Overview: The Chapter That Changed Everything
Tags: Son of Man Kingdom of God Beasts Ancient of Days Empty Throne True Humanity Jesus' Identity Christology Genesis Connections
Summary: Daniel 7 is arguably the most important single chapter in the Old Testament for understanding who Jesus claimed to be. In this night vision, Daniel sees four monstrous beasts rising from a chaotic sea, followed by a heavenly courtroom where the "Ancient of Days" takes his throne and renders judgment. But there's a second throne—empty, waiting. Then, in stunning contrast to the beasts, "one like a son of man" — a human figure — approaches God's throne on the clouds of heaven and receives an everlasting kingdom. Jesus chose this title, "Son of Man," more than any other to describe himself.
🎯 Why This Chapter Matters
- Jesus' favorite self-designation: "Son of Man" appears 80+ times in the Gospels — more than "Messiah," "Lord," or "Son of God"
- The trial that led to death: When asked if he was the Messiah, Jesus quoted Daniel 7:13 — and was condemned for blasphemy (Mark 14:62)
- The beast vs. human contrast: Empires that act like devouring beasts will be replaced by a truly human kingdom
- The empty throne filled: The second throne represents humanity's forfeited partnership with God — the Son of Man fills it
- Kingdom theology: Daniel 7 shapes nearly everything the New Testament says about God's kingdom breaking into history
🌳 Genesis 1–11: The Story Daniel Presupposes
Daniel 7 cannot be understood without Genesis. The vision assumes you know the story of humans made to rule, humans deceived by a beast, and humans becoming beastly. Daniel 7 is the answer to a problem set up in Genesis 1–11.
Day Six: Humans and Animals Created Together
In Genesis 1:24–31, both land animals and humans are created on Day Six. But there's a crucial order:
- Animals come first (Gen 1:24–25): Livestock, creeping things, beasts of the earth
- Humans come second (Gen 1:26–28): Made in God's image, given dominion over every beast
- The "second-born" rules: Though animals were made first, humans are given authority over them
Daniel 7 shows what happens when this order is reversed: beastly empires rule over humans, trampling and devouring. The Son of Man restores the original design.
🐍 Genesis 3: The Beast That Deceives
The serpent in Eden is explicitly called "more crafty than any beast of the field" (Gen 3:1). A beast deceives humans into grasping at godlike power. The result? Humans lose their garden throne and are expelled.
From this point forward, humans don't rule beasts — a beast has ruled them.
🏹 Genesis 4–11: Humans Become Beastly
After the serpent's deception, humans become increasingly predatory:
- Cain: Murders his brother; sin "crouches" like a beast at his door (Gen 4:7)
- Lamech: Boasts of killing a man for wounding him (Gen 4:23–24)
- Nephilim: The "mighty men of old" — violence fills the earth (Gen 6:4–5)
- Nimrod: First "mighty hunter" — founds Babylon and Assyria (Gen 10:8–12)
🦁 The Four Beasts: Empires as Monsters
Daniel's vision begins with four great beasts emerging from the chaotic sea — an ancient symbol of disorder and evil. Each beast represents a world empire, but more importantly, they reveal what happens when human kingdoms reject their God-given vocation and become predators.
First Beast
Lion with eagle's wings; wings torn off, made to stand on two feet, given a human mind
BabylonSecond Beast
Bear raised on one side; three ribs in its mouth; told to "devour much flesh"
Medo-PersiaThird Beast
Leopard with four wings and four heads; given dominion
GreeceFourth Beast
"Terrifying, dreadful, extremely strong" with iron teeth; ten horns; a little horn speaking arrogantly
Fourth kingdom (often linked with Rome)🔥 The Ancient of Days: Heaven's Courtroom
The scene shifts dramatically from beasts to thrones. Daniel watches as thrones are set up and the "Ancient of Days" takes his seat. This is the heavenly courtroom where all earthly power is judged.
👑 The Throne Vision (Daniel 7:9–10)
"As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened."
