Scripture Text (NRSV)
7:9 As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took
his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head
like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were
burning fire.
7:10 A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A
thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand
stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were
opened.
7:13 As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and
was presented before him.
7:14 To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all
peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an
everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.
Comments:
Where does this prophecy leave us? Will we be serving Him at some
future time. Do we do anything to inherit the everlasting dominion?
What must we do to be saved....
To the community for whom this passage was written, it seemed as
though the oppression God's people were experiencing would never end.
Daniel's message is: Indeed, it shall end. The Ancient One who is
judge will call all nations to account and will give dominion to God's
people who are represented by "one like a human being."
"I saw one like
a human being" is the NRSV, but that is not what we have in the RSV
and the ESV. They read, "One like the Son of Man coming with the
clouds of Heaven." The "Son of Man" is not the equivalent of "one like
a human being." The Son of Man is a title, and it applies to One
particular human being, Jesus the Christ. The terms "Son of God" and
"Son of Man" have the reverse meanings of the famous verses in the
hymn "Beautiful Savior.. "Son of Man" is a testimony to His Divinity.
"Son of God' applies to any great man, eg. Caesar. Sam Platts
