Daniel 10

Daniel’s Vision of a Messenger

10In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia

, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship.H7969H8141H3566H4428H6539H1697H1540H1840H8034H7121H1095H1697H571H6635H1419H995H1697H998H47582When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks.H3117H1840H56H7969H3117H76203All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.H398H2532H3899H935H1320H3196H6310H5480H5480H7969H3117H7620H43904On April 23

, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River,H702H6242H3117H7223H2320H3027H1419H5104H23135I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist.H5375H5869H7200H259H376H3847H906H4975H2296H3800H2106His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.H1472H8658H6440H4758H1300H5869H3940H784H2220H4772H5869H7044H5178H6963H1697H6963H19957Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide.H1840H7200H4759H582H7200H4759H61H1419H2731H5307H1272H22448So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak.H7604H7200H1419H4759H7604H3581H1935H2015H4889H6113H35819Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.H8085H6963H1697H8085H6963H1697H7290H6440H6440H77610Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees.H3027H5060H5128H1290H3709H302711And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.H559H1840H376H2532H995H1697H1696H5975H5977H7971H1696H1697H5975H746012Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.H559H3372H1840H7223H3117H5414H3820H995H6031H6440H430H1697H8085H935H169713But for twenty-one days the spirit prince

of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.H8269H4438H6539H5975H259H6242H3117H4317H259H7223H8269H935H5826H3498H681H4428H653914Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”H935H995H7136H5971H319H3117H2377H311715While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word.H1696H1697H5414H6440H776H48116Then the one who looked like a man

touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak.H1823H1121H120H5060H8193H6605H6310H1696H559H5975H113H4759H6735H2015H6113H358117How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”H1963H3201H5650H113H1696H113H6258H5975H3581H5397H760418Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning.H3254H5060H4758H120H238819“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”H559H376H2532H3372H7965H2388H2388H1696H2388H559H113H1696H238820He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece

will come.H559H3045H935H7725H3898H8269H6539H3318H8269H3120H93521Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince

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