- Ancient of Days (עַתִּיק יוֹמִין): The eternal God, the ultimate judge of all history
- White clothing and hair: Purity, wisdom, eternity
- Fire and wheels: Echoes Ezekiel's chariot-throne vision; God's mobile, all-seeing presence
- Books opened: Heaven keeps records; nothing escapes divine judgment
- Plural "thrones" (כָּרְסָוָן): The Ancient of Days is not alone — there is an empty seat
🪑 The Empty Throne: Daniel 7's Central Image
Notice the plural: "thrones were set in place." The Ancient of Days takes his seat — but there is at least one other throne. And it's empty.
This is not a throwaway detail. The empty throne is the visual representation of what Genesis 1–3 set up:
- Humans were created to rule alongside God — to share in his reign over creation
- When Adam and Eve grasped at godlike power, they forfeited that seat
- The empty throne has been waiting ever since for a truly human one to fill it
The Son of Man doesn't just receive a kingdom — he fills the empty throne. He takes the seat that Adam vacated. This is what it means to be truly human: ruling with God, not grasping against him.
The fourth beast is judged and destroyed. Its dominion is taken away. The stage is set for someone else to receive the kingdom — not another beast, but a human.
☁️ "One Like a Son of Man": True Humanity Enthroned
After the beasts are judged, Daniel sees a figure who is everything the beasts are not:
The Vision (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."
☁️ Cloud-Riding: A Divine Prerogative
In the Old Testament, only YHWH rides on clouds. This is not a minor detail:
- "He makes the clouds his chariot" (Psalm 104:3)
- "Sing to God... who rides on the clouds" (Psalm 68:4)
- "The LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt" (Isaiah 19:1)
When the Son of Man comes "with the clouds of heaven," he is doing something only God does. He shares God's mode of transportation, God's throne room access, God's authority. This is why the high priest will tear his robes — Jesus is claiming to share in God's own identity.
🦁 The Beasts
- Rise from the chaotic sea
- Animal / sub-human
- Devour, trample, destroy
- Arrogant, self-exalting
- Temporary dominion
- Judged and destroyed
👤 The Son of Man
- Comes on clouds of heaven
- Human / truly human
- Receives kingdom as gift
- Approaches God, given authority
- Everlasting dominion
- Worshiped by all nations
🌿 Nebuchadnezzar: A Preview in Chapter 4
Before Daniel 7 shows us the Son of Man, Daniel 4 shows us what happens when a human king becomes beastlike — and how restoration is possible. Nebuchadnezzar's story is Daniel 7 in miniature.
Daniel 4: One King's Beast-to-Human Journey
Nebuchadnezzar's story replays Genesis 1–3 in a single chapter:
The Fall (Dan 4:28–33)
- Elevated to rule over all peoples
- Pride: "Is this not great Babylon, which I have built?"
- Driven from human society
- Eats "grass of the field" — the animal diet from Genesis 1:30
- Hair like eagles' feathers, nails like birds' claws
The Restoration (Dan 4:34–37)
- "I lifted my eyes to heaven"
- Reason returns; blesses the Most High
- Acknowledges God's everlasting kingdom
- Majesty and splendor restored
- Confesses: "Those who walk in pride he is able to humble"
Nebuchadnezzar's restoration comes when he "lifts his eyes to heaven" — when he stops grasping at godlike power and acknowledges the God above him. This is what the Son of Man does perfectly: he receives authority from the Ancient of Days rather than seizing it.
🤝 Who Is the Son of Man? Corporate and Individual
Later in Daniel 7, the interpretation reveals that "the saints of the Most High" receive the kingdom (7:18, 22, 27). This creates a fruitful tension: is the "son of man" an individual figure or a symbol for God's faithful people?
👥 Corporate Reading
- The "son of man" represents "the saints of the Most High" — faithful Israel
- Just as each beast represents a kingdom/people, the human figure represents God's people
- The kingdom is given to the community of the faithful
👤 Individual Reading
- The figure is distinguished from the saints — he comes on clouds and approaches God's throne
- He receives worship (7:14) — appropriate only for a divine or messianic figure
- Second Temple texts increasingly read this as an individual heavenly figure
📜 Second Temple Interpretation: Daniel 7 Before Jesus
By Jesus' time, Daniel 7 had been studied and interpreted for centuries. Jewish readers were already asking: who is this "one like a son of man"? The most striking evidence comes from 1 Enoch, a collection of texts that predates Jesus.
