Touched by an angel ∙∙

Touched by an angel ∙∙

Just then, a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. – Daniel 10:10

Daniel 10:17-19

 17 How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.

 18 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning.

 19 “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

The Legacy of Touched by an Angel

“Touched by an Angel” was a heartwarming and inspiring American fantasy television series that captured audiences for nearly a decade. Airing from 1994 to 2003, it spanned 9 seasons with a total of 211 episodes. The series centered on two main characters, Monica and her wise supervisor Tess, as angels sent from heaven to guide people through their struggles.

Though these angels didn’t offer instant solutions or magical fixes, they came with messages of hope, displaying the Father’s unconditional love and often helping individuals turn their lives around. A quirky element of the show was Tess’s mode of transportation. Instead of a fiery chariot, she drove a classic 1972 Cadillac Eldorado Fleetwood, a charming detail that endeared her to fans.

What Is It Really Like to Be Touched by an Angel?

The Scriptures provide vivid accounts of angelic interactions, some appearing in human form and others revealing divine radiance. Among these is the prophet Daniel’s extraordinary encounter, as recorded in Daniel 10.

Daniel was entrusted with prophetic visions regarding the future of his people and the coming of the Messiah. Overwhelmed by their complexity, he prayed and fasted, seeking clarity. Suddenly, his prayer was interrupted by an awe-inspiring figure that captivated him completely, far surpassing the brilliance of the angel Gabriel whom he had seen previously.

A Heavenly Encounter

Daniel’s vision begins with a voice. He gazed upward and described the figure: Daniel 10:5-6: “I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.”

This description closely mirrors the Apostle John’s vision of Christ in Revelation 1:10-16. Did Daniel see the pre-incarnate Christ or an angelic messenger, such as Gabriel? The Scriptures do not definitively answer. Ultimately, the identity of the visitor is secondary to the profound impact of the moment.

The Overwhelming Power of God’s Presence

Daniel was overtaken with awe. His strength drained, he turned pale, collapsed, and lay face down on the ground in utter weakness: Daniel 10:8-9: “I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.”

Falling prostrate before the presence of God Himself or when experiencing angelic visitations is a common reaction in the Scriptures.

The touch of an angel

Then, a hand touched Daniel, lifting him and renewing his trembling body: Daniel 10:10-11: “Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, ‘Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.’ When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.”

The messenger reassured Daniel, explaining that his prayers had been heard in heaven and answered. Daniel 10:12 says, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven.”

Strength Restored

Overwhelmed once more, Daniel confessed his frailty and inability to comprehend the vision. Yet again, he was touched and strengthened, Daniel 10:18-19: “Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said, ‘for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!’ As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, ‘Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.’”

Through divine touch, Daniel’s spirit was renewed, his strength restored, and his desire for understanding deepened.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father often reaches out to encourage His people, sometimes through His written Word, sometimes through awe-inspiring messengers, and on rare occasions, through personal, life-changing visitations.

Father, thank You for reaching out and touching our hearts. Thank You for inviting us to experience Your love, guidance, and presence. May we always seek You with humility and trust in Your divine plan.

INSIGHT

A Vision Beyond Comprehension

The figure that appeared before Daniel was unlike anything he had encountered before, with one possible exception. The visitor had the likeness of a man but radiated an angelic presence. Daniel could not discern if he were witnessing a vision or a real man. Overwhelmed, he drifted in and out of consciousness, yet something about the figure stirred a sense of familiarity. The resemblance reminded Daniel of the Son of Man, whom he had seen earlier in dreams and visions when the Son of Man appeared before the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13).

A Marvelous Revelation

Gradually, Daniel’s mind cleared, and he became acutely aware of the extraordinary nature of the moment. It felt as though he was standing in the very presence of the Most High, nourished by the life and light emanating from Him. In that instant, he became aware of the existence of knowledge on a level much higher than his aging mind could comprehend. It transcended mere knowledge. It was a special place where truth, knowledge, and experience kiss.

Somehow, Daniel, in his feeble humanity, for a brief moment, supernaturally melded with the mind of the Eternal. He had a brief, close encounter with the very thoughts of the living God. He became aware of the wonderful, special wisdom and intelligence that spoke all things into existence. But this experience was about more than mere information.

A Glimpse Into the Mind of God

Why had the Father chosen to reveal this to Daniel? This glimpse into His thoughts was not just to satisfy curiosity but to whet Daniel’s appetite for something greater. It was an invitation for more than fleeting moments of enlightenment. The Father was calling Daniel to a deeper, daily experience of His Kingdom, a life lived on a spiritual plateau.

Living on a Higher Plane

This divine invitation went beyond knowledge. He wanted Daniel to have more than a brief taste. Surely, He was inviting Daniel to experience daily the reality of the Father’s Kingdom. He was inviting him to live on a higher plain where the Father’s all-encompassing purity extinguishes sinful thoughts.

In this wonderful place, his worldly concerns were replaced by the Father’s perspective and desires. The Father wanted Daniel to see things through His eyes. The Father was not merely inviting him to experience His Kingdom. He was inviting Daniel to experience Him personally and intimately. For those brief, transcendent moments, Daniel saw the world through the eyes of the Creator of all things.

An Invitation for All Believers

What Daniel experienced is not unique to him alone. This divine calling extends to all children of the King. The Father invites each of us to draw near to Him, to experience His Kingdom in all its fullness, and to live continuously in His presence.

This is not merely about glimpsing divine truth but about being transformed by it, aligning our thoughts and hearts with the eternal, life-giving reality of God Himself.

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© Dr. H 2025