Lesson 11, March 7-13
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Ephesians 6:12, Daniel 10, Ezra 4:1-5, Joshua 5:13-15, Revelation 1:12-18, Colossians 2:15, Romans 8:37-39.
Memory Text: “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” Daniel 10:19
Daniel 10 introduces the concluding vision of Daniel, which continues in chapters 11 and 12. We are informed at the outset that this vision concerns a “great conflict” (Daniel 10:1). While Daniel 11 fleshes out some details of this conflict, Daniel 10 shows its spiritual dimensions and reveals that behind the scenes of earthly battles rages a spiritual conflict of cosmic proportions. As we study this chapter, we shall see that when we pray, we engage in this cosmic conflict in a way that has profound repercussions. But we are not alone in our struggles; Jesus engages the battle against Satan in our behalf. We shall learn that the ultimate fight we are engaged in is not against earthly human powers but the powers of darkness.
As the apostle Paul put it centuries after Daniel: “For we do not wrestle against 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” (Ephesians 6:12). Ultimately, our success in the conflict rests on Jesus Christ, who alone defeated Satan at the cross.
