DANIEL’S PRAYER
Daniel 10:1 ¶ In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Daniel 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
Daniel 10:19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. 20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. 21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
Daniel’s prayer was immediately heard. But the implementing of it was hindered on earth by demonic forces! Yet the coming of the Incarnate Son of God into the world changed forever the manner in which God manifested Himself. For only after he was “manifest in the flesh,” could he be “seen of angels,” and “preached unto the Gentiles, and believed on in the world.” 1 Timothy 3:16 Hereafter all manifestation was changed, being directed exclusively through the Son, by the Holy Spirit!
Hebrews 1:1 ¶ God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Hebrews 1:4 ¶ Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And this was a great change from the previous manner in which God had used angels for revelation. Acts 7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The English word, “angel” appears 192 times in your King James Bibles. However after the Book of Acts it only appears three times until you come to the Book of the Revelation. And consider the warning the Apostle Paul gives in his letter to the Colossians. Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, (that is Christ), from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
We are given an account in the twelfth chapter of the Book of the Revelation of the spiritual warfare which took place as Christ, “through death destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” In this passage we are clearly shown both the defeat of Satan and the accomplishment of redemption. These things being accomplished by the Lamb of God upon the cross.
Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
And that Revelation passage continues on to reveal the difference now of the spiritual souls, referred to as “ye heavens,” (for they are said to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6), since the new birth has resurrected them from being dead in trespasses and sin. But those remaining unregenerate are said to be “inhabiters of earth.”
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Then as this fallen angel (Satan) finds that the age of God’s previous usage of angels has been replaced and superseded by the age of exclusively speaking to us by his Son, in his rage he turns to persecute the Lord’s true, spiritual church. Revelation 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Therefore the church is enabled by the Holy Spirit to “mount up with wings as eagles,” to attain to the times before appointed, and the predestinated bounds of her habitation till all her flock, without fail come to know the Lord. For the Lord will have them all come to repentance, not willing that any of them should perish! 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
And the “time, and times, and half a time,” is the length of the gospel age of evangelism. Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
And the Devil now floods her world with “another gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:4). But God’s elect sheep will not hear this voice, nor follow this stranger. John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. Therefore only those already designated in verse twelve as “inhabiters of the earth” will swallow this false gospel. Revelation 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Satan, now as a defeated foe, shall continue to be used of the Lord Christ to exercise faith, thereby maturing the souls of his elect people throughout the church age. Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
For these put on Christ, as their armor in order to meet the various, and increasing onslaughts of the devil. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Remember, dear believer, Satan is a defeated foe. His rule and power were overcome by Christ, the Mighty Maker, who died for man, the creature’s sin! 1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Therefore neither he nor any demon can hinder either our prayers, nor their response from the Lord, as he did with Daniel. Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
gb
