Daniel 10:4-19 “Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, (5) I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! (6) His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. … (8) Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. (9) Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. (10) Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. (11) And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. … (15) When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. (16) And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, "My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. (17) For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me." (18) Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. (19) And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
There are numerous accounts in scripture of people falling to the ground when they encountered the presence of the supernatural. As we will see later in this section when we look at the Apostle John’s encounter with the Lord Jesus, our Lord can choose to appear to His saints in a very natural state or He can choose to appear to them displaying His glory. Angels have that same ability, and the above passage describes an angel (more than likely it was the angel Gabriel) appearing to Daniel displaying his glory.
Michael E.B. Maher
Comments