Deeper ReflectionDaniel saw in his vision “one like a son of man” coming and was
presented before the Ancient of Days (v.13). The description
“one like a son of man” means that this being “appeared to be
simply a mortal human being”
32 . Elsewhere in the Old Testament, this
phrase “son of man” “often distinguishes mere mortals from God”
33 – as
in “God is not man…nor a son of man” (Num 23:19). But Daniel saw in
this figure “something more to his humanity than merely God appearing
in human shape”
34 , like God appearing to Abraham with His two angels
as “three men” (Gen 18:1-2, 22). Daniel saw in this being both human and
divine traits combined in one person.This son of man comes “with the clouds of heaven” (v.13), which is “a
clear symbol of divine authority”
35 . In the Old Testament God alone
rides on a cloud chariot: “Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud”
(Isa 19:1; see also Psa 68:4; 104:3). And the Ancient of Days gives to
this son of man authority, glory and sovereign power (v.14). But this
authority and sovereignty are not simply the kind that God gives to
human kings like Nebuchadnezzar (see Dan 5:18), for “all nations and
peoples of every language worshiped him” (v.14, NIV). And he is given
an everlasting and indestructible dominion (v.14), “a sovereignty which
belongs to God Himself ”
36 .The God-man in Daniel’s vision who shares our humanity and also
endowed with “the fullness of undiminished deity”
37 is Jesus – “the Son
of Man…coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mk 14:62).
32 Iain M. Duguid, 117
33 Iain M. Duguid, 117
34 Iain M. Duguid, 117
35 Iain M. Duguid, 117
36 Iain M. Duguid, 117
37 Iain M. Duguid, 117
