1IN 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; 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, 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 said unto me, O Daniel, a 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 thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, 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.
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: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

1In the third yere of Cyrus King of Persia, a thing was reuealed vnto Daniel (whose name was called Belteshazzar) and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long, and he vnderstood the thing, and had vnderstanding of the vision.

2In those dayes, I Daniel was mourning three full weekes.

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

4And in the foure and twentieth day of the first moneth, as I was by the side of the great riuer, which is Hiddekel:

5Then I lift vp mine eyes and looked, and behold, a certaine man clothed in linen, whose loynes were girded with fine gold of Uphaz.

6His body also was like the Berill, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lampes of fire, and his armes, and his feete like in colour to polished brasse, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with mee saw not the vision: but a great quaking fell vpon them, so that they fled to hide themselues.

8Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comelinesse was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

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

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

11And hee said vnto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloued, vnderstand the wordes that I speake vnto thee, and stand vpright: for vnto thee am I now sent; and when he had spoken this word vnto me, I stood trembling.

12Then sayd hee vnto me; Feare not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou diddest set thine heart to vnderstand, and to chasten thy selfe before thy God, thy wordes were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13But the prince of the kingdome of Persia withstood mee one and twentie dayes: but loe, Michael one of the chiefe Princes came to helpe mee, and I remained there with the Kings of Persia.

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

15And when hee had spoken such words vnto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumbe.

16And behold, one like the similitude of the sonnes of men touched my lippes: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and sayd vnto him that stoode before me; O my Lord, by the vision my sorrowes are turned vpon me, and I haue retained no strength.

17For how can the seruant of this my Lord, talke with this my Lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in mee, neither is there breath left in me.

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

19And said; O man greatly beloued, feare not: peace be vnto thee, be strong, yea be strong; and when he had spoken vnto me, I was strengthened, and said; Let my Lord speake; for thou hast strengthened me.

20Then said hee, Knowest thou wherefore I come vnto thee? and now will I returne to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, loe, the prince of Grecia shall come.

21But I will shew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of trueth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

I == Dan 1:7 , 17 ; 8:16 , 26 ; 10:14 ; Rev 19:9

III == Matt 6:17

IV == Gen 2:14

V == Josh 5:13 ; Jer 10:9 ; Dan 12:6-7 ; Rev 1:13-15 ; 15:6

VI == Ezek 1:7 , 14 , 16 , 24 ; Rev 1:14-15 ; 19:12

VII == 2nd Kings 6:17 ; Actns 9:7

VIII == Dan 7:28 ; 8:27

IX == Dan 8:18

X == Jer 1:9 ; Dan 9:21 ; Rev 1:17

XI == Dan 9:23

XII == Dan 9:3-4 , 22-23 ; Ants 10:4 ; Rev 1:17

XIII == Dan 10:20-21 ; Jude 1:9 ; Rev 12:7

XIV == Gen 49:1 ; Dan 2:28 ; 8:26 ; 10:1 ; Hab 2:3

XV == Dan 8:18 ; 10:9

XVI == Jer 1:9 ; Dan 8:15 ; 10:8 , 10

XIX == Judg 6:23 ; Dan 10:11

XX == Dan 10:13

XXI == Dan 10:13 ; Jude 1:9 ; Rev 12:7

1 In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel, who had been named Belteshazzar. The revelation was certain: a great war; he understood it from the vision.

2 In those days, I, Daniel, mourned three full weeks.

3 I ate no savory food, I took no meat or wine, and I did not anoint myself at all until the end of the three weeks.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was on the bank of the great river, the Tigris.

5 As I looked up, I saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of fine gold around his waist.

6 His body was like chrysolite, his face shown like lightning, his eyes were like fiery torches, his arms and feet looked like burnished bronze, and his voice sounded like the roar of a multitude.

7 I alone, Daniel, saw the vision; but great fear seized the men who were with me; they fled and hid themselves, although they did not see the vision.

8 So I was left alone, seeing this great vision. No strength remained in me; I turned the color of death and was powerless.

9 When I heard the sound of his voice, I fell face forward in a faint.

10 But then a hand touched me, raising me to my hands and knees.

11 "Daniel, beloved," he said to me, "understand the words which I am speaking to you; stand up, for my mission now is to you." When he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 "Fear not, Daniel," he continued; "from the first day you made up your mind to acquire understanding and humble yourself before God, your prayer was heard. Because of it I started out,

13 but the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood in my way for twenty-one days, until finally Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. I left him there with the prince of the kings of Persia,

14 and came to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the days to come; for there is yet a vision concerning those days."

15 While he was speaking thus to me, I fell forward and kept silent.

16 Then something like a man's hand touched my lips; I opened my mouth and said to the one facing me, "My lord, I was seized with pangs at the vision and I was powerless.

17 How can my lord's servant speak with you, my lord? For now no strength or even breath is left in me."

18 The one who looked like a man touched me again and strengthened me, saying,

19 "Fear not, beloved, you are safe; take courage and be strong."

20 When he spoke to me, I grew strong and said, "Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me." "Do you know," he asked, "why I have come to you? Soon I must fight the prince of Persia again. When I leave, the prince of Greece will come;

21 but I shall tell you what is written in the truthful book. No one supports me against all these except Michael, your prince,

v 1-3. In the third year of Cyrus, exiles had returned and begun rebuilding the temple, but now in at least his mid eighties, Daniel stayed at Babylon. Building has been delayed, and he understands from this vision that Israel is going to be experiencing many wars, and he fasts from desirable things, mourning and praying for his people for three weeks of days, not weeks of years as in chapter nine.

v 4-9. An angel, possibly Gabriel, appeared in vision to Daniel along the Tigris River. Daniel’s friend’s shook and fled at the brilliance, but didn’t see the vision. The sight sapped Daniel’s strength and he fell with his face to the ground and fell asleep.

v 10-14. He set Daniel on his hands and knees and told him to stand. He had heard Daniel’s prayer from the first day of his fasting, three weeks before, but he was hindered by the demon who oversaw Persia. Apparently each nation has either a demonic angel or a holy angel influencing it, just as individuals have a guardian angel. Michael, Israel’s guiding angel, finally came to help him get by the demon of Persia. So there is spiritual warfare in the heavens as Paul said, Eph. 6:12.

v 15-19. Daniel was so overwhelmed he was speechless and gasping for breath. The angel touched his lips so he could speak, and he respectfully mentioned his weakness. He was touched again and and on command, he gained his strength back. Daniel spoke again that he was now ready to receive the angel’s message.

v 20,21. After he gives Daniel his message, the angel will leave to conquer the Persian demon, but then the demon guiding Greece, under Alexander the Great, will come to join battle. Again, Michael will be assisting this angel.
Some think the angel is Christ in pre incarnate form, but He would not have been detained by the demon of Persia. Others think these were all angels. Schofield takes the approach that they are angels except v 16, 17 which describe theophanies.