How many of you remember The Matrix?  It’s a “not for everyone” type of movie.  However, the plot of The Matrix has some intentional spiritual overtones - some of which touch on what we’re looking at today.

The main character is Mr. Thomas A. Anderson - who’s a program writer for the respectable software company, Metacortex.  He has a social security number, pays his taxes, even helps his land lady carry out her garbage.  He’s also a hacker who’s guilty of just about every computer crime there’s a law for.

In the process of hacking his way through the mainframes of the world, Mr. Anderson has become very uneasy about the world he lives in.  He’s begun to realize that things are not quite what they seem.  Like there’s something wrong with the world.  He doesn’t quite know what it is.  But that feeling stabs at his mind and is beginning to drive him nuts.

That’s when Mr. Thomas A. Anderson meets a man by the name of Morpheus.  Which is part of the scene we’re going to look at.

(The Matrix:  27:44-29:49)

The reality behind reality - the truth is that Mr. Anderson is plugged into a computer and nothing he thinks is real is real.  Morpheus offers Mr. Anderson two pills - two options.  A blue pill - if he takes it he’ll wake up in his bed - and go on believing whatever he wants about the world.  Or a red pill - if he takes it he’ll find out the reality of how things really are. 

What if when we think we’re awake we’re really dreaming?  What if everything we see around us really isn’t real?  But just an façade covering something much deeper - something that is real - that we - way in the back of our minds - that we know is there.  But, just can’t get a grasp on.  Which do you choose?  The blue pill or the red pill?

The truth behind the illusion that most of humanity is caught up in - the reality behind that illusion is that there is a war raging for the future of humanity.  Machines enslaving humans - think Satan and sin which enslaves us - verses humans longing to be free - which is what we greatly desire and can only be found in what God offers us in Jesus.

Coming to Daniel 10 - we’re going to see that God offers Daniel the red pill.  Along with Daniel, God is going to give us a glimpse behind the curtain of reality - to see into the spiritual realm of what goes on behind the scenes of our world - how we are very much tied to that reality - that battle - and what all that means for us.

As we’ve been doing we’re going to go through chapter 10 - unpacking as we go along - and then come to application for our lives. 

Daniel 10 - starting at verse 1:  In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belshazzar.  And the word was true, and it was a great conflict.  And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.

We need to stop there.  Verse 1 is the Summary of what comes next.

Chapters 10 to 12 are really all one chapter containing the final prophetic vision given to Daniel.  Verse 1 is the cliff notes summary of what these next three chapters are all about.

The third year of Cyrus’ reign is about 536 - maybe 535 BC.  Daniel is definitely in his mid-eighties by now - maybe even pushing 90.  Chapter 10 - 535 BC - comes about 4 years after the vision that we looked at last Sunday in chapter 9.  So, God has given Daniel four years to process the last vision - and now He’s going to give Daniel this final intense look behind the scenes of history.

The vision is described as the word.  Meaning that the vision is not really visual.  Lions and bears and goats… oh my.  The vision is more of a message.  Very specific.  And, as we’re told, very true.  Meaning reliable.  What will be future history not someone’s best prognostication about what might happen.  God’s word that we need to base our lives on.

The word is about great conflict - warfare on a huge scale.  The mother of all battles.

We’re told that Daniel understood the word and that he had understanding.  Which means that Daniel understood what he was told.  He got the point.  But then he went on and was seeking understanding.  Meaning he went on to consider the implications of what he’d been told.  The overwhelming scope and impact and all the ramifications of what’s coming.

Daniel understood.  What he understood rocked his world.  But he understood.

God has preserved His truth for us.  God, the Holy Spirit is helping us to understand His word.  The implications may be a hard to process reality for us.  But God wants us to get this.  Like with Daniel - God knows that we need to get this for where and when we live our lives.

Verses 2 to 9 bring us to the Setting of the vision that’s coming in chapter 11 - next Sunday.

Verse 2:  In those days - which days?  Third year of Cyrus’ reign - In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks.  I ate not delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.  On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris)

Let’s pause there.  Before we get to verse 5.

