In the third year of ^aCyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to ^bDaniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the ^cmessage was true and it referred to great conflict (warfare, misery) . And he understood the message and had an ^dunderstanding of the vision. Dan 8:26; Rev 19:9

2 In those days I, Daniel, had been ^amourning for three entire weeks. 3 I ^aate no tasty food, nor did any meat or wine enter my mouth; and I did not ¹anoint (refresh, groom) myself at all for the full three weeks. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was on the bank of the great ^ariver Hiddekel which is the Tigris, 5 I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a ¹certain man ^adressed in linen, whose loins were ^bgirded with a ²belt of pure ^cgold of Uphaz. 6 His body also was like beryl with a golden luster, his face had the appearance of lightning, ^ahis eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and his feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words was like the noise of a multitude of people or the roaring of the sea. Rev 1:12-16; 19:6 7 And I, Daniel, ^aalone saw the vision of this heavenly being, for the ^bmen who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great ^cpanic overwhelmed them, so they ran away to hide themselves. 8 So I was ^aleft alone and saw this great vision; yet ^bno strength was left in me, for my normal appearance turned to a deathly pale, and I grew weak and faint with fright. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I ^afell on my face in a deep sleep, with my face toward the ground.

10 Then behold, a hand ^atouched me and set me unsteadily on my ¹hands and knees. 11 So he said to me, “O ^aDaniel, you highly regarded and greatly beloved man, ^bunderstand the words that I am about to say to you and ^cstand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And while he was saying this word to me, I stood up ^dtrembling. 12 Then he said to me, “^aDo not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on ^bhumbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response ^cto your words. 13 But the ¹prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days. Then, behold, ^aMichael, one of the chief of the celestial princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to ^amake you understand what will happen to your people in the ^blatter days, for the vision is in regard to the ^cdays yet to come.”

15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was ^aspeechless. 16 And behold, ^aone who resembled the sons of men ^btouched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, because of the vision ^canguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For ^ahow can such a weakened servant of my lord talk with such a being as my lord? For now there remains ^bno strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”

18 Then the one (Gabriel) whose appearance was like that of a man touched me again, and he ^astrengthened me. 19 He said, “O man, highly regarded and greatly beloved, ^ado not be afraid. Peace be to you; take ^bcourage and be strong.” Now when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have ^cstrengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you understand fully why I came to you? Now I shall return to fight against the hostile ¹prince of Persia; and when I have gone, behold, the ^2aprince of Greece is about to come. 21 But I (Gabriel) will tell you what is inscribed in the ¹writing of ^atruth. There is no one who stands firmly with me and strengthens himself against these hostile spirit forces except ^bMichael, your prince the guardian of your nation.