Facing the future with confidence- Daniel 10 Turn to Daniel 10. We’re in this challenging and often baffling second half of this book, and I think it’s important that we don’t forget the setting and relevance of the entire book. This is the extraordinary story of Daniel and his three friends. They’re believers in the one true God but living in exile in Babylon. I.e. they’re living in a pluralistic society hostile to their faith. Sound familiar? The challenge for us is that in that setting they didn’t just maintain their private devotion to God; rather their witness was public and high-profile despite the opposition and consequences. Q: What gave them the strength and conviction to swim against the flow? We need to know because we’re going to need the same strength and conviction. Chapter 10 helps us. Intro: We’ve all seen warnings like this as we’ve watched news reports from war zones like Aleppo – “Warning. Contains scenes that some viewers may find disturbing.” Just for a brief moment the BBC presses the pause button before playing the report. Why? To give us time to prepare ourselves for all that follows, so that we’re not taken off guard when we see the shocking events actually unfold. Link: There is something of that going on in Chapter 10. V1: Dan had another vision but we have to wait until ch11-12 for contents of that vision. What we do know at this point is this: - this vision is a vision of the future. - this vision is true. v1 says we need to tune in. God revealing the future! - Also know = disturbing vision.. v1 great war! - We’re also told WHEN vision given: third year of Cyrus of Persia – historians can date that to c.537 BC That’s significant – it’s been two years since God’s people had been given permission, by Cyrus, to leave Babylon and go home to Jerusalem to rebuild the city temple. (2 Chron 36 tells us permission was given in Cyrus’ 1st year). Zerubabel and small group had already set off. But majority stayed.. including Daniel - not told why, probabaly age – mid 80s by now, journey would have been too much. So, the enforced exile is over now, but this disturbing vision is going to reveal that this is not the end of the conflict for the people of God. Yes, God’s people will prevail ultimately, but in the meantime there will be a time of unparalleled suffering; a terrible time of war. That’s the content of Daniel’s vision. It’s so disturbing that before God presses play button Daniel has to be prepared. And that preparation takes all of chapter 10. There are certain key truths Daniel needs to grasp before he can face the future with any degree of confidence… and the same is true for us.

1. (Most importantly) God is present and glorious V2-3: state he was in before he received the vision. Struggling with grief and depression. Not told why, but it’s probably due to reports filtering back from Jerusalem – the exiles who had returned to rebuild the temple and the walls were experiencing on-going unrelenting opposition. Put yourself in their shoes… What a massive anticlimax – waited 70 years for God’s promise of deliverance to be fulfilled… finally, you’ve got back to Jerusalem… and it’s still so difficult! Daniel must have wondered.. Where is God? What is he doing?

Why doesn’t he intervene and crush opposition and gloriously introduce that new Jerusalem he promised us? The vision of chapter 11-12 makes it clear that God’s new Jerusalem will be firmly and finally established... but in meantime we have to go on living to some degree in exile in the Babylon of this world with all of its disappointment and suffering and injustice. And we’re bound to ask “Where is God and what is he doing?” As Daniel is wrestling with those thoughts a man appears above the river Tigris in v5. He would be immediately thinking, “I’ve never met a man like that!” Everything about him speaks of power, authority, majesty and glory. It’s a scene of dazzling brightness – gold, lightning, torches and a deafening sound – his voice thunders! V7 - only Daniel sees this man – but his companions sense such an awesome presence that they begin to tremble and run for a place to hide! And Daniel is left alone. What he’s seen has a profound impact on him: no strength left; face turns pale; slumps to the ground exhausted. Then a hand touches him, raises him to knees, tells him to stand and all the time Daniel is trembling. So WHO is this remarkable man? Some suggest it’s an angel – perhaps Gabriel again. He appeared in chapter 9. But surely more radiant than Gabriel; surely more powerful than the archangel Michael. Helpful to see that there are clear parallels between this vision and the vision Ezekiel has in the first 2 chapters of his prophecy… and Ezekiel vision was a vision of God! Elsewhere lightening is associated with presence of God. And so it does seem that Daniel is in the presence of GOD himself. This is one of the few occasions when God appears in person in the Old Testament. We can go further… there’s a striking similarity between Daniel’s vision and John’s vision in Revelation 1, and that was a vision of the Lord Jesus! (Eyes like blazing fire; feet like burnished bronze; voice like rushing waters; face shining in all its brilliance like the sun!) SO it seems Daniel saw the second person of the trinity – Christ – before he came in the person of Jesus. And not surprisingly, this senior civil servant, who had previously been Prime Minister falls flat on his face. John did the same after his vision in Revelation. If you are British and were brought up properly and the Queen came in, hope you would stand. But if Jesus Christ stood among us this morning we would fall!! People sometimes say “can’t wait to meet God, got few things to say to him” They wouldn’t! They’d be on their faces on the floor before the living God. At one level this must have been terrifying for Daniel. But also comforting. He’s thinking.. “Where is God?” And now he knows - he is presant and he is glorious. That’s what Daniel needed! Apply: And perhaps that’s the comfort you need this morning. Going through a difficult time and facing an uncertain future. Can’t make sense of it. You’ve got big questions about what God is up to. Bible doesn’t give us slick answers – and actually that’s not what we need when we’re suffering. But the Bible does assure us again and again that God is glorious and He is with us.