“Mourning” translates a word that’s used to describe what we go through when someone we deeply love dies.  Deep emotional pain.

At the time Daniel received this vision he’s at the end of a 21 day period of mourning.  He’s sworn off tasty food - delicacies - pastries - no baklava.  He’s on a vegetarian diet - no meat - no In-N-Out Burger.  No wine.  No ointment - or lotions - perfumes.  Probably means he hasn’t taken a bath in 3 weeks.  Sometimes its not just life that stinks.

Grab that this is an intense time for Daniel of focusing on God without Daniel allowing anything to distract him from seeking after God and hearing God to Daniel.

We really don’t know why Daniel was in mourning.  But, there are two ideas that commentators have suggested that a whole lot of credibility.

Idea #1 has to do with where God’s people have gone.

About two years before all this mourning takes place - in about 538 BC - 42,000 plus Jews and their servants - under the leadership of Zerubbabel - under a decree given by Cyrus - these Jews had made the months long trek back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city.

The report that came back to Babylon - which Daniel had probably heard - the report was that that group was facing serious opposition from those who had remained in the homeland.  The people in the homeland had carved out a nice life for themselves.  These returnees were going to upset all that with their resettlement and rebuilding program.

So, while God had begun to do the things that God said He would do - like sending His people back after 70 years of exile - repopulating and rebuilding the homeland - the people that had gone back to do all that had given up in the face of all this opposition.

Daniel may have been mourning because His people had once again - just as God was opening up to them great potential blessing - they’d looked at all that was against them - and they’d turned away from trusting God.

Idea #2 has to do with where God’s people had stayed.

While some Jews had gone to Jerusalem some Jews had stayed in Babylon.  There was a group of Jews who had become very comfortable.  In 70 years they’d made a really great life for themselves and their families.  Many of them had been born in Babylon.  Life in Jerusalem was something the old people talked about.

Generation next were the mover’s and shakers who’d adapted and were doing quite well.  Thank you.  Nice houses - late model chariots - owners of Bloomingdale’s Babylon.  Why would they want to give all that up to go to some backwater run down 3rd world place like Jerusalem?

Daniel may have been mourning because his people had once again - just as God was opening up to them great potential blessing - they’d looked at all that was attractive to them in Babylon - and they’d turned away from trusting God.

Daniel mourns for 3 weeks.  Mourns until - verse 4 - until - the twenty-fourth day of the first month - which in the Hebrew calendar was the 24th day of the month Nisan.  Which probably doesn’t means a whole lot to most of us except that Nisan 24 - other than being maybe a cool name for a car - Nisan 24 was 10 days after the Passover.  Passover being the great celebration of God’s deliverance of His people from bondage in Egypt.  God working powerfully on behalf of His people.  To save His people.  To set them free.  All that may have been on Daniel’s mind.

We don’t know exactly why for three weeks Daniel was intensely seeking after God.  But God’s people were discouraged and distracted by what was happening around them - living in some illusion of what they thought life was all about rather that following after God.  Once again God’s people - Daniel’s people - that Daniel intensely cared about - indentified with - Daniel’s people were in serious trouble.

Have you ever pleaded with God - anguished - about the future direction of those that you care deeply about?  That’s Daniel.

Let’s go on to verse 5.  Daniel is by the banks of the river Tigris.  Which was just east of Babylon.  Why Daniel was there we don’t know.  But he’s there - mourning - seeking God - verse 5:  I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.  His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightening, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.    

This is probably the most detailed description of an angel in Scripture.  This is one awesome - dazzling - impressive angel.

Verse 7:  And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision - the angel - for the men who were with me did not see the vision - the angel - but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.  So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me.  My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength.  Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.

A lady calls her pastor at 2:00 am Monday morning.  She says, “Pastor, could you preach Sunday’s sermon one more time for me.”  The pastor, who’s quite impressed that this lady was so touched by the sermon that she wants to hear it again, says to her, “I’d be happy to.  I didn’t realize how deeply what was said touched your life.”  The lady says, “Touched my life?  I can’t sleep.  I always sleep so well when you preach.”

