Daniel 10:5-6

 Vision of Jesus

The vision - Description: Daniel 10:5-6

Have you ever seen God?

This is the greatest prayer I've ever heard or read. I want you to read it:

Jesus prays for Himself:

"Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began"

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified"

Jesus Prays for The Church:

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them"

This extraordinary prayer can be read in the Gospel According to John, chapter 17. Our Lord Jesus Christ is about to be crucified, and his disciples are going to continue on their own. Observe these points:

⦁ Jesus prays for himself, to be glorified, because the eternal life of those he preached to depended on it. We know God in knowing Jesus, and we see God in seeing Jesus.

⦁ Jesus prays for his disciples 

- that God protect them by the power of His name, so that they may be one as Jesus and the Father are one. Division comes from Satan.

- that God protect them from the evil one. Only spiritual divine power defeats spiritual evil power.

- that God sanctifies them in His word, the truth. The evil one is called "father of lies".

⦁ Jesus prays for the church

- that we may be one as Jesus and the Father are one. 

- that the Father concede us to be with Jesus forever. This is the promise we know as being spared the second death, the great tribulation and the last judgment, by being snatched up in the rapture.

The only way to be sanctified in God's truth, to be protected from the evil one, and to live in unity as Jesus and the Father do, is by the Spirit of God. 

We are living in dark times. Rebellion against God has reached extremes comparable only with the times of Noah, when God destroyed the earth because of the wickedness of men. God has given us His word to sanctify us, God has sent us His Son to save us, but so many are going astray in this world! In Genesis 1:27 we read that God created mankind in his own image, and that "male and female he created them". Satan has invented "new genders" and is trying to force this "knowledge" in our children in schools. After God destroyed all of mankind with the exception of Noah and family, He promised to never destroy the earth again, and that "as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease". Satan has brought sickness on our children with the false idea that the world is in danger because of rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. God promised to Abraham's descendance in Isaac - the people of Israel - the land of Canaan, from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean Sea. Satan is doing all things possible to take that land away from the Jewish people, reversing God's order. 

How does Satan do all these things?

There is a word which explain it: division. As much as Jesus prays that we may be one, as He and the Father are one, Satan is doing everything possible in order to destroy God´s order and to make every human the enemy of the other one. Since the atheist Karl Marx called religion "the opium of the people" and created the great division between "proletariat" and "bourgeoisie", meaning working class and capitalists, generations of enemies of God have been dividing people because of their gender, their race, and most recently, their homosexuality or lack thereof. All of the divisions imply the same scheme of the first one, "oppressors and oppressed", and the incitement of hatred against the "oppressors" is extreme. 

Since many politicians and even whole political parties have embraced such satanical ideas, and most of the media or educational system are their loudspeakers, some persons who call themselves Christian have renounced their belief and follow this divisive ideology, trying to justify it with the Bible. Because Jesus is no race baiter, sexist or Communist, and because the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation calls homosexuality a sin, there is no way to be a Christian and support those divisive ideas. In order to become a Christian you have to know Jesus, receive Him as your Lord and Savior and become his disciple.

The vision of the prophet Daniel in chapter ten is illustrative about many of Jesus' attributes and shows us both the divinity of Jesus and His eternal love for Israel. This is Daniel 10:5-6 in the NIV:

"I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude"

The Hebrew Text is this:

ואשא את־עיני וארא והנה איש־אחד לבוש בדים ומתניו חגרים בכתם אופז׃ וגויתו כתרשיש ופניו כמראה ברק ועיניו כלפידי אש וזרעתיו ומרגלתיו כעין נחשת קלל וקול דבריו כקול המון׃

And it sounds like this:

Vaesá et enáy vaére, vehiné ish-exád lavúsh badím umatenáv xagurím bexétem Ufáz. Ugviyató xetarshísh, ufanáv kemaré varák, veenáv kelapidé esh, uzerotáv umargelotáv keéyn nexóshet kalál, vekól devaráv kekól hamón.

