Who is the prince of Persia in Daniel 10? Bible Study

[Chad]

The prince of Persia is only mentioned in Daniel 10, a highly apocalyptic (and therefore at least partially symbolic) section of the book of Daniel. Most likely, the prince of Persia is a reference to an evil spiritual entity that wielded authority over the ancient kingdom of Persia.

The prophet Daniel had received a troubling vision concerning a great war (Daniel 10:1). He went into a three-week period of mourning, fasting, and prayer. In response to Daniel’s prayer, God sent a heavenly messenger to explain the vision. However, the messenger was delayed for those same three weeks, as he explains to Daniel: “But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia” (Daniel 10:13). Later, the angel speaking to Daniel predicts further fighting: “Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince)” (verses 20–21).

Taking this passage at face value, it seems that the prince of Persia is a fallen angel who in some sense had authority or influence over the physical kingdom of Persia. In Daniel 10, the prophet is praying about the future of his people and their exile in Persia. A heavenly angel is dispatched with the answer, but a demonic “prince of Persia” obstructs the messenger. This action would make sense, as the divine answer involves the overthrow of the Persian Empire. The angelic messenger finally gets some help from the archangel Michael, who is apparently the prince (or one of the princes) of Israel in the angelic realm (Daniel 10:13, 21).

Then the angelic messenger says he will face even more spiritual warfare, returning to fight against the prince of Persia. After that, he will face another spiritual enemy, the prince of Greece (Daniel 10:20). We know from history (and as was prophesied in Daniel) that Greece would be the next world power after Persia, and that Greece would dominate Israel for a time. In this passage, three spiritual entities are mentioned in relation to three earthly nations: the prince of Persia, the prince of Greece, and the prince of Israel (Michael). As the New Testament reminds us, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). The battle is real.

It seems that, as events play out on earth, there is corresponding activity in the spiritual realm. Whether or not this spiritual prince of Persia’s fate was tied to that of the physical Persian Empire is unknown. We do know that, if his job was to keep the Persian Empire in a place of dominance over the nation of Israel, he failed. It is interesting to note that Iran is modern Persia, and the leaders of Iran still want to dominate or obliterate the nation of Israel. As a Shiite Muslim nation, Iran persecutes Christian believers as well—so perhaps the spiritual prince of Persia is still active today. But, as with all of Satan’s minions, his time is limited, and he can only go as far as God will allow in accomplishing His perfect will.

originally from: Who is the prince of Persia in Daniel 10?

 

[Bendito]

The prince of Persia is only mentioned in Daniel 10, a highly apocalyptic (and therefore at least partially symbolic) section of the book of Daniel. Most likely, the prince of Persia is a reference to an evil spiritual entity that wielded authority over the ancient kingdom of Persia.

The prophet Daniel had received a troubling vision concerning a great war (Daniel 10:1). He went into a three-week period of mourning, fasting, and prayer. In response to Daniel’s prayer, God sent a heavenly messenger to explain the vision. However, the messenger was delayed for those same three weeks, as he explains to Daniel: “But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia” (Daniel 10:13). Later, the angel speaking to Daniel predicts further fighting: “Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince)” (verses 20–21).

Taking this passage at face value, it seems that the prince of Persia is a fallen angel who in some sense had authority or influence over the physical kingdom of Persia. In Daniel 10, the prophet is praying about the future of his people and their exile in Persia. A heavenly angel is dispatched with the answer, but a demonic “prince of Persia” obstructs the messenger. This action would make sense, as the divine answer involves the overthrow of the Persian Empire. The angelic messenger finally gets some help from the archangel Michael, who is apparently the prince (or one of the princes) of Israel in the angelic realm (Daniel 10:13, 21).

Then the angelic messenger says he will face even more spiritual warfare, returning to fight against the prince of Persia. After that, he will face another spiritual enemy, the prince of Greece (Daniel 10:20). We know from history (and as was prophesied in Daniel) that Greece would be the next world power after Persia, and that Greece would dominate Israel for a time. In this passage, three spiritual entities are mentioned in relation to three earthly nations: the prince of Persia, the prince of Greece, and the prince of Israel (Michael). As the New Testament reminds us, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). The battle is real.

It seems that, as events play out on earth, there is corresponding activity in the spiritual realm. Whether or not this spiritual prince of Persia’s fate was tied to that of the physical Persian Empire is unknown. We do know that, if his job was to keep the Persian Empire in a place of dominance over the nation of Israel, he failed. It is interesting to note that Iran is modern Persia, and the leaders of Iran still want to dominate or obliterate the nation of Israel. As a Shiite Muslim nation, Iran persecutes Christian believers as well—so perhaps the spiritual prince of Persia is still active today. But, as with all of Satan’s minions, his time is limited, and he can only go as far as God will allow in accomplishing His perfect will.

originally from: Who is the prince of Persia in Daniel 10?