Heard that?  That’s not what’s happening here.

The angel reveals his presence to Daniel.  Two reactions.  Those with Daniel can’t see the angel.  But they can sense him.  Overwhelmed with terror they run and hide.  They abandon Daniel.

Daniel - who can see the angel - this dazzling awesome person - can hear his words that sounded like a whole multitude talking - imagine how much more terrifying that would be - Daniel comes face-to-face with the spiritual reality behind our world.  And Daniel - who we’d think would be used to this sort of thing by now - Daniel is so overwhelmed that he loses it.  Face pales.  Goes weak at the knees.  He passes out.  Face plant.  Boom.

Verses 10 to 21 bring us to COURAGE.

Verse 10:  And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.  And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.”  And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling.  Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 

Daniel is passed out - face down in the dirt.  The angel touches Daniel.  How reassuring is physical contact?  The angel helps Daniel to his knees.  Then helps him up - still trembling - to his feet.  All the while speaking words of reassurance.  “Daniel, man greatly loved.  I’ve been sent to you.  Don’t be afraid.” 

There’s a lot here to fear.  There’s a lot in life that we could fear.  But God’s message to those He loves is do not be afraid.

Verse 13 - the angel goes on - explains to Daniel:  The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days.  For the vision is for days yet to come.

Paul writes - Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle - our struggle isn’t -  against flesh and… blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

That’s what this angel is explaining to Daniel.  Behind the things going on in our world is a great conflict.  A huge spiritual battle. 

There is an invisible hierarchy of evil.  Evil angels - demons - seemingly that are assigned to various countries.  The demon who had authority over Persia withstood this angel who had been sent to Daniel.  Michael - one of the chief angels - one of the good guys - comes and helps.  How all this happens - we don’t know.  But it does.  Its real.  And it effects us - even the timing of God answering prayer.

“Daniel.  There’s a lot going on here that you don’t see.  But, God wants you to understand that this battle is taking place.  It effects your life and My people.”

Verse 15:  When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute.  And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips.  Then I opened my mouth and spoke.  I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength.  How can my Lord’s servant talk with my lord?  For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”

Have you ever been driving along exceeding the speed limit?  Not that any of us would ever do that.  But hypothetically speaking if we were exceeding the speed limit.  Then suddenly we come up on a policemen with a radar gun - sitting out of sight on a motorcycle or in a patrol car?  Suddenly all the reasons we had for going so fast no longer seem so important.  Its a reality check.  What’s real verses the reality we think we’re living in.  What’s really important in life.  That’s what Daniel gets here. 

Daniel has stood toe-to-toe - nose-to-nose - eyeball-to-eyeball with the mightiest men of his day.  He stood before Nebuchadnezzar and told him he was going to be made like an animal.  Told a drunken Belshazzar his kingdom was at an end.  Ended up in in the lion’s den because he never backed off of following God - regardless of the political pressure.  Never flinched.  Never wavered.  God’s man courageously serving God.  That’s one reality. 

But, here - seeing the spiritual realm - glimpsing behind the curtain of our reality - the awesomeness and power of God - glory beyond imagining - pure holiness - Satan and his minions in rebellion - the armies at heaven at war - the presence of this holy angel sent by God.  Comparing realities, who is Daniel - the servant of God - the sinner - with his 3 weeks of mourning and prayer?  With questions - issues - that no longer seem quite so important.  In light of all that is real and holy.  Who is Daniel?  Who are we?

While we’re going on and on about the things that we think are so important.  What we get stressed about and lose sleep over.  While we’re spouting off with our opinions about things.  While we’re living life focused on all kinds of distractions - illusions - in this world - our toys and recreations and what we think we need - our perks and our prerogatives.  What - all of us - myself included - way too often - get caught up in - the illusion of what we think is so important.  Our little reality.  At some point we need to grab a glimpse of God’s reality.  Daniel looks at the ground - humbled - speechless - physically weak.

