Daniel 10:20–11:2

In the angelic world there was also 'the prince of Greece', as verse 20 shows. But these hostile powers did not stop the messenger of God. He came to Daniel, lifted him up, and strengthened him to receive the message that God was now sending him. Conflict in the angelic realm still had to take place with the princes of Persia and Greece — and Greece was the empire that would soon overthrow Persia. Yet the instruction of this humble and devoted servant of God came first, in time, even before that.

Of whom is the angel speaking? Not of a man. How could the Persian ruler hinder an angel coming from heaven with an answer to the prophet's prayer? How would he even know that the prophet had prayed at all? The angel speaks of a mighty spirit — a spirit that took an interest, for good or for evil, in the affairs of the Persian monarchy... It is impossible to bring men into such a passage. The angel is speaking of movements and counter-movements in the spirit world.

The "prince" of Persia is an angel, and here he acts against the mind of God. So he is a bad angel — in fact, one of Satan's princes. This helps us understand something we often find in the New Testament: there are good principalities and powers (Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16; Col. 2:10; 1 Peter 3:22), and bad principalities and powers (Rom. 8:38; Eph. 6:12). It seems, then, that Satan has copied the kingdom of God, and formed his own ranks of power on God's model.

If the prince of Persia means a Satanic angel, so does the prince of Greece. We are not told why he will appear, except that we know it must be in hostility to God's people. It is easy to see why "the prince of Persia" was so hostile. Persia was the kingdom in power at this moment, so it held the people of God captive. Satan's prince was at work in it. Apart from any natural reasons, Persia would be the enemy of Daniel and his people, however tolerant its rule was. Persia had an interest in keeping them under its power. Remember this, and you can better understand why the angel had to fight.

In Daniel 6 we have the outward history: in Daniel 10 and Daniel 11:1 we see the spiritual conflict behind the history. We now learn that the hostility of Daniel's enemies came from spiritual wickedness working behind the scenes. In the same way, the favour Darius showed to Daniel was the result of God's angelic messenger confirming and strengthening the king. Neither Daniel's enemies nor his friends knew that these spiritual beings were at work.

We believe there is more in the present upheaval in the world than the wickedness and ambition of godless men. Spiritual powers are working behind the scenes — the principalities and powers in the heavenly places that rule this world's darkness (Eph. 6:12)... We read in the prophecy of Daniel of "the Prince of Persia" and "the Prince of Greece." These were great spiritual powers. They controlled and gave energy to those world empires in ancient days. We are convinced that such powers are growing more active in world affairs in our time.

This word occurs only once in the Old Testament, where an angel speaks of "the scripture of truth." Daniel 10:21. In the New Testament the various parts of the Old Testament are called "the scriptures." They are the "holy scriptures," 2 Timothy 3:15. They must be fulfilled. They cannot be broken. John 10:35; Acts 17:2, 11.

He had come to show Daniel "what is noted in the Scripture of Truth." He spoke as if it had already been noted. But we may indeed thank God that it has been noted in the Bible — the Scripture of Truth — which we hold in our hand and can read today. ... What has been fulfilled so exactly assures us of the rest. The important things still to come will all take place just as exactly, in their season.

As we understand it, the last clause means this. Before the angel goes out against the prince of Persia, he will give Daniel his message — that is, the contents of chapters 11 and 12... Persia was the kingdom in power at this moment, and so held the people of God in captivity. Beyond any natural reasons, Persia was influenced by Satan's prince. So Persia would be the enemy of Daniel and his people, however tolerant its rule... Satan was even then the god of the world, though it had not yet been shown. His angels had supreme influence with the governments that ruled the nations. So on earth there was not one to stand by and help this angel in his conflict with Satan's agents, except the archangel who cared for the interests of the chosen nation in the way of God's providential government.

Of whom is the angel speaking? Not of a man. How could the Persian king stop an angel who came from heaven with an answer to the prophet's prayer? How would he even know that the prophet had prayed at all? It is a mighty spirit the angel speaks of — a spirit that interested itself either for good or for evil in the affairs of the Persian monarchy. In verse 20 the angel says he will return to fight the prince of Persia, and that when he has gone out, the prince of Greece will come. It is impossible to bring men into such a passage.

Who is Michael? The name means "who is like God." This distinguished angel is named five times in the Scriptures (Daniel 10:13, 21; Daniel 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7). He seems to be the leader of the angelic ranks, as Jude calls him "the archangel"... In each of the five passages where his name occurs, and in their contexts, the Jewish people are in question. Evidently he is the angel to whose guardian care the interests of Israel are committed.

We learn here that Michael was above all the prince of Israel. In what sense? Not as reigning visibly, but as invisibly taking up the cause of the Jewish people... And as to the angel speaking with Daniel — he says, "there is none that holds with me in these things," that is, in opposing the princes of Grecia and Persia. Why? It appears that the princes of Grecia and Persia were not favourable to the Jewish people.

We read of them in Hebrews: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" So we are indebted to angels now... At this time, in Daniel, it was not so much a question about the heirs of salvation; it was a question of the Jewish people. They were the great object of God's care in their fallen state. They had been most guilty, but they were beloved.

