When Daniel was given the ram and he-goat vision (Daniel 8), Belshazzar, Babylon’s last king, was in his third and final year of reign. The ram symbol represented Jesus and those who claim to be His people – the remnant, His church[1] – at or shortly after the “fall of Babylon.” Now in this chapter messages are continued that directly relate to that ram and this time was associated with the mareh vision. Following a pattern used previously to clarify a prophecy (e.g., Daniel 7 develops details of Daniel 2), this chapter, along with 11 and 12, brings greater meaning to Daniel 8 and 9.

The ram – Jesus, God’s people, His Church – is persecuted by the he-goat. Daniel 8:14 comes in response to Gabriel’s question as to when that would occur. There, Jesus promised it would be after spiritual deliverance, when restoration would come. In 9:24 He tells what must be done by the remnant to experience that deliverance. When physical deliverance and restoration occur would be defined later in 12:7. God will not detail that deliverance until greater information is given to Daniel regarding the he-goat opposition and persecution in chapter 11.

In the swift and amazing 70-week prophecy Daniel’s great prayer was partially answered relative to the deliverance and spiritual restoration of Israel. Gabriel had much more to share.[2] But Daniel had had enough for one sitting, noted in the Daniel 9:20-27 record.

It is now two years after the Daniel 9 contact. Cyrus, the Persian conqueror, has been in power for three years. And that is where our story begins.

Daniel ceased his administrative responsibilities in the first year of Cyrus’ reign (Daniel 1:21). In that year, 538 B.C., Cyrus had decreed that the Israelites could go back and rebuild their temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-4, 6:3). Now, Daniel is two years “retired” and another revelation comes in response to earnest fasting and prayer.

Heaven’s Rapid Response – Again

Daniel 10 begins with Daniel praying and craving for additional understanding of the prophecies. He was also pleading for help in the temple restoration, which now had begun. Discouragement had come upon the returned exiles, and Judah’s enemies were seeking to thwart that work by God’s people (Daniel 10:2-3 – discussed shortly). This opposition came from apostates – the he-goat “host” in symbolism introduced in Daniel 8.

Gabriel later told Daniel: “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 [Daniel’s prayer], thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words” (Daniel 10:12).

This is another beautiful illustration of answered prayer. Though the fasting and praying lasted three weeks, the angel of God (Gabriel), came the “first day.” Satan – the he-goat power – influenced Judah’s enemies to write disparaging letters to Cyrus to resist the Jewish work. The battle between Satan (prince of the kingdom of Persia) and Gabriel was so intense that Michael (Prince of heaven) had to come and help him contain Satan. This influenced Cyrus and his successor, Darius, to work favorably for God’s people. All this encompasses a remarkable prophetic metaphor related to the 144,000 at the very end of time. They will be praying and pleading for help and guidance. It will seem like their prayers are not heard. But God’s “angel” will have been there all the time.

Spiritual restoration sought – prayers (temple cleansing)

  Antichrist – apostate people fight (persecution)

    Restoration promised (everlasting covenant)

       Deliverer strengthens (Latter Rain)

         Restoration comes (sealing)

           Deliverance – God’s people (at midnight)

              Desolation – of world

Then came beautiful words of hope to Daniel: “I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth” (Daniel 10:21). His response?

“A thing was revealed … and he understood the thing …” (Daniel 10:1). This first verse is Daniel’s response to what Gabriel shows in the rest of the chapter. His conclusions from what follows is given first.

How strange to begin this next vision in the third person (10:1) and in the next verse suddenly switch to the first person. So unexpected also was that the KJV twice says a “thing” was revealed to Daniel. But when we look at all this closer, the “thing” becomes utterly amazing.

“Thing” comes from a word that Daniel has used many times – dabar. It is translated more than eighty different ways in the Old Testament as a noun! When used here as a substantive, it represents a very important legal decree or word from God that explains something already presented.[3] What does this mean? In the midst of so much prophecy of persecution, the “thing” assures us that God’s people will be given “due process.” They will be protected from unfair and arbitrary rule. Though accused by Satan, God assures that His people will be given liberty, eternal life and inheritance of the earth made new. Isn’t that incredible! The previous visions have a lot of doom and gloom. Now in beautiful legal language Daniel is assured that God’s people will triumph! He said exactly the same thing in 8:14.

Daniel 10 Begins With a Conclusion

“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” (Daniel 10:1).

In Cyrus’ third year, in third person language, making it sound like he is a reporter of a dramatic message, “a thing was revealed to Daniel.” Coming at a time when he had approximately two years to ponder the mysteries of recent visions, and following new visions and messages, he comes under such conviction that he blurts out: “They’re true.” “I understand the mareh vision” – that legal declaration of God that His people will be holy and adjudicated.

Verse 1 can be described as Daniel’s breakthrough of understanding. He’s excited and wants to share what happened with legal overtones! It continues the descriptive language begun in chapter 8. A legal finale’ is being described, and Daniel understands that “thing.”

