[Brother V]

Daniel 10-12

Daniel 10

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.

If the king of Babylon ended in 539 with Nabonidus/Belshazzar, then this would have been 536.

So, Daniel had another 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.

Who did Daniel mourn for? It's not explicitly stated. Some people believe that the 3 weeks was actually 3 years, which would mean that he had been mourning the entire time after Belshazzar/Nabonidus had been deposed.

That would mean, that he didn't eat good food, or take a bath for three years. It's no wonder he saw visions.

So, if he was mourning at the coming of Cyrus, why was he mourning? People believe that it's because he probably had talked Nabonidus into letting the Hebrews go back to Israel, and with the coming of Cyrus, that plan was wiped away.

However, there's a problem with that hypothesis.

If you remember back to Ezra, (Day 131) in chapter 1, Cyrus proclaimed that the temple was to be rebuilt. Here we see Daniel still wishing to go back to Israel in the third year.

So, how do we combine the two? How is it that in Daniel, in the third year of Cyrus, he hasn't ordered the temple rebuilt; yet in Ezra, in the first year of Cyrus, he orders the temple rebuilt.

According to all records, the Second Temple's construction started in 538. So, it's hard to get the two to match up. So, Daniel must have been mourning something else. Perhaps he was upset that HE wasn't selected to be one of the people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.

So, Daniel's three week mourning, was because he was pouting like a little baby because he wasn't selected. However, he was still listed as one of the princes who governed over Babylon.

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:

Daniel sees a man dressed in fine gold.

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.

Hallucinations can occur with food deprivation. Especially in an elderly man.

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.

The old man, who hasn't eaten in three weeks is now hallucinating and has fallen over with no strength. This is either a sign from above, or a sign from his stomach.

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.

The man in the vision, calls Daniel greatly beloved. The words aren't very comforting to a guy who was left behind.

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.

Daniel is going to be told what's going to happen.

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.

The prince of Greece is coming.

That's it.

Daniel 11

1 Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

Is that the first year Darius was king of Babylon? Cyrus was in power until 530. He was succeeded by Cambyses 2, who lasted until 522. He was succeeded by Bardiya (who didn't make it a year. So, this would be in either 522, or 521. Daniel was carried away in 606. That was 85 years before this point. Most people believe Daniel was an early teen when taken away, so he would be right around 100.

2 And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.

3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

Most consider these 4 kings to be Cambysys, Smerdis, and the current Darius. The fourth king is considered to be Xerxes of Persia. You may remember Xerxes as the guy who fought against the 300 "THIS IS SPARTA" guy.

Basically chapter 11 talks about each guys rise to power and their downfall. So, Daniel's vision is about 2 guys in the past, the current guy, and the next big future guy.


Xerxes was in power from 485 to 465.

Daniel 12

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

We don't know when this vision took place.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

That sounds like rapture stuff.

3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Yeah, that's rapture stuff.

10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Wise =/= wicked.

13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Daniel is probably still pissed that his lot is in Babylon and not in Israel.

So what have we learned today?

1. Daniel was pouting like a little baby since he wasn't chosen to go to Israel.

2. The four kings are:Cambysys, Smerdis, Darius, and Xerxes.

3. Daniel is still pouting about not getting to go to Israel.

I wonder if he ever got to go and look around? He was a prophet, and a wise man, who was probably descended from royalty, yet, after his being taken away, he probably never got to go back to his homeland. He probably never even got to step into the temple.

Poor Daniel.

YIC
V