1 Enoch 62: The Son of Man Tradition
The "Similitudes" (or "Parables") of Enoch (1 Enoch 37–71) extensively develop Daniel 7's imagery. In chapter 62, kings and mighty ones encounter the Son of Man:
"And there shall stand up in that day all the kings and the mighty... and they shall see and recognize how he sits on the throne of his glory... For from the beginning the Son of Man was hidden, and the Most High preserved him in the presence of his might, and revealed him to the elect."
— 1 Enoch 62:3–7 (translation: R.H. Charles)
Key themes that appear in 1 Enoch's interpretation:
- Pre-existence: The Son of Man was "hidden from the beginning"
- Throne-sharing: He sits on "the throne of his glory" — the empty throne is filled
- Universal judgment: Kings and mighty ones are terrified before him
- Election: He is revealed to "the elect" — the faithful community
❓ Why "Son of Man" Instead of "Messiah"?
Jesus chose "Son of Man" as his primary self-designation — over 80 times in the Gospels. Why this title instead of "Messiah" or "Christ"?
🚫 What "Messiah" Carried
- Political expectations: a Davidic king who defeats Rome
- Military connotations: restoring Israel's political power
- Immediate misunderstanding: people wanted a warrior
- Limited scope: mainly a Jewish royal title
✅ What "Son of Man" Carried
- A whole narrative: Genesis → Daniel → restoration
- True humanity: what Adam was meant to be
- Divine overtones: cloud-riding, throne-sharing
- Suffering + glory: Jesus could define the term himself
- Universal scope: the human one who receives all nations
🎭 Veiled Yet Revealing
"Son of Man" was the perfect title because it could mean almost nothing ("a human being") or almost everything (Daniel 7's cosmic figure). Jesus could speak openly while still controlling when and how his full identity was revealed. Those who knew Daniel 7 would hear the claim; others would simply hear him referring to himself.
✝️ Jesus and the Son of Man
Jesus chose "Son of Man" as his primary way of referring to himself — over 80 times in the Gospels. This was not a common messianic title in Second Temple Judaism, which makes Jesus' choice all the more striking.
Three Categories of Son of Man Sayings
Scholars have noticed that Jesus' "Son of Man" sayings cluster into three groups:
- Present authority: "The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (Mark 2:10)
- Suffering and death: "The Son of Man must suffer many things... and be killed" (Mark 8:31)
- Future glory: "You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62)
Jesus fused Daniel 7 (glory) with Isaiah 53 (suffering) — the Son of Man "must suffer" before he is vindicated.
The Moment of Truth: Jesus' Trial (Mark 14:61–64)
The high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"
Jesus answered: "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy."
Jesus' answer combines Psalm 110:1 ("sitting at the right hand") with Daniel 7:13 ("coming on the clouds"). The high priest understood exactly what Jesus was claiming: a share in God's own throne and authority — the empty seat beside the Ancient of Days. This claim led directly to Jesus' death — and, Christians believe, to his vindication through resurrection.
📖 New Testament Connections
Daniel 7 echoes throughout the New Testament, shaping how the early church understood Jesus, his kingdom, and the destiny of his followers.
| Daniel 7 | New Testament | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Son of Man (7:13) | 80+ Gospel uses | Jesus' primary self-designation, fusing suffering and glory |
| Coming on clouds (7:13) | Mark 14:62; Matt 24:30; Rev 1:7 | Jesus' claim at trial; promise of return |
| Ancient of Days throne (7:9–10) | Revelation 4–5 | John's throne room vision expands Daniel's imagery |
| Empty throne / shared rule | Rev 3:21; 5:6 | The Lamb stands at the throne; overcomer sits with Christ on his throne |
| Four beasts (7:3–7) | Revelation 13 | John's composite beast combines all four of Daniel's |
| Saints receive kingdom (7:18, 27) | Luke 12:32; Rev 5:10 | "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" |
| Everlasting dominion (7:14) | Phil 2:9–11; Heb 1:8 | Jesus exalted, given the name above every name |
| Son of Man authority to judge (7:22) | John 5:27; Matt 25:31–32 | "The Father has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man" |
| "Peoples, nations, languages" serve him (7:14) | Rev 5:9; 7:9 | Every tribe, language, people, and nation redeemed and worshiping |
🎨 Key Theological Themes
Beast vs. Human
Empires that reject God become predatory beasts; true humanity means ruling under God, not against him. Grasping at godlike power makes you less human, not more.
