READ: Dan. 10:15-21: …Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong …
When Daniel falls down before the appearance of God’s Son, he is also allowed to experience the strength that comes from Him. Now he can listen to His message. It is comforting and encouraging: Do not be afraid, greatly beloved man! Peace be with you. Be strong, yes, be strong! Daniel immediately notices: “So when He spoke to me, I was strengthened.”
Then the Lord gives His revelation about what must happen—and especially how He will act. First, this concerns developments in the short term, but from here through to chapter 12, it stretches into the end times! In all this, the Lord God reveals Himself as the great Warrior for His church.
After the Persian Empire, the Greek Empire will take power. The Lord knows how Satan will then also set himself upon the rulers of that empire. Satan deploys his demonic princes and legions. He already had a demonic prince of Persia; he will soon have one over Greece.
But God’s Son will continue to ensure that His church is preserved under them. First, He focuses His heavenly armies, led by Michael, against the prince of Persia—and next, against the prince of Greece. It is the battle of the LORD of hosts against the evil spirits.
That battle will not lessen after Ascension. But all who expect God and His Son receive strength from above. Then no hand will be felt like Daniel and John experienced in their visions. But by His Spirit, Christ is near to His church and to us as its members.
We do not hear a voice as Daniel and John did, but we may continually be strengthened by the preaching of the Holy Scriptures, in which are found all the words we need to persevere in faith. In God’s Word and by His Spirit, Christ comes with His comfort to strengthen us for the spiritual battle, which is no less than in Daniel’s days.
As the church, we now know more about the outcome of the battle: Christ is on the way to total final victory. All who continue to follow Him—wherever He leads—will share in that victory.
Is there reason to worry about the future of the church?
Sing: Ps. 110:5,6