That was Job’s experience - suffered so much, never got answers wanted. What he did get was an awesome vision of God’s power and presence, and that was enough for him to go on trusting. We can only face the future with all of its trouble and pain if we have a deep conviction that there is a God, who is powerful, in control and loves us very much indeed! That kind of God is worth trusting and living for. That’s the first truth.

2. Spiritual warfare is real and ferocious Next thing Dan knew was that a hand was raising him to his knees and a voice was speaking to him… v12 “Fear not” – that’s the most common command in Bible. Surprising... If we see HIM as he is we should be afraid. If we see our SIN as it is we should be afraid. BUT he says Daniel doesn’t need to be afraid. WHY? Because v10 says that he is greatly loved. Beautiful. By far the most wonderful thing any human can hear is that they are loved by God. Daniel was told this many years ago. But each of us can know it today. It’s the heart of the Christian message – We ought to be afraid of God because we are more flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, and yet at the very same time we are more loved than we ever dared hope. SO much so that God gave his only Son to die in our place so we wouldn’t need to be afraid. Next thing Dan hears v12b - he has come in response to his prayers. Would have come sooner but (v13) Prince of Persia resisted him for twenty one days. It’s a baffling verse - who could have possibly hindered the glorious being in v5-6? Seems clear that this Prince of Persia is evil, spiritual being, engaged in battle in heavenly realms against God and his people. And the pre-incarnate Christ is fighting against him, assisted by archangel Michael – the leader in God’s heavenly army. Another reference to this cosmic battle in v20. Again seems clear these are spiritual beings not earthly powers. And this is really helpful. Again and again in Daniel we have seen the people of God struggling with the political authority around them. Now we’re seeing that this earthly struggle is a reflection of the conflict going on in the spiritual realms. You see the ultimate power struggle does not lie between Washington and Moscow… its

central point is not to be found in the Middle East. No, it’s the on-going conflict between Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. And the Bible is unembarrassed about there being a spiritual realm – material things are not all there is! There is a conflict between God and Satan, angels and demons. That might sound farfetched in our secular age, but if we’re honest the depth of wickedness we saw in the last chapter, and the horrors we still see on current news reports demand a supernatural explanation – can’t explain it any other way. There is a spiritual war going on! It seems that one of the supernatural powers opposed to God is assigned to Persia. Let’s not miss the big point Evil powers influence and control the governments of this world in order to inflict harm on the people of God. Now we don’t normally think this way, but we need to. How should we respond? Two dangers when thinking about satanic powers:

