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.
- In the New Testament apocalypse, the writer intentionally uses words very similar to what we find in this crucial passage (Rev 1:13; 14:14).
- While the being referred to is anything but human, the expression "son of man" in itself may still be rendered "a human being."
René Péter-Contesse and John Ellington, A Handbook on the Book of Daniel, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1994), 190.
The expression "like a son of man" (ke?ar ?enaš) identifies the appearance of this final Ruler of the world not only as a man, in contrast to the beasts (the four world empires), but also as the heavenly Sovereign incarnate.
Gleason L. Archer Jr., "Daniel," in The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 7 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986), 90.
- Let's go back to verse 13.
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.
II. The Identity of the Son of Man.
- Who is this "Son of Man?"
- Daniel did not know the identity of this person in his vision, but we do,
- Son of Man shows up eighty-five times, almost always in the Gospels (the only exceptions are Acts 7:56; Hebrews 2:6; and Revelation 1:13; 14:14).
- Furthermore, every use in the Gospels (except the crowd's question in John 12:34) is not only about Jesus but also from him.
- It's as if only Jesus had the gall to call himself a mere mortal.
Moore, Mark E. Core 52: A Fifteen-Minute Daily Guide to Build Your Bible IQ in a Year (p. 114). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
- The title is used exclusively by Jesus to refer to Himself.
- In the Acts 7 Stephen used the phrase to speak of Jesus!
Acts 7:54–58 (NET 2nd ed.)
54 When they heard these things, they became furious and ground their teeth at him.
55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently toward heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56 “Look!” he said. “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 But they covered their ears, shouting out with a loud voice, and rushed at him with one intent.
58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.
- The Jewish crowd was set off when Stephen said that Jesus was the Son of Man and that he saw Him at the right hand of God!
- The crowd proceeded to kill Stephen.
- In Revelation, the same phrase is used again in reference to Jesus.
Revelation 1:13 (NET 2nd ed.)
13 and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest.
Revelation 14:14 (NET 2nd ed.)
14 Then I looked, and a white cloud appeared, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man! He had a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
- Jesus wears the title "Son of Man"!
- God came from heaven to a manger, from a manger to a cross, from a cross to the grave, and from a grave back to heaven.
- Jesus was God who became a man!
Philippians 2:6–8 (NET 2nd ed.)
6 who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.
8 He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death —even death on a cross!
- He made Himself nothing!
- He was completely human!
- He humbled Himself and became the "Son of Man."
Hebrews 2:17 (NET 2nd ed.)
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
- Jesus had to have the same human struggles that we do and yet was without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 (NET 2nd ed.)
15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.
- Yet Jesus was still God!
- There are so many passages that Jesus said when you looked at Him, you were looking at God!
- There are other passages not from Jesus that tell us the same.
John 1:18 (NET 2nd ed.)
18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.
- Jesus called Himself the Son of Man because He loved identifying with us.
- He called Himself the Son of Man because He loves us and because He is the bridge between humans and God!
- These are a few reasons Jesus calls Himself the Son of Man.
- Let's move to verse 14 for a final observation.
Daniel 7:14 (NET 2nd ed.)
14 To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty. All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him. His authority is eternal and will not pass away. His kingdom will not be destroyed.
III. The Authority of the Son of Man.
- This thought goes back to understanding that, in the end, Jesus wins; no one will defeat Him, and no one will fool Him.
- The phrase SERVE HIM (worship) is used in biblical Aramaic to refer only to the homage due to God.
- This is further evidence that Daniel 7:13-14 refers to Deity, Jesus!
- The emphasis is on UNIVERSAL, not just a subsection of people or time.
- Note that the expressions everlasting, which shall not pass away and shall not be destroyed, all say essentially the same thing.
René Péter-Contesse and John Ellington, A Handbook on the Book of Daniel, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1994), 191.
- Jesus probably had this verse in mind when He gave us Matthew 28:18-20
Matthew 28:18–20 (NET 2nd ed.)
18 Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- The Son's authority is not tyrannical or oppressive but rather redemptive and life-giving (John 10:10, 1 Timothy 2:4).
- His dominion is marked by wisdom, justice, and mercy, as He rules with a gentle yet firm hand (Isaiah 9:6-7, Matthew 20:25-28).
- The Son's authority is not derived from human power or manipulation but from His divine nature and the will of the Father.
- The Son's dominion represents the ultimate triumph of good over evil, as He reigns supreme over all creation (1 Corinthians 15:25-28, Revelation 11:15).
- The Son's authority provides hope and assurance for believers, who trust in His goodness and wisdom to guide and protect them.
- The Son's dominion serves as a reminder of the coming kingdom of God, where righteousness, peace, and joy will reign supreme (Romans 14:17, Revelation 21-22).
- The Son of Man's dominion is a central theme in Jesus' teaching, as He proclaimed the kingdom of God and called people to repentance and faith (Matthew 4:17, 23, Mark 1:15).
CONCLUSION
- Daniel 7:13-14 offers hope to a hopeless world.
- The world offers death and suffering, the Son of Man offers life, life eternal.
- Which one do you want?
