1 IN the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

4 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 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; [ Just like Pauls as recorded in Acts 9:3-7. ] but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, [ He sees the son of God. This is the apex of Daniels mission here on this earth. ] and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

10 ¶ And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

11 And he [ This is an angel at this point. ] said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: [ Get up on your feet. He is probably kneeling with his face down in worship at the sight of the messenger. ] for unto thee am I now sent. [ I have a message for you. ] And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. [ So he is obedient and stands, with his legs shaking. ]

12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, [ He was repentant, he corrected his character to be like Gods character. He was torn from his home as a youth. He was taken to a strange land where he had to learn their customs. While he obtained prominence in government it never corrupted him. He last his position but he never found fault with God. He was still tested even when he was old when he was thrown into the den of lions. He has seen the history of the earth. Lastly because he has lived as such he has now been granted the presence of God while in the flesh. ] thy words were heard, [ Do you know why I am here Daniel? It is because of your obedience, since you was young you have prayed, you have sought to learn the gospel, and then to do what you learned to be right. Because of that I now stand before you as a messenger from God to teach you the mysteries of God. ] and I am come for thy words.

13 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. [ A very peculiar event is revealed to Daniel wherein an angel speaks of his struggle with the forces of darkness (Dan. 10:13). The promise conveyed was that he was on an assignment to defend the Lord’s interests in the Kingdom of Persia. The prophet had worried much about his people and the machinations in the government, but the angel reassured him there were active efforts underway to protect the covenant people and the Lord’s purposes. Later, Daniel is shown that in the last days “Michael [will] stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble” (Dan. 12:1). Despite the great trials the devil and his followers bring upon the children of the Covenant, the Lord will preserve His people by His power and with the aid of unseen angels. ]

14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

16 And, behold, one like the similitude 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 the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained 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 is there breath left in me.

18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,

19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: [ The angel calls this vision the “Scripture of Truth” . Its contents so disturbed Daniel that he fasted three weeks to know its meaning. The Lord, Himself, visited the prophet to reassure him that while the vision portrayed frightening and serious things, that in the end the people of God would prevail. The vision begins in chapter 10 and spans chapters 11 and 12. It briefly revisits the kingdoms of Persia and Alexander’s Greece and then spends significant effort portraying successive kings of the Greek Seleucid and Ptolemaic kingdoms. These kingdoms would directly affect the Jews for 180 years. The persecutions of the king Antiochus Epiphanies are revisited, but the vision suddenly shifts into an apocalyptic scene. Here, a latter-day anti-Christ, in the likeness of Antiochus, emerges in the last days. Over 140 very specific prophecies are referenced in this vision, many have been fulfilled, but there are still prophetic pronouncements yet to come to pass. ] and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.