10In the third year that Cyrus was emperor of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar. The message was true but extremely hard to understand. It was explained to him in a vision.H7969H8141H3566H4428H6539H1697H1540H1840H8034H7121H1095H1697H571H6635H1419H995H1697H998H47582At that time I was mourning for three weeks.H3117H1840H56H7969H3117H76203I did not eat any rich food or any meat, drink any wine, or comb my hair until the three weeks were past.H398H2532H3899H935H1320H3196H6310H5480H5480H7969H3117H7620H43904On the twenty-fourth day of the first month of the year I was standing on the bank of the mighty Tigris River.H702H6242H3117H7223H2320H3027H1419H5104H23135I looked up and saw someone who was wearing linen clothes and a belt of fine gold.H5375H5869H7200H259H376H3847H906H4975H2296H3800H2106His body shone like a jewel. His face was as bright as a flash of lightning, and his eyes blazed like fire. His arms and legs shone like polished bronze, and his voice sounded like the roar of a great crowd.H1472H8658H6440H4758H1300H5869H3940H784H2220H4772H5869H7044H5178H6963H1697H6963H19957I was the only one who saw the vision. Those who were with me did not see anything, but they were terrified and ran and hid.H1840H7200H4759H582H7200H4759H61H1419H2731H5307H1272H22448I was left there alone, watching this amazing vision. I had no strength left, and my face was so changed that no one could have recognized me.H7604H7200H1419H4759H7604H3581H1935H2015H4889H6113H35819When I heard his voice, I fell to the ground unconscious and lay there face downward.H8085H6963H1697H8085H6963H1697H7290H6440H6440H77610Then a hand took hold of me and raised me to my hands and knees; I was still trembling.H3027H5060H5128H1290H3709H302711The angel said to me, "Daniel, God loves you. Stand up and listen carefully to what I am going to say. I have been sent to you." When he had said this, I stood up, still trembling.H559H1840H376H2532H995H1697H1696H5975H5977H7971H1696H1697H5975H746012Then he said, "Daniel, don't be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer.H559H3372H1840H7223H3117H5414H3820H995H6031H6440H430H1697H8085H935H169713The angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me, because I had been left there alone in Persia.H8269H4438H6539H5975H259H6242H3117H4317H259H7223H8269H935H5826H3498H681H4428H653914I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the future. This is a vision about the future."H935H995H7136H5971H319H3117H2377H311715When he said this, I stared at the ground, speechless.H1696H1697H5414H6440H776H48116Then the angel, who looked like a human being, reached out and touched my lips. I said to him, "Sir, this vision makes me so weak that I can't stop trembling.H1823H1121H120H5060H8193H6605H6310H1696H559H5975H113H4759H6735H2015H6113H358117I am like a slave standing before his master. How can I talk to you? I have no strength or breath left in me."H1963H3201H5650H113H1696H113H6258H5975H3581H5397H760418Once more he took hold of me, and I felt stronger.H3254H5060H4758H120H238819He said, "God loves you, so don't let anything worry you or frighten you." When he had said this, I felt even stronger and said, "Sir, tell me what you have to say. You have made me feel better."H559H376H2532H3372H7965H2388H2388H1696H2388H559H113H1696H238820He said, "Do you know why I came to you? It is to reveal to you what is written in the Book of Truth. Now I have to go back and fight the guardian angel of Persia. After that the guardian angel of Greece will appear.H559H3045H935H7725H3898H8269H6539H3318H8269H3120H93521There is no one to help me except Michael, Israel's guardian angel.H61H5046H7559H3791H571H259H2388H4317H8269