Daniel Part Three Deep Dive

SON OF MAN | RYAN KERRISON

Katie has written in her Dives for this book, ‘the Bible can offend our minds to reveal our hearts’. I think this idea is vital if we’re going to handle any kind of prophetic/apocalyptic text with care and responsibility. The nature of prophetic literature can have many complex elements, often including a contrast between heavenly and earthly realities. Oftentimes these texts will include a historical account or be politically charged (speaking of rulers, principalities, nations and the like), as well as employing visionary language, orienting itself towards the future. This is a key difference between Jewish Prophetic/Apocalyptic texts and Jewish Mysticism. The Book of Daniel is no different, it centres on the historical retelling of the Babylonian Exile and contains many of these described elements. While it can be categorised as post-exilic, Daniel actually served as prophet during this exile itself. A subcategory within prophetic literature is apocalyptic literature–see Katie’s Dive again for a refresher as to what this means. In the meantime, let’s drill down on the seventh chapter of the Book of Daniel and see if we can make sense of what’s happening in the vision, and what application it may have for contemporary believers today. 

Daniel 7 opens with a vivid vision of four great beasts, the final beast greater than the last ones. For more information on the formal scholarly discussion surrounding the beasts, and their relationship to ancient history and theology, see Nathan White’s Deep Dive on Daniel. Following the astonishing description of these beasts–representing chaos and rebellion against God–Daniel describes a heavenly courtroom filled with thrones where the Ancient of Days (Yahweh) is present in all power. 

A most intriguing expression within the Danielic narrative is ‘Son of Man’, a phrase that Jesus takes hold of much later in Mark’s gospel account, tapping into the language of the Jewish Messiah, ‘coming on the clouds’, ‘sitting on the right hand of power’ and so forth. What Jesus has done in the New Testament, Daniel 7 explores in the Old. 

‘Son of Man’ for Daniel is not the Parousia figure (second-coming) coming on the clouds in order to set the world right again. Rather this language is charged with the exaltation of the Son of Man over and against the ‘beasts’ who make war on the people of God, defeating them, overcoming evil and turning back the cosmic imbalance of power. Moreover, there is a vindication of the Son of Man, by God for His sufferings. For the people of God, currently suffering in exile, there echoes an ancient promise; a vindication on both an individual and corporate level. 

This Son of Man persona is notoriously difficult to define, as the scriptures employ the term in a variety of ways. In some areas it functions as a description of mere humanity, distinct and separate from God, no inherently divine attributes, power, or authority (Psalm 8:4). However, Daniel’s vision and description here points to a being who is distinct from Yahweh yet has God-like attributes. A being who has been given authority from on high, and the right to rule a kingdom, akin to the kings of Daniel’s day, but not temporal or corruptible, rather a perfect King, a Ruler with no rival or challenger. 

Circling back to Jesus’ usage of this title in Mark 14:62, it becomes clear as to why High Priest Caiaphas charged Jesus with such a blasphemy. By using this title, Jesus mounts a theological and cultural confrontation on the Temple as a Jewish powerbase in favour of the saints becoming temples of God, filled with the Spirit. To add insult to injury, this would essentially call for the removal and abdication of the role of the High Priest, in that Jesus is now functioning as the High Priest, the vindicated Son of Man, Ruler over all Israel, clothed in power, prepared to rule at the right-hand of God.

This vision, as well the following vision in Chapter 8, encourages patience for God’s people to wait for God to vindicate them, and to end the suffering of this present age, and offers hope for all generations of God’s people. There emerges from Daniel a pattern of repetitive disobedience displayed by humanity, and a promise made by God to confront evil, defeat it once and for all and instigate His kingdom on Earth.

Ryan Kerrison, originally from Darwin, came to Sydney to study and hasn’t left. Ryan works at C3 College as the Head of Bible and Theology, and lectures in Advanced Theology, Creation to End Times and many more subjects. As one of the founding writers and team members of TYB, Ryan is one of the smartest people we know. He has his Masters in Theology and will no doubt have his Doctorate and running Academic Colleges around the world in no time!

recommended

An Introduction to the Old Testament

Daniel part Three

Daniel part Two