Verse 18: “Again he touched me, this one who had an appearance of a man, and he strengthened me.”

Again: It has happened before. This one who had an appearance of a man: An angel

Verse 19: “And he said to me: ‘Do not fear beloved man, for peace is to you and also power, power.’ According to the words he spoke with me, I was strengthened, and I said: ‘Speak, O lord, that I might be strong.’”

Peace … and also power: When we are men or women of prayer, taking God’s revelation and prophetic truth seriously and desiring to be found faithful in the midst of it, God is going to minister to us by sending His angels to strengthen and stand us up so we can walk in faithfulness.

Power power: A double portion. Speak … that I might be strong: Daniel knows that as he hears what is spoken (truth) he is going to be empowered and strengthened. Daniel has now been prepared to receive God’s truth.

Verse 20: “And he said, ‘Do you know why I have come unto you? And now I will return to fight against the captain of Persia; and when I am going forth, behold the captain of Greece will come.”

Captain: Prince. Captain of Persia… captain of Greece: We saw mention of these two empires in Daniel 8 – a key prophecy to prepare us and give us insight on what is going to happen in the last days.

The first empire that rose up was Persia (Iran) – Daniel 8:3-4. After Persia has caused destruction, pain, death, and a sense of hopelessness, suddenly another empire (Greece, which is the area that the modern-day European union presides over today) rises up.

Daniel calls this empire the goat (Daniel 8:5-14).

Verse 21: “But I have told you what is registered in the Book of Truth. There is no one who is being strengthened with me concerning these things, except Michael your captain.”

Registered: Listed, placed.

Registered in the Book of Truth: This is factual. It is something that has to be. We need to be ready for those events that we will be here for.

No one … is being strengthened with me: Daniel was alone. No one else was praying or behaving like Daniel.

Michael: Michael the Archangel. The name Michael means “Who is like God?” It is a name that speaks about the uniqueness of our God.