Verse 18:  Again one having appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me.  And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.”  And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let me lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”  Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you?  But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come.  But I will tell you what is inscribed on the book of truth:  there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.”

In contrast to fear is courage.  The word for “courage” - “be strong and of good courage” - in verse 19 is the Hebrew word “chazaq.”  It means to be strengthened - to grow strong - so that you won’t be moved.  So that - with all that comes against us - we can hold firm.  Stand our ground.  In the battle we won’t retreat.

Notice how the angel takes Daniel - overwhelmed by all that he is being exposed to - and strengthens him.  Over and over that image is repeated.  “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.  I’m weak.  I can’t speak.”  And the angel reassuring, touching, giving strength.  Daniel in the dirt - being helped up. 

Scripture repeats things, why?  Repetition is the key to learning.  God wants us to get this.  We need to understand what’s being repeated.

Why is this angel here?  To answer prayer?  That’s part of it.  To clue Daniel in about future history?  What God has in store for His people in the latter days?  That’s part of it.  To tell Daniel the truth - God’s truth?  The reality behind what Daniel sees going on around him?  That’s part of it.  To remind Daniel of who he is - how God deeply loves him?  All of that is what God is doing here - even for us.  The bottom line is that Daniel is lifted up and given strength to go on.  Encouraged for what is - and what is to come.

Processing all that…  Thinking about how all that ties into where we live our lives.  What in all that can encourage us?  What can lift us up?

First:  We are never alone.  We may feel lonely.  But we are never alone.  We’re getting a glimpse of that when the angel is sent by God to Daniel.

Angels are not people who die and then become angels who try to do good things for people while they’re waiting around for someone to ring a bell so they can get their wings.  Angels are not cute fat naked people with little teeny wings mischievously shooting arrows or sitting on clouds playing harps.  We need to get past the distraction of Hollywood and grab the awesomeness of God’s angels.

Jesus created the angels.  Angels are not a CG creation of Hollywood or our imaginations or wishful thinking.  Angels have been created by God with purpose for His glory.  (Colossians 1:16)

Hebrews 1:14 - gives us a really clear introduction to angels.  Hebrews 1:14 says:  “Are they - angels - not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”

Angels are spirits.  They don’t have bodies like we do.  They’re not subject to the same limitations of the flesh.  They pass back and forth from the spiritual world to the physical world.

Scripture teaches us that these spiritual beings are created by God with free will.  Following Satan a number of them rebelled against God.  Those are the demons.  Still in rebellion against God.  (Ezekiel 28:14-17; Jude 6)

They are spirits - plural.  Millions.  Maybe billions.  Some say there are as many angels as people.  We don’t know.  But there are a lot.  Enough to do what God has created them to do.  (Matthew 18:10)

Angels are ministering spirits.  Which means that they serve God.  The Greek word here for “minister” is “leitourgia”  Same word we get our English word... “liturgy” from.  Liturgy is serving God - worshipping - obeying - doing what honors and pleases God.

These ministering spirits are “sent out.”  Just like here in Daniel - where this angel is sent by God to Daniel - to strengthen and prepare him.  When they appear they can appear in various forms - human - superhuman - powerful - impressive - never as animals or subhuman.

They minister by rendering service to those who will inherit salvation - believers and those who are yet to believe.

Sometimes that service is forewarning.  Like when the angel appeared to Mary and Joseph and warned them that Herod was going to kill all the babies aged two and younger - warned them and sent them to Egypt to escape.

Sometimes that service is assisting in judgment.  When Sennachaerib, King of Assyria invaded Judah and was ready to wipe out God’s people - God sent an angel who killed 185,000 Assyrians.  God’s people were spared.

Then here in Daniel we see that Angels serve us by strengthening and encouraging us - physically, emotionally, spiritually.  Angels serve us by guiding us - verse 14 - the angel says, “I have come to give you an understanding.”    The angel opens Daniel’s eyes to the reality of what’s going on around him.  Angels serves us by protecting and defending us.  Daniel chapter 6 - God sent and angel to shut the lion’s mouths.

