In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel received a revelation in a third vision, similar to his first dream which was recorded in Daniel, Chapter 7, and his second vision in Daniel, Chapter 8. Daniel's revelation, believed to have occurred in 539 BC, concerned the dispersion of God's chosen people, desolation of the temple, and completion of the prophesied punishment of the dispersed Jews in a great war.

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 twenty-fourth 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 chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. [Daniel 10:2 - 10:6]

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. 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 to me, I stood up trembling. [Daniel 10:7 - 10:11]

Uniquely struck by the vision, Daniel lost strength, and collapsed to the ground, passing out. Awakened by the Lord, Daniel was admonished to listen carefully.

Then he continued, Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. [Daniel 10:12 - 10:14]

Because of Daniel's decision to humble himself for three weeks to seek understanding of his vision, the Lord looked upon Daniel with favor and visited him personally. In response to Daniel's request to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem at the end of the seventy years of Babylonian captivity, the Lord visited Cyrus, king of Persia, for twenty-one (21) days, and was joined by the angel Michael, who assisted in convincing Cyrus to issue a decree to allow all of the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem.

While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth to speak. I said to the one standing before me. I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my Lord, and, I am helpless. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my Lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe. Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed, he said. Peace! Be strong now; be strong. When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, Speak, my Lord, since you have given me strength. [Daniel 10:15 - 10:19]

Daniel was overcome by his vision of the punishment for Israel and felt breathless to be in God's presence. But the Lord encouraged Daniel and he was strengthened.

So he said, Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, our prince. And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.) [Daniel 10:20 - 11:1]