One Like a Son of Man

A dark sea, churned by winds from every direction. Waves crash and boil. And out of the water, one after another, rise four enormous beasts, each more frightening than the last.

Daniel was a young man from Jerusalem, taken to Babylon as a captive when the Babylonians conquered Judah. He served in the royal court for many years, faithful to God through the reigns of several kings. He had already lived through a lot: the lions' den was still to come, but he had seen great kings rise and fall. Now, in the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel lies on his bed at night, and God gives him a dream, a vision. He writes it down, because he knows it matters. It is about the empires of the world, and about who really rules.

The four winds of heaven stir up the great sea, and four beasts come up out of it. The first is like a lion with eagle's wings. The second is like a bear, with three ribs in its mouth. The third is like a leopard with four wings and four heads. And the fourth is unlike anything Daniel has ever seen: terrifying, incredibly strong, with great iron teeth, crushing and trampling everything in its path, and with ten horns. Then a little horn grows among them, with eyes like a man's and a mouth speaking boastful things. Later, an angel explains to Daniel that these beasts are kingdoms, great empires that rise from the chaos of the world, devouring and boasting.

But then Daniel's vision changes. Thrones are set in place. And one who is called the Ancient of Days takes his seat. His clothing is white as snow, his hair like pure wool. His throne is flames of fire, its wheels burning fire. A river of fire flows out from before him. Thousands upon thousands serve him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him. The court sits in judgement, and the books are opened. And the boasting beast is judged and destroyed. The other beasts have their power taken away. The empires that seemed so mighty are brought to nothing before the throne of God.

And then. “I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.” Not a beast this time. One like a son of man, a human figure. And he does not rise from the stormy sea. He comes with the clouds of heaven, the way God himself is described coming. He is brought before the throne. “Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom that which will not be destroyed.” Every other kingdom in the dream comes and goes. This one lasts forever. When Jesus walked the roads of Galilee, the name he used for himself more than any other was the Son of Man. And at his trial, when the high priest asked if he was the Christ, Jesus answered, I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.

There is something unusual about the language of this part of Daniel. Most of the Old Testament is written in Hebrew. But from the middle of chapter two to the end of chapter seven, the book of Daniel switches to Aramaic, the international language of the Babylonian and Persian empires. Daniel's vision of the beasts and the son of man was first written in the language of the empires it describes.

One like a son of man. You'll find it in Daniel chapter seven, verses thirteen and fourteen. The beasts of the world rise and fall, but God gives an everlasting kingdom to the Son of Man. So here is a question to carry with you. When the news is full of powerful people and frightening things, how does Daniel's vision help you remember who is really in charge?