Daily Bible Reading: Daniel Chapter 10

Daniel 10: 1-9 HCSB
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. 3 I didn't eat any rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn't put any oil [on my body] until the three weeks were over. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5 I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see it, but a great terror fell on them, and they ran and hid. 8 I was left alone, looking at this great vision. No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale,and I was powerless. 9 I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

     Daniel is counting time based on when each ruler assumes dominion over Babylon. Daruis and Cyrus are co-rulers of the Medo-Persian kingdom with Cyrus being the more dominant one. Darius takes Babylon with his forces while Cyrus is taking other territories with his own army, and then assumes rulership over the whole kingdom along with Cyrus the next year, so the third year of Cyrus would be the fourth year of Darius, which is three years after chapter 9 was written, and two years after the Jewish captives have been released. 
Daniel is no longer a member of the kings court, as stated in Daniel 1:21.
     Daniel has been given another prophecy about the future from God. in each of the previous two visions Gabriel the angel has been on hand for Daniel to discuss it with and to comfort Daniel. This time there has been angel to comfort him, and Daniel is greatly troubled for the people of Israel.. He is fasting and praying, and has stopped bathing (they anointed themselves with perfume and oils for cleaning in that culture, just as we use soap and shampoo). He is with other people on the river bank when the visitor appears. Only Daniel truly sees what is happening, the others simply feel the presence of a terrifying power. This being is clearly not Gabriel, nor does Daniel refer to him as an angel, as he has supernatural messengers in the previous visions. The linen he is wearing represents the priesthood, and the gold authority. Lightning and flame represent power and judgement, as does the bronze and voice of the multitude. this is very similar to how God is portrayed in the visions of Isaiah and Ezekiel, and how Jesus is portrayed in Revelations. I believe that this is a Theophany, this individual is the Pre-incarnate Christ himself.

Daniel 10: 10-21
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me and raised me to my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, "Daniel, you are a man treasured [by God]. Understand the words that I'm saying to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you." After he said this to me, I stood trembling. 12 "Don't be afraid, Daniel," he said to me, "for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision refers to those days." 15 While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. 16 Suddenly one with human likeness touched my lips. I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, "My lord, because of the vision, I am overwhelmed and powerless. 17 How can someone like me, your servant, speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me." 18 Then the one with human likeness touched me again and strengthened me. 19 He said, "Don't be afraid, you who are treasured [by God]. Peace to you; be very strong!" As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me." 20 He said, "Do you know why I've come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come. 21 No one has the courage to support me against them except Michael, your prince. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth.

     The person who wakes Daniel here does not seem to be the same being who appeard on the river bank, Most commentators assume that this is Gabriel, because he is the one who explained the other visions,though Daniel does not say who he is talking to here, though it appears to be someone he is familiar with, and not as terrified of as the one who appeared at the river. There has been some sort of major battle between Gabriel, Michael the Archangel, and the demon who controls Persia which has delayed Gabriel's arrival. This is one of the cases where I wish things the bible sometimes mentions in passing were spoken of in a lot greater detail. 
     In verse 16, apparently the first being is still here, for Daniel speaks of him differently than he does Gabriel, and continues the conversation with both of them. It is unclear whether it is Christ or Gabriel who continues the conversation in verse 20-21, though it is probably Gabriel due to the reference to the battle and revealing the prophecy, which has been Gabriel's job so far. "Courage enough" is one translation of the phrase in Hebrew, though "Strong enough" may be a better one.  The prince of  Persia is appearently very powerful, possibly even Lucifer himself.  From here Gabriel explains the prophecy Daniel has received in chapters 11 and 12.