13.10- Additional note to Daniel 11 verse 36

We read in Daniel 11 in verse 36 about the appearance of the “king of Syria”, which is the image of the antichrist

The discussion given before about this verse, gave a number of characteristics of how the antichrist can be recognized when he appears. Under part b) it already mentions that he will have the

appearance of a Jew…. in order to be acceptable to the Jews. He is however an Esau-Jew. 

This already occurred with Herod, The “king of the Jews”, at the time Jesus was born. Herod was born in Idumea, south of Judea. Idumea is the same as Edom, of the lineage of Esau. As many Edomites he had accepted the customs of the Jews. These "Judaized" Edomites were not considered Jewish by the dominant Pharisaic tradition, so even though Herod tried to be of the Jewish faith, he was not considered Jewish by the watchful and nationalist Jews of Judea. 

Esau always disguises himself as Jacob, after Jacob disguised himself once as Esau.  Esau will do everything he can to get back his rights as the first-born son, which he sold once to Jacob for some bean soup. This “right of the first born son”, is the Kingship of this world. See Genesis 18 verses 17-19: “And the Lord said to himself, “I will not hide from Abraham what I am going to do. His descendants will become a great and mighty nation, and through him I will bless all the nations. I have chosen him in order that he may command his sons and his descendants to obey me and to do what is right and just. If they do, I will do everything for him that I have promised”.   Esau was only interested in the earthly part of the blessing. Not the blessing of the coming of the Messiah for this world, because Esau is not interested in that part.   This is the big difference between Jacob and Esau. 

13.9- Additional note to Daniel 10 verse 21

In Daniel 10 verse 21 we read that the angel that spoke to Daniel says: “Now I have to go back and fight the guardian angel of Persia. After that the guardian angel of Greece will appear. There is no one to help me except Michael, Israel's guardian angel. He is responsible for helping and defending me”.

In the same way, also we should be prepared for this constant fight against the “cosmic powers of this dark age” during our prayers. See Ephesians 6 verse 12:  “For we are not fighting against human beings but against wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age”. 

Jesus, the Messiah, the King of Kings, shows us the way, because He is already the victor over these wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, against which we can resist in faith, using his armor. (See Ephesians 6 verse 16: “At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One”).

In the time of Daniel, - before Golgotha -, it was the battle for securing the continuation of the existence of God’s people, in view of the first coming of the Messiah. We can see first that Persia was being used by Satan as the “stronghold” against God’s people. After this it was Greece, where Satan hid himself.

In our time we see continuously the battle for the existence of Israel, the place for the return of Christ. But God will assure their continued presence in this world, and specifically in their country. See 1 Corinthians 1 verse 8: “He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be faultless on the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  

And as it was then, and is also now, there is only Michael, Israel's guardian angel, who is helping the Lord.  Apparently the angel Gabriel is not a combatant. 

13.8- Additional note to Daniel 10 verses 18

In Daniel 10 verse 8 it says: “Once more he took hold of me, and I felt stronger”. When God touches us, we receive strength. After the passage of the woman who had suffered from severe bleeding, of Matthew 9, we read how Jesus takes the hand of a girl, who had already died, in his hand, and this touch by Jesus gives her back her life. See Matthew 9 verse 25: “But as soon as the people had been put out, Jesus went into the girl's room and took hold of her hand, and she got up”.   And soon thereafter Jesus touches two blind persons, who came to Him in faith. And, of course, both could see again after this. See Matthew 9 verses 29 and 30: “Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, “Let it happen, then, just as you believe!”— and their sight was restored…..”.

Even lepers (image of sinners) Jesus touched, to give them complete cleaning and forgiveness. (See Matthew 8 verse 3: “Jesus reached out and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” At once the man was healed of his disease”).

This means also that, if we stretch out our hands to Him, and lay our hands (-touch-) on His promises for our personal salvation, than we will receive Life in Him. See Matthew 14 verse 36: “They begged him to let the sick at least touch the edge of his cloak; and all who touched it were made well”.

Also for the purpose of our personal service to Him, we need the touch of His Spirit. See Isaiah 6 verses 6 and 7: “Then one of the creatures flew down to me, carrying a burning coal that he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with the burning coal and said, “This has touched your lips, and now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven”. 

And also see Jeramiah 1 verse 9: “Then the Lord reached out, touched my lips, and said to me, “Listen, I am giving you the words you must speak”. …. All this is for cleansing and for receiving strength. 

13.7- Additional note to Daniel 10 verses 2 and 3

In Daniel 10 verses 2 and 3 it says: “At that time I was mourning for three weeks. I did not eat any rich food or any meat, drink any wine, or comb my hair until the three weeks were past”…. 

Real love never leads to resigned suffering, but to fighting for the life of the beloved. This is what Daniel does for his people. And he does this because of his deep compassion for them, ready to intercede intensely…. This is also what we should do when necessary in order to be able to understand God’s will. His prayers and his fighting go by Daniel together with fasting and great sacrifice.

What is fasting?  It is not to try to “relent” and “persuade” God, but to show Him that His Plan with this world, and with His people are for us of all importance. This fasting is done with great determination and temporary denial of important necessities. 

