Daniel 7
Daniel 7
Daniel 7:13–14 reads as follows:
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man [bar enasha], coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (my emphasis).1
This text should be compared to Dan 7:25–27 where we are told this everlasting kingdom is handed over to the saints and is taken away from the beastly ruler and empire which had existed before. The whole pattern of inhumane empires (four of them) followed by a human and humane one is the big picture. This should be compared to 2 Sam 7:12: “When your days are over…, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you,…and I will establish his kingdom.”
Notice the difference between these two texts which were read messianically in Jesus' day. The one refers to a normal succession of a royal family—from David to his offspring. The other refers to an everlasting kingdom ruled by “the one like a son of man” who can be so closely identified with the saints that they can be said to rule in Him or through Him. Daniel 7:13–14 is remarkable in another regard as well. The figure in question comes down (not up) from heaven for the judgment scene upon the earth and is handed authority, power, etc., to rule by the Ancient of Days. Of course in the OT the yom Yahweh was normally envisioned as the Day that Yahweh came down in theophanic fashion and judged.