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Context No. 4187 of 4322 · Daniel (Greek)

Context · Reflection

Daniel (Greek) 7:11-16: in context

11“I watched at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke. I watched even until the animal was slain, its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. 12As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13“I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like a son of man came with the clouds, and he came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. 14Dominion was given him, with glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom will not be destroyed. 15“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. “So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

In Daniel's night vision, after the great beasts, the earthly empires, have had their turn, he sees a figure of glory: one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven, presented before the Ancient of Days. And to him is given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. And his dominion, Daniel says, is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away.

Two things stand out in contrast. The beasts, the great empires of the world, had their dominion, but it was taken away; their power was temporary, and it passed. But the kingdom given to the Son of Man is different: it is everlasting, indestructible, unending. Where the empires rise and fall, his kingdom endures forever. Jesus would take this very title, Son of Man, for himself. The empires and powers of this world, however dominant they seem, are like the beasts of Daniel's vision: their dominion is temporary. But the kingdom of Christ, the Son of Man, is everlasting; it will not pass away or be destroyed.

Do I set my hope on the everlasting kingdom of Christ, the Son of Man, whose dominion will never pass away or be destroyed, rather than on the earthly powers that, like the beasts of Daniel's vision, rise and fall and are taken away?

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