There is a great deal of symbolism here, and we need to interpret the colorful and vivid images Daniel saw in order to know the true meaning. When we say we are living in "dark times" we don't usually mean that it is midnight, but that in the times we are living in, people are morally corrupt because of satanical activity and because they have abandoned God. 

Since it is the same vision John saw in Revelation chapter one we can put both texts together in order to enhance and complete the interpretation: 

"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance"

Revelation 1:12-16

The Greek text is this:

και επεστρεψα βλεπειν την φωνην ητις ελαλησεν μετ εμου και επιστρεψας ειδον επτα λυχνιας χρυσας. και εν μεσω των επτα λυχνιων ομοιον υιω ανθρωπου ενδεδυμενον ποδηρη και περιεζωσμενον προς τοις μαστοις ζωνην χρυσην. η δε κεφαλη αυτου και αι τριχες λευκαι ωσει εριον λευκον ως χιων και οι οφθαλμοι αυτου ως φλοξ πυρος. και οι ποδες αυτου ομοιοι χαλκολιβανω ως εν καμινω πεπυρωμενοι και η φωνη αυτου ως φωνη υδατων πολλων. και εχων εν τη δεξια αυτου χειρι αστερας επτα και εκ του στοματος αυτου ρομφαια διστομος οξεια εκπορευομενη και η οψις αυτου ως ο ηλιος φαινει εν τη δυναμει αυτου.

And it sounds like this: 

(NOTE: "x" is used for Greek χ, with the same sound as in Hebrew ח, then the Greek "x" - ξ - is given with "ks")

Kay epéstrepsa blépin ten fonén étis elály met emú, kay epistrépsas ídon eptá luxnías xrusás, kay en méso ton luxnión, ómoyon uyón antrópu, endeduménon podére, kay periezosménon pros tois mastóis zónen xrusén. E de kefalé avtú kay ay tríxes liukáy os érion, liukón os xión, kay oy oftalmóy avtú os floks purós, kay oy pódes avtú ómoioy xalkolibáno, os en kamíno pepuroménoy. Kay e foné avtú foné udáton polón, kay éxon en te deksiá xirí avtú astéras eptá, kay ep to stómatos avtú romfáya dístomos oksía ekporiuméne, kay e ópsis avtú os o élios fáiny en te dunámy avtú. 

The Hebrew תרשיש (tarshísh) that NIV calls "topaz" in Daniel's passage has been translated in most versions as "beryl". The words "קול דבריו" (kol devaráv) mean "the sound of his words" and have been correctly translated as "his voice". "υδατων πολλων" (udáton polón) literally means "many waters" and is also properly translated as "rushing waters" (the "many waters" make no sound when they are calm) Apart from it, the translation in the New International Version for both passages is a literal one. 

If we take a look to the similarities, we can notice these ones:

1. Both prophets saw "a man" (or a "son of man") In the book of Revelation he presents himself as "Alpha and Omega" (Rev 1:8) and "First and Last" (Rev 1:17) and both titles are one and the same, meaning Jesus Christ the Son of God. In Daniel 10 he doesn't say who he is, but Daniel calls him "my Lord" in verses 16, 17 and 19, when calling himself his "servant". 

2. The man was "dressed in line" (or "in a robe reaching down to his feet") and he had a golden belt. These are priestly clothes (see Exodus 28:4) and the fact that the sash is golden means divinity ("gold" in Job 37:22 equals "God", being often translated "golden splendor")

3. His arms and legs (or "his feet" in Revelation's vision) were like bronze. Job 6:12; Isaiah 45:2; 48:4 and Jeremiah 1:18; 15:20 use this metal as a symbol for immutability, strength and sturdiness - in the same way we use "steel" or "iron" nowadays in "iron will" or "nerves of steel". 

4. His face was brilliant. This represents God's holiness. We see the same thing in Exodus 34:30-35 and Matthew 17:2, where the faces of Moses and Jesus become radiant. 