Medo-Persia was symbolized by the ram (8:20), representing, as we have seen, God’s people, His church and Jesus at the time Babylon falls. Also, the lesser horn of the ram is God’s end-time people who are holy, having been adjudicated from sin, proclaiming the deliverance and restoration message – the greater horn being the great multitude that they bring in. In the 8th chapter is described a battle between good and evil – God’s people and Satan’s host. The first timing explanation came in 8:14. The 2300 evenings and mornings is tied to when God’s people would be rescued – spiritually delivered – made holy, adjudicated. That is Daniel’s “thing” – the completion of the great restoration promise.

In that context Daniel said the “time appointed was long” (10:1). The Hebrew word used for “long” is saba and relates to fighting a battle – physical or spiritual. That is exactly what Gabriel had described between the ram and he-goat, then the little horn against the host, and, finally, the prince (of this world) against God’s people. The chazown vision describes that war. The mareh vision began with timing language and related to when God’s people would be victorious spiritually, when the battle would be done – their deliverance complete.

Daniel is saying that he now grasps these “things.” They now make sense. They are wonderfully true. The great conflict between sin and right will end – at the end – when God’s people become part of the everlasting covenant. They will be righteous and holy – forever. But, he adds a concept that previously eluded him – it would be a long way off (from his time). It would be at the end of time.

This is exciting. As we see things unfold for Daniel, they unfold for us! There were things sealed from his understanding – but the great controversy theme as it would play out at the very end of time was grasped. Was this insight, referred to in verse 1, from a new vision, special conviction by the Holy Spirit or simply understanding after reviewing his previous notes? Something clicked in Daniel’s thinking when he finally acknowledged that it all made sense.

We are told exactly what happened to bring about this insight. And, that is a beautiful story within this incredible prophetic saga. Daniel is about to describe his most wondrous vision – one of Jesus – one that helped solidify that understanding.

How Daniel Understood the Prophecy

Verse 1 is a statement of joy and excitement. Daniel wants to share how he came to understand the long periods of time and the mareh vision. That vision encompassed the 2300 evenings and mornings plus the 70 weeks of years. Enlightenment came also to him as to how the chazown vision meshed with the mareh, though the full details of the former vision were sealed from his grasp.

He now begins to share how this all came about: “In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. 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” (Daniel 10:2-3).

What does all this self-inflicted fast mean? This great prophet, restless to know truth, now aged in years, wanted a full revelation of prophecy – and in addition, help for the slowed reconstruction of the Jerusalem temple. He deliberately set out to fast and grieve over this and prayed for a deeper grasp of God’s will.

The Hebrew word for “mourning” (abal) truly means mourning like those who grieve a deceased relative. Can you imagine feeling such a depth of loss over wanting to see the beauty of truth more clearly unfolded?!

“Upon the occasion just described (Daniel 9), the angel Gabriel imparted to Daniel all the instruction that he was then able to receive. A few years afterward, however, the prophet desired to learn more of subjects not yet fully explained, and again set himself to seek light and wisdom from God. ‘In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all.”[4]

Could this be a lesson for us? “Those who claim to be sanctified, while they have no desire to search the Scriptures or to wrestle with God in prayer for a clearer understanding of Bible truth, know not what true sanctification is.”[5]

Was this to satisfy Daniel’s curiosity in his later years?

“And in response to his supplications, light from the heavenly courts was communicated for those who should live in the latter days. With what earnestness, then, should we seek God, that He may open our understanding to comprehend the truths brought to us from heaven.”[6]

This amazing prophet was mourning a lack of knowledge relative to heaven’s messages. He is fasting and praying for deeper insights. As it turns out – for our benefit! What a model for us in our search of His Word!

Timing of This Experience

A little-analyzed area of Scripture is the frequent reference to periods of time, predictions when something would occur or how an event relates to a feast or moon phase. These are fantastic interpretive tools. It is the same in this Danielic message. “And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which [is] Hiddekel” (Daniel 10:4).

Daniel mourned and fasted for three weeks. The vision came to him on the 24th day of the first month (Abib – Jewish; Nissan – Chaldean). This was the first month of the Jewish religious year (Exodus 12:2) of seven months (equating to the last of March and the beginning of April). It was then that the spring feasts were celebrated.

Did Daniel observe those feasts? We aren’t told – but likely. His fast was only partial but would conceivably relate to the time the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread occurred – and now, it is during the 50-day waiting period! More on this in the next chapter.

“Fasting and fervent prayer to God have moved the Lord to unlock His treasures of truth to their understanding.”[7]

This was beautifully true here when Gabriel said, “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” (Daniel 10:12). This is a remarkable illustration of God’s responsiveness to a sincere petition to grasp Biblical truth.

The expression “three full weeks” is literally “three weeks of days” and is likely used to differentiate from the phrase “weeks of years” used in chapter 9.

A River and A Vision of God!

Daniel 10–12 was given so Daniel “would understand” chapters 8 and 9! What especially needed clarifying?

