Daniel 10:20, commentary and pictures

This is part of a vision-communication from God brought to Daniel by a ministering angel, seen by the banks of the Hiddekel, one of the great rivers of Shinar. Daniel received it after fasting and afflicting his soul and praying most earnestly in tears with confession and humiliation, and his prayer was heard. He received it with humility, not self-exaltation. In the encounter he was touched on the lips and strengthened by one in the form of a man, who called him a man greatly beloved and promised to show him what is noted in the Scripture of truth. The angel asks whether he knows why he has come to him, then says he will return to fight with the prince of Persia and that when he has gone forth the prince of Grecia shall come, with none holding with him in this but Michael his prince.

It reveals a close and wonderful connection between heaven and earth, with heavenly powers at work in connection with earthly events and in revealing what will happen. The prince of Persia was an evil angel who influenced the Persian king against God's purpose, and the resulting conflict between heavenly and evil agencies delayed the fulfillment of God's purpose, while Michael helped and remained with the Persian rulers to hold evil powers in check and give counsel against evil counsel. Heavenly agencies and satanic agencies work at the same time on the minds of kings and rulers, with Satan seeking continually to block the way so that truth shall be bound about by human devising. The highest angels are appointed to answer the prayers of those working unselfishly for the cause of God and to work out prayers for its advancement, and each angel has a particular post of duty that he is not permitted to leave for another place, for leaving would give the powers of darkness an advantage.

It belongs to Daniel's prophecies, which even Daniel did not fully understand and which were to remain sealed until the time of the end. What was revealed to Daniel was afterward complemented by the revelation made to John on the isle of Patmos and unsealed by the Lion of the tribe of Judah, so Daniel is unsealed in John's revelation and the two books should be carefully studied together as carrying forward to the last scenes of this earth's history and to the time of the end when the first angel's message is proclaimed. The vision containing it is light received direct from God given especially for these last days, now in process of fulfillment, and all the events it foretold will soon come to pass. No human eloquence in strongly set forth human opinions can change the working of satanic agencies in this conflict, and those who have light and knowledge are in the greatest danger unless they constantly consecrate themselves to God, humble self, and realize the peril of the times.