What is the meaning of the vision Daniel saw beside the Hiddekel River?
(Daniel 10:1-21; Lev. 16:29-31; Revelation 1:13–16) Blog Mar. 01-07, 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: In the first chapter of Daniel we learned three basic principles necessary to a proper understanding of this apocalyptic book. They were the principles of explanation, interpretation, and operation. Then as we began the primary level education in chapters 2-6 we learned through simple math and pointed stories the order of events to take place from Daniel’s day until the restoration of God’s kingdom on earth and that this restoration would take place only through crisis and divine intervention. Our secondary level education (chapter 7) taught us that a blasphemous “little horn” power would follow the four world empires and their division into “ten” and would dominate humanity for 1260 years before restoration would take place. At college-level (chapters 8-9) the second and third world empires were identified and besides being given more details about the “little horn” we were give a longer time prophecy that was to occur before restoration and it included date markers as determined by the cross of Christ. Now at university-level (1-12), chapter ten revealed the nature of the “big bang” restoration, which is Jesus as high priest interceding for his people on judgment day.
Prelude to Understanding (Daniel 10:1-4; Lev. 16:29-31)
1. What two things were revealed to Daniel in the third year of the reign of Cyrus? A “thing” & a vision.
2. What was the “thing”? The true, long-lasting conflict over God’s people given in chapters 11 & 12.
3. What was the vision? The appearance of “a certain man” as given in verses 5 & 6.
4. Did Daniel understand both the “thing” and the vision? Yes, now at university level teaching Daniel understands God’s plan for restoration of his kingdom, king, sanctuary & people.
5. What was Daniel doing during the first month of the third year of the reign of King Cyrus? He was fasting & afflicting his soul.
6. Why wasn’t Daniel joyfully celebrating Passover and the feast of unleavened bread during the first month? Because there were still things he didn’t understand about the liberation of God’s people & the threat of earthly rulers hindering God’s plan so he took the posture of preparation for the Day of Atonement.
The Great Vision (Daniel 10:5-9; Isa. 6:1-7; Lk. 8:9; Rev. 1:13-16; 6:15-16)
7. What brought the “great vision” to Daniel? He lifted up his eye of faith to God while humbling himself.
8. What was the great vision that Daniel saw beside the Hiddekel River? He saw a “certain man” clothed in linen with a golden sash around his waist, a body like beryl, a face like lightning, eyes like lamps of fire, & arms & feet the color of polished brass.
9. What is the meaning of the vision Daniel saw beside the Hiddekel River? The “certain man” is Jesus as High Priest clothed for the Day of Atonement; with a golden sash representing his perfect character; beryl, like the wheels of God’s throne, showing that he can move into any life; a face like lightning that reveals everything as far as the East is from the West; eyes like lamps of fire that illuminate every hidden thought, word, & motive of our lives; arms & feet the color of polished brass showing that he lived as a degenerate human in the outer court of this earth (also recorded in the first chapter of Revelation).
10. How did Daniel’s companions react to the coming of Christ in judgment? They greatly feared, fled, & hid themselves.
11. Under the sixth seal in Revelation what brings a reaction like that of Daniel’s companions? The coming of God’s great, shaking, final judgment.
12. How did Daniel react to the vision of Christ coming in judgment? He fainted, realized the corruption of his nature, & lost all strength.
13. Name two other Bible characters that had similar reactions when beholding the divine Jesus: Isaiah in the temple & Peter with the great catch of fish.
Face to Face with Michael (Dan. 10:10-21; Isa. 14:12; Rev. 12:7)
14. What hindered the mighty angel Gabriel from coming immediately to Daniel’s aide? The opposition of the “prince of the kingdom of Persia.
15. To who only must “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” refer? To Lucifer, for he is the highest created angel, he opposes the Angel of the Lord” in judgment according to Zechariah 3:1; & he is mightier than Gabriel.
16. To who only must “Michael” refer? To Jesus, for he is the Archangel that defeated Satan & his angels in heaven, he is the Angel of the Lord” in judgment according to Zechariah 3:1; he is one of “the three “chief princes” (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit), he is Daniel’s “Prince,” & he is mightier than Lucifer.
17. How is Daniel’s great vision related to the rest of the book? Daniel’s great vision is a picture of the “big bang” in each prophetic outline (& in each story) for Jesus is the stone that strikes the image, the Son of Man that is crowned king, the High Priest that cleanses the sanctuary, & Michael that delivers his people (as well as the fourth person in the fiery furnace, the king that was dethroned, the hand that wrote Belshazzar’s sentence on the wall, & the one that was sentenced to death & rose from the pit).
18. What is Daniel’s great vision a picture of for us? It is a picture of how we are to enter the judgment in God’s heavenly throne room by faith trusting only in the merits & intercession of our High Priest