THE SON OF MAN VICTORIOUS
DANIEL 7
In my visions at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence
(Daniel 7:13).
In Daniel 2 Nebuchadnezzar had a dream from God. He saw a gigantic statue of a man with a head of gold, chest of silver, thighs of bronze, and legs of iron. This statue symbolized the world empires that God was setting up to rule the earth until the coming of the Messiah: Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. Then a stone cut without hands, representing the altar of true worship (Exodus 20:25), struck and smashed the statue. Then the altar grew until it became a mountain, showing that God’s kingdom would eventually cover the earth. The contrast in this vision is between the humanistic political empires of men and the worship-centered empire of God.
In chapter 7 Daniel had a vision showing the same historical progression, but with other images. This time the contrast is set out differently. Daniel sees the four empires as four beasts: Babylon as a winged lion, Persia as a bear, Greece as a leopard, and Rome as a terrifying beast. Then Daniel sees God enthroned in heaven and the kingdoms of the world given to a man-like figure. The contrast is between the bestial nations, ruled by the original beast, the serpent (Genesis 3), and the true humanity of the kingdom of God, ruled by His restored images.
It is clear that the one who is “like a son of man” refers not simply to a godly kingdom to come, but also and primarily to an individual. As “man” He is human, but as “like” man, He is divine. What Daniel sees is nothing other than the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven, an event described in more detail by John in Revelation 4–5. The disciples saw Jesus ascend to heaven into God’s glory cloud as they stood on the Mount of Olives. Daniel and John saw Jesus enter that glory cloud, into heaven itself. He approached the Father, and is given “an everlasting dominion that will not pass away” (Daniel 7:14).
Jesus did not receive this kingdom for Himself alone. Just as Nebuchadnezzar represented Babylon, so Jesus represents the kingdom of God. In union with Jesus we are also rulers of the world. Thus, Daniel 7:27 says that “the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High.”
CORAM DEO
Ezekiel 41–42
2 Peter 1
WEEKEND
Ezekiel 43–46
2 Peter 2–3
History is not finished, and Daniel’s prophecies have not yet received their greatest fulfillment. Yet with these prophecies in mind, we should move out into this world, which has been given to the Son of Man, with confidence. It is the destiny of the saints to rule the world. Begin today by standing for God’s truth and by speaking His Word.
For further study: Galatians 4:1–6 • Revelation 3:14–20
WEEKEND