Princes

The idea that a prince of a kingdom refers to a spirit power was popularised by Scofield and others. Texts such as Dan 10:13 referring to “the prince of Persia” are used to depict demons fighting angels in the heavenlies.

The KJV Bible uses the word prince(s) hundreds of times in the Old Testament, but not once does it use the word to refer to a spirit ruler of an earthly nation. It is used for the angel Michael and for Christ. Every other time prince is used for a ruler of a nation it is always a human ruler.

Daniel 10 was written after Cyrus king of Persia ordered the Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem. When Daniel 10 was written, Cambyses was ruler of Persia and opposing the work in Jerusalem. Because books are separated into historical, poetic and prophetic sections in the Old Testament, we may read a prophetic book without connecting it to the correct historical book and the related time period.

Daniel 10 was written during the time of Zerubbabel, when the Jews were opposed while rebuilding the temple. Daniel was prophesying at that time, but so too was Haggai and Zechariah. The prophets were helping the Jews by encouraging them with the word of the Lord. The angel Gabriel was standing with them and helping them, just as he had come to stand by Daniel in Daniel 10.

We agree with John Wesley, that the prince of Persia was the human ruler of Persia named Cambyses who was opposing Israel. Gabriel went to stand with the Jews and was delayed in coming to Daniel. God permitted the delay. Daniel 10 is not about a demonic prince of Persia, or of the angel Gabriel fighting a demon power in the heavenlies. It is not teaching that Satan can delay God’s purposes. Wesley’s commentary on Dan 10:13 states:

Withstood me - God suffered (allowed) the wicked counsels of Cambyses to take place a while; but Daniel by his prayers and the angel by his power, overcame him at last: and this very thing laid a foundation of the ruin for the Persian monarchies…(Gabriel) remained to counterwork their designs against the people of God.

Gabriel stated that the prince of Greece was coming (Dan 10:20). This was referring to the human ruler of Greece. In Dan 11:3 he is called a mighty king and we know this was Alexander the Great. In Dan 9:26 Gabriel said “the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary” and we know this was the human ruler of Rome, who destroyed the temple and Jerusalem in 70AD.

If Persia was ruled by a demon prince and not by God, why did king Cyrus of Persia command Jerusalem to be rebuilt? The concept that nations have different gods that strive for dominance is a pagan concept. All the Greek leaders thought in this way. It leads to people giving their attention to devils rather than to God. An incorrect understanding of these passages leads to several problems:

1. It causes us to focus on Satan rather than on Jesus Christ.

2. It causes us to see Satan as the evil one and not man and his own sin. There is no difference in evil between Satan and the heart of fallen man. The issue is man’s own sin and responsibility, not Satan’s. This is why Jesus came. When John said Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, he meant He came to deliver us from the law of sin and death and the curse God had spoken because of sin (1John 3:8).

3. It causes us to have an unbiblical approach to revival and prayer.