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| 1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a thing is revealed to Daniel, whose name is called Belteshazzar, and the thing [is] true, and the warfare [is] great: and he hath understood the thing, and hath understanding about the appearance. |
Third year of Cyrus – Cyrus typified Christ (see Isa. 44:28 + comments). Since the first year of the antitypical Cyrus' reign (i.e. our returned Lord) was 1874, the third year would be 1876. This seems to be the prophetic date indicated in this passage.
Daniel – In this case picturing the church in the flesh at the end of the age.
Understanding of the vision – "Write the vision and make it plane upon tables" - the Divine Plan of the Ages. |
| 2 'In those days, I, Daniel, have been mourning three weeks of days; |
Three full weeks – 21 days. |
| 3 desirable bread I have not eaten, and flesh and wine hath not come in unto my mouth, and I have not anointed myself at all, till the completion of three weeks of days. |
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| 4 'And in the twenty and fourth day of the first month, I have been by the side of the great river, that [is] Hiddekel: |
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| 5 and I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, a certain one clothed in linen, and his loins girt with pure gold of Uphaz, |
Man clothed in linen – This is a special designation that applies prophetically to the 7th messenger, Pastor Russell. See Eze. 9:2,3,11
Loins were girded with fine gold – Being girt about the loins indicates servitude. In this case, the servant is "faithful and wise" - Matt. 24:45. Note, he is girded with fine gold - indicating Divine service. - We may further note that he was girt about the loins, indicating labor, i.e., he was still in the flesh. Contrast this with Rev. 1:13 where our Lord (in glory) is girt about the paps (not the loins). |
| 6 and his body as a beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet as the aspect of bright brass, and the voice of his words as the voice of a multitude. |
His face as the appearance of lightning.. – Compare this (as well as vs 5) to the description of our Lord as given in Rev. 1:13-17
A point of clarification. "The man clothed in linen" is a designation for the seventh messenger to the church. He is used of the Lord to deliver the message of "present truth" to the Lord's people. As such, it often appears to be the Lord himself (as here in verse 6.) The description here of "His face as the appearance of lightning" does indeed describe a spirit being, our Returned Lord Jesus. "The man clothed in linen" is being used as His mouthpiece. |
| 7 'And I have seen I, Daniel, by myself the appearance: and the men who have been with me have not seen the appearance, but a great trembling hath fallen on them, and they flee to be hidden; |
I Daniel alone saw the vision – Daniel pictures the Lord's people. It is only they who truly see the vision. Hab. 2:2 |
| 8 and I have been left by myself, and I see this great appearance, and there hath been no power left in me, and my honour hath been turned in me to corruption, yea, I have not retained power. |
I – Daniel, picturing the same thing as the 'John' class in the book of Revelation, i.e., the church in the flesh during the time of our Lord's second advent.
Was left alone, and saw this great vision – None but the church class will be able to comprehend in its fullness the vision.
There remained no strength in me – Thus is the attitude of the Lord's people when they realize just how powerful and wonderful is the great Divine Plan of the Ages! These recognize their own nothingness in comparison.
My comliness .. into corruption – By comparison to the Truth we see ourselves as corrupt. Indeed we are corrupt and completely worthy of the death sentence were it not for the (completely unmerrited favor of) the Robe of Christ's Righteousness.
I retained no strength – of my own. No, from this point forward we recognize that ALL our strength comes from Him who loved us and bought us with His precious blood! |
| 9 'And I hear the voice of his words, and when I hear the voice of his words, then I have been in a trance on my face, and my face [is] to the earth; |
I was in a deep sleep – I = Daniel, the Lord's people. The deep sleep is suggestive of the wise and follish virgins who all "slumbered and slept." – See also additional comments for 1 Kings 19:5-8 |
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| 10 and lo, a hand hath come against me, and shaketh me on my knees and the palms of my hands. |
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| 11 'And he saith unto me: Daniel, man greatly desired, attend to the words that I am speaking unto thee, and stand on thy station, for now I have been sent unto thee. 'And when he speaketh with me this word, I have stood trembling. |
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| 12 And he saith unto me: Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that thou didst give thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words have been heard, and I have come because of thy words. |
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| 13 'And the head of the kingdom of Persia is standing over-against me twenty and one days, and lo, Michael, first of the chief heads, hath come in to help me, and I have remained there near the kings of Persia; |
Michael, one of the chief princes – "Michael, the first of the chief heads" - YLT. This is in harmony with what we have learned about Michael, i.e., this is another name for our Lord who is indeed "the chief head." |
| 14 and I have come to cause thee to understand that which doth happen to thy people in the latter end of the days, for yet the vision [is] after days. |
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| 15 'And when he speaketh with me about these things, I have set my face toward the earth, and have been silent; |
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| 16 and lo, as the manner of the sons of men, he is striking against my lips, and I open my mouth, and I speak, and say unto him who is standing over-against me: My lord, by the appearance turned have been my pangs against me, and I have retained no power. |
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| 17 And how is the servant of this my lord able to speak with this my lord as for me, henceforth there remaineth in me no power, yea, breath hath not been left in me. |
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| 18 'And he addeth, and striketh against me, as the appearance of a man, and strengtheneth me, |
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| 19 and he saith: Do not fear, O man greatly desired, peace to thee, be strong, yea, be strong; and when he speaketh with me, I have strengthened myself, and I say, Let my lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me. |
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| 20 And he saith, Hast thou known why I have come unto thee and now I turn back to fight with the head of Persia; yea, I am going forth, and lo, the head of Javan hath come; |
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| 21 but I declare to thee that which is noted down in the Writing of Truth, and there is not one strengthening himself with me, concerning these, except Michael your head. |
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