Daniel Unlocked #72. The Second Great Theme of Daniel 10.
Yesterday we mentioned the first great theme that emerges from Daniel 10. It was the invisible war that unfolds behind the scenes of the great conflict. The other theme of this chapter is the Victorious Prince. While the conflict rages, God’s people are not alone. A powerful and victorious heavenly prince stands up to fight the evil forces on behalf of God’s people and bring God’s plan to fruition. The biggest battle of our own lives is not against visible enemies of flesh and blood, but “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph.6:12).
Although from a human perspective this battle can be an uneven conflict in which it appears that the odds are often against us, we have nothing to fear. Jesus fights this battle for us and alongside us and gives us the assurance of victory.
Therefore, the “great war” here described is a war between Satan, the prince of darkness—who represents the interests of the earthly enemies of God’s people—and Christ, the great prince who represents the people of God. This war lies at the heart of the great conflict between good and evil, which becomes visible in the political, social, and religious evils that befall the world. However, as the demonic forces increase their opposition to God’s angels and move earthly powers to attack God’s people, Michael, the “great prince,” steps in to protect and save God’s people (Dan.12:1).
When Michael appears in the Bible, it is always in contexts of conflict.
In Daniel 10, He is fighting against the malevolent prince of Persia; in Daniel 12, He stands up to deliver God’s people in the closing scenes of the great conflict; in Jude, He contends with the devil for the body of Moses; and in Revelation 12, Michael fights with the dragon who is soon to be cast out of heaven (Rev.12). So, it seems clear that Michael is the heavenly warrior who represents the forces of good against the powers of evil.
To have a better appreciation for Michael’s nature and identity, one should bear in mind that one of the most striking depictions of God in the Bible is that of a warrior. He is called “the Lord mighty in battle” (Ps.24:8) and the warrior (Exod.15:3). Many psalms celebrate the Lord as a victorious warrior (Psalm 68). Thus, God fights the enemies of His people, such as the Egyptians, the Canaanites, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. He may even be seen as fighting against His own people by delivering them into enemy hands when they break His covenant.
The picture of God as a warrior also brings end time hope, however, because in the future God will fight against the nations that have oppressed His people (Zech.14:3). It is instructive to note that in contexts in which God is depicted as a warrior, some form of the interjection “Who is like God?” appears (Exod. 15:11; Jer. 50:44; Ps. 35:10; Ps. 71:19; Ps. 77:13; Ps. 89:6, 8; Micah 7:18). So, it is not by accident that Michael means “Who is like God?” The meaning of His name suggests close identification with God, which gels with the function of Michael as a divine warrior. As such, He resembles God to a degree that no other heavenly being or created angel could ever do.
For this reason, Michael in Daniel must be identified with the preincarnate Christ, the eternal Son of God. Significantly, John the Baptist upon first sight understood Jesus as a warrior with a winnowing fan in His hand who will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matt.3:12). Later, John thought he was mistaken because Jesus was expelling demons and healing the sick instead of waging war against His people’s enemies. But John got word from his disciples that confirmed his initial impression. Jesus was indeed the divine warrior who was battling the spiritual forces of evil.
Later, Jesus’ fiercest battle took place on the cross, where He achieved the greatest victory over evil, not by killing but by dying. On the cross He “disarmed principalities and powers” and triumphed over them (Col. 2:15). After His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven as a victorious warrior showing the spoils of war in a cosmic parade (Eph.4:7, 8; Psalm 68; Psalm 24). We have the sacred duty to carry on the battle alongside our Supreme Commander. Like Jesus, we must fight this spiritual battle, not by killing but by dying. Our weapons are not guns and bombs, but faith and the Word of God (Eph.6:10–18). We battle not only external forces but also the sin that lies in our hearts. However, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom.8:37).
Let us continue to fight until the day when Michael will come and destroy evil in all its manifestations. Maranatha – even so come Lord Jesus, we want to go home!