1.  The Medo-Persian ram link

2.  The Grecian he-goat link

3.  The timing of all – especially

4.  The climax or deliverance from the battle between good and evil (an issue for God’s / Daniel’s people)

5.  How the 70-week prophecy would end

Remember – the exciting expressions from verse 1 by Daniel affirm that he had much understanding. He is now unfolding to us what brought conviction and knowledge to him. He is sharing with us what fasting and prayer revealed. A similar understanding is to be expected by those approaching the throne of grace as Scripture is studied and analyzed.

The Hiddekel River represented God’s “host” or people. The message about to be given is for them. Daniel was promised that God’s people and His church would turn back to Him and become holy (Daniel 8:14). He was given a capsule of information showing that Satan would fight that possibility. But the restoration process, the particulars of how an evil little horn power would be out to subvert what God set in motion and the timing when this would occur, was still very mysterious. He was told when the Messiah would arrive – but that prophecy suddenly dangled. Further details were needed.

The rest of the book is for God’s people – the mareh part Daniel finally grasped.

The Ram of God

The ram that came from the east represents Medo-Persia. But God said this vision was for the time of the end, at the “appointed time” (Daniel 8:17, 19). It therefore represents something more vast than an earthly kingdom. Jesus said, “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:27). Coming from the east, what did Medo-Persia and/or its kings represent or symbolize?

•     Deliverer of Israel (Isaiah 44:28)

•     God’s anointed (Isaiah 45:1)

•     Character development (Isaiah 45:2)

•     Power that prepares for the promised land (Isaiah 44:28)

•     Calling God’s people out of Babylon

•     Preparing for everlasting righteousness

•     Victory over evil

That ancient power, Medo-Persia, that brought Babylon’s fall is seen as a ram – the “deliverer.” The forces that Satan wars against are its two horns – the 144,000 and the great multitude (Revelation 7).

At the end of time the great satanic forces of evil will war against the Prince and His host – Jesus and the remnant. The heavenly message has already been given by Jesus, and the 144,000 will cry with a loud voice, “Babylon … is fallen, is fallen, … come out of her my people” (Revelation 18:2, 4). The outcome of that “Medo-Persian force” – God’s kingdom of people – is established. Now a mystery unfolds!

“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: 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” (Daniel 10:5-6).

In answer to Daniel’s fasting and praying, the Ram of God appears personally to Daniel. If there was any misunderstanding as to who will be the ultimate Deliverer from Babylon, there can be no question now.

Daniel raised his eyes upward and saw Jesus – he “looked” (KJV) – there He was “before me” (NIV). This word “looked” is translated from the Hebrew word hinneh, which really suggests that he was excited about this.[8] “I gazed upward and to my amazement there was a man.” But no ordinary man.

Daniel lifted up his eyes (an eschatological phrase) and saw (note the parallels):

     Daniel 10:5-6                                 Revelation 1:13-16

A certain man                                Son of man

Clothed in linen                             Garment to foot

Loins girded with gold                   Paps covered with golden girdle

Body like beryl                               –

Face like lightning                         Countenance like shinning sun

Eyes like lamps of fire                   Eyes like flame of fire

Arms and feet like brass               Feet like fine brass

Voice like multitude                       Voice the sound of many waters

The Messiah (Jesus), the Prince, the Deliverer, is before Daniel. The white linen reflects the High Priest on the Day of Atonement, the golden girdle a royal personage, the face and eyes reflect judgment. The “man” in linen will be seen again in Daniel’s final vision (12:6).

This is a theophany. Daniel is in contact visually with God (just like Ezekiel in 1:26-28 and John in Revelation 1:12-16). “Daniel talked with God, … No less a personage than the Son of God appeared to Daniel.”[9] What an awesome honor for a man to look and see Jesus attired in garments of His heavenly roles. Here we see Jesus as:

Priest – proleptic King – proleptic Judge – proleptic

proleptic = a future event seen in the present

Why is it not His role right then and there? Daniel was seeing a “prophecy of Jesus.” Just as Gabriel already told us, these visions were for the eth qets – the time of the end. So the imagery presented is when Jesus can be declared a priest, a judge and a king. That would have to be after the 2300 evening and morning prophecy had ended! There is only one time in history that this occurs. It is just before Jesus returns at the deliverance of God’s people. Daniel 12 elaborates more on this.

“The light that Daniel received from God was given especially for these last days. The visions he saw by the banks of the Ulai and the Hiddekel, the great rivers of Shinar, are now in process of fulfillment, and all the events foretold will soon come to pass.”[10]

Here is given to Daniel the ultimate picture of the ram. In a theophany few men have ever experienced, God is conveying, as He did to John, that the Deliverer of Israel is Jesus. Yes – Medo-Persia and Cyrus are metaphors for a deliverer. But again and again the issues point to the Lamb of God in His final
redemptive role as seen in Revelation. Jesus came personally envisaged in a future role to Daniel’s lingering questions. “Daniel – behold the ram of God.”

“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” (Daniel 10:7).

Daniel’s companions fled. It was too much for them to encounter. So, it will be at the end. Daniel represents those who look up and are enraptured at seeing Jesus – the Lamb of God. And, those who fled symbolize those who cry, “hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne.”