We have a quick survey of what was about to happen to Israel in the last days. The speaker here is the same as in Daniel 10. Three more kings are still to rise in Persia. There we have the line of Persian rulers after Cyrus. Scripture does show us who these were, although their names are not given here.

The angel sent to Daniel had already been used to confirm and strengthen Darius the Mede. This may throw great light on why Darius was so kind to Daniel. Daniel 6 gives us the outward history. Daniel 10 and Daniel 11:1 show us the spiritual conflict behind that history. We now learn that the hostility of Daniel's enemies came out of spiritual wickedness working behind the scenes. In the same way, the favour Darius showed Daniel came from God's angelic messenger, who confirmed and strengthened the king. Neither Daniel's enemies nor his friends knew that these spiritual beings were at work.

Anyone reading Daniel 6 is struck by how eagerly Darius took up Daniel's cause, and how he tried to save him from the schemes of his enemies. The secret behind it is now uncovered. It shows that God holds the hearts of all men in His hands, and turns them wherever He wills to carry out His purposes… Darius did not know it. But we are now told that a divine influence was working in secret. It confirmed him in a certain course and strengthened him against those who were plotting against God's witness in the king's court. Let us learn from this to look away from all lesser causes. We can rest in this: God is working in silence towards the end He has set, through all the apparent confusion of human plans, and in the face of all the power the enemy has shown.

This is very instructive to us, for God always governs the world. While the throne of God was at Jerusalem, He governed the world directly — not only Israel but the world, and this according to the good or bad conduct of Israel. After that He did not stop governing everywhere. But already in this book, with Israel in captivity, He is acting by the secret springs of His providence. He is not acting by the direct working of the revealed rule of His law, as He did among His people.

The angels are mentioned here in connection with God's providence. Angels are the great instruments of providence, and God carries out His unseen working through them.

Daniel 11 gives us the most extraordinary and detailed prophecy in the whole Word of God. It prophesies the reigns of kings, royal marriages, wars, victories, defeats, plots, treaties and assassinations. This is striking and unanswerable evidence that God knows the future. Who but God could write down such detailed prophecies? They have all come true except one. That one exception is still future, and it will certainly come to pass.

The opening verses of chapter 11, and indeed most of the chapter, give us predictions that were clearly fulfilled long ago… Only when we reach verse 36 does the prophecy move on to the time of the end, and to the last days.

We have a rapid survey of what was about to befall Israel in the latter days. It is the same speaker here as in Daniel 10... There we have the succession of Persian monarchs from Cyrus. Scripture does show us who these were, although their names are not mentioned here. I would refer you to Ezra 4, where these very three kings are mentioned.

First we have Ahasuerus, the unworthy son of a great father, here (Ezra 4:6) called Ahasuerus, or Cambyses as he is named in ordinary history... Darius Hystaspes became king through the revolt that set aside the false Smerdis; and he is the king of Persia who confirmed the decree of Cyrus... This Darius Hystaspes is the third in Daniel 11:2 — that is, the third after Cyrus the Great.

This famously rich king of Persia was Xerxes, who tried to follow his father's hostility to Athens... How exact and terse is the prophet's sketch! "When he has become strong through his riches." It was not skill or force of arms, but wealth that gathered his vast armies of foreign troops. But his enormous armies, far greater than those of his father Darius, were useless... While they pushed their territory through Western Asia, God in His providence was with them. But when they reached for the sea and Europe by rushing into Greece, they laid the foundation of the hostility that later broke out in Alexander the Great.

This confirms a point made earlier: the goat rushed against Persia with such fury in return for the Persian attack on Greece. Xerxes was the man who made that great attempt. His riches are famous, and no event made so deep an impression on the world of that day as that expedition against Greece and its consequences.

Four kings of Persia were still to arise, and "a fourth shall be far richer than all of them." Ezra 4 mentions the first three: Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes, and Darius. The fourth was the famous Xerxes, who became "strong through his riches" and stirred up "all against the kingdom of Greece." The prophecy passes over the overwhelming defeat of his mixed army, and the later invasion and conquest of his kingdom by Alexander. These are facts well known to every reader of history, and Daniel 8:7 alludes to them.

Daniel 11 gives us the most extraordinary and detailed prophecy in the whole Word of God. When we remember that it prophesies the reigns of kings, royal marriages, wars, victories, defeats, plots, treaties and assassinations, it gives striking and unanswerable evidence of divine foreknowledge. For who but God could write down such detailed prophecies, which have come true with one exception? The one exception is still future, and awaits a fulfilment that will surely come to pass.

Even the sceptical Gibbon says: "The four empires are clearly outlined: the expedition of Xerxes into Greece, the rapid conquest of Persia by Alexander, his early death without descendants, the division of his vast monarchy into four kingdoms... Daniel's prophecies describe all this as plainly as the histories of Justin and Diodorus. From such a perfect resemblance the clever unbeliever would infer that both were alike composed after the event." In a word, he was too exact for a prophet, and too fabulous for a contemporary historian.