This prayer and fasting, with all our heart, is the guarantee for God’s promises to become true. See Jeremiah 29 verses 12 to 14: “Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you.  You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart. Yes, I say, you will find me, and I will restore you to your land. I will gather you from every country and from every place to which I have scattered you, and I will bring you back to the land from which I had sent you away into exile. I, the Lord, have spoken”…………. And at the same we are showing Satan that Jesus will be victorious in the life of the person for which we are interceding. This will make the devil withdraw. (See Matthew 17 verses 14 to 21, the story where Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon. At the end this text says: “…..I assure you that if you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill, ‘Go from here to there!’ and it will go. You could do anything”).  When we pray and fast in this way, than God’s answer is coming.  This is also what Daniel experiences after his prayer here in this chapter. 

13.6- Brief overview of Daniel Chapters 11 and 12

As has been mentioned before, Chapters 10-12 consist of one revelation, namely: “the truth” of God’s plan of salvation through much battle (See verse 2: “And what I am now going to tell you is true”).  Described here is that what still had to occur at the time of Daniel, but for us we may recognize it as precise fulfilments of prophecies made at that time.

Chapter 12 shows the “Great tribulation” and destination of God’s people.  It discusses the Climax and End of the battle between the kingdom of God and the empire of the evil one.  This is when the angel-prince Michael throws Satan, on the earth (See Revelation 12 verse 7-12: “The huge dragon was thrown out—that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now God's salvation has come! …………And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left”). This action is the sign for the beginning of “Jacob’s trouble”, (See Jeremiah 30 verse 9: “My people do not be afraid; people of Israel, do not be terrified. I will rescue you from that faraway land, from the land where you are prisoners. You will come back home and live in peace; you will be secure, and no one will make you afraid”). The secret for remaining standing is to search the scriptures and to believe in them. (See verse 12 of this chapter: “Happy are those who remain faithful”). This searching of the scriptures gave to Daniel the power to continue his spiritual battle until the end. (See verse 13 of this chapter: “And you, Daniel, be faithful to the end. Then you will die, but you will rise to receive your reward at the end of time”). 

13.5- Brief overview of Daniel Chapter 10

This chapter shows the despair of Daniel about the future of Israel. It forms an integral part with chapters 11 and 12.

For the Jews, their homeland was there where they could live well and where their needs were satisfied. Their homeland was not, in the first place, there where God called them.  Therefore they remained in Babylon. Daniel's grief because of the small portion of Judah that returned to Jerusalem, and in addition the knowledge that they had to face many setbacks and hostility, brought him to three weeks of fasting and prayer.

God puts angel-princes in action, against the princes of the dominions of evil (from Persia and Greece). These are wicked spirits, who influence the opinions at the court and of the public, against God and his people. 

Also today there is a battle going on between the angel-prince, Michael (Israel's guardian angel), against the powers of the prince of Babylon = the evil powers that put themselves against Jerusalem.   See verse 21 of this chapter: “Now I have to go back and fight the guardian angel of Persia. After that the guardian angel of Greece will appear. There is no one to help me except Michael, Israel's guardian angel”. 

13.4- Brief overview of Daniel Chapter 9

The subject of this chapter is continued confession and persistent intercession, and obtaining insight in God’s will by doing this. Here it concerns the spiritual battle for the salvation and future of Israel, and to understand its future.  There are two weapons in this battle: first the intense listening to God’ Word and Promises. (See verse 2:

”I was studying the sacred books and thinking about the seventy years that Jerusalem would be in ruins, according to what the Lord had told the prophet Jeremiah”).

This knowledge is the material for the second weapon: the prayer.

This is being used by Daniel intensely in humble confession and intercession for all of Israel, close by and far. (See verses 7 and 11: “……….This is true of all of us who live in Judea and in Jerusalem and of all the Israelites whom you scattered in countries near and far because they were unfaithful to you………… All Israel broke your laws and refused to listen to what you said……”.)

God’s answer to this humble intersession is to show His love for the intercessor. (See verse 23: “When you began to plead with God, he answered you. He loves you, and so I have come to tell you the answer. Now pay attention while I explain the vision”.)

Intercessors are friends of God. Examples are Abraham, Moses, David, Job (See Job 42 verse 10: “Then, after Job had prayed for his three friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had had before”.) and Daniel. 

Daniel receives answer to his prayer: ¡There will be salvation and recovery! (See verse 24: “Sin will be forgiven and eternal justice established, so that the vision and the prophecy will come true, and the holy Temple will be rededicated”). 

13.3- Brief overview of Daniel Chapter 8

This chapter gives a view of the end time, (verse 17: “The vision has to do with the end of the world”) looking into the far future, (verse 26: “because it will be a long time before it does come true”).

Although it first speaks about the kingdoms of the Medians and Persians and of Greece, (539-175 BC) we see that the “small horn”, Antiochus Epiphanes, of verse 23, is projected onto the brutal and godless ruler at the end time: the antichrist.  We read that he will install a service of disobedience and blasphemy. See verse 12:

“It even defied the Prince of the heavenly army, stopped the daily sacrifices offered to him, and ruined the Temple. People sinned there instead of offering the proper daily sacrifices, and true religion was thrown to the ground. The horn was successful in everything it did”. However God protects his people, because, as it says in verse 25, “he will be destroyed without the use of any human power”. 

See also 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 8: “Then the Wicked One will be revealed, but when the Lord Jesus comes, he will kill him with the breath from his mouth and destroy him with his dazzling presence”.