Day 259: Behind the Curtain (Daniel 10:12-14)

¹² 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. ¹³ 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, ¹⁴ 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.”

Daniel 10:12-14

Through the Bible: Daniel 10-12

When I was in high school, I was involved in drama, chorus, and theatre. It was always fascinating to see what was happening behind the curtain compared to what the audience saw. Out front, people saw either an empty stage or a closed curtain. But backstage was controlled chaos—actors scrambling into costume, stagehands moving scenery, prop masters placing items, tech crews and musicians in constant communication with the director. All of it working toward one purpose: to make sure the vision of the creator was realized onstage.

Daniel 10 gives us a rare look behind the curtain of history. Most of the time, we don’t see the stagehands of heaven, the battle in the unseen realm, the way our prayers set things in motion. But here Daniel does—and we’re reminded that from the very first word he prayed, God had already heard.

The Setting

Daniel received this vision in the third year of Cyrus’s reign (536 BC), about fifty years after the temple was destroyed and nearly seventy since he was first deported. He knew from Jeremiah that the exile would last seventy years (Dan. 9:2), but four years remained. By now in his eighties, Daniel may have wondered whether he would live to see God’s promises fulfilled, or if his prayers were even reaching heaven.

The timing of his mourning is striking: from the third day of the first month to the twenty-fourth. That period should have included Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:5–7). But in exile, the people had no altar, no sacrifices, no recorded observance of the feast—just the ache of Psalm 137: “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?”

And it’s at this moment, two days after the feast would have ended, that Daniel is given a glimpse backstage.

The Scene

The angel (perhaps Gabriel, cf. 8:16) tells Daniel that for three weeks he was delayed by the “Prince of Persia”—not a video game villain, but a spiritual power opposed to God’s purposes. Only with Michael’s help did he prevail. And yet, from the moment Daniel began praying, the message was already on its way.

Daniel describes the figure he saw as dressed in linen, with a belt of gold, a body like beryl, a face like lightning, eyes like flaming torches, and a voice like the roar of a multitude (10:5–6). The people with him were so overwhelmed they fled in terror, leaving Daniel alone. Even Daniel himself fell to the ground trembling, his strength drained away. This wasn’t just a casual encounter—it was a revelation of glory so great it flattened the prophet and reminded him that behind the curtain of history stands a God whose power is overwhelming.

The Dialogue

Three times in two chapters, Daniel is described as a man “greatly loved” (see 9:23, 10:11, 10:18-19). Notice what is emphasized:

• When Daniel is weak and confused, he is reminded that he is loved.
• When Daniel is reminded he is loved, he is able to understand the visions.
• With understanding comes strength.

Takeaway

Beloved, you may not get the privilege Daniel had of seeing behind the curtain. But don’t mistake a silent stage for an empty one. Just because the show hasn’t started yet doesn’t mean nothing is happening. Your prayers are heard the moment you offer them. Heaven is already in motion.

You are greatly loved.

The orchestra is tuning up.

And it’s almost showtime.

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