“In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship.” Daniel 10:1
It was in this third year of Cyrus king of Persia, late in Daniel’s career, about seventy-two years after he had been carried away as a youth to Babylon, a revelation and vision was revealed to Daniel. By way of identification, his Babylonian name Belteshazzar is given, to make clear that he is the same Daniel who was so named by Nebuchadnezzar seventy years before. Daniel wanted everyone to know that the vision was true and it was to happen in the future.
In contrast to the previous visions, Daniel states that “he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.” The previous visions had left questions in Daniel’s mind which were not fully resolved, although he had faithfully recorded what he had seen and heard. It is doubtful whether Daniel completely understood all the vision which followed, but at least he comprehended its general characteristics and was not left in a state of perplexity, for instance, as indicated in Daniel 8:27 where he was physically sick as a result of the extensive vision given to him. The introductory statement is sufficient, however, to alert the reader that a tremendous revelation is about to be presented. Daniel 10, records the fourth vision given to Daniel. It concerns Israel in the last days under the Antichrist. This vision is called the vision of wars, because there will be wars and great hardship during the Tribulation.