In the third year of Cyrus, King of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel, who was at that time called Belchazar.

Its message was true, and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came

to him in a vision. And at that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.

I ate no choice food, no meat or wine touched my lips,

and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

On the 24th day of the first month,

as I was standing on the bank of the great river,

the Tigris, I looked up, and there before me was a man,

dressed in linen with a belt of the finest gold around his waist.

His body was like crystallite, his face like lightning,

his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnish bronze, and his

voice like the sound of a multitude.

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision. The men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision.

I had no strength left. My face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. And then I heard him speaking and as I listened to him I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the

ground. A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

He said, Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to

speak to you and stand up, for I have now been sent to you and when he said this I

stood up trembling and then he continued do not be afraid Daniel since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding

and to humble yourself before your God.

Your words were heard and I have come in response. But the Prince of the Persian Kingdom resisted me 21 days.

And then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I was detained there with the

King of Persia, and now I've come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future for the vision concerns a time yet to come.

...