Daniel 7:13-14

The enthronement of Christ.

"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man" ( Daniel 7:13 ). Either after, or more probably in connection with, the destruction of the fourth world-power, universal empire was given to Christ—the Messiah of Hebrew expectation. We assume, for the present, that it is he who is described in the next paragraph. That the assumption is well-founded will immediately appear.

I. THE KING . We read Daniel 7:13 thus: "I continued looking in the visions of the night, and behold I with the clouds of heaven like unto a Son of man was advancing, and to the Ancient of days to come, and before him they caused him to approach."

1 . The Personage was Divine. Advancing, girt with clouds, marks the Divine. Clouds hide the glory behind and beyond. They symbolize the veil that dims the glory of God. Many are the scriptural passages to illustrate. Select a few, and we shall see how the same idea starts up in successive ages of the Church ( Exodus 13:21 ; Exodus 14:24 ). If these describe the action of the Angel-God, they are all the more pertinent as illustrations of this passage in Daniel ( Exodus 16:10 ; Exodus 40:34 ; Le Exodus 16:2 ; 2 Chronicles 5:13 , 2 Chronicles 5:14 ; Psalms 97:2 ). Christ takes up these representations, and applies them to himself ( Matthew 26:64 ). (In this last passage, note "the Son of maul" so again in Matthew 25:31 .) Similar, though not identical, is the imagery of 2 Thessalonians 2:8 ; Revelation 1:7 . Holy Scripture is consistent in applying such descriptions only to God, and to God in Christ. See the charge against one enemy of the Church in olden time ( Isaiah 14:13 , Isaiah 14:14 ). These intimations of the Divine in Christ of the Old Testament are like the grey that precedes the dawn. If Daniel anticipated that the Messianic Deliverer would be one of the race, it is clear, and will be clearer, that he had a glimpse of the truth that he would be Divine.

2 . The personage was also human. "A Son of man." The phrase is used in the Old Testament:

That the phrase here denotes the Messiah is clear:

Answering, we do not limit ourselves to Daniel's standpoint.

II. THE ENTHRONEMENT .

1 . The King came from the heavenly world. Out of it, and down from it. He "came with the clouds of heaven." This empire is not like those that arose out of "the sea," from the turbulences of men.

2 . He received the kingdom from the Eternal. Abundant illustration will be found in Matthew 28:18 ; John 3:35 ; John 13:3 ; John 5:22 ; John 17:2 ; 1 Corinthians 15:27 .

3 . The enthronement has no relation to the categories of time or space. We are not to suppose that at some place , at some moment , there was to be some literal fulfilment; that the Eternal under venerable form, would sit on a throne; that the Christ would come to sue for empire, etc. This is the rock on which many interpreters are wrecked. Nor is there reference to the last judgment, for then Christ himself is on the throne. Broad views, free from mere literalism, on such matters are best.

4 . And yet there are the pomp and circumstance of an indefinite and multitudinous accompanying of the King "They caused him to approach." A sort of grand indefiniteness in the expression. Not alone does Jesus come to reign.

III. THE KINGDOM .

1 . Supernatural in origin. "There was given him."

2 . Spiritual in character. Invisible rule over souls. We speak of the empire of mind; we see in vision matter at the footstool of intellect. But what shall we say of the empire of religion, of Christianity, of Christ? Mind at the feet of Jesus, and, as a consequence, all below mind! Imaginations cast down, etc. ( 2 Corinthians 10:5 ).

3 . Universal in extent. "All people," etc,

4 . Everlasting. "Shall not pass away," etc.—R.