The Empty Throne
Since Genesis 3, humanity's seat beside God has been vacant. The Son of Man fills that throne — true humanity restored to partnership with God.
Received Kingdom
The Son of Man doesn't seize power — he receives it as gift from the Ancient of Days. This is the opposite of the beasts' grasping.
Suffering Before Glory
Jesus fused Daniel 7 with suffering — the Son of Man "must" suffer before entering his glory. The path to the throne goes through the cross.
One and Many
The Son of Man represents and includes "the saints" — the king and his people share destiny. He is the new Adam whose humanity we share.
Everlasting Kingdom
Unlike beast kingdoms that rise and fall, God's kingdom through the Son of Man will never be destroyed. "Peoples, nations, and languages" serve him forever.
💡 Application: Living Under the Son of Man's Reign
🙏 Personal Discipleship
- Resisting beastliness: Where do you see the temptation to grab power, devour, or dehumanize in your own life? Grasping at godlike control makes us less human.
- Trusting the true King: The Son of Man has already been vindicated — we don't need to secure our own futures through beastly means
- Embracing true humanity: Following Jesus means becoming more human, not less — ruling through service, not domination
- Lifting your eyes: Like Nebuchadnezzar, restoration comes when we acknowledge the God above us rather than grasping at his place
⛪ Community & Mission
- Naming the beasts: The church is called to see through the propaganda of beastly systems and name them for what they are — less than human
- Embodying the kingdom: We are "saints of the Most High" — called to live now as citizens of the Son of Man's everlasting kingdom
- Patient endurance: The beasts rage, but the courtroom has already convened. Faithfulness, not force, is our calling
- The empty throne filled: We are invited to share in Christ's reign (Rev 3:21) — not as beasts, but as truly human partners
🛤️ Suggested Study Flow
For a full Daniel arc: start with Page 1: Faithful Exile (how to live in Babylon), then continue here with Page 2: Son of Man (who rules the beasts), and conclude with Page 3: Prophetic Hope (how long, and what happens after death?).
❓ Study Questions
- Genesis Connection: How does knowing the Genesis 1–11 backstory change how you read Daniel 7? What story is Daniel assuming you already know?
- The Empty Throne: Why is the plural "thrones" in Daniel 7:9 significant? What does the empty throne represent, and who fills it?
- Observation: What details distinguish the Son of Man from the four beasts? Make a list of contrasts.
- Observation: What does the Son of Man receive, and from whom? How does this differ from how the beasts obtain their power?
- Cloud-Riding: Why is it significant that the Son of Man comes "with the clouds of heaven"? What does this imagery mean in the Old Testament?
- Nebuchadnezzar Preview: How does Daniel 4 function as a preview of Daniel 7's themes? What does Nebuchadnezzar's restoration teach us about true humanity?
- Interpretation: Why do you think Jesus chose "Son of Man" as his primary self-designation rather than "Messiah" or "Son of God"?
- Interpretation: How does the "corporate and individual" reading of the Son of Man help you understand Jesus' relationship to his followers?
- Biblical Theology: How does Daniel 7 connect backward to Genesis 1–2 (human vocation) and forward to Revelation (throne room, beasts)?
- Application: Where do you see "beastly" power at work in your world? How does the vision of Daniel 7 shape your response?
- Application: What does it mean to "lift your eyes to heaven" in your own context? How does Nebuchadnezzar's story challenge you?
Bibliography & Sources
Sources for Son of Man content (Daniel 7)
Bibliography & Sources
Sources for Son of Man content (Daniel 7)
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For the full multi-page Daniel bibliography, see the master list on the Daniel Hub.