Son of Man

In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night, the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, from which emerged four immense beasts, each different from the others. The first was like a lion, but with eagle’s wings. While I watched, the wings were plucked; it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet like a man and given a human mind. 

The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side, and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks. It was given the order, “Up, devour much flesh.” 

After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard. On its back were four wings like those of a bird, and it had four heads. To this beast dominion was given.

After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast, different from all the others, terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength. It had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed, and what was left it trampled with its feet. I was considering the ten horns it had, when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst, and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it. This horn had eyes like a man and a mouth that spoke arrogantly.

As I watched, Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat. Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him.

The court was convened, and the books were opened. I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up. The other beasts, which also lost their dominion, were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season.

As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming on the clouds of heaven. When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, he received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:2-14)

The four beasts stand for the four successive pagan empires of the Babylonians (lion), the Medes (bear), the Persians (leopard), and the Greeks (too horrible to be likened to any animal).  The fourth beast has 10 horns representing 10 kings.  The 10th horn of the fourth beast, as well as the “little horn,” stand for Antiochus Epiphanes who attempted to do away with the Jewish feasts, the Sabbath, and the Mosaic Law.  

Here’s the message of the entire chapter in which this reading has been taken: “When the last horn of the fourth beast is broken; that is, when the reign of the persecutor, Antiochus Epiphanes, comes to an end, then the kingship and dominion and majesty of all the kingdoms under the heavens shall be given to the holy people of the Most High, whose kingdom shall be everlasting.” This interpretation of the message was provided in the Jerome Biblical Commentary.

This Commentary continues: “The four winds represent the four cardinal points of the compass to show the universality of the cosmic tempest.  The great sea is the “primeval abyss of Genesis 1:2, which according to ancient concepts, was the abode of horrendous monsters hostile to God.”  

Unlike the beasts coming from the great abyss below; that is, the powers of evil, “One like a son of man coming on the clouds,” is from heaven, from God.  The beasts are figures of the pagan kingdoms while the son of man is a figure of the kingdom of the holy ones of the Most High.

The son of man is a figure of speech, not a real individual.  Nevertheless, the concept of the “son of man” eventually shifted from a figure of speech for the theocratic kingdom into a term for the messianic king himself.  

We Christians understand that Jesus Christ – our Messiah – is considered to be that Son of Man confronting the powers of evil.  Do we do the same, or do we prefer a pagan kingdom?

Deacon David Pierce