The Son Of Man Series

INTRODUCTION

- Daniel is the last message in our Hidden Hope series within Core 52.

- As stated before, the entire Bible points to Jesus. In some pages, He jumps off the page at us, and in others, He is between the lines.

- For those who lived in the Old Testament, Jesus was hidden between the lines, but for those who live in the New Testament, Jesus jumps off the page of this vision from Daniel.

- In order to appreciate what Daniel was led to write, he wrote the Book of Daniel between 600 and his death in 536 BC.

- That would have been over five to six hundred years BEFORE Jesus was born in 6 BC and before His death and resurrection in 30 AD.

- Daniel accurately prophesied the rise and fall of the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman empires.

- He also spoke of the rise of the Church, which was not even a thought in 553 BD when Daniel had his visions in Daniel 7.

- The goal of all history is presented.

- This is the victory of the kingdom of Christ over all other kingdoms that aspire to universal rule.

- The language of Daniel makes it clear that he has seen a vision of the ascension of the Lord!

- As we examine Daniel's prophetic vision, we will see yet another reason that Jesus is the only way to God!

- Amid Daniel's visions in Daniel 7, Daniel shares a fantastic vision of the Son of Man.

- Let's turn to our text.

Daniel 7:13 (NET 2nd ed.)

13 “I was watching in the night visions, And with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man was approaching. He went up to the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him.

SERMON

I. The Vision of the Son of Man.

- The vision of Daniel, particularly as described in Daniel 7:13-14, is one of the Bible's most profound and significant prophetic revelations.

- It stands out not only for its vivid imagery but also for its deep theological implications, especially concerning the Messiah, who is also known as the "Son of Man."

- Daniel's vision occurs in a night vision.

- He sees the Ancient of Days (God) seated on a throne, with books opened in a court setting.

- Before the arrival of the "Son of Man," Daniel witnesses four beasts rising from the sea, symbolizing kingdoms or empires that would rise and fall.

- In Daniel 7, we have Daniel recording a vision he had from God.

Daniel 7:1 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream filled with visions while he was lying on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream in summary fashion.

- The vision was fascinating, and we will not go into everything he saw.

- In the midst of the vision, Daniel records verses 13-14, which are the verses we are studying today.

Daniel 7:13 (NET 2nd ed.)

13 “I was watching in the night visions, And with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man was approaching. He went up to the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him.

- Daniel saw one like the son of man approaching heaven, and He was escorted before the Ancient of Days.

- This imagery of coming with the clouds signifies divine authority and power.

- The figure approaches the Ancient of Days and is given authority, glory, and sovereign power.

- This moment is pivotal because it marks a transition from the rule of beastly empires to the establishment of a kingdom characterized by righteousness and divine justice.

- Ancient of days: This expression designates an aged person who is, therefore, considered especially wise in biblical culture.

- In the language of the vision, this "old person" is clearly God himself.

René Péter-Contesse and John Ellington, A Handbook on the Book of Daniel, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1994), 186.

- One like a son of man: the words translated "son of man" appear 192 times in the original languages of Scripture.

- There are 107 in the Old Testament and 85 occurrences in the New Testament.

- Ezekiel is addressed ninety-three times as "son of man."

- In the Book of Daniel, the prophet himself is addressed in 8:17, and the expression focuses on his humanity.

- The meaning of the term "human being" here in 7:13 is also the same, but the context is quite different.

- The framework is that of an apocalyptic vision, and the words "son of man" come immediately after the Aramaic particle, usually translated by the English adverb "like."

- This shows that the one referred to resembles a human being but, in fact, is not mortal.