The parallel imagery we find in Daniel and The Revelation are striking, but there has been one phrase troubling me for months as I completed a study of Daniel, then another in The Revelation.

I recently wrote about the interpretation of the phrase “one like a son of man” in Daniel 7:13, but was having a hard time reconciling the conclusion I had come to with the obviously different understanding of the same phrase when used in The Revelation.

Now, as I am reviewing my study of the final book of the bible in preparation for a Sunday school class I will be co-leading, I have finally found a resolution to my internal conflict, and put the matter to rest in a most uplifting manner.

Daniel 7:13-14 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

Daniel 7:15-18 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.  I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.  “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’”

So, my bible clearly says the “holy people of the Most High” are who the imagery of “one like the son of man” who received the kingdom is referring to.  In the previous article I wrote, I conceded that as much as I would like to accept the interpretation that Daniel, like a fly on the wall, was witnessing Jesus returning to heaven and being rewarded for a job well done, the citizen of heaven that answers Daniel’s question as to “the meaning of all this” is quite clear that it represents “the holy people of the Most High”.

“one like the son of man”

In The Revelation we see the same phrase, but here it is clearly representing none other than Jesus.  First, we have the name of the book itself, The Revelation of (and from) Jesus Christ, in which Jesus reveals or unveils Himself to John.  This entire book is first and foremost all about Jesus.

Revelation 1:12-13 “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was one like a son of man dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.”

Over and over in The Revelation we are offered images and descriptions of the Risen Jesus in all of His Glory – this cannot be confused with the “holy people of the Most High”,  so why in two such parallel visions do we have such opposite conclusions to the meaning of “one like the son of man”?  This was the conflict I was wrestling with and determined to reconcile, and finally, after much prayer and reflection the answer came.

It came when I least expected it!  While I was watching a national news broadcast, Charles Krauthammer commented on what the founding fathers intended our elected officials to do – represent us.  He expounded some on what it means to represent, and suddenly I connected the dots.  According to the dictionary:

re-pre•sent
1. to serve to express, designate, stand for, or denote, as a word, symbol, or the like does; symbolize.
2. to express or designate by some term, character, symbol; to represent musical sounds by notes.
3. to stand or act in the place of, as a substitute, proxy, or agent does.
4. to speak and act for by delegated authority: to represent one’s government in a foreign country.
5. to act for or in behalf of by deputed right in exercising a voice in legislation or government.

“one like the son of man”

In Daniel it refers to “the holy people of the Most High” who are represented in every sense of the word – symbolically, spiritually, and most importantly, before God as faultless – by Jesus Christ.  That is how they became holy people!  In Daniel, we don’t know Him yet, but He represents us none the less.  In The Revelation, we recognize Him, and know that we belong to Him.

So how cool is that?  What I had been struggling to reconcile was reconciliation itself.  Another facet of the person of Jesus has been revealed!

Blessings & Adventure,

Lynn “lynnibug” Rios