World History Explained – Part 4

World History Explained – Part 4

World History Explained – Part 4 is based on the book of Daniel, specifically Chapter 10. We will refer back to some of the verses listed below in Daniel 10, as well as other Bible references that help explain these concepts.

"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; 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."

Daniel 10:1-21  KJV

The Chapter Most People Skip!

Most readers hurry past Daniel 10 to get to the prophecy in Daniel 11. That is a mistake! Daniel 10, 11 and 12 are not three separate visions. They are one single vision, and chapter 10 is the part where God pulls back the curtain and shows Daniel what is really going on behind the history he is about to be shown.

Before God gave His prophet the most detailed prophecy in the entire Bible, He first explained why history runs the way it does. Everything in chapter 11 makes far more sense once you have understood chapter 10!

Daniel Saw Jesus!

In verses 5 and 6, Daniel describes the Person he saw standing by the river. Read that description, and then read how the Apostle John described the One he saw more than 600 years later:

"13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."

Revelation 1:13-16  KJV

The blazing eyes, the feet like polished brass, the voice like a multitude of waters, the face like the sun. These are two men, separated by six centuries, describing the same Person…Jesus Christ!

“And when at a later time the Son of God appeared, to give him instruction, Daniel says: ‘My comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.’”

Ellen G. White · The Great Controversy, p. 470

Why Did Daniel Collapse?

Daniel was not a wicked man. Heaven itself called him a man “greatly beloved” (verse 11)! Yet in verse 8 he says all his strength left him, and in verse 17 he says he could not even breathe. Why?

Because the closer a person comes to God, the smaller he appears in his own eyes! Job said “I abhor myself.” Isaiah said “Woe is me! for I am undone.” John fell at His feet as dead. Anyone who claims to have arrived at holiness has simply never yet seen the One he claims to resemble!

“The prophet Daniel was an example of true sanctification. His long life was filled up with noble service for his Master. He was a man ‘greatly beloved’ (Daniel 10:11) of Heaven. Yet instead of claiming to be pure and holy, this honored prophet identified himself with the really sinful of Israel.”

Ellen G. White · The Great Controversy, p. 470

There Is A War Behind The Throne!

Now comes the astonishing part. Daniel had been mourning and fasting for three full weeks (verse 2), hearing nothing. Then the angel tells him something that should change the way we pray forever:

“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. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days” (verses 12, 13).

The answer left heaven on day one! The delay had nothing whatsoever to do with God being slow, or reluctant, or unconvinced. The delay was a battle!

And notice carefully…no human king holds off an angel of God for three weeks, and no human king requires Michael Himself to come and settle the matter! “The prince of the kingdom of Persia” was not Cyrus. It was the power working on Cyrus!

“For three weeks Gabriel wrestled with the powers of darkness, seeking to counteract the influences at work on the mind of Cyrus; and before the contest closed, Christ Himself came to Gabriel’s aid.”

Ellen G. White · Prophets and Kings, pp. 571, 572

Think about what was at stake! Cyrus was the king who had to authorize the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple. Satan understood the prophecies as well as Daniel did, and he threw everything he had at the mind of one man to stop that decree! Read Ezra 4 and you will see the same fight going on at ground level, with letters, lawyers and lobbying!

Here is the lesson that governs the whole rest of this vision: earthly politics is only the visible surface of an invisible war! The kings in Daniel 11 are real kings doing real things…but there is always something else moving behind them.

Your Prayer Was Heard On The First Day!

Do not rush past this. For twenty-one days Daniel had every reason to conclude that heaven was silent, that God had not heard him, or that his confession had not been good enough. He was wrong on all three counts!

God had answered immediately. The messenger was already on his way while Daniel was still fasting and wondering! Delay is not denial! Never measure God’s answer by your calendar!

Who Is Michael?

The name Michael means “Who is like God?” He appears in this vision twice (verses 13 and 21), and once more in Daniel 12:1 as “the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people.” So who is He?

"9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."

Jude 9  KJV

"16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17  KJV

The archangel is not one angel among many…He is the chief of the angels, their Commander. And notice that when the Lord descends, the dead are raised by the voice of the archangel. Jesus said plainly that the dead will hear His own voice and come forth (John 5:28, 29)! Michael is not a created angel. Michael is Jesus Christ, the Commander of the armies of heaven!

“Michael, or Christ, with the angels that buried Moses, came down from heaven, after he had remained in the grave a short time, and resurrected him and took him to heaven.”

Ellen G. White · The Story of Redemption, p. 173

That is why Gabriel could say in verse 21, “there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.” The One who came to Gabriel’s aid in the fight for the mind of Cyrus is the same One who will stand up in Daniel 12:1 to close probation and deliver His people!

Now The Angel Begins To Speak

With the curtain pulled back and Daniel strengthened, the angel begins the longest and most detailed prophecy in all of Scripture. It runs straight through Daniel 11 and does not stop until Daniel 12:4.

And now you know what you are actually reading…not merely a list of kings, but the record of a war!