Billy Graham ends his book, “Angels, God’s Secret Agents” - Billy Graham ends by sharing from his own life:

“Some of the greatest and most precious words recorded in all of Scripture were spoken by Satan himself (not that he intended it to be so).  In his discussion with God about Job, he said, “Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?  Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” (Job 1:10)

As I look back over my life I remember the moment I came to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  The angels rejoiced!  Since than I have been in thousands of battles with Satan and his demons.  As I yielded my will and committed myself totally to Christ - as I prayed and believed - I am convinced that God “put a hedge about me,” a hedge of angels to protect me.

The Scripture says there is a time to be born and a time to die.  And when my time to die comes an angel will be there to comfort me.  He will give me peace and joy even at that most critical hour, and usher me into the presence of God, and I will dwell with the Lord forever.  Thank God for the ministry of His blessed angels.!” (1)

Can we say “Amen” to that?  We are never alone.  That can be hugely encouraging for us.  Angels exist.  They’re very much involved in our lives.  Millions of them - ministering spirits.  Created by God and sent out by God on our behalf.

Second the reason life seems like a battle is because... it is.

A young father in a supermarket was pushing a shopping cart with his little son, who was strapped in the front.  The little boy was fussing, irritable, and crying.  The other shoppers gave the pair a wide berth because the child was pulling cans off the shelf and throwing stuff out of the cart.  The father seemed to be very calm; as he continued down each aisle, he murmured gently:  “Easy now, Donald.  Keep calm, Donald.  Steady, boy.  It’s all right, Donald.”

A mother who was passing by was greatly impressed by this young father’s attitude.  She said, “You certainly know how to talk to an upset child - quietly and gently.”

And then bending down to the little boy, she said, “What seems to be the trouble, Donald?”

“Oh no,” said the father.  “He’s Henry.  I’m Donald.” (2)

Sometimes we’re just barely hanging on.  Where does the encouragement to hang in there come from?

Elisha and his servant are outside the town of Dothan, Palestine.  The king of Aram - who’s really angry at Elisha - the king of Aram sends horses and charriotts and this great army to Dothan - comes at night and surrounds the town.  Remember this?  Elisha’s servant wakes up early in the morning - takes a look outside the town - sees this huge armed to the teeth army - bent on one purpose - Elisha’s capture and death - runs back to Elisha and says, “What do we do now?”

Elisha prays - asks God to open the eyes of his servant - to see behind the veil of our reality to the reality of the spiritual world.  God opens the eyes of the servant.  He sees - not just the Aramean army - but God’s army - horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha - protecting them from the Arameans.  God’s army was there all the time.  It just wasn’t revealed to this servant.  (2 Kings 6:8-23)

Why seemingly doesn’t God answer my prayers?  Why is this happening?  Why am I getting nailed by all this?  Why is this an uphill battle?  There’s a lot more going on here than meets the eye.  Whether we see it or not.  Its there.  Satan and his hoards bent on our destruction - to keep us in bondage and slavery to our sin.  Trying to distract us and to dissolution us and to defeat us and to lead us into despair and discouragement and to focus on anything that will keep us from God’s truth and the reality of the great conflict - the spiritual battle that we are all locked in.

God is holy - almighty - the awesome sovereign God.  His angels - in obedience - are ministering servants on our behalf.  That’s the reality we need to hang on to.  No matter what is or what will come.  We need to see ourselves in that reality.  The blue pill or the red pill?  That’s a choice. 

God giving us a choice.  Even today.  The opportunity to see behind the blinding curtain of sin - a world in bondage - the slavery to sin that we’re all born into.  To choose grace.  To choose to turn to God.  To hang on to Him.  To know with certainty that no matter how intense the battle we are never ever alone.
 

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1. Billy Graham, Angels, God’s Secret Agents, Doubleday & Co., 1975, pages 174-175

2. John Huffman, PreachingToday.com

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.