5. His eyes were like fire, or "torches of fire". In the vision of Zechariah chapter 4, the prophet saw seven lamps in a menorah, and when he asked the meaning of that, the angel told him they were "the eyes of the Lord, which range throughout the earth". In 2 Chronicles 16:9 this expression becomes "the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him", meaning that these "eyes" can see spiritual things, and in Revelation 5:6 we are told that the Lamb (Our Lord Jesus Christ) had seven eyes, "which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth". Of course God hasn't "seven spirits", but the Holy Spirit. Seven is a number that means fullness, in this case, the fullness of the Spirit of God was in the Lamb. The "seven eyes", "seven spirits", "eyes of the Lord", "seven lights" of the menorah and "eyes of fire" are all expressions of the Spirit of God, which in both visions (Daniel's and John's) mean that the Son of Man is filled with the Holy Spirit and that He has all of the spiritual discernment and omniscience. 

6. His voice was powerful. In Ezekiel 1:24 we read that the sound of the wings of the cherubim was "like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty". Psalm 29 links the voice of God to His authority over the whole creation. 

7. Both prophets fell to the ground in weakness at the sight of the man. There are many cases of people in the Bible who were afraid, even terrified because of visions of God or even visions of angels. From Adam and Eve trying to hide from God after they ate the forbidden fruit, when we continue reading we find Jacob afraid because of his dream of angels going up and down a ladder, and the people in mount Sinai beseeched Moses to be their mediator because they were terrified by God's signs - not even God sight, but only signs of His Presence. Other examples can be found in Samson's parents, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Peter, James and John at the transfiguration of the Lord, John in the book of Revelation... All of these persons who lived a God fearing, holy life, were struck with fear in the presence of the divine holiness. 

The features which appear only in one of the passages:

1. The body as topaz (only in Daniel) The Hebrew תרשיש (tarshísh) has been translated in most versions as "beryl", as the first precious stone in the fourth row of the ephod. Beryl is a variety of emerald, which we find in the rainbow that surrounds God's throne in Revelation 4:3 and which means "mercy" or "grace", as the ruby represents "judgment". And beryl is also one of the foundations of the New Jerusalem. 

2. The white hair, seven stars in the right hand and a sword coming from his mouth (only in Revelation) White hair represents the eternity and wisdom of God (it is the hair of the "Ancient of Days" in Daniel 7:9) and the seven stars represent the preachers of the churches ("angels" or "messengers") as Revelation 1:20 reveals. The sword coming from his mouth is the word of God (Hebrews 4:12)

In the previous message we talked about this vision and we called it a "theophany" (from Greek θεοφανια, "teofanía") A theophany is a visible manifestation of God. The concept of theophany is as universal as the concepts of God or "gods" are, but for obvious reasons we are speaking of the theophanies of the God of Israel only. There is only One God. 

In the Old Testament we find many references to "angels" or "angels of God" (Hebrew מלאך and מלאכי אלהים, it is pronounced "maláx" and "malaxé Elohim") and similar but not equal ones to "the angel of God" or "the angel of the Lord" (Hebrew "מלאך האלהים" or "מלאך יהוה", "maláx Ha-Elohim" and "maláx Yahweh") This special angel, capitalized in some biblical versions, in singular form and with definite article (Hebrew "ha"), is not interpreted as a created being, an angel, but a manifestation of God or theophany. In the NOTE at the end you'll find several clues about why it is so, and about why we Christians identify him as Our Lord Jesus Christ. Several verses that show this Angel speaking as God - and doing what God says He will do - are the following ones:

⦁ in the conversation with Hagar (Gn 16) 

⦁ detaining Abraham from sacrificing his son (Gn 22) 

⦁ dealing with Jacob (Gn 31) 

⦁ calling Moses from the burning bush (Ex 3)

⦁ leading Israel to the promised land (Ex 14, 23, 32, 33)

He is much more than a "messenger" or "servant of God"; we see him through the Bible as a judge, protector, guide, Lord and Redeemer of Israel. 

