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being that resembled a man but had a face “as the appearance of lightning.”A messenger from the throne of God, a supernaturalbeing informed Daniel of the struggle he hadendured in order to bring him a revelation of end times. Inthe 9
th
Chapter, Daniel had been visited by a being whoidentified himself as the angel Gabriel, the very angel whowould have a major role in bringing messages to the virgin Maryand to Zechariah. However, in the 10
th
Chapter, we are not told if this angel is Gabriel. Much wisdom for deliverance is revealed inthe angel's words:
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chastenthyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am comefor thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persiawithstood me one and twenty days: but lo, Michael, one of thechief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with thekings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for yet thevision is for many days. (Daniel 10:12-14)
Who is the prince of the kingdom of Persia? I suspect thathe is a “dignity” of a higher rank than was the one sent to Danielbut of a lower rank than Michael. I suspect that the only dignitythat is of a higher rank than Michael is Satanhimself. Otherwise, as recorded in Jude, Michael would nothave had to yield to Satan and declare “the Lord rebuke thee.”So then what should be our understanding of Paul's letter to theColossians where he writes concerning Jesus at thecross: “having spoiled principalities and powers, He made ashew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians2:15) I believe that all dignities must bow to Jesus but unlikedemons, they do not have to bow to us when we use the Lord'sname against them, and in this regard, we must come boldly tothe throne of grace and ask the Lord Himself to rebuke thedignities on the captive's behalf. David also presents a clue asto how the Lord as Our Advocate functions with these dignitiesamong “the congregation of the mighty.” I myself am not yetready to be as bold with the Lord as was David:
God standeth in the congregation of the mighty
;
He judgeth among the gods.
How long will ye judge unjustly,and accept the persons of the wicked? Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted andneedy. Deliver the poor and need; rid them out of thehand of the wicked.” (Psalm 82:1-4)
I interpret this scripture to impart that the congregation of the mighty not only includes the angels of the Lord,
but alsothose dignities that serve Satan.
Apparently, every knee must