a) An unhealthy interest. Seeing demons under every bed, behind every bush, exaggerating their power and becoming too fearful. Bible is clear that God is sovereign and Satan is a defeated foe because of the cross, and one day he will be completely crushed. In meantime he is like a rabid dog on a leash – he’s only given the power God allows him. b) Complacency. Ignore Bible’s teaching on the devil and hardly thinking about these things at all - forget we are in a war. Bible insists he is a real and vicious enemy and on our own we are utterly helpless in the battle. So here’s a passage designed to wake us up, to shake us out of any complacency and carelessness. Our struggle is NOT against flesh and blood. Let’s bear that in mind this week. Perhaps we’re aware of the need to make progress with holiness. What do we need to do? Avoid certain situations – yes. Get someone to keep you accountable – yes; BUT never forget there is a war on. Only God can help us. OR maybe you have a friend you long to see trust in Jesus. Invite them along, speak to them, get them reading the Bible… BUT never forget there is a war on. The god of this age has blinded their eyes so they cannot see. Relationship you’re struggling with; marriage or parenting – talk to other Christians, read helpful Christian literature, but don’t forget there’s a spiritual battle going on. Don’t forget who the real enemy is! Spiritual warfare is real and ferocious and occasionally in the Bible, like here, the curtains are drawn back so we can see what’s really going on! Recap: - God is present and glorious - Spiritual warfare is real and ferocious

3. Prayer is essential and effective We are still waiting for that play button. But before we face the future with all its ups and downs we need to be very clear on the role of prayer. Let’s not forget that this vision comes after period of three weeks of mourning over the state of God’s people – fasting, only eating basic food – no meat, no wine. Although v2-3 don’t explicitly say Daniel was praying, v12 makes it clear he was – his words have been heard. Daniel was a prayerful man – seen that already in chapter 9 and chapter 6! Willing to be thrown to the lions instead of stopping praying! So here is a man who cared passionately about God and his people. As a previous Prime Minister I’m sure he could have enjoyed comfortable retirement in Babylon, put feet up, but can’t relax while Gods name is dishonoured because of the state of people and Jerusalem. He’s passionate about God’s people and glory and so with great urgency and intensity he prays for three weeks solid… and THEN receives this glorious vision… Raises some uncomfortable Qs for me: - When did I last fast and mourn, shed tears for sake of God and his reputation? - When was I last truly affected by plight of other believers suffering… or lost millions without Jesus. How did Suresh’s report last Sunday from the villages of India affect you? One billion unreached people! Will we pray? Daniel feels these things deeply and that passion is turned into prayer to the living God.

And wonderfully his prayers were heard… v12 “Come in response to them!” Do you ever wonder.. “Why do I bother to pray?” Can’t see who I’m praying to… for days I haven’t received an answer! Very natural questions to ask, and here we have the assurance that God hears and answers prayer. And if we look carefully there is a big clue that Daniel’s prayers were effective. Notice how long the visitor was delayed in coming to Daniel in v13 - 21 days! How long was Daniel mourning and praying? V2.. 21 days! So, without knowing it, Daniel was involved in this spiritual battle as he prayed. It is implied that Daniel’s praying sustained a behind-the-scenes triumph over the powers of evil in charge of Persia. God moves his man to pray for his people… then in response God begins to bring help to his people. Daniel prayed and angels went to war! His intercession was influencing the events of history. Mary Queen of Scots is reported to have said that she feared the prayers of John Knox more than she fared an invading army. Does this mean we need to fully understand how evil spirits operate? No! Do we need to pray special prayers to combat them? No! I imagine Daniel was praying prayers like the one in chapter 9… for mercy… for God’s name to be honoured in his world. And it’s as we pray like that that we engage in some way in that ferocious battle going on behind the scenes. And if we have any sense of the power of that battle we must pray and pray and pray… - for our friends to come to faith – going to take prayer - for our marriages to be protected – going to take prayer - for unity to be preserved in this chapter – going to take prayer - for progress in personal holiness.. and every other area of struggle! It’s very significant that at the end of the passage in Ephesians 6 where Paul outlines the armour God for the battle he says “And pray in the spirit on all occasions.” Prayer is far more essential than we realise and far more powerful! Now Daniel is ready for God to press play button and for a vision of the future to be revealed. And God willing, in two weeks’ time we’ll look at that vision of a glorious future but also very troubling times leading up to the end. But for now as we face another week w all its uncertainty and pain and disappointment let’s be very clear about these truths.. 1. God is present and glorious 2. Spiritual warfare is real and ferocious 3. Prayer is essential + effective Then we can face the future with confidence.