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| 1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing is true, but the appointed time of trial is long; and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. |
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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 was mourning three full weeks:
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Mourning three full weeks – Because of his inability to understand. R1866:4
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Three full weeks – 21 days. |
| 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three full weeks were fulfilled. |
No pleasant bread – Representing self-denial and deadness to the world, which should be the attitude of all true believers at all times. R2022:4
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| 4 And on the four-and-twentieth day of the first month, I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel: |
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| 5 and I lifted up mine eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, and his loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz; |
A certain man – An angel in his glorious spirit body. A183
An angel can also assume a human body of flesh. R1952:3
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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 was like a chrysolite, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as torches of fire, and his arms and his feet as the look of burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. |
Body – A spiritual body, as described here and in Rev. 1:13-15, is very nice; and we shall be "fashioned like unto his (Christ's) glorious body." (Phil. 3:21) R119:6, R315:6*
Like the beryl – Spiritual bodies are glorious in their normal condition. R18:3, R261:6, R579:1; HG28:6
Eyes as lamps – Expressive of their piercing brightness. "The Lord seeth not as man seeth." (1 Sam. 16:7) R388:6*
Polished brass – Fine brass, as it burns in a furnace, so bright that you can scarcely look at it. R18:4, R261:6
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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 Daniel alone saw the vision; and the men that were with me saw not the vision, but a great quaking fell on them, and they fled to hide themselves. |
I Daniel alone saw – Without a miracle, either by opening our eyes to see them, or their appearing in the flesh as men, spiritual bodies are invisible. R579:1, R18:4, R262:1; A183
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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 was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; and my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. |
No strength in me – Had our Lord appeared after his resurrection in the glory of the spirit body, the glory would have been greater than the witnesses could have borne. B124
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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 heard the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, I fell into a deep stupor on my face, and my face to the ground. |
Toward the ground – Daniel fell as a dead man. R18:4, R261:6
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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 behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and the palms of my hands. |
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| 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words which I speak unto thee, and stand upright; for unto thee am I now sent. And as he spoke this word unto me, I stood trembling. |
Man greatly beloved – Margin: "man of desires." R2022:4
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| 12 And he said unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come because of thy words. |
From the first day – Not the end of the third week. R1866:4
At the beginning of our supplications God begins to shape circumstances to work out the intended blessing for us. R1866:4
"Before they call (reading the desire of the heart even before it finds expression in words) I will answer (begin to shape events to bring the answer sooner or later); and while they are yet speaking I will hear." (Isa. 65:23, 24) R1866:5
To chasten thyself – Sought, by the practice of self-denial, to bring himself into a special condition of heart and mind pleasing to God. R2022:4
How many prayers are not heard, or are hindered, because the one who asks does not first purify himself of evil in his own heart? R1866:5
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| 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. |
Withstood me – Either invisibly present with him, or else appearing as a man. R579:1[R579], R262:1[R262:1], R18:4[R18:10]; A184[A183:3]
But, lo, Michael – Christ. D414[D414:1]
The superior of Gabriel. R490:4[R490]
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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 am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people at the end of the days: for the vision is yet for many days. |
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| 15 And as he was speaking with me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. |
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| 16 And behold, one after the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; and I opened my mouth and spoke, and said unto him that stood before me, My lord, by reason of the vision my pains are turned upon me, and I retain no strength. |
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| 17 And how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remaineth no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. |
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| 18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me; |
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| 19 and he said, Fear not, man greatly beloved; peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And as he was speaking with me I was strengthened, and I said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. |
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| 20 And he said, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? And now I return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I go forth, behold, the prince of Greece shall come. |
Knowest thou – Or, Thou knowest. HG61:6
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| 21 However, I will declare unto thee that which is set down in the scripture of truth; and there is not one that sheweth himself strong with me against these, but Michael your prince. |
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