In the passage of Daniel 10:12-13, has nothing to do with demons. The angel was delayed by the Prince of Persia, the angel protector of Persia (an angel belonging to the angelic choir of principalities). According to the Navarre Bible Commentary:

It appears that Daniel's vision revealed that we must wait upon the Lord, as seen in the Angel of Persia withholding Gabriel from his mission. It also appears that a more powerful angel, Michael, was needed to complete the mission, to help Gabriel to announce his message of salvation to Israel.

We all learn from this is that we must trust in God and wait upon His timing, and that some angels have special power to effect God's message.

The society of angels (and demons) is a hierarchical one. The angels of God are ranked in nine choirs. There is a similar hierarchy among demons according to St. Paul who identifies a few of them with similar names as the choirs in heaven:

The demonic orders of "principalities" and "powers" are the demonic equivalent to the Angelic Choirs of Principalities and Powers. Since there are nine choirs of God's angels, it is likely that Satan has nine orders of demons.

Each choir of angels has a particular job to do for God. In the same manner each order of demons has a particular job to do for Satan. These differing choirs (orders) each have their own authority assigned to them and each has their own level of power and strength.

In other words, some angels are more powerful than others, and some demons are more powerful than others. The highest ranking demon I have confronted personally is a Principality (sort of the one-star general in charge of a city).

The reality of differing strength and power of demons is well known among those who do deliverance and exorcism. Some demons are so powerful that it may require St. Michael himself, and our Blessed Mother to personally cast out the demon, as the exorcist or deliverance counselor makes the petition. Other demons can be cast away by simple prayer, such as the famous "St. Michael Prayer" that use to be be said after Mass.

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Daniel 10:12	Joe	Sunday, November 25, 2012
Question: Dear Brother - Please help figure out how to understand Daniel 10:12-13 where the angel informs Daniel that he (the angel) was resisted by the Prince of Persia for 21 days till Michael one of the chief princes came to help him. 1. Does this mean that an angel of God can be resisted by Satan or his minions? Does this explain why some answers to prayers are delayed? If yes, what does this mean for the person praying - intensify prayer efforts or presume that God will answer in His time? 2. Why is Michael referred to as one of the chief princes? I thought he was the Prince of all the other angels. I did some basic search regarding this was lead to conclude that the Church fathers had slightly different opinions on St. Michael's position in the angelic hierarchy. Is that true? Joe
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Joe: In the passage of Daniel 10:12-13, has nothing to do with demons. The angel was delayed by the Prince of Persia, the angel protector of Persia (an angel belonging to the angelic choir of principalities). According to the Navarre Bible Commentary: The vision that he (God) is going to reveal to Daniel is one for which the ground was being prepared ever since the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem; Habakkuk has already said: "For still the vision awaits its time ... If it is slow, wait for it" (Hab 2:3). If the angel tool twenty-one days to come, the reason was that the angel protector of Persia held him back, trying to prevent the revelation about the end from reaching Israel. ...As well as conveying an idea of God's providence towards every nation, this passage allows us to glimpse that what happens on earth is also happening at the same time in the sphere of heaven; or, to put it another way, that it is in heaven that the destinies of nations are decided. Michael, being Israel's angel protector, is the only one who helps the revelation angel, Gabriel, to carry on with his assignment to announce the salvation to the chosen people (10:21). "...Michael [whose name means, "Who is like God", belonging to the highest rank of angels] is the angel sent when a mission or task requires special power, for by his name and his actions he reveals that no one else can do what God alone can do" (St. Gregory the Great, Homiliae in Evangelis, 2, 34, 9). It appears that Daniel's vision revealed that we must wait upon the Lord, as seen in the Angel of Persia withholding Gabriel from his mission. It also appears that a more powerful angel, Michael, was needed to complete the mission, to help Gabriel to announce his message of salvation to Israel. We all learn from this is that we must trust in God and wait upon His timing, and that some angels have special power to effect God's message. As far as the question about angels being resisted by demons: The society of angels (and demons) is a hierarchical one. The angels of God are ranked in nine choirs. There is a similar hierarchy among demons according to St. Paul who identifies a few of them with similar names as the choirs in heaven: (Eph 6:12) For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The demonic orders of "principalities" and "powers" are the demonic equivalent to the Angelic Choirs of Principalities and Powers. Since there are nine choirs of God's angels, it is likely that Satan has nine orders of demons. Each choir of angels has a particular job to do for God. In the same manner each order of demons has a particular job to do for Satan. These differing choirs (orders) each have their own authority assigned to them and each has their own level of power and strength. In other words, some angels are more powerful than others, and some demons are more powerful than others. The highest ranking demon I have confronted personally is a Principality (sort of the one-star general in charge of a city). The reality of differing strength and power of demons is well known among those who do deliverance and exorcism. Some demons are so powerful that it may require St. Michael himself, and our Blessed Mother to personally cast out the demon, as the exorcist or deliverance counselor makes the petition. Other demons can be cast away by simple prayer, such as the famous "St. Michael Prayer" that use to be be said after Mass. Demons even resisted Jesus. We see in the story of the man possessed by Legion: (Mark 5:1-13) They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had come out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who lived among the tombs; and no one could bind him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the fetters he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out, and bruising himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him; and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." And he begged him eagerly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him, "Send us to the swine, let us enter them." So he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea. "For he had said..." Jesus had already commanded the demons to leave, but they hadn't left. Jesus then asked for the name of the demon. The demons identified themselves and then negotiated with Jesus. Then Jesus cast them out. This is significant because exorcists know from experience that knowing the "name" of the demon gives power over the demon. It is not that Jesus could not have cast out the demons the first time, it is that Jesus is giving us a lesson that some demons are more powerful than others. Jesus mentioned this lesson again when he said that to cast out some demons requires prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21), As to St. Michael, the Archangel, prince of angels: We know that in this context the title of Archangel does not indicate that Michael was in the Choir of Archangels. Rather, this title implies his high status. While there is some dispute about Michael's rank, since he is the one assigned by God to escort Lucifer and the rebel angels out of heaven, and that he is the protector of the Church, the Bride of Christ, it stand to reason, I think, that he is the Prince of all angels. Certainly he is the Prince of Spiritual Warfare, Our Blessed Mother is the queen of spiritual warfare, and Sts. Peter and Paul the five-star generals of spiritual warfare (in our view). God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

(Mark 5:1-13) They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had come out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who lived among the tombs; and no one could bind him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the fetters he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out, and bruising himself with stones.

And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him; and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." And he begged him eagerly not to send them out of the country.

Now a great herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him, "Send us to the swine, let us enter them." So he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.

"For he had said..." Jesus had already commanded the demons to leave, but they hadn't left. Jesus then asked for the name of the demon. The demons identified themselves and then negotiated with Jesus. Then Jesus cast them out. This is significant because exorcists know from experience that knowing the "name" of the demon gives power over the demon.

It is not that Jesus could not have cast out the demons the first time, it is that Jesus is giving us a lesson that some demons are more powerful than others. Jesus mentioned this lesson again when he said that to cast out some demons requires prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21),

We know that in this context the title of Archangel does not indicate that Michael was in the Choir of Archangels. Rather, this title implies his high status.

While there is some dispute about Michael's rank, since he is the one assigned by God to escort Lucifer and the rebel angels out of heaven, and that he is the protector of the Church, the Bride of Christ, it stand to reason, I think, that he is the Prince of all angels. Certainly he is the Prince of Spiritual Warfare, Our Blessed Mother is the queen of spiritual warfare, and Sts. Peter and Paul the five-star generals of spiritual warfare (in our view).