Every Thought Captive

Son of God, and Son of Man

As I looked,

thrones were placed,
    and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
    and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
    its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
    and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
    and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
    and the books were opened.

I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven
    there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
    and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
    and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
    should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
    which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
    that shall not be destroyed.

Daniel 7: 9-10, Daniel 7:13-14

He was a prisoner of war. Overrun by the conquering army, his homeland lay in ruins, but God Almighty majestically orchestrated the defeat and deportation of Daniel. For in the land of the enemy, God prophetically proclaims His eternal victory.

In Babylon, Daniel has a vision of judgment. God Himself is seated on the throne, and fire goes out before Him. Fire to cleanse and to purify. Before Him are standing 10,000 times 10,000 as the book of judgment is opened. Then the clouds of heaven descend into the throne room, and one “like a son of man” is presented before God. He is the perfect man, God's perfect image bearer, and He is given dominion and glory. All people from every land serve this Son of Man. Forever. But what do the visions mean, and who is this one who is “like a son of man?”

Hundreds of years later, a most remarkable thing happens. A virgin pregnant teenager from a backwater town in Israel has a baby while she is travelling for legal reasons. And people proclaim the birth of this baby. Visitors show up from far away eastern lands to present gifts. People who have never met this man are amazed by Him, and healed by Him, and fall down to worship Him. And He teaches them about Himself, reminding them of that long-ago vision of the captured prophet. “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.” (John 5:26-27)

Jesus is the very One of whom Daniel spoke. He is the One to whom God has granted all authority in heaven and on earth. He is the only begotten Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And He is alive! And His Kingdom is eternal.

This is the glorious truth of the resurrection. This is the foundational teaching of the early church. But the resurrection means more than a long-ago astounding event. It means that today Jesus, the Son of Man, is reigning. And it means that He will return. He will indeed return to “judge the quick and the dead.”

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. From His presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” (Revelation 20:11-12)

Today as you read this, are you His? Where is your name in that book? May the Lord bless you with full assurance of His love for you today, and may you rejoice that, being found in Christ, the King of Glory knows your name. Forever.

“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation 22:17)

Amen and amen!

About the Author

Photograph of Mark Fulmer

Mark Fulmer

Elder

Park Cities Presbyterian Church

Mark Fulmer is an elder at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, and along with Steve Vanderhill, teaches the New Creations Sunday School class.