Now this raises my eyebrows and questions! Look at Jude 5-7. All those angels that were kicked out for rebelling against God are held in chains....Yet I do agree that this prince of Persia is a spirit being... meaning (to me) not fallen angel as they are in chains....not nephilim as they have physical bodies, so what do you think Chad? A demon is the spirit of a dead nephilim...Could it be one of them is the prince of Persia? Just tilting at windmills here....LOL

 

[B-A-C]

A demon is the spirit of a dead nephilim...Could it be one of them is the prince of Persia?

Just curious, is this scripture?

 

[Bendito]

Just curious, is this scripture?

No Scripture does not say this....neither does scripture contradict this

 

[Bendito]

No Scripture does not say this....neither does scripture contradict this

From the book of Enoch..... 24"Until then I had a veil on my face,
trembling; and the Lord called me
with His own voice, and said to me,
“Come here, Enoch, and hear My
word.” 25And one of the holy ones
came to me and lifted me up to the
door, and I bowed my face
downwards.
15
The Judgment of the Ancient of
Days
He said, “Fear not, Enoch, righteous
man, and scribe of righteousness.
2Go, say to the Watchers of heaven,
who have sent you to intercede for
them, ‘You should intercede for men,
and not men for you.’ 3Why have you
left the eternal heaven, and lain with
women, and defiled yourselves with
the daughters of men by taking them
as wives, like the children of earth
do, and begotten giants as your sons?
4Althrough you were holy, spiritual,
living an eternal life, you have
defiled yourselves with the blood of
women, and have begotten children
with the blood of flesh, and have
lusted after flesh and blood as the
children of men do who die and
perish. 5This is why I gave them
wives, that they might beget children
by them, so that nothing might be
wanting to them on earth. 6But you
were formerly spiritual, immortal
for all generations of the world,
7
which is why I did not appoint
wives for you[xlviii]; for spiritual
beings have heaven as their
dwelling.
Origin of Demons
8My judgment for the giants is that
since they are born from flesh they
will be called evil spirits and will
remain on the earth. 9Because they
were created from above, from the
holy Watchers, at death their spirits
will come forth from their bodies
and dwell on the earth. They will be
called evil spirits. 10The heavenly
spirits will dwell in heaven, but the
terrestrial spirits who were born on
earth will dwell on earth. [xlix]
11The evil spirits of the giants will
be like clouds. They will afflict,
corrupt, tempt, battle, work
destruction on the earth, and do evil;
they will not eat nor drink, but be
invisible. 12They will rise up against
the children of men and against the
women, because they have
proceeded from them.
16
When the giants die and their spirits
leave their bodies, their flesh will
decay without judgment. In this way
the race will cease to exist until the
great judgment in which the age will
be wholly consummated over the
Watchers and the godless.
2Now tell the fallen Watchers who
have sent you to intercede for them,
“3You were in heaven, but did not
learn all the mysteries, just the
worthless ones, and these, in your
hard-heartedness, you have taught to
the women and through these
mysteries women and men produced
much evil on earth.” 4Therefore tell
them, “You will not obtain peace!"


While the book of Enoch is not part of the
canon (the accepted books that make
up our Bible) I do believe that
because it is quoted in Jude, 2nd
Peter, and referred to in both 1st and
2nd Corinthians, we can appreciate
its historicity as well as allow it to
give us an insight into the
antediluvian world (the world at the
time of Noah that existed before the
flood). It also provides keen insight
into this ongoing battle that we see
raging between the Fallen One and
the Most High God

 

[Beameup]

My best conjecture is that there are angelic beings "behind the throne", just like Michael represents Israel (and Gabriel represents Messiah).
I wouldn't consider them "the angels that sinned" prior to the flood, as those are in "chains of darkness" (Tartarus).
IMO, demons are the disembodied spirits of the nephilim.

 

[Bendito]

My best conjecture is that there are angelic beings "behind the throne", just like Michael represents Israel (and Gabriel represents Messiah).
I wouldn't consider them "the angels that sinned" prior to the flood, as those are in "chains of darkness" (Tartarus).
IMO, demons are the disembodied spirits of the nephilim.

In reading the Book of Enoch farther it appears that 200 angels, apparently the leaders of the rebellion in heaven, are not chained....Really interesting stuff..

What does IMO mean?

 

[Beameup]

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus,
and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of
righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly 2 Peter 2:4-5

Perhaps Enoch was written before the flood and before God's judgment against the fallen angels.
Angels have "bodies" (they can fully materialize) and are eternal. Nephilm had bodies
that were destroyed in the flood, but their spirits live on. So, disembodied spirits
look for a "body" to occupy (ie: demonic possession).

 

[Christ4Ever]

Brother @Bendito I do believe
IMO = In my opinion

 

[Bendito]

Brother @Bendito I do believe
IMO = In my opinion

IMO I should have seen that LOL