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.