Daniel 10:20
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This angel isn't just delivering a message; he's an active warrior for God's people! He explains that he has to return to battle the spiritual ruler of Persia, implying these earthly kingdoms are arenas for cosmic conflict. The "prince of Greece" arriving signifies not just a political shift, but a new spiritual adversary to overcome for the sake of God's people.
The angel, after confirming Daniel’s understanding of his mission, reveals that his delay was due to spiritual battles against the "prince of Persia," an angelic power opposing God's will for Israel. Now, having achieved a degree of success, he must return to continue this fight. He then foreshadows a coming shift in world powers, announcing that after he finishes his work against Persia, the "prince of Greece" will rise.
Ever feel like there are unseen forces at play in the world, influencing events beyond human control? Daniel's vision reveals a cosmic battlefield where angelic beings contend for nations.
The angel speaking to Daniel isn't just delivering a message; he's reporting from the front lines of spiritual warfare.
Heavenly High Stakes
This reveals that the political and historical shifts we see in the world often have deeper roots in spiritual conflicts we can't see.
History is a story of empires rising and falling. Daniel's vision shows how these shifts are part of God's unfolding plan, driven by both human ambition and divine orchestration.
The angel's words to Daniel reveal a prophetic timeline of major world empires and the spiritual powers associated with them.
Empires in God's Hand
Understand the original words
śar · Hebrew Noun
A powerful demonic or angelic entity exercising influence over a specific geopolitical territory. This term reveals the existence of a spiritual realm that battles behind the scenes of human history.
The angelic messenger's words reveal a cosmic struggle behind earthly powers, where the rise and fall of empires like Persia and Greece are directly linked to God's ongoing plan for His people.
c. 550 BC
Cyrus the Great Founds the Persian Empire
Cyrus unites the Medes and Persians, establishing a vast empire that would eventually conquer Babylon and allow the Jewish exiles to return home.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus Allows Return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, a pivotal moment initiated by divine influence and angelic contention.
c. 530-522 BC
Reign of Cambyses II
Following Cyrus, Cambyses II continues the Persian rule, though his reign is marked by less favorable policies toward the Jews and potential opposition to their rebuilding efforts.
522-486 BC
Reign of Darius I (the Great)
Darius confirms Cyrus's decree and supports the rebuilding of the Temple, though angelic conflicts and political maneuvering at the Persian court continue to affect the Jewish community.
This verse directly sets up Daniel 10:20 by mentioning the angel's initial struggle with the 'prince of Persia,' establishing the ongoing cosmic conflict that necessitates the angel's return.
Daniel 11:1-4This passage describes the rise of the 'prince of Greece' (Alexander the Great) and his conquest of Persia, directly fulfilling the prophecy uttered in Daniel 10:20 and showing the transition of world powers.
Zechariah 3:1-2This passage depicts Joshua the high priest standing before an angelic accuser, with the Lord rebuking the accuser, illustrating the reality of spiritual opposition and divine intervention on behalf of God's people, similar to the angel's fight against the 'prince of Persia'.
Ephesians 6:12This New Testament passage speaks of wrestling 'against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places,' echoing the angelic conflict described in Daniel 10.
ellicottDaniel 10:20: "Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come."
(20) Then said he. —The meaning of this verse is obscure. Apparently the person who is speaking refers back to what he had said ( Daniel 10:12-14 ); and from the question “ Knowest thou?” &c., we are to infer that Daniel was perfectly aware of the reasons which caused him to come, viz., “to make thee under…
barnesDaniel 10:20: "Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come."
Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? - This was known by what the angel had said in Daniel 10:14 . He seems to have called his attention to it, and to have proposed the question, because Daniel had been so overcome by his fright that it might be doubtful whether he had understood him dist…
This angel isn't just delivering a message; he's an active warrior for God's people! He explains that he has to return to battle the spiritual ruler of Persia, implying these earthly kingdoms are arenas for cosmic conflict. The "prince of Greece" arriving signifies not just a political shift, but a new spiritual adversary to overcome for the sake of God's people.
The angel, after confirming Daniel’s understanding of his mission, reveals that his delay was due to spiritual battles against the "prince of Persia," an angelic power opposing God's will for Israel. Now, having achieved a degree of success, he must return to continue this fight. He then foreshadows a coming shift in world powers, announcing that after he finishes his work against Persia, the "prince of Greece" will rise.
The angel, after confirming Daniel’s understanding of his mission, reveals that his delay was due to spiritual battles against the "prince of Persia," an angelic power opposing God's will for Israel. Now, having achieved a degree of success, he must return to continue this fight. He then foreshadows a coming shift in world powers, announcing that after he finishes his work against Persia, the "prince of Greece" will rise.
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This passage assures us that even as empires change and new powers emerge, God remains in control and is working out His purposes.
486-465 BC
Reign of Xerxes I
Xerxes I's reign sees continued Persian dominance, and the narrative of Esther highlights the ongoing struggles and divine protection for the Jewish people within the empire.
334-323 BC— this verse
Alexander the Great's Conquests
Alexander the Great swiftly conquers the Persian Empire, marking a significant shift in geopolitical power and ushering in the Hellenistic era. This conquest fulfills the prophecy of the 'prince of Greece' rising.
"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." — This angel isn't just delivering a message; he's an active warrior for God's people! He explains that he has to return to battle the spiritual ruler of Persia, implying these earthly kingdoms are are…