Why is this angel "The Angel", why is he God manifested?

In Exodus 33:20 God said to Moses, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live". However, in Exodus 23:20-21 God promises that His Angel will lead Israel and that he was to be obeyed because God's Name is in him, therefore he would not pardon rebellion (it is God who pardons or punishes sins) This is the Angel that Isaiah called "the angel of his face" in this marvelous verse where he is speaking about God's care for Israel:

Isaiah 63:9 : "In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old"

Observe these different translations for the first part of the verse: 

"...in all their distress.

It was no messenger or angel

    but his presence that saved them..."

(New Revised Standard Version)

"In all their distress he wasn’t distressed,

    but the angel of his presence saved them..."

(International Standard Version)

"In all their distress He is no adversary..." 

(Young's Literal Translation)

Why are there different translations, which seem to be even contradictory?

The phrase which introduces the verse is this in Hebrew:

"בכל צרתם לא (לו) צר..." which is pronounced "bexól tsaratám lo (lo) tsar", meaning "In all their affliction there was no afliction [to God]" or "In all their affliction He was afflicted also". This is so because the "lo" between parentheses means "to him" and the other one, "not" or "no". The translation "to him" is kind of errata that we can find often in the Masoretic Text when the scribes thought that there was an error of copying; then they marked the word - as we do today with an asterisk - and wrote the corrected word in the margin. "Tsar" can be translated as "affliction, trouble, distress" or as "enemy, adversary". They thought that "in all their distress there is no distress" made no sense, and corrected it with "[there was] distress to him [also]". The better translation of YLT, "In all their distress He is no adversary", keeps the original writing and makes perfect sense, meaning that God didn't show Himself as an adversary in the midst of Israel's trouble, but as a guide, provider and protector, just as the whole context of the verse (Isaiah 63:7-19) is narrating. "מלאך פניו" (maláx panáv) can be translated as "the Angel of His Presence" or "the Angel of His face". In both translations, this Angel is God Himself leading Israel. 

Who could be this God in human gestalt? John 1:18 says: "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known". Both the Angel of His face and the Son of God show God in human form. 

Jesus was calling Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Jesus called Moses, Jesus lead Israel through the desert, Jesus called Joshua, Jesus prophesied Samson's birth, Jesus justified Joshua the High Priest during the reconstruction of Jerusalem's temple... and Jesus came to give the most extensive prophecy about Israel's destiny to the prophet Daniel. The Angel of the Lord and the Son of God are one and the same!

If you have not yet received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, today is the day! Don't risk your soul, but give your life to the God who made you and who has been blessing you always! 

In the love of Christ, your brother

Israel Leonard

PS. Jesus is coming soon!

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NOTES:

Angel of the Lord:

1.  Receives worship: Judges 13:20

2. The name of God is in him: Exodus 23:21; Judges 13:18 & Isaiah 9:6

3. Is identified as God himself (angel = Lord) : Genesis 32:24-30; Exodus 3:2-6; Judges 6:22-23; Judges 13:22; Ecclesiastes 5:6; Daniel 3:28; 6:22; Zechariah 3; Malachi 3:1

4. He shows divine properties: omnipresence (Psalms 34:7) power to pardon sins (Exodus 23:21) power to justify (Zechariah 3:4)

Jesus Christ:

1. Receives worship: John 20:28

2. The name of God is in Him: Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23.25) Jesus ("Jah es salvation", Matthew 1:21) The Lord (Revelation 22:21)

3. Is identified as God himself (Jesus = Lord) : John 1:1-3, 14,18; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Titus 2:13; 1 John 5:20

4. He shows divine properties: Deity (Matthew 26:63-64 see Isaiah 9:6) power to pardon sins (Mark 2:5-10) power to give life back (John 6:39-40; 11:25) baptizes with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8; Acts 2:33) Creator of the Universe (the "lógos" in John 1:1-3)