The Christ in Prophecy Journal

The Mighty Angels of Daniel 10: The Eyes of the Blind

MP3: The Mighty Angels of Daniel 10
Hosts: Nathan Jones & Vic Batista

The Blind in Flight

Nathan Jones: The angel’s appearance was so incredible that viewing him just sucked the life out of Daniel. He was so awed that he almost passed out.

Vic Batista: If something like that appeared to me, I’m sure I would pass out, too.

Nathan Jones: Remember how when the captain of the Lord’s army approached Joshua that he reacted by falling down like a dead man? Daniel previously had seen other visions of other angels and those had also caused him to become so sick that he couldn’t get up. Today, we’ve seen it all in the movies and think that we’d react more calmly should an angel appear to us, but when these guys come a’knocking, these mighty angels will absolutely scare the heck out of us.

Fortunately, as we read on in Daniel’s account, some energy is coming his way. Daniel 10:7-9 continues the story.

“And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.”

Vic Batista: I remember from my youth back during the years I lived in the Bronx in New York City. My friends would always say, “Man, I’ve got your back.” Likewise, “Don’t worry,” Daniel’s friends say, “Whatever happens, we’ve got your back.” But then the angel terrifies the men who were with Daniel so that they flee away, and the prophet’s left shouting, “Hey, where did my friends go? They don’t really have my back.”

Nathan Jones: Daniel’s men are out of there! This story is very reminiscent of Saul of Tarsus’ conversion on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. Saul and his men were traveling along the road, only to have Jesus Christ Himself show up. Jesus radiates so blindingly that Paul falls off his horse. Interestingly enough, the other men with Saul couldn’t see Jesus. They only felt this unaccountable terror and fled.

How interesting that in Daniel 10 we’re told almost the exact same story. Now, Daniel’s not seeing Jesus, rather he’s seeing an angel, but again, it is only Daniel who sees him. Daniel falls almost into a coma, stricken just as Saul was stricken.

I’ve got to wonder, why is it only Daniel and Saul could see the apparition while others could not? Just how exactly did God accomplish that? To me, that just boggles my mind!

Vic Batista: When I read narratives such as this in the Bible, there are times I have to just conclude that I don’t understand. And yet, the Bible is clear that is how the story occurred. For whatever reason, the angel wanted Daniel to be left all by himself so that he had the opportunity to show Daniel something amazing. This message was for Daniel’s ears only.

Nathan Jones: I wonder about the science behind only Daniel seeing what others could only feel. Even though these men didn’t see anything, still they were terrified and ran away. Like you said, they certainly didn’t have Daniel’s back. The same with Saul, the other men around him were confused. They couldn’t see what was terrifying Saul. These accounts just blow my mind, for how God reveals things to some people and yet He keeps other people who are in the same vicinity blinded, is beyond me.

The Spiritually Blind

Vic Batista: I see a spiritual analogy coming on! There are people who believe in Jesus and have put their trust in Him. Jesus being the necessary Savior is such a clear concept to us. And yet, there are those who have been given all the same information about Jesus, and yet are still spiritually blinded to their need for the Savior. In the midst of spiritual warfare, Christ continues to reveal Himself to some, providing them openings for opportunities to accept Him as Savior, and for others, they remain blind to the light.

Nathan Jones: Excellent point! How many times have you encountered non-believers, such as Atheists, who have all the same evidence before them that there is a God, but reject it? At some point in their lives they’ve been taught that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and He transforms lives once accepted. We know without a shadow of doubt there is a God and His Son Jesus Christ saves us, but those who reject God are seeing the very same evidence, and yet it’s like they are blind. The fear is still there, that fear that God has placed inside each of us the knowledge that we are facing an eternity, and for many a destiny is Hell. They mask the fear in ego.

If only non-believers could see what we see. You can’t explain truth to them, no matter how hard you try. You can witness to them over and over again, but they just don’t seem to understand the importance of their need for salvation. That’s because the Holy Spirit helps those who seek Him to understand. Maybe that is the case here with Daniel’s men. Maybe the Holy Spirit was working through the angel to open Daniel’s eyes, but God didn’t open up the eyes of the fellow travelers there along the Tigris River because they were spiritually hardened. Most likely that was the scenario with Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul. For Daniel’s men, there still is the likelihood that the angel’s message was for Daniel alone.

Vic Batista: The biblical stories of Daniel and Saul/Paul reveal the truth that a spiritual dynamic exists behind earthly events. That’s why Christians need to pray for those who do not know the Lord. We pray that their blinders will be removed so they can see what believers are seeing. Once the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives, the Scriptures will finally be revealed to them. Entrusting one’s life to Jesus Christ is the first step towards understanding just how the world really works.

Nathan Jones: Only Jesus Christ can forgive us of our sins by taking the penalty for our transgressions upon Himself. Jesus bore the punishment of our sins. Once saved from eternal death, God grants the believer in Christ the Holy Spirit, and it is He who opens our eyes and provides understanding.

The Bible says that without Christ we are spiritually like dead men. We just can’t understand they mysteries of God. Dead people don’t understand anything because they are dead, but we come alive through Jesus Christ. Therefore, it’s very important that we open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit and as Him to reveal these important spiritual truths.

Without Christ we are spiritually like dead men, but we come alive through #JesusChrist. Click To Tweet

Opening the Eyes of the Blind

Vic Batista: So many people still have yet to accept Jesus and His salvation. Today is the day for initiating a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Nathan Jones: A saving relationship begins by surrendering one’s life to Jesus Christ. We each have made a terrible mess of our lives, and so must give control over to Jesus Christ, for He knows better. He knows the end from the beginning. You can put your trust in Jesus, for He desires only the best for our lives. Of course, we’re not talking necessarily about material things, rather something far greater in importance. Christ will bless the faithful spiritually.

Jesus desires to forgive people of their sins when they repent. Just ask Jesus with sincerity from the heart for forgiveness, and He promises that He will forgive you of your rebellion. When you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the punishment of your sins transfers on to Jesus Christ. He’s the One who died on the cross in order to bear the punishment for your sins. And when He died on the cross, He beat death by resurrecting Himself in victory. That victory can be shared by each of us when we put our faith and trust in Him.

Pray from your heart something like, “Dear, Jesus, please forgive me of my sins and be my Savior.” And He promises to do just that.

Vic Batista: I praise the Lord every time I see the spiritual veil lifted off of people’s eyes as they come to know Christ as Savior!

In the thirty-seventh segment of this series on the mighty angels of Daniel, we’ll speculate as to what would happen to us if we could actually see the spiritual realm.

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ABOUT AUTHOR View all posts Author Website

Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

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