“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like the Son of Man, 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.” (Daniel 7:13-14)
Daniel 7 begins the second section of Daniel’s book which deals more with his prophecies and visions. In Daniel 7, Daniel sees four creatures which represent four empires that will dominate the world. The lion represents Babylon. The bear represents Medo-Persia. The leopard represents Greece. And the “dreadful beast” represents Rome. These four kingdoms will eventually pass away and the kingdom of God will reign supreme and eternally.
Verses 13-14 stood out to me this morning. Who will reign over God’s kingdom? It will be “one like the Son of Man.” He will be a man but also One who will rule forever. He will come in the clouds and be given dominion and power over all the peoples of the earth. And His kingdom will never end. Who is this Son of Man?
Matthew 26:63-64 tells us. During Jesus’ trial, He is silent before His accusers until finally the high priest asks, “I adjure You by the living God that You tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God?” Jesus said to them, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
The high priest asked if He was the “Son of God,” the Messiah. Jesus responded by saying that He was the Son of God and the Son of Man, echoing back to Daniel’s prophecy. He would be the One who would come in the clouds and rule forever and ever over the kingdoms of the world. Quite a claim. That is why the high priest responds by ripping his clothes and shouting, “He has spoken blasphemy!”
Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man–the God-Man–born of a virgin in a stable 2000 years ago yet destined to rule over the kingdoms of the world forever and ever.
When will this happen? The Bible says that no one knows the day or hour. But Daniel’s prophecy tells us that it will happen after a “pompous king” arises out of the Roman Empire, persecutes the saints, and tries to change “times and law.” Of course, there are a multitude of interpretations for this but the one that makes the most sense to me is that a future “anti-Christ” is coming who will rule over a revived Roman empire (European nations) and attempt to exercise world control, persecuting Christians, and even trying to change times and law (could it be that a future leader tries to change our yearly calendar since it is based on Christ’s birth?).
Whatever the case, we have confidence that no world leader or no world kingdom will last. Only Christ will rule forever. And in this we have hope, confidence, and joy!