Daniel 10:5-6 describes a glorious heavenly figure clothed in linen, girded with gold, with a body like a precious stone, a face like lightning, flaming eyes, limbs gleaming like polished bronze, and a voice like the sound of a multitude. The identity of this figure is debated. Some Christian interpreters regard him as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, while others understand him as a mighty angelic messenger, particularly because the subsequent narrative describes resistance by the "prince of Persia" and assistance from Michael.

Revelation 1:13-16 describes the glorified Christ with strikingly similar imagery: a long robe, golden sash, blazing eyes, feet like refined bronze, and a voice like rushing waters. The resemblance is unmistakable and shows that Revelation draws upon Danielic imagery in portraying Christ's heavenly glory. It does not, however, prove beyond dispute that the figure in Daniel 10 is personally the pre-incarnate Messiah. The safest conclusion is that Daniel supplies the visual vocabulary of heavenly glory that Revelation applies unmistakably to the risen Christ, while the precise identity of Daniel's messenger remains open to interpretation.