Have you ever read a Bible passage and felt like there was a deeper meaning hidden just beneath the surface?
Today, we’re diving into Daniel 7:13-18, a passage that’s often talked about, but perhaps not fully understood.
Unveiling Your True Identity in Daniel 7
Let’s start by reading the verses 13 and 14 together:
Daniel 7:13-14
I was watching in the night visions,
and behold, one like the son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before Him.
Then 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 the one which shall not be destroyed.
This text is incredibly powerful, and it’s frequently brought up when people discuss the “son of man,” the “coming on the clouds,” and the “Ancient of Days.”
Most of the time, it’s interpreted as a prophecy solely about Jesus’ second coming.
But what if there’s more to this passage?
What if it’s not just about Jesus, but about you?
Who is the "Son of Man"?
Think about it: What exactly is a “son of man”?
It’s someone born of a human being, right?
So, a son of man is, well, a man or a woman.
For a long time, we’ve been taught that “the son of man” always refers exclusively to Jesus Christ.
But if we look closely at Daniel 7, we’ll discover a much broader, and frankly, more liberating truth.
The “son of man” in this passage isn’t just one person.
It represents every single one of us who has been born of a human.
This passage in Daniel 7 isn’t just an ancient prophecy; it’s a profound revelation about the very purpose of our lives and our ultimate destiny.
And here’s where it gets truly personal: Jesus didn’t just come to be the son of man for himself.
He came to show you your true identity.
1 John 4:17
As he is, so are you in this world!
He perfectly embodies the Son of Man to reveal your potential, your purpose.
Think about the profound truth in Hebrews 2:
Hebrews 2:11a
For both he who sanctifies
and those who are being sanctified,
Are all of One!
As he is, so are you in this world!
Jesus isn’t just your savior; he’s your brother.
Hebrews 2:11b
For which reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brethren.
He’s not ashamed to call you family, because you share the same divine origin and destiny.
The Ascent to the Ancient of Days
Now, let’s look at another fascinating detail in Daniel 7: the son of man is depicted as coming with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of Days.
Did you catch that?
It’s an ascent, not a descent!
The son of man in Daniel 7 isn’t descending with the clouds to earth; they are moving upward into a deeper knowing of God and a profound realization of an inherent oneness with Him.
What do these “clouds” symbolize?
Throughout scripture, clouds represent the glory of God.
We see this in Exodus 16
Exodus 16:10
The glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
And 1 Kings 8
1 Kings 8:10
The cloud filled the house of the Lord.
And here’s a powerful New Testament parallel:
2 Corinthians 3:18 says,
We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into that same image
from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
This means that when you look into a mirror with an “unveiled face” – not with your physical eyes, but with your spiritual eyes – you begin to see the glory of the Lord.
Why?
Because the Kingdom of God isn’t out there somewhere; it’s within you.
And if the Kingdom is within, then the very throne of God is within you as well.
So, the son of man’s approach to the Ancient of Days signifies a profound movement:
it’s not a return to earth but a deepening into the direct knowing of God and the full realization that you are one with Him.
It means coming face to face with God.
It means truly, intimately knowing God.
And as Jesus Himself said,
John 17:3
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Seeing Face to Face
1 Corinthians 13 offers a beautiful parallel to this journey:
1 Corinthians 13:12
Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror,
But then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
When you try to understand spiritual truths with only your physical senses, it’s like looking into a dim, cloudy mirror. But as your spiritual eyes are opened, you begin to see with clarity.
You realize that the glory of God isn’t something external you have to reach for; it’s an internal reality, a radiant truth dwelling within you.
Authority, Dominion, and the Everlasting Kingdom
Now, here’s where we get to the heart of Daniel’s vision and its direct application to you.
Daniel himself sought understanding, just as we are now.
In Daniel 7:16 he writes:
I approached one of those who were standing there,
and I asked him the true meaning of all this.
So he told me the interpretation of these things.
The Bible itself provides the interpretation, and it expands on who receives this incredible authority!
While Jesus frequently referred to himself as the “son of man” (for example, in Matthew 26:64), aligning himself with this prophetic figure, verse 18 of Daniel 7 expands this even further:
Daniel 7:18
The saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom,
and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
And remember John 5:27: “The Father has given the son authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.”
This authority isn’t limited to Jesus alone.
It extends to the entire body of Christ, which means it extends to you as well!
1 Corinthians 6:2 boldly declares: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?”
This is a remarkable statement!
It reveals that the authority and dominion granted to the son of man encompass not just Jesus, but all who are in Christ.
All who live not from the flesh but from the spirit, from their true identity as Christ.
The kingdom given to the son of man is an everlasting dominion.
This isn’t some future geopolitical empire. It’s a present spiritual reality.
As Luke 17:20 reveals: “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you!”
And here’s the profound implication: If the Kingdom of God is within you, then the throne of God is also within you.
This means you rule from within.
What does it mean to “judge the world” as 1 Corinthians 6:2 states?
It means you rule from heaven – your spirit – over the world – your flesh and its carnal desires and circumstances.
It’s dominion from the spirit over the flesh, the inside over the outside.
You are meant to reign in life, not be ruled by circumstances.
So, the next time you hear about the “son of man” in Daniel 7, or anywhere else in the bible, remember this: it’s not just a distant prophecy about someone else.
It’s a personal invitation to understand your true identity, your divine purpose, and the incredible authority that is already at work within you.
What does this understanding change for you?
How does knowing that the son of man is not just Jesus, but also you, impact your view of your life and your purpose?
