to counterwork it and continually seeks to block the way.Lt 201, 1899, par. 5–6+1 So truth is bound about by human devising, which no human eloquence in strongly set forth human opinions can change.Lt 201, 1899, par. 5–6+1

This word belongs to the prophecies about future ages recorded in chapters 7-12, revelations not fully understood by Daniel himself, with part of their meaning reserved for the closing period of the world's history.PK 547.1 The vision to which it belongs was seen by the Hiddekel, one of the great rivers of Shinar, and together with the vision by the Ulai it was given especially as light for the last days.Ms 142, 1901, par. 6 That light came direct from God and is now in process of fulfillment, with all foretold events soon to come to pass.Ms 142, 1901, par. 6

Earnest searching for understanding joined with humbling of self before God was answered by the hearing of supplication and the giving of heavenly light concerning God's purposes for those living in the latter days.BS 42.4 God's truth is thus given to those who seek it earnestly.BS 42.4 From the first day the heart was set to understand and self was chastened, the words were heard and the heavenly messenger was sent in answer, bringing understanding to one greatly beloved.Lt 271, 1904, par. 11–16 That chastening included mourning three full weeks, eating no pleasant bread, taking no flesh nor wine, not anointing self, confessing sin as his own with we have sinned and rebelled, and trembling before God with no strength left.Lt 271, 1904, par. 11–16

The humbled man whom God has honored understands what true greatness is, for exalted position amounts to nothing and only righteousness and truth give honor.Lt 271, 1904, par. 11–16 God calls men to walk before Him in humility and with contrition of heart to confess sins and receive forgiveness.Lt 271, 1904, par. 11–16 Humble earnest prayer with sincere lips is the way to seek understanding and the character needed to honor God and do Christ's work.Lt 271, 1904, par. 11–16+1

God's servants advance His work only by humbling themselves before Him, never by relying on their own efforts or on outward display for success.11MR 98.3–99.3+1 The answer came through heavenly agencies, though hindrances had to be overcome before the purpose was fulfilled in its time.11MR 98.3–99.3+1 The prince of the kingdom of Persia, controlled by the highest of evil angels, withstood the messenger one and twenty days by representations against the Jews and by refusing to obey the word of the Lord as Pharaoh did, until Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help and remained with the kings of Persia holding the powers in check and giving right counsel against evil counsel.Lt 201, 1899, par. 5–6 Good and evil angels take part in the planning of God in His earthly kingdom, with God purposing to carry forward His work in correct lines in ways that advance His glory while Satan ever tries to counterwork it.Lt 201, 1899, par. 5–6

Humiliation, confession, self-sacrifice, and sincere earnest fervent righteous prayer, with affliction of soul and coming down from self-exaltation, are weapons of warfare that draw down great blessings from heaven.Lt 201, 1899, par. 7–10+1 They accomplish what all human devising, effort, numbers, music, and outward display cannot, bringing relief and hope and success in bearing the testing message for this time against Satan's forces working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.Lt 201, 1899, par. 7–10+1 Fervent prayer, confession, and humility bring blessings that human planning cannot accomplish, and Daniel's self-humbling in earnest desire to understand joined with prayer is the example for God's people.11MR 99.4–101.1

Heavenly agencies work on the minds of kings and rulers while satanic agencies are also at work on their minds at the same time, Satan continually seeking to block the way so that truth shall be bound about by human devising.Lt 201, 1899, par. 18 No human eloquence in strongly set forth human opinions can change the working of satanic agencies.Lt 201, 1899, par. 18 The same invisible supernatural mighty foes that hindered the messenger from convincing the king of Persia of the work he was to do still oppose God's people.Ms 173, 1898, par. 3–4 With the coming of the Lord near the church must therefore awake out of sleep, become one in Christ, put on the whole armor of God, and pray most earnestly and come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty in the battles to be fought daily.Ms 173, 1898, par. 3–4

Those who have light and knowledge are in the greatest danger unless they constantly consecrate themselves to God, humbling self and realizing the peril of the times.Lt 201, 1899, par. 18 Earnest prayer is heard, and heavenly help brings assurance, strength, and wisdom.Lt 46, 1907, par. 2–4 Daniel's faithful earnest petitions are an example for daily prayer, and the same help also aided him when he was cast into the lions' den.Lt 46, 1907, par. 2–4